First Alert EL53W-2 Three-Story Portable Fire Escape Ladder vs X-It 2-Story Emergency Escape Ladder

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

At just under $60, this ladder is relatively affordable for most budgets.

The First Alert can securely hold weights of up to 1,125 lbs.

The X-It features one of the most intuitive hook designs of fire escape ladders within this price range. With no hinges, pivot points, nor folding parts, you simply attach its grappling-hook to your windowsill and allow the bundle of rungs to fall into their natural position. The hooks of other ladders are much more complicated: they’re larger and have folding parts that make it possible to incorrectly position the straps connected to the rungs. With the X-It, however, it's obvious how the ladder should be positioned, thus it requires less thinking and saves time in stressful, emergency situations.

When it's hooked onto a windowsill, the X-It's rungs hang against the house, adding stability to the ladder and making it easier to climb down. Often-times the hook designs of other fire escape ladders leave the rungs hanging only a few inches away from the house. So, once someone stands on them, the ladder is much more likely to move to the side or even further away from the house, making the descent not only more difficult but more stressful too.

Many fire escape ladders are bulky and don’t come with storage bags. The X-It, on the other hand, is smaller than its competitors. Its aluminum rungs nest within one another and fit neatly into a bright yellow Velcro-sealed bag that's about the size and shape of a shoebox. A Velcro strap ensures that the bundle remains sturdy, even if it's dropped or banged against a wall. The ladder is therefore very easy to store away, be that in a closet or under a bed. Its bright color also makes it stand out among clutter in dim light. Essentially, its compact size and clever packaging render the X-It a quick one-handed grab for most people, which is an asset in an emergency situation where you could be carrying a child in your other arm.

At only 6 lbs, the X-It weighs almost 2 lbs less than the next lightest model on the market and weighs 2 to 5 times lighter than the industry average weight. Needless to say, this is a huge advantage in a high-stress situation, particularly where kids are involved and are required to carry and use the ladder by themselves.

The X-It hook doesn’t wrap around the entire wall like other ladders, so it isn't limited to a certain wall thickness, which could be useful in terms of brick or stone buildings that traditionally have thicker exterior walls. The X-It is also very narrow, so width won’t be a problem for smaller windows. It's also the only brand of fire escape ladder that states it can be hung safely from a balcony railing.

This fire escape ladder can be used for practice and then quickly re-packaged for emergency use. This is an important feature, considering many brands of home fire ladders are for one time use only.

Despite it’s compact size and minimal weight, each step of the ladder can support up to 1,000 lbs in weight.

Few fire escape ladders are available in lengths greater than 3 stories but the X-It is an exception. It comes in 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6-story lengths so there is an option to suit whatever your situation may be. Buyers should be aware that the longer the ladder, the more it will cost.

The X-It has received multiple awards for its excellent design. It has undergone several independent tests and has always scored high marks, especially with regard to its ease of use.

The rungs of the X-It are relatively comfortable to stand on. This is so even if you’re only wearing socks, which is quite possible given that in an emergency you may not have time to put footwear on.