[SML] Little Giant Ladders - any good?

[Alex French]

On Sun, Dec 7, 2014 at 11:13 AM, Mt. Angel Performing Arts Center via
Stagecraft <stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:
> Amazon has a 'Deal of the Day' with about 30% off on little giant ladders
> (folding/extension/step) and the reviews on the site are very good.
>
> Anyone found a better deal than the 22' version for $200 with free shipping
> - and any caveats about the product I should know about?

In general I can't say enough good things about Little Giants.
Adjusting each side independently can let you get into all sorts of
annoying places around platforms/steps/seats etc.  They are explicitly
rated to be climbed on both sides and to have a person working on each
side at the same time.  Straddling the top gives you a very
comfortable, solid working platform.  I've seen them stand up pretty
well to many years of abuse.  With experience and creativity one
person can handle even the larger ones in a pinch.  The Little Giants
seem to be much higher quality than the knock-offs I've seen at Home
Depot.  The individual leveling leg seems like a great idea, but I
almost never used it in the theatre.

Others are right that they're going to be heavier than an equivalently
sized fiberglass step ladder.  The newer "Revolution" series is
lighter, has some nice improvements, and is a lot more expensive.

Don't get tricked by the labeling conventions- the 22' one can be a
22' straight ladder.  It will not get you anywhere near 22' in the A
configuration.  I *think* the 22' was "can't quite reach the 16' grid
comfortably but sometimes doable" and the next size up was "can reach
the 16' grid comfortably", but I may be mis-remembering the ladders or
mis-representing based on my height (medium-small) or comfort level at
that height (not a high-steel-monkey but at 16' with the grid in my
face a lot more comfortable standing on certain steps than OSHA would
like).

Alex French