Ladders

[andy ellis]

I've used so many ladders in 20-odd years and I've found the Hailo are the best by a distance, and you don't need to buy loads of different sizes, like you do size the henchman plus they are great for going straight up a tree as well.  

 

https://www.hailo-shop.co.uk/store/ladders/combination-ladders/hailo-s100-profilot/

Edited yesterday at 10:18 by andy ellis
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[AHPP]

Versatility obvious. How good are they freestanding compared to a tripod? Say Henchman are 8/10. What are Hailo? Just freestanding. 

[woody paul]

1 hour ago, andy ellis said:

I've used so many ladders in 20-odd years and I've found the Hailo are the best by a distance, and you don't need to buy loads of different sizes, like you do size the henchman plus they are great for going straight up a tree as well.  

 

https://www.hailo-shop.co.uk/store/ladders/combination-ladders/hailo-s100-profilot/

I looked at Hailo, but that bottom bar looked a pain. 

That's why I went for Altrex one to replace old titan combi. 

[andy ellis]

1 hour ago, AHPP said:

Versatility obvious. How good are they freestanding compared to a tripod? Say Henchman are 8/10. What are Hailo? Just freestanding. 

just as good as its adjustable so you can always have it level plus it can also be just a ladder which takes you up to 30ft on a big tree, bottom bar isn't a pain at al;l you undo it, adjust until level, then push it back down 

[green heart]

After managing for several decades with a succession of unsatisfactory domestic 3-way Ladders, we also sometimes borrowed the safer (but super bulky) henchmans. I never dared leave them locked to a roof rack, overnight tho..

I then wasted 3 or 4 hundred quid on some good (but heavy) Zarges 3 way Ladders, but was gutted to use a customer's MacAlister domestic equivalent one's (at rather less than half the price and weight).

Andy Ellis' Hailo ladders look like a much better compromise, to me...

 

[Peter 1955]

I have a freestanding triple ladder, with adjustable levelling bar. It can be used as an A frame, with adjustable extension, but it's heavy, awkward, and doesn't fit close to hedges most times. henchman tripods make it redundant for that, in my humble opinion. For the chap who said it's awkward with the long reach trimmer on these, I now have an ordinary cutter to cut my way in close to, and then use the long reach. 

[kram]

It wont be left on roof rack unattended overnight, just as no valuable tools are left in it.

 

17 hours ago, green heart said:

Hailo ladders look like a much better compromise, to me...

 

On 24/08/2025 at 11:17, andy ellis said:

I've used so many ladders in 20-odd years and I've found the Hailo are the best by a distance, and you don't need to buy loads of different sizes, like you do size the henchman plus they are great for going straight up a tree as well.  

 

https://www.hailo-shop.co.uk/store/ladders/combination-ladders/hailo-s100-profilot/

How much!?! Looks just like a normal extending combination type but with a fancy bottom bar for adjusting it level - while I like the idea, I dont like how its done with a curved bar and I'd want to know spares are available - which dont show on the spares page.

 

 

17 hours ago, Peter 1955 said:

For the chap who said it's awkward with the long reach trimmer on these, I now have an ordinary cutter to cut my way in close to, and then use the long reach. 

I do like using shorty hedge cutters, the Makita UH006 is excellent for cutting thick tops, much quicker than a long reach on a narrow hedge.

[kram]

I believe I've decided on the extendable combination ladder type. Trying to decide which brand and what size to get but likely the 8 rung. A frame max height of 4m and fully extended its 8.4m.