ToolSnob.com: So you're probably all familiar with the Little Giant Ladder. If not, it's a freaky sort of extension ladder that can transform itself through a lengthening or shortening of the legs into one of about fifty different configurations. They're very handy. They're also pretty heavy, but overall, great to have on site.
Monday, November 07, 2011
Little Giant Select Step Ladder
ToolSnob.com: So you're probably all familiar with the Little Giant Ladder. If not, it's a freaky sort of extension ladder that can transform itself through a lengthening or shortening of the legs into one of about fifty different configurations. They're very handy. They're also pretty heavy, but overall, great to have on site.
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16 comments:
I am a big fan of the original Little Giant Ladder, so the idea of a step ladder from the same people is somewhat appealing.The original little giant ladder is a favorite of mine since it's lots of ladders in one, despite it weighing at least twice as much of a normal ladder. While it's true that normal little giant can go step ladder, it takes a little bit of doing and does not adjust as well as I would like it to. Based on this article, the new ladder is based around being nothing but a step ladder and hits all the standard step ladder heights, which I think might make it better then the original in some ways.
I am not familiar with the Little Giant Ladder at all but it seems to me to be the Transformer of the ladder world. It only seems natural for a company to create a ladder that is capable of doing more than just opening and closing. This ladder makes me want to have a task to do simply so that I might have the opportunity to use it. That must be a sure sign of a great product. I agree that if this step ladder can reach heights up to eight feet, why not use it as a normal one. Quite the interesting contraption.
I find it humorous that they just left it leaning against a wall until they finally decided to try it. Change is hard and oftentimes we think the original is better than the new version. But sometimes the improvements make a world of difference. It sounds like this is one of those instances. I like the idea of the tray having different positions including one that holds tools securely. I always end up dropping something off the tray. This makes me want to buy one even thought I don't need it.
I have had one of these ladders in my life off and of for about 5 years. This ladder is like Dr. Pepper. I do not mine it but I only use it when there absolutely no other options available. My arms hurt just thinking about picking it up and my head hurts just thinking about which way to turn the non-user friendly knobs to make the thing go up and down. It needs an entire acre to fold up and store. As you have discerned by now, I am NOT a fan. However, there is one application where this ladder is the greatest thing ever if you can get it in to position. STAIRS! This ladder is the king of working over stairs, if you find yourself ever doing that, this ladder is worth its weight in gold and we all know that it weighs a lot!
I have never been a fan of the Little Giant Ladders. They are very heavy and were always a pain to set up. You always seemed to need to have more than one person. The one benefit the Little Giant is good for is the uneven surfaces. Stairs and different levels of staging platforms is a great reason to use a Little Giant. It sounds like the step ladder version also made the ease of set up better without using the horrible metal pin system. Maybe I can try the Little Giant again but until it gets lighter or improves gigantically I still like regular old ladders and just standing there and wondering how to do things.
I'm glad this guy is so satisfied. Seems like a great product. I would have thought that someone who was already a fan of the company would have ben a little more open minded to the new product. But he was not disappointed. All the improvements seem well thought out. I love when those little things make all the difference in a product. Next thing you know there won't be a ladder on the market without a tray that holds extension cord ends. Seems worth the money and the improvements in the design of the sliding function which the older one is famous for shows promise to ladders in the future.
This is really a wonderful company with great products. The Little Giant Ladder is great to have and even though I can't lift it by myself it's totally worth the extra weight. I'm glad they are pushing their design more and making more things based off the original idea. Hopefully they'll keep working on it though because I have heard of non user friendly knobs and such and they should continue to improve their design. This idea is a good one though and has a lot of potential to be great.
i worked in a shop with a little giant. it was the greatest thing when you had to work on an uneven
surface ie stares like everyone has said but if you where on even ground it kinda sucked. i found was that if i didn't NEED it i would go get a easier to use ladder. the extra weight and the uncomfortable rungs made it more of a hassle to use than it was worth. It ended up as kind of a speciality tool in that respect. one thing that i did notice though was that it always was in the A frame step latter configuration. that gives me high hopes for this new little giant. i would think about getting it as a second ladder because of that. i don't think it would be better than a normal ladder but it would pay for its self when i needed to be on uneven surfaces
I was not a fan of the original little giant system. It's actually the only ladder/elevated work system I've ever taken a tumble from. I found it too be way too heavy an awkward. It sounds like the company has done a few things to really set this new version apart. Any reduction in weight for this damn thing is key. Its annoying, frankly. And the redesign on the adjustment mechanisms is much welcomed. It was always clumsy. But adding features is a total plus. It seems like 90% of the time this thing is just used as a small step ladder for awkward to reach positions. Focusing on this market with the product is a great idea. It seems like anytime I use a small ladder, it's for an awkward to reach location. So having something with more footprint variability is welcome.
We have the original little giant at home and we love it although like the article said it is heavy so I am glad that they added wheels to the new design. All of the new added features seem like good ways to make your experience better. I especially like the multiple functions of the air deck. Its seems very handy
im a little skeptical to trust the idea of such linkage in a versatile tool. if it works great but it would take me a while to grow used to the idea of a collapsing A-frame ladder
First of all, I have to acknowledge the awesome name of the website: toolsnob.com. I love it.
I think the most useful function of this ladder is that it can be set up on stairs, because the legs can be uneven. So it could be configured for different heights of stairs, or for spanning different numbers of stairs. The tray is also very useful...I would love a handle on a ladder, and I think even the most experienced carpenters would appreciate it. However, because it is heavy and, according to the article, difficult to shoulder carry, I would want to own a lighter ladder that I could move quickly and easily, as well as this ladder, if I were a shop.
I agree with Sam. This ladder truly seems like it could change the future of high climbing. It is great that there are so many capabilities and possibilities for this tool. This one looks even better than the original, which proved to be helpful for tasks ranging from the every day to the less mundane (even theatrical ones.) Storage of this one could be easier, making it more marketable to the general public. It is probably more lightweight as well. I like this product because it seems to have the same functionality as the original, but it is more geared toward everyday tasks.
My one real solid complaint with the Little Giants is how heavy they are. I've never understood why, when there are so many affordable, lightweight fiberglass ladders around, a theatre company would choose to use Little Giants. My instinct is that they're GREAT for home-owners or even renters where multiple heights, storage and usage are all issues. But in theatre, we're always using ladders and rarely is it only ONE at a time and unless we decided to use A BUNCH of Little Giants, I don't see the point over regular fiberglass or even wooden ladders. There. I said it.
I hadn't heard of the Little Giant ladder until now, but it seems like a great invention. This ladder sounds like it is worth every buck, which really isn't that much either being $200. I know that sometimes at crew I find myself needing a ladder for a task and I try to eye how high I need to go up but don't always estimate right and have to waist the time to back back to the ladder racks to switch it out for a taller one. It would be useful to have a ladder like this on hand so that I could just extent it's legs rather than having to take the time to switch it out. I haven't actually used either of theses ladders to know how heavy they actually are, but if that is the only negative about them than I think they sound pretty good.
I sell Little Giant Ladders over here in the UK. And they are a top seller. I personaly think they are far too heavey. But the people who have to work with them all day seem to like them.
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