GypToolPro 15" - 23" Drywall Stilts - Silver

This review is for the 15-23" GypPro stiltsAs a 25 yr stilt walker and construction business owner, I have to say I was surprised by these stilts.I have always been an avid Dura-Stilts man and when I trained guys to walk stilts I always recommended Dura-Stilts. I've also tried Marshalltown, Sur-Stilts and a few others. Recently my Dura-Stilt 14-23" stilts were stolen. I didn't want to spend $300 for a new pair since I only use this size on 3-5 jobs per year. The shorter stilts such as a 15-23" doesn't need to be quite as robust for me since they don't get as much abuse as stilts that are extended farther out like 24-40".So, I figured I'd give these a shot and if they lasted through one job, they would most likely pay for themselves.By days end they were a little noisy which let me know the plastic bushings may not be the best quality. For the price, you could buy numerous bushing kits and still come out way ahead.Read on for a more detailed review and advise for those new to stilt walking.I would personally hate to be a stilt manufacturer in this generation of worldwide public reviews. The vast majority of bad reviews, when it comes to stilts is from improper adjustment. There are numerous adjustment points and variable combinations that can determine whether they will be comfortable enough to wear all day or several hours at a time.Knowing which spot to adjust is the key to comfort. If your legs or feet are bowed out or in, they are adjusted wrong. If you find yourself leaning forward or backwards, they are most likely adjusted wrong. If your feet start hurting really bad in the arch or your toes are getting numb and tingly, it's a sign that they are probably adjusted wrong.When I get a new pair of stilts, the first thing I do is set the springs all the way out by adjusting the springs "washer like" nut all the way out. Adjusting the top or bottom spring nut/washer can help eliminate issues with leaning forward or backwards.Then I adjust the heal plate so that the area of my foot that is just behind my toes, is directly above the front stilt tube. This can also help with the leaning forward or backwards. I then set the calf cup on the side tubes approx 3" below the bottom of my knew cap, on the side of my leg. Then I adjust the other stilt to match it by setting them side by side on a flat table. I set the side tubes with about a quarter of an inch space showing on the clamps that hold the side tubes. If your feet are pushing in our out, you will need to adjust this point until your feet and legs are comfortably straight up and down. You'll know if this is set improperly if when standing on the stilts, you look down and your stilt foot/feet are way apart or real close together. Being too close together can be dangerous, as your stilt feet can get hung on one each other and cause you to trip and fall. This adjustment is easiest done by having a second person do the adjusting while the stilts are still strapped on you. What I do is walk in them, get a feel of what's wrong and then sit down and have another person loosen the bolts and make the adjustments. Then I stand up and walk again and keep repeating this until they feel right.The worst thing you can do is wait til the day of the job and try to do this. Because then you feel pressured to hurry up since you need to get to work. My advise... adjust the day before.So what is the difference between durable stilt and GypPro? In most cases and with most any cheaper stilts, it's the grade of aluminum and fasteners used. Cheaper stilts tend to use a softer grade of aluminum which causes the wear points at the stilt foot and pivot joints to wallow out and get sloppy.I've seen countless knock off brand stilts over the years get what I call "floppy foot" when they are worn/used for very long. The bottom foot of the stilt gets floppy and the bolt holes get worn to a larger than normal diameter.This is why most pros go with Dura-Stilts. Because they are built to last for many years and thousands of hours of use.As a side note...One thing to consider is that there are several interchangeable parts on these stilts that you can swap out for Dura-Stilt brand parts. For example the calf straps, which would be a good idea since in my opinion, the ones that come with these are too short. You can order Dura-Stilt parts to swap out on these from AllWall. At this price, it's still a good deal, even if you swap out a few better quality Dura parts.I included a pic of the toe flex. I've walked cheaper stilts before with too much toe flex and it makes it more difficult to walk them and causes more foot pain. These weren't too bad. I'm thinking that with the taller stilts in this brand, it could be worse but that is only speculation.So, if your on a budget and need something that will get the job done and possibly earn you some money in the process or you just need these for one project, you can't beat the price and what you get with the GypPro stilts.I was impressed!

I'm new to using stilts, so I was a little apprehensive about getting them, but these seemed to be a good value so I gave 'em a try. This product is of high quality, but they do require some assembly and adjustment. It's important to get those adjustments done correctly! The instructions are pretty clear. I used the widest setting for the upper arm support to counter the bow legged effect that others have reported. I also had a problem getting the upper strap to tighten enough because of my stick legs, so I used 1 1/2" velcro straps in addition to the buckle straps provided. It really made a difference for me. Without being tight, it would have been really hard to walk in these things!There is a learning curve for noobs like me. Getting them on the first few times was a chore. I started by using a big 8-foot folding ladder to step off of and hold on to while putting on the first stilt. Once the first one was on, the ladder helped to keep me steady while strapping up the second. Now I just put the first one on while standing on the floor, stand up on the one stilt while leaning against a wall, and placing my other foot onto the second stilt. The wall keeps me steady enough to bend over and strap up. I'm 65 and have never done this before, so I'm sure most of you can too! I spent some time just standing in them at first, and graduated to walking short distances. It quickly became more comfortable and natural, and I was soon using them to work on the basement ceiling that I'm drywalling. It sure is nice not having to go up and down a ladder all day!I hope this helps those who are not sure about trying stilts. If you get them to fit you properly and take a little time to get comfortable on them, they can make doing certain jobs a lot easier!

I have been using these stilts for almost a year now and I'm very happy with them. I am a novice to drywall work but after having used these to hang and mud an entire 2200 square foot home they are such huge help...especially when taping and mudding. I am 62 years old and this is the first time I have used any drywall stilts and they are so easy to get used to...very user friendly. I did buy the velcro straps that another amazon buyer recommended (All-Wall Extra Comfort Padded Wide Stilt Straps Leg Bands for Drywall, Painting, Insulation - Fits Yescom, Pentagon, Dura-Stilt, SurPro, GypTool - Correas Acolchadas para Zancos, Muy Comodas) and those are a huge improvement over the original top straps...well worth the money as they allow me to work using these stilts for hours. These stilts assemble and adjust easily and fit my 11 1/2 wide shoe size. The traction of these stilts on Advantech sheathing and pressure treated deck lumber is excellent. Since I have never used any other stilts before I can't say how these compare. But I would buy these again in a heart beat. Putting them on and taking them off is simple and easy. The lower straps on the foot platforms adjust quickly and don't slip at all.