Metaltech I-BMDS2440 BuildMan Grade 24-in. to 40-in. Drywall Stilts 2-Pack, Anodized Aluminum Stilts for Adults, Drywall Tools for Home Improvement, Paint Stilts with Anti-Fatigue Comfort Straps

Why these stilts earned a spot in my kit

Ladders are fine until you need to move every three feet. Hanging board, taping joints, cutting in ceilings, running crown—those jobs flow better when you can stay at height and keep moving. That’s why I brought the Metaltech BuildMan stilts into the shop. They cover a 24–40 inch range, which hits the sweet spot for 8–12 foot interiors, and they’re built from anodized aluminum that can take job-site abuse without turning your shins into hamburger by lunch.

Setup and first adjustments

Assembly is straightforward and mercifully quick: side poles, foot platforms, straps, and height locks. My advice is to give every bolt a once-over with a wrench rather than trusting factory torque. These are walking machines; fasteners matter. I added a drop of blue threadlocker on the height-adjustment hardware and the side-pole clamps to keep things quiet and tight after a few days of use.

Getting the fit right is where these stilts justify their price. I started at 26 inches for a quick paint cut-in session, then bumped to 32 inches for hanging and taping on 9-foot ceilings. Adjustments are tool-based but intuitive; the increments feel secure and there’s no vague “in between” slop. Before your first climb, set the following:

• Heel-to-toe alignment so your boots sit flat on the pad without forcing your toes outward.
• Leg tube height evenly on both sides; measure from the floor to the platform to avoid favoring one leg.
• Calf strap height so it rides below the knee cap but above the bulkiest part of the calf.
• Strap snugness: tight enough to eliminate wiggle, not so tight you cut off circulation.

Do a hallway test walk to fine-tune. Ten minutes spent adjusting saves an hour of frustration later.

Comfort and ergonomics

The big surprise with these stilts is how quickly they disappear under you once the straps are dialed. The platforms are wide and the rubber soles have enough give that I didn’t get that “wearing stilts on stilts” feeling over thresholds or uneven subfloor seams. The padded straps distribute pressure well, especially around the calf; I never developed hot spots or the early-on shin fatigue I’ve felt on narrower cuffs.

Metaltech uses self-locking buckles on the primary straps, which is the right call for a piece of PPE you’re trusting with your bones. I could cinch everything down confidently and get repeatable fit day to day. If you’re the type who likes an extra-rigid calf lock, you can always upgrade the cuff strap later; out of the box, the stock setup is plenty comfortable for multi-hour sessions.

Walking and stability

Dual-spring action isn’t a gimmick here. The springs make a real difference when you need to pivot at the hips to reach a corner or twist slightly to set a board. Foot roll feels controlled, not bouncy, and returns to center naturally. That balance is helpful when you’re stepping around a roller tray, over drop cloths, or onto rosin paper. The soles don’t grab fabric, which is a small but important detail when you’re painting rooms back-to-back.

Stability at full extension (around 40 inches) is always the test. I don’t recommend starting there, but once you’re practiced, these remain predictable. There’s minimal lateral play if you’ve tightened the side-pole clamps properly, and the wide base threads a nice line between maneuverability and sure-footedness. As with any stilts, clear the floor and keep cords under control; the tool can’t fix a cluttered job site.

Height range and task fit

The 24–40 inch span covers almost everything I do indoors. At the low end, I can trim door casings and paint tops of window returns without stooping. In the mid-20s, cutting in 8–9 foot ceilings is comfortable. Up in the low 30s, hanging drywall overhead becomes markedly faster because I can press and screw without repositioning constantly. I only push toward the high 30s for commercial spaces or tall foyers, and I’ll add outriggers for extra width on especially slick concrete.

If you routinely work in 12-foot rooms, these make sense; for 14-foot ceilings and above, you may want a different platform strategy or scaffold.

Build quality and durability

The anodized aluminum construction is more than a pretty finish. It shrugs off small dings and resists corrosion from joint compound and the occasional rainy load-in. The pivots and spring towers feel tight, and after a few weeks the only maintenance I needed was a light silicone spray on the springs to stop a faint squeak. The rubber foot pads have enough density to survive screws, grit, and OSB splinters without chunking out early.

One practical note: because the upper side-pole clamp rides on a small nut and bolt, do a hardware count before your first job and keep a few spares in the kit. The design is solid, but losing a clamp fastener in the truck at 6 a.m. is the kind of preventable problem that ruins a day.

Metaltech backs the BuildMan with a one-year warranty against manufacturing defects. I didn’t need support, but it’s good to see a brand put paperwork behind a job-site tool.

Weight and balance

On paper, these come in under nine pounds. In hand, they’re not featherweights, but the balance is right. The weight sits low, which matters far more than the absolute number once you’re moving. Compared with magnesium-framed stilts, they’re a tad heavier when you’re carrying them across the site, but on your feet the difference fades because the spring action and platform geometry feel tuned. After a couple of hours, I experienced less calf fatigue than I expected, and no shin bite.

Safety and setup tips from the field

• Practice near a wall with a spotter until you build muscle memory for stepping, turning, and backing up.
• Keep your tool belt light and symmetrical. A lopsided rig will fight you all day.
• Tie laces short, tuck them, and tape down any dangling straps.
• Start at the low end of the height range and graduate slowly. Confidence builds in increments.
• Sweep and secure cords before you climb. These work best on tidy floors.
• Re-check fasteners weekly and after any fall or hard knock; threadlocker is your friend.

Where they fall short

No stilt is perfect. A few quibbles showed up in use:

• Assembly uses standard hex hardware. It’s universal, but you’ll want to re-torque after the first couple of days as things settle.
• The broad foot platform is great for stability, but it makes walking through tight, cluttered spaces slightly more deliberate. Give yourself an extra inch or two when threading between stacks of board.
• If you prefer an ultra-rigid calf clamp, the stock strap prioritizes comfort. That’s a positive for long sessions, but some pros like a buckle-tight feel and will want to swap the strap.

None of these are deal-breakers; they’re points to plan around.

Value

In the current market, the BuildMan sits in a sensible middle ground: far better built than bargain-basement stilts, without the premium price of the most exotic frames. You’re paying for stability, comfort, and a height range that actually covers real-world work. Considering how much faster I move on these versus up-and-down on a ladder, they pay for themselves quickly if you’re on walls and ceilings regularly.

Recommendation

I recommend the Metaltech BuildMan stilts for pros and serious DIYers who spend meaningful time above floor level. They’re comfortable out of the box, stable across their full 24–40 inch range, and thoughtfully built with wide platforms, padded straps, and dual-spring action that makes walking, pivoting, and twisting feel natural. Add routine fastener checks and a dab of threadlocker to your maintenance, and you’ll have a reliable, confidence-inspiring platform for drywall, paint, and trim work. If you need the absolute lightest possible rig or prefer an ultra-stiff calf lock, look elsewhere; for everyone else, these strike an excellent balance of comfort, capability, and cost.