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Add to SafariKidde KL-2S Two-Story Fire Escape Ladder vs First Alert EL53W-2 Three-Story Portable Fire Escape Ladder
When comparing Kidde KL-2S Two-Story Fire Escape Ladder vs First Alert EL53W-2 Three-Story Portable Fire Escape Ladder, the Slant community recommends First Alert EL53W-2 Three-Story Portable Fire Escape Ladder for most people. In the question“What are the best emergency escape ladders under $150?” First Alert EL53W-2 Three-Story Portable Fire Escape Ladder is ranked 2nd while Kidde KL-2S Two-Story Fire Escape Ladder is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose First Alert EL53W-2 Three-Story Portable Fire Escape Ladder is:
The First Alert features slip-resistant, epoxy-coated rungs, steel rung stabilizers, and Dupont Cordura nylon strapping. In addition, its rungs lie flat against the wall of the building you're exiting, helping you to keep your balance as you climb down. All of these elements of the ladder's design help to ensure a safe descent.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Excellent stability
The Kidde can support up to 750 lbs of weight on one rung or 1,000 lbs when the load is distributed on more than one rung. It also features anti-slip coating on its rungs that help to make it even safer and more stable to descend.
Pro Flame-resistant
The ladder is made of metal rungs and red nylon strap rails, all of which are resistant to flames and therefore won't melt when engulfed by fire.
Pro Easy to store
The hooks of the Kidde ladder fold down neatly into a compact package that's perfect for storage under a bed or in a closet.
Pro Comes pre-assembled
In the case of an emergency, this ladder can be deployed in seconds.
Pro Tangle-resistant
The way in which the Kidde has been designed means that when it's deployed it won't tangle, saving you a lot of time and stress in urgent situations.
Pro Affordable
At less than $30, the Kidde is very affordable, even for those on a lower budget.
Pro Easy to climb down
The First Alert features slip-resistant, epoxy-coated rungs, steel rung stabilizers, and Dupont Cordura nylon strapping. In addition, its rungs lie flat against the wall of the building you're exiting, helping you to keep your balance as you climb down. All of these elements of the ladder's design help to ensure a safe descent.
Pro Easy to assemble
This ladder is easily deployed: you simply need to open its big velcro strap to let the rungs fall. But be careful that the rungs aren’t faced in the wrong direction as this sometimes has a tendency to happen.
Pro Rungs are less likely to cause damage to property than those of other ladders
Many fire escape ladders on the market comprise sharp metal rungs that can easily cause damage to the wall they're hung against. The rubber feet of the First Alert, however, are less likely to damage property to the same extent, if even at all.
Pro Suited to varied window sill widths
The wide sill hooks of this ladder can be used on all types of window sills, but especially those that measure 6 to 13 inches
Pro Can be reused
Unlike some of its competitors, the First Alert ladder doesn't state anywhere that the product should only be used once, meaning you and your family can practice on it before using it in emergency situations.
Pro Suitable for the home and workplace
As the First Alert is tall enough to accommodate 3-story buildings, it's a great option for families in larger homes, for low-rise apartment dwellers, or for offices that are a few stories high.
Pro Easily stored
The design of the First Alert is compact enough to allow it to be neatly stored away, either under a bed or in a closet.
Pro Reasonably-priced
At just under $60, this ladder is relatively affordable for most budgets.
Pro Strong
The First Alert can securely hold weights of up to 1,125 lbs.
Cons
Con Can only be used once
Kidde’s instructions state that the ladder should be discarded after single use and that if it's used more than once this could result in injury or death. Instead, potential buyers are encouraged to practice with the hook assembly only, without deploying the rung bundle. To this end, if you feel that practicing with the rungs is crucial prior to an actual emergency, you should purchase a second ladder for training purposes. Needless to say, this is an unnecessary expense.
Con Tricky to set up and use
Users have reported great confusion when it comes to setting up this ladder. First of all, it's initially somewhat unclear as to how the Kidde hook grabs the house, while secondly, the hook positions the rungs away from the house, making the descent more difficult.
Con Not easy for kids to use
As this ladder is heavier than most of its competitors, kids may find it heavy and difficult to deploy on their own.
Con Tricky to reassemble
Though setting up the ladder is relatively straight-forward, putting it back together and in its bag is much more cumbersome.
Con Steel stabilizers could cause damage to your premises
The steel stabilizers of the First Alert require a flat surface to rest against when someone is climbing down the ladder, which may result in smashed glass if they are placed under the second-level windows.
