Little Giant King Kombo 2.0 Professional 6-ft Fiberglass 3-in-1 Combination Ladder (13906-002 / 13906-001)

Three Ladders, One Frame

The King Kombo 2.0 Professional 6-ft (model 13906-002, the retail-packaged version of base SKU 13906-001) is a fiberglass ladder that works as an A-frame stepladder, a leaning ladder, or a single-section extension ladder. Bob Vila's tester, Glenda Taylor, summed up the pitch this way: "Typically, a ladder is either a step ladder, a leaning ladder, or an extension ladder, but Little Giant's King Kombo is all three." She describes releasing a lever at the back of the top step to switch from step-ladder mode to a 6-foot leaning ladder or a 10-foot extension ladder. Little Giant's spec sheet puts the stepladder's highest standing level at 3 ft 9 in with a 10 ft 3 in maximum reach. Fully extended, the sections total 9 ft 11 in, the highest standing level rises to 6 ft 7 in, and the claimed maximum reach is 13 ft 1 in. The "2.0" label refers to the current generation with the single-hand GRIP-N-GO hinge. That makes it a different product from the 2019 original, which used push buttons on both sides.

How Bob Vila Tested It

Bob Vila named this ladder "Best Extendable" in its step-ladder roundup. The publication says it researched 35 ladders and step stools, then put 9 through 6 tests covering a $50 to $300 price range. Taylor writes that the team hopped and bounced on the steps, climbed to the uppermost steps, twisted, turned, and came down backward. They folded and unfolded every model, carried each one around, and repeated the tests on carpeting, hard flooring, gravel, and concrete. They also shoved the ladders across laminate to see whether they would slide. Points were awarded on a rubric. The King Kombo scored 4.5/5 for stability, 4/5 for portability, 4.5/5 for build quality, and 3.5/5 for value. That value score is the lowest of the four, and it ties back to price. Bob Vila does not print an overall score, so the 4.5-star figure in our ratings is inferred from the review's text. Taylor's bio notes that she and her husband run a general contracting company, so the testing comes from someone who does residential and commercial building work.

Stability and Footing

Both reviewers who used this generation focused on how solid it feels. Bob Vila reports: "In testing, we found this multiposition ladder incredibly stable and sturdy in all positions." Taylor credits the wide, flared front legs for the support. She also points out that the narrower rear legs "fit neatly between wall studs and ceiling trusses" for tight work spaces. The nonslip rubber feet "resisted our attempts to slide the ladder across hard flooring," which was one of the specific shove tests in her protocol. Bob Vila's likes for this pick include a sturdy base, nonslip rubber feet, and quality construction, and the ladder earned its 4.5/5 stability mark in a protocol that repeated the climb tests on carpet, gravel, and concrete.

On YouTube, Komplete Tech Crew, a commercial technician who says he bought the ladder himself and owns the 5-ft and 8-ft sizes too, gave a similar report. He said he had tried a competing lean-capable ladder in a store and found it shaky and pivoting. By contrast he called this one "very sturdy very well built no complaints no issues." He works a lot in data centers and says the slim rear section lets him squeeze into spaces where a standard A-frame won't fit. Little Giant lists the inside clear width as 1 ft and the base footprint as 3 ft 8 in, which matches that between-the-studs claim. Campbell Built, a contractor channel that says it had owned its 6-ft King Kombo for a year and a half before adding the 8-ft, reported no deflection and called the hinge mechanism "really durable" after heavy use. The crew filmed a worker removing drywall from it with the narrow rear section set flush against the wall.

The Hinge and Wall Pad

The headline 2.0 change is the GRIP-N-GO single-hand release hinge. Little Giant says it lets the ladder move between stepladder, extension, and leaning positions "in one fluid motion." Bob Vila describes it as a lever at the back of the top step. Komplete Tech Crew demonstrates the sequence on camera. You press the release and swing the rear section out until it clicks into stepladder mode, then keep swinging it up until it clicks again in extension mode. Pressing the release once more folds it back to the transport position. Neither reviewer reported stiffness or binding in the hinge.

The rotating wall pad near the top is the other key feature. Komplete Tech Crew shows that pushing two pins lets the pad flip out so the ladder can rest against inside corners, outside corners, and studs. Pushing it back in locks it again. The inside of the pad has small cups for fasteners. He notes that the top cap itself is flat with no magnet or tool recesses. His guess is that this is because the top becomes a standing surface in extension mode. That is his reasoning, not a manufacturer statement. He also mentions that Little Giant sells optional accessory compartments that clip onto the ladder. He doesn't own one yet but says he would consider one.

