# How to tell if a ladder is still good? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 21, 2021, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-a-ladder-is-still-good/951059 "2021-09-21T12:59:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-a-ladder-is-still-good/951059/21 "2021-09-22T10:42:53Z")
I was going to post to say that I’m still baffled, but I think I get it. Each _individual_ rung is rectangular. We’re not talking about the empty space between rungs and side rails, correct? If so, that makes sense. How tall is the ladder? Go up half way, bounce a bit, and see if it feels/sounds safe. Then flip it over and go up the other half. If it is ten feet, the most you will fall is 5 or less. mmm ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-a-ladder-is-still-good/951059/22 "2021-09-22T11:12:05Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > If it is ten feet, the most you will fall is 5 or less. A few years ago I was sitting in my old [sky-chair](https://www.skychairs.com/) when it suffered hardware failure. I fell four feet, landing on my ass on concrete. I was in pain for weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-a-ladder-is-still-good/951059/23 "2021-09-22T11:59:58Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Each _individual_ rung is rectangular. We’re not talking about the empty space between rungs and side rails, correct? Right. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-a-ladder-is-still-good/951059/24 "2021-09-22T13:01:57Z")
As we would say in the army, _if there is any doubt_, _there is no doubt_ - especially when it comes to something that can kill you. Get rid of it. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-a-ladder-is-still-good/951059/25 "2021-09-22T13:24:55Z")
> [@naita](#): > > You can check the bottom rungs by standing on them. Bounce a bit to check they tolerate more than your passive weight. If it doesn’t look like the other rungs have been exposed more to the elements, they are probably not different. After doing the above, grab a higher rung & then you can lift your feet off the ground; your weight is your weight, if it’ll support it hanging from it, it should support it if you’re standing on it. The advantage is that if that higher rung does break, your feet are only an inch or two off the ground so you’re not really going to fall ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-a-ladder-is-still-good/951059/26 "2021-09-22T14:08:51Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > > > If it is ten feet, the most you will fall is 5 or less. > > A few years ago I was sitting in my old [sky-chair](https://www.skychairs.com/) when it suffered hardware failure. I fell four feet, landing on my ass on concrete. I was in pain for weeks. Ha ha, yeah, I wouldn’t recommend testing it over concrete. Or a floor of Legos. mmm ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-a-ladder-is-still-good/951059/27 "2021-09-22T14:09:32Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > The advantage is that if that higher rung does break, your feet are only an inch or two off the ground so you’re not really going to fall I didn’t recommend that, because there’s a non-zero chance that if the rung breaks you are going to yank it down on the top of your head with maximum force! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-a-ladder-is-still-good/951059/28 "2021-09-22T15:21:19Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > As we would say in the army, _if there is any doubt_ , _there is no doubt_ - especially when it comes to something that can kill you. Get rid of it. I was thinking something similar. The OP said something about how the ladder is almost too heavy to carry alone. So why not just replace it with an aluminum ladder? There are [tripod-type ladders](https://www.hasegawaladders.com/tripod-ladders/) that are lighter and might work better in the garden. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2021, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-a-ladder-is-still-good/951059/29 "2021-09-22T22:07:18Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > …So why not just replace it with an aluminum ladder? There are [tripod-type ladders](https://www.hasegawaladders.com/tripod-ladders/) that are lighter and might work better in the garden. Completely agree except that fiberglass ladders are safer than aluminum ladders. That’s what I would buy. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2021, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-a-ladder-is-still-good/951059/30 "2021-09-28T04:09:09Z")
I have a wooden ladder that I “inherited” from my parents, and I remember it from my childhood so it’s at least 40 and maybe over 50 years old. It somehow looks to be in perfect shape, and I still use it occasionally, but it worries me. This thread reminds me to replace it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-tell-if-a-ladder-is-still-good/951059.md?page=1)