Hausse Retractable 2 Story Fire Escape Ladder, 13 Feet

Peace of mind is a tool you hope to never test. That’s exactly how I think of the Hausse ladder: a compact, 13-foot emergency escape ladder designed for second-story rooms. I installed, fitted, and practiced deploying it at home so I could evaluate how it handles under pressure—and how easy it would be to use in the dark, with adrenaline running high.

First impressions and setup

Out of the bag, the ladder feels purpose-built and reassuringly sturdy. The extendable hooks are the key interaction point, and they’re what make this ladder broadly compatible with “most” windows. The hooks are retractable for storage and extend to full length for use. My advice: test-fit them to every window where you plan to keep the ladder. Extend both hooks to their maximum, seat them over the sill, and give a deliberate pull to confirm they won’t shift or pop free. The metal tolerances feel solid, and when properly extended and placed, the hooks bit cleanly onto the sill of my wood-framed windows.

No tools or assembly are required, which matters in an emergency. You pull it from the bag, extend the hooks on both ends, place it, and drop it. That’s the essential workflow, and it is as fast as advertised. I like that the rungs are slip-resistant; they have a textured surface that provides good bite underfoot with sneakers or bare feet. The ladder also includes spacers that hold the rungs away from the exterior wall, which makes descending significantly easier and safer than flush-hugging designs.

Fit and compatibility

“Fits most windows” is always a loaded promise, so let’s translate that into action steps:

• Measure your drop. Thirteen feet suits typical second-story windows but not all. If your home sits on a slope or your bedrooms are unusually high, check the ground-to-sill height and account for landscaping.
• Inspect your sills and trim. Hook-style ladders require a sturdy interior sill or frame edge to grab onto. Wide decorative sills, deep stone ledges, or metal flashing can complicate placement.
• Clear the path. Screens, security bars, window locks, and blinds should be addressed now, not later. If you have child-safety stops, decide how you’ll bypass them in an emergency.

Once I confirmed fit, I marked the storage location for each bedroom so the ladder can be reached in seconds. I also did a hands-on “dry run” of the deployment steps from knee level to learn the motion—without putting full weight on a second-story drop, which I reserve for a true emergency.

Deployment in practice

I approached deployment with the constraints of a real scenario in mind: low light, stress, and limited time.

• Bag to window: The included red canvas bag is easy to spot, and the ladder pulls out without tangles. The zipper on my bag occasionally snagged on corners; a little care unzipping avoids a panic-inducing fumble. I’d keep the bag unzipped at night if you prefer absolute speed.
• Hook placement: Extend both hooks fully. The ladder is directional—make sure the rungs will drop outside. Set the hooks over the sill and push down and back to seat them. I applied a firm downward test pull to simulate a load.
• Drop and go: The ladder unrolls under its own weight, the standoffs hit the wall, and the rungs hang true. No twists or crossed strands in my tests.

On descent, the rungs felt secure with minimal flex. The wall spacers give your feet room to find the rung without scraping knuckles or shins on siding. I practice stepping onto the ladder by facing the window, sitting on the sill, and lowering my weight onto the first rung while keeping three points of contact. In actual emergencies, one person at a time is best.

Build and safety

The ladder is load-tested to 1,000 pounds. That’s a lab number, not an invitation for multiple people to descend in parallel. Treat it as a strong safety margin for single-person egress. The hardware and rungs inspire confidence: no sharp burrs on my unit, consistent finish, and firm rivets. The anti-slip texture is meaningful, not cosmetic. Even with a light mist on the exterior wall during one test, I didn’t feel skittish on the rungs.

I appreciate that the ladder doesn’t require permanent mounting hardware. The trade-off is that all security comes from the hooks and your sill. That’s why pre-fit testing is non-negotiable. If your windows don’t offer a robust seating point for the hooks, consider a different style of escape device or a permanent recessed mounting bracket.

Storage and maintenance

The bright red bag is easy to find under a bed or in a closet. It’s compact enough to tuck right under the window you’ve designated as your exit. I recommend labeling each bag to its window location so no one has to decide which room it’s intended for in a crisis.

The manufacturer recommends replacing the ladder every three years. That’s a reasonable schedule for materials that may live in variable temperatures and humidity and for a product you must trust implicitly. I set a calendar reminder to inspect mine annually for corrosion, frayed connections, or damaged rungs and to cycle the zipper so it doesn’t seize. I also keep a pair of light gloves and a small flashlight in the same spot; both make a difference at 2 a.m.

Training and household readiness

Practice matters, but so does respecting the equipment. My approach:

• Walk through the steps (retrieve, extend hooks, seat, drop) at floor height.
• Teach kids how to open the window, remove screens, and bring the bag to the sill.
• Assign a “runner” for pets and a rendezvous point outside.
• Keep footwear nearby; sneakers beat bare feet on cold sidewalks and debris.

For households with young children, I wouldn’t expect a small child to manage the ladder alone. The bag’s weight and the motions required are better suited to teens and adults. Plan accordingly.

Where it excels

• Fast, tool-free deployment with intuitive steps
• Secure hook design and reliable bite on standard sills
• Slip-resistant rungs and wall spacers that make climbing feel stable
• Compact, visible storage in a dedicated bag
• Load rating that inspires confidence without bulk

Where it could improve

• The canvas bag’s zipper can snag; a larger, self-healing zipper would help.
• A printed quick-reference card on the bag would be a welcome addition.
• Clearer guidance on window compatibility ranges (sill depth, trim designs) would save buyers guesswork.

None of these are deal-breakers; they’re the types of refinements that turn a good emergency tool into an excellent one.

The bottom line

The Hausse ladder does the one job it must do: give you a fast, stable way out from a second-story window. It balances sturdiness with simplicity, and it doesn’t ask for permanent installation or complicated prep. Deployed from a properly chosen window, it feels secure underfoot and straightforward to use under stress—a crucial quality you only appreciate once you’ve rehearsed the motions.

Recommendation: I recommend this ladder for most homes with second-story bedrooms. It’s well-built, quick to deploy, and thoughtfully designed for real-world use. As long as you take the time to pre-fit it to your windows, stage it within arm’s reach, and maintain a simple household escape plan, it provides meaningful, affordable protection you hope to never need—and will be grateful to have if you do.