Little Giant Ladder Systems - Select Step Ladder

Editor's Review: Beyond the basic step ladder

If being penny-wise were a sport, I’d be team captain. When buying tools—especially tools I already have and that still mostly work—the new tool better pay for itself in a hurry. On my projects, Little Giant’s Select Step ladder beats this criterion. This ladder’s adjustable legs—with stops at 5, 6, 7, and 8 ft.—are its core attribute. At 5 ft., it’s compact, ideal for use when the work is at or near the ceiling (porch light or crown molding, for instance), and it stores nicely.

For higher ceilings or exterior work (low roofs, first-floor replacement windows, pergolas, and so forth), its 8-ft. reach means safer access to the work—and I don’t need a dedicated 8-footer.

But it’s the added bells and whistles that make this Type 1A-rated (300-lb. capacity) $180 ladder earn its keep. First, it has independently adjustable legs, which are ideal for jobs like accessing second-story gutters from a sloped porch roof. Also, the included work platform, which puts ordinary ladder shelves to shame, is large and strong enough to hold heavy items like a nailer or for managing small parts during a ceiling-fan installation. I wish the work platform stored a bit more securely when not in use, but beyond that, my only complaint is that the ladder is a bit awkward to carry. I suppose that’s why they gave it wheels.

Editor Test Results: