Pros:lightweight, sturdy, easily adjustable
Cons:none
The Bottom Line: $295 for the larger set, $275 for the smaller. Both offer professional quality for whatever you've got planned for them.




I'm pretty sure that the makers of most drywall stilts designed their stilts with someone other than me in mind. Along with my other jobs, I occasionally work as a stiltwalker at fairs. While it involves some walking, It involves more standing and bending to shake hands, or posing for pictures with families. I've also walked in one short parade, but found that really zapped my stamina.

The other day I had a friend who does electrical installation. He uses stilts when putting recessed lighting fixtures in ceilings, or other similar jobs that require him to work at height for some period of time. He said that it is definitely easier than using a ladder. He let me try out his Marshalltown Adjustable Drywall Skywalker Stilts. He has had them for about 3 years, and swears by them. My usual stilts are Warner Hi-Stride Adjustable Stilts. My stilts adjust from 24 - 40". The Marshalltown Adjustable Drywall Skywalker Stilts come in two models. One adjusts from 18 - 30" and the other from 24 - 40". My friend has both heights of stilts. I climbed up on the 24 -40" model, so I was able to set them at the same height as I use my own, 36". This height puts me at 100". The magic shop where I learned to walk on stilts has a ceiling of 102". Two inches of headspace is the minimum I need to feel comfortable. I was using his outdoors which is where I normally am on mine.

The Marshalltown Adjustable Drywall Skywalker Stilts are made of anodized aluminum which is colored gold. They are light and sturdy and fairly attractive.Like my own stilts, the Marshalltown Adjustable Drywall Skywalker Stilts attach to the leg be means of heavy cotton straps which are permanently attached to their structure. Two straps go around each foot and one goes on just below the knee. I find it best to lightly attach the leg strap, then fasten down the two feet strap as firmly as possible, then to tighten the leg strap. The tighter I can get mine to fit, the more comfortable I am. At the end of each strap is a heavy alligator type clip. While I can strap myself in, it's better to have help. The angle necessary for tightening the straps as much as possible simply can't be achieved while putting them on oneself. It is possible to get them on well enough to use without help, but I wouldn't want to be on them long that way as it is more tiring..
The heel plate on the Marshalltown stilts is adjustable which allows a better fit to the length of the foot. The same is true on the Warner stilts. I suspect that someone with a very short or long foot might find the adjustable heel plate especially useful. The cotton straps that hold the foot in place are very wide. Because they cover such a large area, I found they hit the places I needed them to without adjustment. Both of us prefer to wear lace on shoes which provide a bit of additional support when up on stilts. Both of us prefer shoes with a narrow profile such as canvas deck shoes. Thicker shoes don't seem to allow me to strap down as tightly. I tried once with my running shoes. While the straps tightened down fine, the sponginess of the shoe's materials meant it didn't feel as tight as it might have.

I liked the adjustable, padded calf-brace on the Marshalltown stilts. This can be slid into any position along the pole. I found I did need to adjust this as the friend who let me try his stilts out is considerably longer of leg than I am. The adjustment was quick and easy. The calf pad once tightened down was very secure.

The stilts feature adjustable foot plates with rubber sole bottoms. The rubber soles are easy to replace. Working with them indoors should give a fairly long life. My friend, who uses them almost entirely indoors, says that he has replaced the pads twice in the 3 years he has had them. Working outside one can find the rubber wearing down quickly. It is important for safety to make sure these are always in good shape and to replace them as necessary. The movement and articulation of the foot section can be adjusted. My preference is for a very limited, short range of motion. I generally do not share stilts because this adjustment can take a bit of fine-tuning. I did not adjust this setting when using my friend's Marshalltown Skywalker Stilts. The articulation he prefers is looser than mine. This didn't diminish my ability to walk, but did require a bit of additional diligence until I could get used to the setting.

Marshalltown Adjustable Drywall Skywalker Stilts are rated up to 225 pounds (100 kilos). For those who actually use them for drywalling, remember that this includes the tools one carries.

Learning to use the stilts takes a bit of practice. One needs to strap the stilts and to remove them while sitting on a high stool, counter, or ladder. There is no bend in the leg when rising and the extra height allows one to rise more naturally. I recommend starting indoors If possible, getting a tall cane can offer a degree of comfort until you feel fairly steady on your feet. It also gives a way to rest a bit. I also recommend only being on stilts when there are others present. This is a safety issue. When I work a fair, I will usually be on the stilts for no more than 45 minutes before taking 15 minutes for a break. I do not always feel the need for the break then, but find that if I don't get down and rest and stretch after 45 minutes, I will be incredibly sore the next day. I always wear elbow, knee and wrist pads when I'm wearing stilts. Because I work in costume, I do not wear head gear, but I would recommend a helmet to anyone using stilts outside.

I really liked the Marshalltown Adjustable Drywall Skywalker Stilts. They were lightweight, sturdy, and well-made. I felt comfortable and safe on them. I'm more comfortable on my own stilts, but that's a matter of them being fully adjusted for me and my being used to their workings. If I was looking to replace or supplement my current set, I would happily invest in a set of Marshalltown Stilts. Whether the stilts are used for entertainment or for drywalling, they would be a great choice.

I love my new stilts thanks

Have been using these now for a few months and couldn't be happier. They are super comfortable to wear and the "feel" of them when walking is also very nice. And they look real cool !

We use these for security at night at our apt complex we secure. We have 3 guys who use them to walk at night and look over fence at another complex and can see everything that goes on with being detected and can walk on these alot better then the durastilts we had. Drywall zone took time to show us how to use them and offered to take them back if it did not work for us thnk you for the advice and selling quality tools

A+

Again, thank you very much for your time. It's always nice to run across someone who actually stands behind their products.