For pools with soft walls, such as ones with inflatable top rings, a double sided ladder is the best choice. These ladders have an A-shaped frame with steps on either side. One side of the frame sits in the water, and the other side sits on the outside. This “bridge” creates steps on both sides of the pool. Some people prefer their ladder to have extended support handles to increase safety. Others get along just fine by grabbing each side of the frame. A good double sided ladder will have a small platform at the top where users can get their bearings before they proceed down the other side.

Hard walled pools are a bit different being that their wall can support weight. One sided ladders can be used on these pools. These ladders only have one set of steps which can be placed on either side of the pool. One sided ladders work well with above ground pools that have a deck. The ladder can be placed inside the water leading out to the deck’s surface. To avoid damage to the pool’s liner, a special pad can be purchased and placed under the legs. Above ground pool ladders are made from aluminum and plastic that is waterproof and safe to use in pools.

Need to clean the bottom of your pool? The Polaris 360 pool cleaner is a popular and highly rated cleaner.