For someone who really doesn’t like ladders.

My desire to clear my gutters is slowly overcoming my fear of heights.

Is there a ladder that has side supports so that they can’t slide sideways?

Sure I’ve seen one but Google says no.

Hire a mewp

You can get wider bases which will help but in reality a well placed ladder will not slide sideways without a lot of help. Better off going for a class 1 industrial grade ladder as they have a lot less bounce in them

Get a proper commercial rated one  to EN131 and a set of ladder stand offs if you’re doing gutters.

Make sure someone foots it for you properly.

Class III Domestic ladders are usually shite to the point of being dangerous

I have a step ladder.

I never knew my real ladder.

i have something like this https://www.aldi.co.uk/workzone-multifunction-ladder/p/096729221911100 from aldi – and it’s great for that sort of thing. Can’t slip over, and has a nice solid platform

Don’t seem to do it anymore, but have this instead https://www.aldi.co.uk/workzone-scaffold-and-ladder-system/p/098136286491800

Although Clas do the same thing https://www.clasohlson.com/uk/3.5-m-Multi-Purpose-Ladder/40-6947 – free delivery and it’s normally easy to find a 10% voucher.

Hire a mewp

😂 probably a tad overkill for someone without an ipaf licence to start with.

Stay on the ground and use something like this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Handheld-Telescopic-Gutter-Cleaning-Brush/dp/B00UZ5J0UG

You do end up with a mouth full of debris every so often but its better than climbing a ladder

What hooli said, get an attachment for a jetwash.

Jetwashing puts it all down into your soakaways (if you have them, obv…). Digging out a blocked soakaway takes a little longer than bouncing up a ladder

I have a ladder stand off for my ladder (think it was £25/30 on amazon), it does make it more stable but it’s also a bit of a pain too. Because it’s quite wide it makes getting to the edge harder, windows can get in the way and it doesn’t fit over our down pipes so you need to place it away from them to. I actually took it off when I painted the outside of the house this year, but do use it for gutter clearing.

I have similar fears and requirements to the OP

Went with Zarges – double – very stable, does the job well.

https://www.midlandladders.com/Ladders/extension-ladders/zarges-professional-en131-trade-ladders

Generally a long double like a double 16, is sstiffer and thus nicer to use than a shorter triple like a triple 12, but triple is easier to store and transport. A builders ladder will be stiffer and nicer, but heavier probably. Full alu is generally a lot lighter than wooden sided, but wooden may be stiffer (going on personnel experience but that’s of some old, albeit good, ladders).

A friend to help erect and stand on the bottom rung of the ladder is very very good. A bag of sand or ballast over the bottom helps if you don’t have a mate. I Will never forget endless very boring hours stood on a ladder as a little kid, while dad did various jobs up at the top. Very boring, but a cherished memory now he’s gone. Weird.

Footing a ladder is NOT standing on the bottom rung.

Its placing the feet at the base of the stiles to prevent it sliding AND holding on aswell.

I would listen to Perchy here he’s obviously up to date with his codes as I’d expect. Except it EN 131 proffessional

Josh
Licenced to climb and inspect ladders

Hailo combination ladder..
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hailo-9309-501-Superior-Quality-Combination/dp/B0001GQHYQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=hailo+ladder&qid=1570861491&sprefix=hailo&sr=8-3

Not sure if the one linked is long enough but the sliding foot on them makes them feel very secure and are great to use free standing too

I hate going up and down ladders (although quite happy to work at the top of one) and cleaning gutters needs a lot of going up and down and moving ladders, so I use one of these – https://www.stihl.co.uk/STIHL-Products/Blowers-and-Vacuum-Shredders/Accessories-for-blowers-and-vacuum-shredders/Accessories-for-hand-held-blowers-and-vacuum-shredders/213778-28094/Gutter-cleaning-set.aspx

Usually on a lightweight Worx cordless blower as with a petrol Stihl it weighs a ton and is like trying to maneuver a jet engine on the end of a long pole. You do end up with the contents of the gutters all over the garden though.

this looks good :

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00B5AP6UI/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_4?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&th=1