Little Giant Ladder Systems HyperLite SumoStance Fiberglass Extension Ladder Review

Several years ago, we were framing a fairly large-sized house. We had one of the younger (greener) guys on the crew buttoning up some sheathing that we couldn’t do while the wall was still on the deck. The work was simple, albeit somewhat high up. His job was to carry partial sheets of sheathing up the ladder to fill in the “holes” and to finish nailing the bottom of the sheathing that tied into the lower structure.

Unfortunately, the ground was wet and his ladder was set up improperly, a recipe for disaster. While carrying up a sheet, the bottom of the ladder kicked out and slid down the wall. Luckily for him (and me), the ladder actually landed in a window opening directly below which stopped his fall and prevented major catastrophe. There is nothing more horrifying than potentially hurting someone, especially some one whose safety is ultimately in up to you.

The reason I tell this story is that ladder safety has always been one of the biggest issues when it comes to overall job site safety.  I recently had a chance to check out the Little Giant HyperLite SumoStance Ladder.

Little Giant HyperLite SumoStance Ladder – First Impressions

Upon first inspection, there were several notable attributes of this ladder. The first thing I noticed when opening the ladder was the weight. I honestly expected it to be lighter. With a name like HyperLite, I guess I was expecting some ladder made of balsa wood. Despite its’ name, this ladder still has some heft.

The second thing I noticed was the color, it’s bright, not a little bright. Think aircraft beacon bright. The ladder was designed this way on purpose and I will touch on this later in the article. The final thing I noticed is the most important. At the bottom of the ladder there are additional feet, that extend, to widen the base. This is the SumoStance technology that really make the ladder unique.

Features of the HyperLite SumoStance Ladder

Little Giant has been at the forefront of ladder innovation since its inception. They began with the widely popular “fold-up” ladder that is now ubiquitous on job sites. Each ladder they release is chalk full of great innovation and this ladder is no exception.

Weight

Although I expected this ladder to be lighter, it is still lighter than other comparable ladders on the market (50.2 lbs for the 24’). With ladders, I will always take “sturdiness” over weight any day of the week, and this ladder offers both. With a 300b weight limit, it strikes the ideal balance of strength to weight, and I found absolutely no issue with the weight.

HiVis Green Color Scheme

The HyperLite SumoStance Ladder comes in an extremely bright HiVis green color scheme. They say it is the most recognizable color to the human eye. This is designed to eliminate accidents that involve simply not seeing the ladder. Whether that be from equipment or simply people on the job site running into, it is NEVER a bad idea to make a ladder more visible.

Sure-Set Foot

While many ladder manufacturers offer adjustable feet, Little Giant has incorporated a patent-pending technology that allows the feet to be positioned flat or in a “spike” position SAFELY. This is extremely important if you are working in soft, wet conditions (as mentioned in the story above) or on harder flat surfaces. The feet also offer nail-slots to even further prevent slipping.

Bubble Indicators

the HyperLite SumoStance Ladder also offers two bubble indicators. One reads when the base of the ladder is level sided-to-side, and the other shows when the ladder is at the optimal 75.5º front-to-back. While this may seem a little “gimmicky” to many seasoned carpenters, it is especially helpful to novices and DIY’ers. Personally, I found this to be very helpful and used it more often than not.

Fly Section Rope and Pulley

I assume most tradesmen have had issues in the past with the rope and pulleys on their ladders. If you are like me, you find them in your way and usually harder to operate than just lifting the ladder without. Little Giant has addressed this issue by moving them from the middle of the ladder to the right side. This gives them ample room to put two (2) pulleys which reduces the amount of force necessary (up to 45%) to raise the fly section. This also moves this parts from the middle (underneath your feet) to the outside of the ladder eliminating a trip hazard. The rope works great.

“Do Not Climb” Red Rungs

Everyone knows you are not supposed to climb on the top three rungs of a ladder. We do it anyway. Little Giant has made these rungs a bright red to serve as a reminder. I am not the best when it comes to personal safety, and it has been a goal of mine to improve upon this. This feature is a great reminder and it is fantastic for new guys/gals to help keep them safe. This also helps to get proper height above a roof in which to grasp the ladder. While I thought this was a little overkill at first, I find myself subconsciously abiding by the “rule” which is ultimately better for myself and my company.

SumoStance Outriggers

The most innovative and, frankly, most important feature on this ladder, are the outriggers. Every pro tradesmen has stuck a scrap piece of wood or rock under their ladder in order to get it more level. While this has “worked” for years, we’ve all known it isn’t safe or in the best interest of our companies. We just do it to get the job done. The HyperLite SumoStance Ladder tackles this problem head-on with their outrigger system. You simply press a button and the outriggers move adjusting to terrain while simultaneously widening the stance of the ladder. This offers amazing stability side-to-side which helps with over-reaching and helps plumb the ladder vertically on uneven terrain.

