Little Giant Ladders, SkyScraper, M21, 11-21 Foot, Stepladder, Aluminum, Type 1A, 300 lbs Weight Rating, (10121),Gray

this is a great ladder. i have painted a number of houses over the years and am handy with 28' extension ladders. looking over the other customer reviews, i would reinforce / add some comments:* this is a ladder (the 21 footer) for an experienced ladder user, for several reasons. first, you have to be comfortable being that high up, especially when away from a wall such as you would have with an ordinary ladder. second, unless you are 6'6" tall and very very strong you will need another person or some other way to "foot" the ladder to get it up and down. and even then, you need to be able to control the weight as you open and close it. third, it helps to have a good "ladder sense" gained from experience as you think about where / how to place it and move it around and up and down without crashing it or putting undue stress on the joint at the top. so i would say if you have never owned an extension ladder then this would not be a good "starter" ladder. start with a smaller size little giant or a 28' extension ladder.* this is a well built ladder, and once in place is very very stable. i have one of the smaller little giants too. for certain jobs there is just no substitute for this type of ladder that allows one leg to be higher than the other. great for stairs, hillsides, etc. and of course this ladder is FREESTANDING. so if your alternative is to lean an extension ladder against a tree (for example) ... then certainly this type of ladder would be much safer.* to foot the ladder by myself, i filled a large trash container with water and then put the ladder base up against the container bottom. if you try this (outdoors only), of course put the container where you want it first, then fill with water to make it heavy enough to not move. then "walk" the ladder up by lifting the top rung over your head and walking towards the base, a pretty standard technique for extension ladders over 28'. of course if you have a helper let them "foot" it for you instead of using the container.* i had to laugh at the owner manual suggestion that to bring the ladder back down you should (if i read this correctly) tip it over sideways. at full extension, certainly you would need two people to do this, to avoid crashing it, if it is even possible at all given the room you have. i would like to see little giant demonstrate in their video the technique they recommend.* for me, the best way to move the ladder up and down is to use a smaller little giant "inside" the big one, and move each side of the ladder two or three rungs at a time. each time you do this, you will have to readjust the inside ladder position. but it does work, and can be done solo. this way, you can put the ladder up and down at its lowest extension, not the highest. much safer if you ask me. i'm not trying to get in the way of little giants' "official" instructions, just sharing my personal opinion.* all in all, a great ladder, i've seen nothing else like it on the market especially in the 21 foot size. if you're looking at this ladder, likely an ordinary extension ladder just won't work for your situation. i got the big one, despite its being harder to handle, because if you are spending so much anyway on a ladder of this type, may as well get one that goes as high as possible. if you are getting it for just one purpose (like changing light bulbs) rather than for open-ended uses, then i suggest the smallest one that will fit that need would be easiest to handle.

This is a must have ladder for any handyman or professional that needs that indoor height. The ladder really allows you to get up to the 2 floor ceiling in the homes with vaulted ceilings. The ladder is heave and awkard to move around but it is by far one of the best ladders I have ever bought.

I purchased this ladder for my church, which has lights in a 20' ceiling, above pews, making ladder placement difficult. The ladder is well built and stable, and its variable angle and height makes it well suited for "difficult" placements. I am very pleased with its suitability for my purpose.The way it is constructed, the two legs can be at different heights, which means they will be at different vertical angles, which provides flexibility when going to tight places, or when working off uneven bases (steps, for example). I weigh 250# and with me on the ladder fully extended it's still stable enough to feel safe. Each leg adjusts in 1-step (~12") increments between the minimum of about 11' and the maximum of about 21'.A disadvantage is that the height adjustment should be done while the ladder is horizontal. When fully extended, the ladder becomes difficult to raise to the vertical, but can be raised by one "fit" person -- if there is another person or another way to hold the bottom end on the floor. Another negative is that the latch for the spread between the legs is on the top, and the latches for each leg are ~11' up. It takes practice to learn how to position the ladder, and release the latches to close it, but it can be done without undue difficulty, although you may have to go up/down multiple times.This is not a ladder meant for a novice ladder climber. The height, the size/weight, and the need for practice in manipulating it are all reasons that it should be used by someone who is accustomed to working at height.

When I first bought this ladder, I was happy. It was tall, seem to do the job. But after opening and closing it, perhaps ten times or so, and within the first year of service, both straps broke. I contacted the Little Giant warranty service and went through a nightmare of multiple emails and multiple pictures from multiple angles and of multiple parts. Ultimately, Little Giant wrote me and said this: "Thank you for completing the requested warranty information. After reviewing all the information provided, I have determined that this is not a manufacturing defect. The web strapping is considered to be a wear and tear item and is not covered under the Little Giant Limited 5 yr warranty for the Skyscrapers." Little Giant then offered to send charge me for replacement parts. Pathetic. If you buy this product, understand that Little Giant is very unlikely to provide any post-purchase help, IMHO.

Helps me safely reach 25-26ft ceilings.I have several little giant ladders and I believe they could all be a little easier to raise and lower but I definitely recommend having an extra set of hands for this ladder. It’s very heavy! I believe 103 lbs? I can balance the whole ladder on my shoulders when it’s extended but when it is in the lowest/closed position (11ft) it is a monster to handle.