Unless you are superbly organised, the chances are you still have a few Christmas gifts to buy and they’re likely to be for the people you just don’t know what to buy for.  Luckily, most of these ‘hard-to-buy-for’ people are men and a ladder gift can flatter their masculinity.  But what sort of ladder should you buy?

Buying a ladder for someone else is not easy, as there are so many factors involved in deciding what is the most suitable ladder.  You can simplify the choice by using a few simple questions:

1. Are they into DIY or home maintenance?
2. How much do they weigh?
3. Do they have adequate storage for a ladder?
4. What sort of home do they live in?
5. Do they own additional property?
6. How strong are they?
7. Do they have children or other people in the household?

1. If the giftee is into DIY and home maintenance they may already have a perfectly good ladder.  Try to find out by asking their friends and family, they may be able to give you some pointers.  If they already have a ladder, or a set of ladders, then the Little Giant Select Step could be an ideal replacement for their existing set.  This ladder performs in 24 different configurations and has a vast array of accessories (which you can keep giving as birthday and Christmas gifts for a couple of years after the initial gift of the ladder!).  If they have a specific ladder in mind (information you can glean from their close ones) then it’s probably best to get them something they have chosen themselves.

2. If you have no idea what ladders they have already, consider getting a Lyte triple section extension ladder.  This is a ladder in three sections that can achieve great heights, but can also function as a double section extension ladder as well as three single shorter ladders.  This ladder can be used indoors and out, is very versatile and would make a great gift for a DIY enthusiast or someone doing up a property.

3. Ladders are rated according to the construction and the amount of weight they are able to carry.  For domestic use ladders, this is 95 kilos (about 15 stone), so if the person you are buying for is heavier than that, consider getting a trade standard or even industrial standard ladder.  Even if the person is not quite that heavy, consider what they might be carrying up the ladder, as the weight of tools contributes to the maximum load.

4. People with smaller homes might not have space indoors for a ladder (leaving ladders unlocked outside helps burglars and greatly increases the chances of the ladder being stolen).  In these cases, a set of locking ladder brackets that affix to an external wall would be an ideal additional gift.

5. If the giftee lives in a single storey home, then a long extension ladder would not be needed, even to reach the roof.  Similarly, if they live in a flat, then an external use ladder is also not appropriate.  Instead, a step ladder (for apartment dwellers) or a telescopic tripod ladder (for single storey people) make excellent choices.  The Faxco model can be used indoors as a very stable step ladder and then outdoors can be used either as the single height, or taller for access up to roof height.  Because this ladder is easy to position, it makes a great gift for people who are not used to using ladders.

6. If the person you are buying for has additional property, consider whether a ladder specifically for this property would be appreciated.  Even boats need ladders, so a boatowner might be glad of a new ladder.  You can even get boat ladders for dogs and the dog-loving sailor might never have thought about getting this piece of equipment.

7. Someone doing up a property might need a set of ladders to stay on site all the time and the Lyte triple section extension ladders are a great idea here.  Because they can be used as a triple, double and single, or three single ladders, they are infinitely useful around building sites and renovation projects.

8. People who own caravans might need to access the roof, so a telescopic ladder allows them to do this, without needing a lot of space to be stored inside. Telescopic ladders are just as strong as rigid ladders, but take up far less space when not in use.  They can be kept under the seats, at the back of a cupboard and even in a car.

9. Consider how strong the person is.  Some ladders, especially the longer and more complex ones, can weigh quite a lot.  Be sure not to get someone a ladder that is too heavy for them to use properly, as it is dangerous to erect a ladder you cannot handle and they may injure themselves trying to move it.

10. People with children might appreciate kitchen steps or small safety steps to help their kids access work surfaces so they can help with cooking.  These small steps are also useful as seats and for adults to use when accessing high shelves.  Even when the kids have grown out of them, they are still infinitely useful around the home.

With free next day delivery on most products to the UK mainland, Midland Ladders might help you climb out of a sticky situation this Christmas!