New Tool Review Xtreme Power 12′ Telescoping Extension Ladder

I will be keeping a tally of the tools that I acquire and once I get some good use out of them, I will provide a review of each. First up:

Xtreme Power 12′ Telescoping Extension LadderRetail price $225

Purchased from Amazon for $74.50

I had never seen a telescoping ladder until my home inspector used one, it looked so convenient that I knew I needed one. The Xtreme Power is only 34″ tall when totally collapsed, and weighs a grand total of 25 lbs. It’s rated to carry a 300 lb load, so some of you will have to empty those tool belts before climbing. I’ve used it to gain access to my attic, my roof, and to a derelict treehouse that needs to come down. Its compact size and light weight make it perfect for people suffering from a lack of storage space. After some use, I did find one small issue: if you don’t fully extend the ladder, the last few rungs remain collapsed. This creates a small barrier between the last step and the ground. I found myself missing that last step a few times. This could become a safety issue if you are carrying a load while descending it would be easy to misjudge that last step and roll an ankle.

I would not be super thrilled if I had paid retail price for it, but for $75 it’s a great ladder for my needs. I give it 3.5 chainsaws out of 5.

PROS: Compact size

CONS: Must be fully extended for safe use