Customer Reviews

Alta-One M22 with Work Platform, 250-Pound Duty Rating

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have 2 fiberglass stepladders, a 6ft and a 12ft. The 12 footer is so unwieldy it's almost useless (I had cathedral ceilings in my old house).
This Little Giant folds to a compact size, so I feel confident about carrying it up and down stairs without tearing up the wall. Because of this, it's also easier to store than your average extension ladder.
When you go to unfold it, it's design genius begins to shine. The locking tabs in the middle stay open until the next stop. Then they 'pop' into place with a solid click. Whether unfolded to a stepladder, or out to a full extension ladder, it feels safe and solid, even for a large guy like me. As a stepladder, one can ascend either side.
Since the length is adjustable, it can be made into an offset angle to accomodate stairs, etc. Also, when using it as an extension ladder, you can make it just as long as you need. For example,last week I did my gutters: as I moved downhill, I just extended the ladder as needed.
Unless I drop it off my 2nd floor deck on to a rock, I expect this to last longer than I will.

I had a smaller Little Giant for 19 years before upgrading to this one.

You'll give it 5 stars if you value...

- Versatile...One ladder does it all
- Steady & stable (Way more than other types of ladders)
- Compact storage
- Fit & finish is excellent

And you don't mind...

-Expensive (wait for low tide...appx 230)
-A little tricky to manipulate. Heavier than a regular step ladder (see below).
-Can be dangerous to adjust (see below).

If you're looking for an "ultimate" ladder to have for 20+ years, Little Giant is it. I often avoid the overpriced name-brand leader, but being gouged in this case is somehow worth it. The Werner and Gorilla ladders I looked at in stores seemed inferior in fit & finish. (I have not owned them.)

Weight & Handling:

The lightweight "aircraft grade" alloy of this ladder, and its lighter 250-lb duty rating is worth a lot when moving it and setting up. I am 58 years old and can adjust & place it at full length (19 feet), working alone. The 1A Gorilla weighs 44.5 lbs vs 37 lbs for this (Type 1) Little Giant. Little Giant also has macho 1A ladders, but for most people, lighter is better.

There is a learning curve to adjusting and setting this type of ladder. You can embrace the learning curve, or hate it.

Consumer Reports (Sept 2006) says a similar model is "not acceptable" because the reinforcement braces can mash your fingers while you're adjusting the height. Yes, that is a valid concern.

The amazon price jumps around, usually between 230 and 255. There's an "Online Price Alert" that will email you whenever this or any amazon product dips below your target price. Google it. It's nicely done.

OK, I know I and swimming against the tide here. It's a good ladder, but frankly it isn't all that great. I own several ladders including a couple of extension ladders that I use frequently. So here are the pros and cons.

Pros:
Folds up to a compact size that is easily stored and carried in a car.
Has a good duty rating.
Wider at the bottom for stability.
Can be used as a step ladder, even with unequal lengths on each side.
Can be used as scaffold if you have two

Cons:
Heavier than a comparable extension ladder and really not easier to carry either.
Harder to raise and adjust than an extension ladder.
The "wing span /wall standoff" accessory is actually poorly designed and the rubber bumpers are at best pathetic.
The rungs aren't that comfortable to stand on for any period of time.

The bottom line is that I find this ladder more trouble to set up than it is worth. My guess is more people get injured setting it up and taking it down than do climbing it. If you're buying it to get on a roof and hope to use the wing span as a stabilizer or to hold the ladder off the gutters, forget it. The pads may last a while against a smooth wall, but even a single use on an asphalt roof and they wear through and gouge the roof.

If you have limited storage space for a ladder and only use one very occasionally, this is probably a good ladder for you, other wise a good extension ladder and step ladder are a better bet.

I purchased this ladder from Amazon as a gift to my boyfriend. We recently moved into our own house and were in need of a good solid ladder. He had been looking at the Little Giant brand for quite some time and wanted to get one but never got around to it.

This ladder will easily and solidly reach our second floor roof, it doesn't bounce around like a trampoline like other cheaply made extension ladders. We've also hung bird feeders far up in trees and he has felt safe doing each task. I would recommend this ladder to anyone searching for a quality extension ladder, it may be pricey up front but it is well worth it.

Also, when I ordered this, I ordered the additional work tray not realizing that this ladder comes with a solid metal tray that can be used to set items on or an additional step. There wasn't a tray specified anywhere that I saw but it does come with one so unless you want a tray specifically for holding things like nuts, bolts, a paint can etc then you don't need to order anything else.

Although it claims the A frame height is up to 9 ft, you can only stand at 7 ft, so I could not change my lamp which is about 13 ft high.
It is a bit heavy to handle and sometimes can be dangerous. Always have somebody with you when you use it for jobs at the high places.

Best thing I bought for my house. I am a new homeowner. I was shocked how easy it was to use. I was a little intimidated at first because I don't really like using ladders, but it was something I needed. I felt comfortable on the ladder and confident using it at hieght. Good buy.

Having moved into my first home 2 years ago, the previous owners left me there flimsy, unsafe ladder. I used it to get into my attic, but that was about it. After almost falling off it coming down one day, I tossed it in the garbage and bought the Little Giant.

I wish I had purchased this sooner. It is so sturdy, that two people can go up either side at the same time is wonderful. Its ability to set itself close to walls for painting is worth it right there. Stair Work? No problem. I live in a split level home, so I have that two teir staircase that has that tall unused area of wall. Im able to get up there finally and paint, hang crown molding and pictures.

I haven't used it yet at full extension for roof work, but will do that in the spring. In the 2 weeks I've owned this ladder, I've been able to get a lot of projects done around the house that would otherwise need multiple ladders for. This one does it all, and folds up into a space no taller than your standard step ladder.

Its a little heavier than the usual ones you buy, but its nothing the everyday person can't handle.
Since I've bought mine, 3 friends have seen it and ordered ones for themselves.

Great product!!!

When my wife and I bought our first house one of the first tools I bought was the little Giant ladder. It is literally the best ladder I have used. It's made strong and you don't feel it shake at all when you are on it. I have complete confidence in the hinge and love how portable it is. I even got the Little Giant 12106 RevolutionXE Ladder Leg Leveler and used this inside to paint the stairwell.

The ladder really is a tough ladder. It stores really easy and I love that it's fully adjustable and light weight. I use the ladder probably once a week minimum. Just last night I pulled it out and installed a new light on the back of the house that was about 13 feed up. Most ladders I have used are a hassle to get out because they are so big and bulky, but this thing I whip out all the time because it is so handy and easy to use.

I highly recommend getting a Little Giant ladder if you have any heed for a ladder.

I have a town home with high ceilings and also two stories. I needed to change the light bulbs but had concerns about hauling a long, unweildly A-frame ladder up and down the stairs. The solution was the Little Giant. Great point # 1: This ladder folds up to a compact 4'7", is really easy to move around, carry up stairs, and takes up very little storage space. I can even fit it in the trunk of my standard sized car. Great point #2: it feels really solid. It doesn't flex and shake like other ladders I have been on, even at its maximum extension. And great point #3: its super versatile. It can be up to an 7 ft A-frame or a 15ft extension ladder. The design is ingenius and really easy to figure out. All-in-all, I would HIGHLY recommend this ladder. Just a note: similar to an earlier reviewer, I ordered a work platform, but the ladder came with one too. I went back to look, and didn't see it anywhere on the sales literature ... so it was a pleasant addition.

If you own a home or you are in a business that requires a ladder, this is all you need. This ladder does so much it's great. I have used this ladder at work in the US Navy and it's the only ladder system we use for working with aircraft.