Literally using the top step

How often do you stand in the very highest step of your ladder? I know getting as high as you can in your ladders = less moves = more speed but are there diminishing returns on this?  The highest step can be a precarious position to balance in depending on the terrain and it's sometimes hard to reach down to retrieve my last ladder if I place the next ladder high. 

I'm asking because on my Ocun H Step ladders the highest step (the one below the spreader bar) is basically level with the second highest step on my Yates Speed and BD Alpine aiders. Would that bug you?

Almost all the time on lower angle terrain. Rarely on steep terrain due to the diminishing returns you stated. On steep terrain I'll still try to get at least into the top 3 steps. Aid like you free climb! You've got great footholds.

You only need it when you need it- but when you need it you really need it..

based on the integrated stuff sac- I’d say these were designed for routes where they would spend most of the time stuffed, and out of the way for free climbing.. 

they are probably fine for the Intended purpose. And probably not what you want for Aid Intensive Routes.. 

The best move is the fastest move.
If you can make a smaller move and make that move quickly, you’ll be saving the time and effort it takes to get into your top steps.

Of course, yes, there are times where you simply need to be in your top steps and you should have a quick and comfortable way to get into them.

Me, being short, I’m in my top steps a lot. But I do a lot, so I haven’t totally wired, and I can do it quickly and easily.

I’m 6’2” and do most moves from the second step of the Yates ladder. 3rd step when it’s steeper. 1st step when it’s slab. When it’s slab I’ve also occasionally used the spreader bar as a  step. Sometimes the hero loop. And once in a great while, I end up standing on the bolt the ladder is on.

If you’re using daisies I could see how that makes it hard to reach back down to get the previous ladder. I don’t use daisies as much as possible. Makes me feel free-er.

An Alfifi helps a lot too. 

Yes! Lol. The spreader bar rolls. Careful! Basket-ing a sling is a good tip. Thanks Kevin 

Kevin DeWeese wrote:

Yes that would bug me and is a pretty shit design choice by Ocun. Standing on the spreader bar is difficult as it rolls and the sheer distance between the last step and the clip in point on the Ocun is stupid and earns no benefit in any situation. If you keep them, you can loop a 24" sling into a basket and step in that as needed to avoid the balancing on the spinning spreader bar nonsense but that takes more time and isn't worth it when you can do the same thing with the Yates to reach even higher. 

Yeah, it's most certainly a stupid design decision. I really like them otherwise though, they weigh 235g and are very comfortable to stand in. The fabric is the right mix of soft and rigid which makes them easy to use for switching back and forth from free and aid. 

I'm serious considering taking them to a cobbler or upholstery shop and just having them bar-tack a fold in the upper triangle to shorten the distant of the top step. 

It's crazy that they got so many things right and then became total morons about the top step distance. Really nice aider otherwise.