Weight, Rating, and Build

The ladder is rated ANSI Type IAA (Special Duty) for 375 lb, the highest common stepladder rating, and has non-conductive fiberglass rails. Bob Vila calls the 375-pound capacity ample "despite weighing just 22 pounds". Little Giant's own spec sheet lists the 13906-001 at 24 lb, so expect somewhere in that range. Folded, it measures 6 ft 1 in tall, 2 ft 1 in wide at the base, and 7 in deep. The rungs are 3 in deep, with 6 in at the double rung. The feet are standard non-marring screw-on pads, and the warranty is one year. Little Giant lists China as the country of assembly.

Komplete Tech Crew called the build quality "absolutely superb" and pointed out a few smaller details. Little Giant places the duty-rating stickers on the inside of the rails, where he expects them to last longer than labels exposed to scratches and overspray. He also noted solid, sizeable riveted hardware and a hi-vis green color that he says makes the ladder easy to spot when other trades borrow it on a jobsite. Bob Vila listed sturdy construction and grippy rubber feet among its likes, and its 4/5 portability score suggests the 22-to-24-lb weight is manageable to carry for one person moving between rooms.

Versus the Original King Kombo

Pro Tool Reviews reviewed the first-generation King Kombo in March 2019 and scored it 9.4 out of 10. However, it tested the Industrial 6-10 model, which predates the 2.0 hinge and used orange buttons on either side to swing the legs. That review covers a different trim and generation, so we did not count its score here. Some of its observations about the shared frame still help. Editor Kenny Koehler praised a design with "no sliding parts that become potential pinch points." He also flagged the main geometric limitation: with a 3 ft 9 in maximum standing height on the 6-10, "most of us can't reach the top of a volume ceiling." The standing heights on today's Professional 6-ft are the same. Koehler also noted that the Professional trim lacks the Industrial's Ground Cue bottom-step clicker, V-bar, rail shields, and shock-absorbing braces. Little Giant's current spec sheet for the 13906-001 lists standard screw-on feet and a rotating wall pad, but it does not list Ground Cue. If you specifically want those Industrial extras, check the model number carefully.

Where It Falls Short

Price is the most consistent complaint. Bob Vila lists "Relatively expensive" as a con and gave it a 3.5/5 value score, its weakest mark. Komplete Tech Crew said "the cost is a little excessive," noting he paid about $200 for the 6-footer. He added that conventional ladders with similar ratings cost much less, though they lack the multi-mode function. Webstaurant Store currently lists the 13906-001 at $201.94, and Rural King shows $187.99, so expect to pay close to $200 wherever you buy. Pro Tool Reviews also warned that many online retailers add a special handling charge for ladders, which can push the total up at checkout.

The second issue is space. Bob Vila explains that the rear legs don't telescope like a conventional extension ladder. Instead they "fold out and then upward, requiring a large space to maneuver." In a narrow hallway or crowded room, switching to extension mode can be awkward. Durability is a question mark too. Komplete Tech Crew pointed to a plastic lever next to the metal latches and said "this is plastic and that was something that i was concerned about initially." He has not broken it, but he babies it. Finally, the 3 ft 9 in top standing level in stepladder mode is modest. The 6 ft 7 in extension standing height only helps when there is a wall to lean on, a limit Pro Tool Reviews raised on the original. The warranty is only one year. Campbell Built added a smaller gripe: in stepladder mode, the top usable step sits past center, so you effectively give up a step compared with a conventional 6-ft ladder. They also wished it had a leveling foot for uneven ground.

Who It's Best For

This ladder makes the most sense if you would otherwise carry two or three ladders: electricians, low-voltage and data-center techs, HVAC and service trades, and homeowners who want one ladder for ceiling fixtures, attic hatches, and leaning against a wall or post. The fiberglass rails and Type IAA 375-lb rating suit electrical work and heavier users with tools. The narrow rear section and rotating wall pad help most in framed spaces, corners, and tight mechanical rooms, which is where both Bob Vila and Komplete Tech Crew said it stood out. A crew that leaves ladders on shared jobsites may also like the hi-vis green rails and the inside-mounted labels.

It is a weaker fit if you mainly need a stepladder for occasional indoor chores. The stepladder's top standing level is only 3 ft 9 in, the price is around $200, and a basic fiberglass stepladder costs far less. Skip it if you work under vaulted or volume ceilings away from walls, or if you need to change modes in cramped rooms, since the rear section needs room to swing up. Independent hands-on coverage of this exact 2.0 6-ft model is thin, with one tested editorial roundup and two owner-made YouTube reviews, so weigh the praise with that in mind.