Telescopic Ladders Review – Watch Your Fingers!

Telescopic Ladders Review – One of the first questions asked during my inspections is: “where did you get this telescopic ladder?”.

So, to make my life easier and yours happier, I’ll give you my telescopic ladders review, a few words about that famous piece of equipment … actually two manufacturers and 3 telescopic ladders.

Telescopic ladders are made out of aluminum (although some foreign companies started manufacturing fiberglass versions as well)

This makes them significantly lighter. Because they are telescopic / collapsible, they take up very little space in your storage, or anywhere else if you don’t have a storage area.

I’ve been personally using two different brands over the last 5 years and with mixed emotions.

TELESTEPS® 1600

My first telescopic ladder was a TELESTEPS® 1600 12-1/2-Foot 250-Pound Duty Rating Aluminum Telescoping Extension Ladder. Its length was 30 inches fully closed to 12.5 feet fully extended. It weighed 23 lbs and cost around $200.00 (5 years ago), but company currently offers several models.

I did some research online and decided to purchase a different brand telescopic ladder – “Xtend & Climb®” (Type II model, Weight: 25 lbs., Closed height: 2.5 ft., Open height: 12.5 ft., Width: 19 in.) – there were only two manufacturers on the market at that moment … after over 2 years of heavy traffic on that last telescopic ladder, there are still no problems.

The main difference between both types of telescopic ladders is the type of a closing mechanism. First brand “TELESTEPS®” has two metal rings under the first, bottom step, which when pulled, causes all extended sections to collapse (you can also close each section individually).

In “Xtend & Climb®” brand telescopic ladder, every single section can be only closed individually / you can not collapse the entire ladder at once. This particular telescopic ladder brand also futures so called “No pinch closure system™” which prevents crushing your fingers if you forget to pull them out from between the steps when closing the ladder.

So if you’re in a hurry, it is a slower process than in “TELESTEPS®”, but definitely safer and less painful. Because of my previous problems with “TELESTEPS®” telescopic ladder, I did some further research just to find out a little more about the manufacturer, and it’s a Swedish company … so my expectations escalated dramatically and I decided to give them a third chance.

TELESTEPS® telescopic COMBI LADDER

I wanted a compact, lightweight (Little Giant ladders are also great but much heavier) telescopic Step ladder, because it’s another handy device and it looks good in my trunk :-).

There weren’t that many choices on the market, the only manufacturer offering such design was “TELESTEPS®”, and the Telescopic COMBI LADDER became my only option (mine is a 10S model, TELESTEPS® telescopic COMBI LADDER combination step, extension and adjustable ladder, 8.5 feet step ladder height 12 feet extension ladder climbing height, closed dimensions – 31.1″ x 8.7″ x 24″, weight 34lbs).

I’ve been using this telescopic step ladder extensively for a few years already, and I love it! If your storage space is not limited, you can get regular step ladder for just a fraction of a cost of this one (slightly below $300.00 to over $400.00 depending on model and dealer), but if you like gadgets, or simply need one and have no storage space for a full size – this is your answer.

Important thing about TELESTEPS® telescopic COMBI LADDER

if you get this telescopic step ladder (Combi Ladder), close the sections individually or be very careful when using release-rings under the bottom steps to collapse entire ladder at once. It is a light weight aluminum, but all sections coming down at once will do a lot of damage if part of your hand is trapped between the steps. You just have to follow simple safety guidelines from the manufacturer and it should serve you for years.

My Final thoughts about telescopic ladders

Make sure that all safety buttons under the steps are fully open before you step on those telescopic ladders, if using only a partially extended ladder – extend bottom / thicker sections first.

•  Aluminum conducts electricity, so be extremely careful or avoid performing any electrical work when standing on an aluminum telescopic ladder. Like I’ve mentioned at the beginning of this review, there are some companies manufacturing fiberglass versions of telescopic ladders. The fiberglass version could potentially attract some buyers but at this moment it might not be that easy to purchase them in the US.
• Operating (expanding and closing) aluminum telescopic ladder at low temperatures becomes difficult and it happens fast because aluminum conducts temperature very well and changes slightly its dimensions.

Despite my initial mixed or even a little scary experience with my first telescopic ladders, I can honestly recommend purchasing one, but only if you really think that it will make your life easier. It absolutely serves its purpose and it’s worth every penny you’ll pay for it.

Just make sure you get one with adequate weight rating and learn how to safely use it by reading manufacturers guidelines and recommendations.