Using the HyperLite SumoStance Ladder

I have been using the HyperLite SumoStance Ladder as my primary extension ladder for several weeks now and have found it durable and easy to use. The ladder is very intuitive and the SumoStance outriggers are very easy to use. It is very steady and being able to precisely dial in the correct front-to-back angle is a game changer. This ladder is not just for “greenies”. The dual-pulley system works great, and I love that I’m not tripping on a rope at my feet.

Improvements to the HyperLite SumoStance Ladder

While Little Giant has done an extraordinary job in creating a fantastic ladder, there are a couple improvements that I would like to see them address. I occasionally had a tough time switching the feet from flat to spike mode. With a little practice, this wasn’t too big of a deal, but when you are holding a ladder vertically, the last thing you want to be fumbling with is the feet. I also found one of the the SumoStance outriggers to be tough to move. It works well and locks-in great, once it begins to move. However, the button to engage the outrigger was stiff, and I eventually had to add lubricant for it to operate properly.

Overall Impression of the HyperLite SumoStance Ladder

After using this ladder, I can honestly say that Little Giant has once again hit a home run with their newest offering. The HyperLite SumoStance Ladder is tough, lightweight and offers game-changing innovation that other manufacturers are simply trying to copy. Pro’s and DIY’er’s alike will benefit from the many features on this ladder. It WILL offer more safety and productivity. Although it is not cheap (the best rarely are), I, without hesitation, recommend this ladder to anyone that is looking for a great extension ladder.

READ the following ladder usage and ladder safety tips and familiarize yourself with the OSHA guidelines For Ladder Safety.  The liability when working on a job site means taking roof and ladder safety seriously.

Little Giant HyperLite SumoStance Ladder is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Little Giant 17’ Revolution Ladder, Model 12017 Review

Little Giant 17' Revolution Ladder Type 1A

5/5

Manufacturer: Little Giant
Model number: 12017
Price: 283.00
Weight: 32 lbs

The CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) report on ladder safety shows mind blowing statistics concerning the severity and number of ladder-related accidents that occur in the United States. Every year thousands of people are injured, and hundreds are killed in ladder accidents that usually can be avoided. More than 90,000 parties receive medical treatment from ladder related injuries every year, and 15% of all occupational deaths are caused by ladder injuries. OSHA believes that 100% of all ladder accidents can be prevented if the proper safety precautions are followed.

Little Giant claims their Revolution is designed to be the safest ladder on the planet and I would totally agree with them. This ladder can be used safely on stairs, ramps, curbs or any other uneven surface. Their LiteWave aluminum technology is the same material used in aerospace construction. This material has ultra-strong characteristics without sacrificing size or portability.

First Impression:

I reviewed the following Little Giant products:

• Little Giant 12017 Ladder
• Aluminum Work Platform 10104
• Aluminum Wingspan 10111
• Aluminum Work Plank 11013

My initial thought was this ladder is heavy and not going to be as portable as I thought it would. Weighing in at 37.5lbs, it is almost 3x heavier than my aluminum step ladder and 2x heavier than my fiberglass step ladder, but I quickly realized it could do things that my other ladders can not.

Over several years of contracting work, my ladder collection has grown, due to the need to have different heights and configurations. I literally have everyone of those ladders built into the Little Giant 12017.

I immediately noticed that the lower base of this ladder has flared out legs.  This leg flare design provides outstanding stability. People who may get nervous on ladders will immediately notice the leg flare provides balance and support. Having that wider base will allow you to reach left or right with lesser risk of tipping. I’m was impressed with the portability of this ladder. All of the accessories are tool-less and attach with ease by either locking into place or sliding on a rung. Little Giant does a real nice job on hassle free attachments.

Model 12017 and Accessories Specifications:

Below are the manufacture’s specifications for the Little Giant Revolution Type 1A ladder, 10104 aluminum work platform accessory, 10111 aluminum wing span accessory and 11016 aluminum telescoping work plank accessory.

Little Giant 12017 Revolution Ladder Type 1A Specs

• 300-lb weight rating (Type 1A)
• Exceeds all OSHA and ANSI standards
• Lifetime warranty
• Built with LiteWave technology (aerospace-grade aluminum)

Work Platform 10104

• 300-lb weight rating
• Attaches easily
• Folding design for storage
• 1-year warranty
  The Work Platform can be purchased for $37.10 on Amazon here: Little Giant Work Platform-Model 10104

Wing Span 10111

• Great for working around obstacles
• 4 foot fixed span
• Attaches easily
• 1-year warranty
  The Little Giant Wingspan can be purchased for $40.00 on Amazon here: Little Giant Wingspan-Model 10111

