Ratings Overview - Aiders / Etrier


Finding the Perfect Big Wall Aider
Total 10 products tested.
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up to 5		 Products sorted by Overall Rating score Estimated
Street Price		 Score 0-100 Comfort Ease of Walking up Ease of free Climbing Top stepping Durability
Yates Big Wall Ladder

 Yates Big Wall Ladder
The Yates Big Wall Ladder stands out for its ease of use and comfort when standing in it for hours at a time. This is our top choice for aid-intensive big walls. It is a beefy aider, which means you get durability and comfort at the expense of weight...
$45 (6 step) $50 (7 step)

Editors' Choice Award
100
0
93
Watch video video review		 Comfort - 10 of 10
10		 Ease of Walking up - 10 of 10
10		 Ease of free Climbing - 5 of 10
5		 Top stepping - 9 of 10
9		 Durability - 9 of 10
9
Yates Speed Wall Ladder

 Yates Speed Wall Ladder
The Yates Speedwall Ladder is a lighter and thinner version of the our Editors' Choice winner, the Yates Big Wall Ladder. The steps are 1" wide compared to the Big Wall Ladder's 1.75" steps. That means this aider is not as comfortable to stand in for...
$40

Top Pick Award
100
0
87
 Comfort - 9 of 10
9		 Ease of Walking up - 9 of 10
9		 Ease of free Climbing - 6 of 10
6		 Top stepping - 9 of 10
9		 Durability - 9 of 10
9
Petzl Wall Step Etrier

 Petzl Wall Step Etrier
The Petzl Wall Step Etrier is an excellent choice for its comfort relative to its light weight and low bulk. In our big wall aider review it was our favorite aider for a mostly free wall such as The Nose of El Capitan. It is comfortable to stand in f...
$69

Top Pick Award
100
0
84
Watch video video review		 Comfort - 9 of 10
9		 Ease of Walking up - 8 of 10
8		 Ease of free Climbing - 8 of 10
8		 Top stepping - 8 of 10
8		 Durability - 8 of 10
8
Metolius 8 Step Ladder Aider

 Metolius 8 Step Ladder Aider
The Metolius 8 Step Ladder Aider is a solid big wall aider at a great price. The steps are bomber with their urethane-reinforced steps that make them stay open and not crush the sides of your feet. This aider is relatively light considering how comf...
$39
100
0
81
Watch video video review		 Comfort - 9 of 10
9		 Ease of Walking up - 8 of 10
8		 Ease of free Climbing - 6 of 10
6		 Top stepping - 7 of 10
7		 Durability - 8 of 10
8
Metolius 5 Step Aider

 Metolius 5 Step Aider
The Metolius 5 Step Aider is the best etrier-style aider we have tested. Chris McNamara has used this aider on more walls than any other aider and says it is comfortable and easy to walk up in due to its reinforced Biothane step. It is also the best ...
$36

Best Buy Award
100
0
79
Watch video video review		 Comfort - 8 of 10
8		 Ease of Walking up - 8 of 10
8		 Ease of free Climbing - 6 of 10
6		 Top stepping - 10 of 10
10		 Durability - 7 of 10
7
Metolius Alpine Aider

 Metolius Alpine Aider
The Metolius Alpine Aider is surprisingly comfortable considering how light and non-bulky it is. The Biothane step-stiffeners keep your feet relative comfortable despite the thin (0.80") webbing. The aider is not bulky so it feels nice when clipped ...
$30
100
0
77
 Comfort - 7 of 10
7		 Ease of Walking up - 8 of 10
8		 Ease of free Climbing - 8 of 10
8		 Top stepping - 9 of 10
9		 Durability - 7 of 10
7
Fish Smart Aider

 Fish Smart Aider
Fish's Smart Aider uses the a simple design that has led to thousands of successful big wall ascents. Chris McNamara used these for his first 10 big walls and loved them. Fish Smart is the most durable aider we tested. After two decades and 30-plus w...
$23.50
100
0
73
 Comfort - 7 of 10
7		 Ease of Walking up - 7 of 10
7		 Ease of free Climbing - 7 of 10
7		 Top stepping - 7 of 10
7		 Durability - 10 of 10
10
Black Diamond Etrier

 Black Diamond Etrier
The Black Diamond Etrier offers a classic etrier design with no frills. It gets the job done and is relatively light. It does not have sub-steps up high, which limits your options when top-stepping. This aider also comes in a 5 step size.

...
$39
100
0
72
Watch video video review		 Comfort - 7 of 10
7		 Ease of Walking up - 7 of 10
7		 Ease of free Climbing - 7 of 10
7		 Top stepping - 7 of 10
7		 Durability - 9 of 10
9
Petzl Quickstep

 Petzl Quickstep
The Petzl Quickstep are some of the best aiders you can get in this style. I am generally not a fan of this adjustable kind because you can't lead with them efficiently. However, these are so light that I may consider using them as jugging aiders in ...
$35.00
100
0
55
 Comfort - 7 of 10
7		 Ease of Walking up - 4 of 10
4		 Ease of free Climbing - 7 of 10
7		 Top stepping - 2 of 10
2		 Durability - 7 of 10
7
Petzl GradiStep Etrier

 Petzl GradiStep Etrier
The Petzl Gradistep Etrier is the lightest etrier style aider we tested. It is great for rock climbs with only a little aid or alpine climbs where you want to travel light and are using sturdy boots. The coolest feature is the little bag that the aid...
$45
100
0
54
 Comfort - 5 of 10
5		 Ease of Walking up - 4 of 10
4		 Ease of free Climbing - 10 of 10
10		 Top stepping - 5 of 10
5		 Durability - 7 of 10
7
Compare
up to 5		 Products sorted by Overall Rating score Estimated
Street Price		 Score 0-100 Comfort Ease of Walking up Ease of free Climbing Top stepping Durability
Compare Products Side-by-Side
Total 10 products tested.