Hey crew — let’s talk ladders.

When you're out installing lights this season, the ladder you grab can make your day easier... or a whole lot harder. Whether you're wrapping trees, hanging wreaths, or clipping lights along steep rooflines, the right ladder setup matters big time.

Here’s a quick guide to the ladder types you’ll use daily, and what decorating tasks they’re perfect for — plus a few bonus tools that can keep you safe and save you time.

🪜 1. Multi-Position Ladders: The “Everyday” Setup

If you're moving from house to house and doing a mix of tasks — wreaths, garlands, lights on eaves — you’ll reach for one of these first.

🦍 Gorilla Ladders – Great for Quick Residential Work

• Light, easy to carry, and fast to set up.

• Use for: Garage peaks, porch lights, second-story windows

• Best when you’re switching between setups (A-frame to extension mode).

👉 Gorilla MPX Aluminum Ladder – 18ft

🪜 Little Giant Ladders – Built for Long Days

• More durable, sturdier, and ideal if you’re climbing up and down all day.

• Use for: Roofline installs, C9 light clipping, wreath mounting on columns or windows

• Adjustable legs help on uneven surfaces or landscaping.

👉 Little Giant Velocity Ladder

📏 2. Extension Ladders: For Rooflines & Tall Installs

Any time you’re tackling second or third-story rooflines, you need height and reach. This is where your extension ladder shines.

🪙 Aluminum Extension Ladders

• Lighter to carry between jobs, easier on the truck.

• Use for: Clipping C9 bulbs along gutters and peaks, especially quick in-and-out installs.

• ⚠️ Watch out for power lines — aluminum conducts electricity.

👉 Louisville 24ft Aluminum Extension Ladder

🧱 Fiberglass Extension Ladders

• Non-conductive, heavier, but super safe for more complex jobs.

• Use for: Installing light clips around electrical areas or handling power-fed displays.

• Great for wet conditions or commercial jobs.

👉 Werner 28ft Fiberglass Ladder

🌳 3. Tripod Orchard Ladders: Tree Wrapping Made Easy

If you’re decorating trees, you know the struggle of getting close enough without tipping or damaging branches. These tripod ladders are your best friend.

• Use for: Wrapping mini lights around tree trunks, getting inside canopies, and installing lights in landscape beds.

• The third leg lets you set up on slopes, mulch beds, or around roots with no wobble.

👉 10ft Orchard Tripod Ladder

🧰 Bonus Gear: Tools to Keep You Safe & Fast

🧷 Ladder Tie-Off Straps

• Use for: Securing ladders to gutters or porch railings, especially on slick or windy days.

• Adds an extra layer of safety while hanging wreaths or roof lights.

👉 Roof Ladder Safety Strap Kit

🌲 Tree Attachments for Extension Ladders

• Use for: Stabilizing your ladder against tree trunks when wrapping canopy trees or palms.

• Keeps your ladder locked in while you focus on the lights.

👉 Ladder Tree Stabilizer Attachment

👷 Final Pro Tip: Match the Ladder to the Task

On every job site, knowing which ladder to grab saves you time and protects your back (and your crew). The more efficiently you work, the more installs you knock out — and the more cash everyone brings home.

📋 Want to get better at ladder safety and tool handling? Check out the Christmas Light Academy employee training modules, built just for installers like you.