Telescoping Work Plank 11016

• Aluminum construction
• Rated for 250 lbs
• Exceeds load requirements set forth by OSHA & ANSI
• Adjusts from 10 to 16 feet
• Slip resistant surface
• Weather resistant
  The Little Giant Work Plank can be purchased for $245.99 on Amazon here: Little Giant 10’-16’ Work Plank-Model 11016

4-in-1 Ladder

When discussed on the job site, a few common things talked about are the weight and cost. Yes, the Little Giant 12017 be 3x heavier than your standard aluminum ladder (weighting 37.5lbs) and yes it is more than double sometimes triple the cost of your aluminum or fiberglass step ladder ($283), but if you think about the versatility this ladder offers than those are moot points. This ladder is designed to be 4 different styles of ladders all in one, for example:

• Typical A Frame Ladder with 4 adjustable heights: 4′, 5′, 6′, & 7′
• Staircase style ladder
• Extension ladder
• Scaffolding Position

Typical A frame ladders are the most common use for the Little Giant 12017. Extending to four different heights 4′,5′,6′ & 7′ in a matter of seconds is my favorite feature of this ladder. Instead of carrying several step ladders in various heights, you have them all in one and save a boat load of room in your van, truck or trailer. The price reflects the versatility of this ladder. When you add up what it would cost to just own a 4′,5′,6′,& 7′ ladder, you are looking at $200-$250 easily. This is not including the extension ladder or right angle ladder features, therefore making this ladder worth the $280 purchase.

Work Platform – Model 10104

The movable Work Platform Model – 10104 is constructed of the same aero-space material and fits on any Little Giant ladder rungs. Rated Type 1A, it can support up to 300 pounds, perfect for contractors who need the extra weight capacity for their work applications.

The 10104’s design allows it to tuck away when not needed, yet easily moves into place with your foot when ready to use. Once you climb up the ladder past the rung where the platform is mounted, you drop your heal back and extend the platform. Very nice feature Little Giant added here. By having the platform stored prior to climbing, you do not have to worry about bending down and trying to secure it while up on the ladder thus preventing injury.

Aluminum Work Plank Scaffold – Model 11016

Since the Little Giant pulls apart to form two scaffold trestles, you just add the Little Giant 11016 Aluminum Work Plank to form a scaffolding system. Additionally, Little Giant provides 2 aluminum brackets that secure the outer ladder rails together, forming a second ladder Using the scaffolding feature was my only concern. As a contractor who weighs 250lbs, I noticed that there was a bow in the plank when used at the 10′ length. I did not try to walk on the plank at the 16′ extension length, not until I go on a diet! Little Giant does not recommend going higher than the second ladder rung to support your plank. The third rung can be used with the plank as a work bench only, not as scaffolding.

The work plank is weather resistant and has a slip resistant work surface. This scaffolding feature is great for painters, or carpenters doing outside siding work, or large crown molding jobs.  The scaffolding weighs 53 lbs, telescopes from 10′ to 16′, is 12″ wide and is rated at 250 lbs.

4-Foot Wingspan Accessory – Model 10111

The 4′ Wingspan – Model 10111 makes working on rain gutters, around windows, bushes, overhangs and other obstacles much easier. Having a larger point of contact on whatever surface you are working on provides that much more stability and makes you safer. This is my favorite accessory, especially for a guy who doesn’t like heights all to well.

Great for Tight Spots

For those tight to get places in the stairwell, the Stairwell style ladder is extremely helpful. Painters and plasterers drool over this feature. My painter loves this ladder so much, he tried to steal it. “Forgot it was in my truck” he said. Yeah right, I know this game, and I cant blame him for trying. This ladder is loved by all contractors.

Extension Ladder

For projects that require more than 17′ of height,  the Little Giant easily transforms into a sturdy extension ladder allowing you to reach places such as rooftops, trees and much more with ease. By pressing in the hinge locks, you can turn the 12017 into an extension ladder with amazing stability. Flaring on both top and bottom are what creates the extreme stability Little Giant is known for.

Overall Impression:

I could not set up the Little Giant 12017 as fast as the guy in the infomercial, but after spending some time and watching the provided DVD I was able to get the hang of it. Although I use the ladder for mostly business purposes, when I am using it, I feel like I am a kid again getting to play Transformers when I operate it. Love it!

With the addition of Little Giant 12017 Revolution Ladder, I was able to reduce my ladder collection from 4 down to 1. I increased my storage space without having to give anything up. The Little Giant Ladder is perfect for my line of work.

If you are looking for a reliable, versatile and transportable ladder than the Little Giant 12017 Revolution Ladder Type 1A is your go to ladder. Anyone that does not mind the price would be very proud to have this ladder in their truck or shop. The construction of this ladder, the great features it has and when used properly will no doubt eliminate personal injuries.

Little Giant Revolution Ladder is a post from Tool Box Buzz