When it comes to stepladders, we don’t often give them a second thought.
But even from a short distance, falls are dangerous, so a sturdy stepladder is a must in any household. There are many stepladders available, yet a lot of them seem to give more consideration to looks than substance — namely, doing a service around the house, not doing harm.
I tested three stepladder brands for ease of use. I used American National Standards Institute as my guide on safety standards for ladders. The institute is a nonprofit group overseeing the development of voluntary consensus standards for products in the U.S., and their ratings are used as a guide in the ladder industry.
They rate light-duty ladders as having a working load of 200 pounds, which is the maximum load capacity. Considering the Centers for Disease Control said the average U.S. man’s weight is 195 pounds, I chose stepladders that could carry at least 225 pounds.
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All of the tested ladders fold to a compact size, making them easy to store in a closet or other narrow areas in the home, and have top-step platforms big enough to fully fit both feet.
Gorilla 2-Step Ultralight with Project Top
This aluminum stepladder weighs only six pounds, making it easy to carry, and it was quick to open and close. The bottom step is narrow, but I liked that the second step’s facing edge is carved out to fit your shins, giving you something to lean into comfortably on that first step. The top step is about 13 square inches, and is 21 inches off the ground. The safety top of the ladder not only gives you something to lean into, but can hold small items, a bonus. The ladder top also has carved finger grips, which makes it easier to grasp when climbing. My main quibble is I wish the safety top was set back farther. It is almost right over the front of the top step, for support and to prevent you from leaning over too far, but it forces you to grab it when you step up. I felt like I needed to momentarily check my balance before standing up straight. Holds 225 pounds.
$24.97, Home Depot, homedepot.com
Little Giant Safety Step Stepladder
This sturdy ladder comes in two, three and four step versions; I tested the two-step version. The neatest feature is the two wheels on the back which allow you to roll it around, which is good since it’s a bit heavy. Opening and closing is simple, but you need to follow the two-step directions. Both steps are 9 by 14 inches, with the top step 17 inches high. You feel like you’re walking up stairs when you ascend to the top step. The safety rail hits just below my knee, offering some support. Holds 300 pounds.
$122, littlegiantladder.com
Werner Black and Silver Step Stool
This ladder opens wide and gives an exceptionally sturdy, secure feel for a step stool. Opens and closes easily. The comfort rail has ergonomic, coated grips on each side making it effortless to climb up and down, and the top rail is set back so it doesn’t interfere with climbing. However, the rail is not really designed to act as a support bar. Both steps are large, with the top step about 15 square inches. The top step is 19.5 inches from the floor. Much of this ladder is made of solid steel so it’s definitely heavier to carry, although not cumbersome. Holds 250 pounds.
$29.97, Lowe’s, lowes.com