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Foot the ladder v laddermate

mrtaytay

Well-known member
Messages
2,076
Location
South Wingfield
I am going to be purchasing a ladder stabiliser/anti slip device in a couple of days time. I wanted something that I could quickly put in/take out of the boot. I also wanted a device that could be quickly attached to the ladder....no faffing around. I have narrowed it down to two choices:

1) Foot the ladder

http://www.roofingsuperstore.co.uk/product/foot-the-ladder-safety-frame.html?gclid=CKOMpJG_r8ECFSEOwwod6rAANw

2) Laddermate

http://www.ladderstore.com/ladder-accessories/ladder-stabilisers-feet/laddermate-ladder-stabiliser.html

I think I am favouring the foot the ladder safety device as it would fit in the car easier. I just wondered what other people think. I know a lot of people rate the foot the ladder but I havent heard any mention of the laddermate

 
With winter coming, I'll be interested to see what people prefer myselfasall my stuff is rubber, whereas like Boar is rightfully saying- it aint much good in the wet.

 
i believe that with a little thought you could modify either of those so it was permanently fixed to the ladder - folded flat against the underside of ladder

but able to fold down into place ,at short notice .

 
yesterday i was parked up in my van in a car park, suddenly tap on my window ."your 4 minutes past your ticket dyou know?"

yes,the local ticket warden,hated by all.a greaseball - he then spent 20 minutes tellin me his life story , hed had a spell as a windie and had fallen 15ft ten yrs ago when a double ladder collapsed on him. i find it hard to believe that this was true, as all the ladders iv seen have 2 or more back ups to collapsing

 
yesterday i was parked up in my van in a car park, suddenly tap on my window ."your 4 minutes past your ticket dyou know?"
yes,the local ticket warden,hated by all.a greaseball - he then spent 20 minutes tellin me his life story , hed had a spell as a windie and had fallen 15ft ten yrs ago when a double ladder collapsed on him. i find it hard to believe that this was true, as all the ladders iv seen have 2 or more back ups to collapsing
He was probably using a shitty DIY rated ladder from Homebase, and if hes a fatso then that is definitely not suitable for regular hard use. Hes not the first and wont be the last.

 
He was probably using a shitty DIY rated ladder from Homebase, and if hes a fatso then that is definitely not suitable for regular hard use. Hes not the first and wont be the last.
i know he was eager to ticket me, i spose itd be a coup for him , him being a failed windie . he had hurried over to my van ready to ticket me , then was surprised somebody was sittin in it . he is a fatso yes

 
i know he was eager to ticket me, i spose itd be a coup for him , him being a failed windie . he had hurried over to my van ready to ticket me , then was surprised somebody was sittin in it . he is a fatso yes
Sounds like a right jobsworth.

 
I've been using a ladder m8 for about 5 years now when the snow and ice is around and have to say it is brilliant , never had it slip it is also great on decking !

I would highly recommend 1 of these, I think I payed £50 and it's worth every penny

 
ive got the foot the ladder its a very nce pice of kit an its adjustable witch is nce i couldent trad with out on on sertin jobs ie wet slimy wood decking or slipry flag stones ect ive never used the ladder mate so cant comment on that device

 
I've been using a ladder m8 for about 5 years now when the snow and ice is around and have to say it is brilliant , never had it slip it is also great on decking !I would highly recommend 1 of these, I think I payed £50 and it's worth every penny
is that the one with spikes Murphy?

 
Well i have used both for some time now and find that if the "Foot" on foot the ladder doesn't comedown enough due to the angle i have to use a "ladder mate" all in all i do feel a fraction safer using the ladder mate as its solid, and the foot doesn't adjust and spread a little due to the weight on the ladder.

 
Not used either, but that ladder mate looks odd to me, how do you use the ladder at a different angle? the laddermate seems fixed angle?

 
I don't think you can beat an ankalad for ladder stability when it's set up properly. Also it's permanently fixed to the ladder (legs folds flat to the stiles) so there is no excuse not to use it. If I had a choice for someone to foot the ladder or use an ankalad I would choose the ankalad every time because not only does it stop the ladder slipping backwards at the bottom, stops the ladder slipping sideways at the top it also takes the bounce out of the ladder too.

 
(Diwrnash) you just put it on a stile further up or just slide it up a little till its in the right place, its difficult to explain.... anyone else know what i mean?

 
Well i have used both for some time now and find that if the "Foot" on foot the ladder doesn't comedown enough due to the angle i have to use a "ladder mate" all in all i do feel a fraction safer using the ladder mate as its solid, and the foot doesn't adjust and spread a little due to the weight on the ladder.
Presumably the laddermate fits In the car/van easily

 
Maybe not but i feel a lot safer with my ankalad (thanks for recommending it smurf)

With it out and ladders fully extended it feels like triples folded up..no bounce at all

 
I had a window and gutter job today and there was a load of badly fitted and very slippery decking at the back. I ended up using a 'memorial' bench from the garden to foot the ladder. Was all a bit awkward as I was preying they didn't come back and see me climbing down onto it.:oops: I think its time for me to get one of these gadgets.

 
few years ago there was a gizmo called ladder limpets, they were a pair of legs in effect that hooked onto the ladder stiles and stopped slip AND sideways movement. i had a pair myself but never used them as i just wasnt sure

the limpet was the market leader for years and well made too -yet the firm ceased trading ,why that was who knows,was there a court case you can only speculate . i remember a windie on a diffrent forum commenting how he had used these regularly and they made him feel really safe,until one day the ladder slid out with these gizmos attached, a very scarey experience by all accounts

 
The way the ankalad works i can't see how it can slip out on you as it turns the ladders into a giant a frame

The only downside is when carrying the ladders you have an ally tube sitting on your shoulder rather than a flat ladder stile

But i wouldn't do gutters or townhouses without it now

 
iv not seen an ankalad but it does seem foolproof from what iv read anyhow.. the point i was making is that its easy to buy and fit on a safety gizmo and then you think im allrite jack,im safe-as-houses

but often its a false sense of security , theres a new ,hidden risk that youve just created by adding on a gizmo.

if i had more spare time id test each of these devices and find out the fail point. id place my ladder and then open a window and strap a 13 stone weight on the 3rd rung down. then id kick out the bottom of the ladder to mimic slippery ground .

 
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