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What Sets HandiTreads Apart
Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but when it comes to safety, there’s no room for compromise. HandiTreads has set the standard for non-slip aluminum treads for the past two decades and it’s no surprise that foreign imitators have invaded our market and tried to replicate our products. But here’s the truth: not all non-slip treads are created equal, and the differences between HandiTreads and the pretenders are more than just surface-deep.
While other brands may look similar, they fall short in the areas that matter most—performance, durability, and innovation. HandiTreads are more than just non-slip treads; they’re the result of years of real-world customer experience, testing, superior craftsmanship, and a commitment to safety that imitators just can’t replicate.
In this blog, we’ll delve into the key features that make HandiTreads the best non-slip aluminum treads on the market. Whether you want to make your stairs, ramps, or decks safer, you’ll learn why trusting the originator is the smartest choice for long-term safety and peace of mind.
Rise of the Imitators
For over two decades, HandiTreads has been at the forefront of the slip and fall prevention industry, revolutionizing the way people think about non-slip products. Known for our innovative aluminum treads, we’ve set the gold standard by offering a durable, effective, and versatile solution to prevent slips and falls on a variety of structures. Our commitment to quality and durability is backed by superior craftsmanship and exceptional customer service that has solidified our reputation as a leader in fall prevention technology.
With great success comes imitation. Over the years, HandiTreads’ industry leadership has inspired a wave of competitors attempting to replicate their products. While these knock-offs might look similar at first glance, they lack the engineering, testing, and high-quality materials that define HandiTreads.
These imitators often cut corners to reduce costs, using subpar aluminum or cheaper manufacturing processes that result in inferior and inconsistent products. From poorly designed treads with insufficient grip to coatings that wear down quickly, these imitations fail to meet the high standards of safety and durability that customers expect.
The Risks of Imitation Aluminum Non-Slip Solutions
Choosing an imitation product might save a few dollars upfront, but the hidden costs can quickly add up:
Shorter Lifespan: Lesser quality also means a shorter lifespan. Since the raised button surface of imitations doesn’t meet the design and quality standard of HandiTreads, they’ll also degrade more quickly. This could look like dented or flattened buttons, as well as chipping paint.
Decreased Safety: While our team at HandiTreads has perfected our patented raised-button traction surface over decades, imitators have just started. The non-slip aluminum buttons on foreign-made products may have sharp corners, be too shallow, too wide, or not cover the entirety of the surface. While the surfaces may look similar, imitations can be far less safe and result in injury.
Hidden Costs: While imitators may seem like a budget-friendly option, their inferior quality and need for replacement outweigh the initial savings.
Limited Warranty: Many imitation products lack the certifications, warranties, and customer support that come standard with HandiTreads lifetime residential warranty. This leaves buyers vulnerable to purchasing a product that doesn’t meet their expectations or safety needs.
When it comes to your safety, cutting corners is never worth the risk. HandiTreads’ continued success is built on their dedication to providing a solution that lasts, performs, and protects—qualities no imitation can match.
What Makes HandiTreads the Superior Non-Slip Solution?
While we’ve outlined the risks of inferior imitation products, we haven’t thoroughly explained everything that sets HandiTreads apart from these imitators. So, what exactly makes HandiTreads the superior aluminum non-slip tread?
Patented Raised Button Traction Surface
Perhaps the most identifiable feature of HandiTreads that has been imitated by many is our patented raised button traction surface. Over the course of decades, we’ve perfected our non-slip surface design, creating raised traction buttons that are the ideal shape, size, and height for unbeatable traction. Unlike imitators that outsource their manufacturing overseas, our treads are designed and manufactured in-house at our facility in Kenosha, WI.
As briefly mentioned in the previous section, the raised button surface of imitators is incredibly inconsistent. When the traction buttons are too wide, they cannot effectively grab the bottom of your shoe. They also run the risk of snagging a pet’s nail and injuring them. If the buttons aren’t high enough, slip and fall hazards like water, snow, ice, and debris will not properly be dispelled from the surface with each step.
Additionally, many imitators have too much space between the buttons or the buttons do not completely cover the surface of the tread. This leaves too much area that is not anti-slip, increasing the chance of slips and injuries.
Decades of Expertise
Original HandiTreads were not modeled after an existing product like its foreign imitators, it was born from a need for durable outdoor fall prevention where grit tapes failed. Unlike imitators, HandiTreads is a longstanding thought leader in the slip and fall prevention industry. Thom Disch, HandiTreads CEO, published Stop the Slip: Reducing Slips, Trips and Falls, winning the 2017 Non-Fiction Book Award. From its very beginning, HandiTreads’ mission has been to keep you and your loved ones safe by preventing dangerous slips and falls.
High-Quality Materials
Because it was created for outdoor fall prevention, HandiTreads needed to be built tough to withstand whatever mother nature could throw at it. Whether it be extreme heat or cold, rainstorms, falling leaves, blizzards, or anything in between, HandiTreads hard-wearing aluminum construction will prevail.
While imitators may cut corners with thinner or less durable aluminum, HandiTreads aluminum treads will last a lifetime. Speaking of cutting corners both literally and metaphorically, most imitation products have sharp, square corners. While it may be cheaper to cut square corners, the sharpness can snag clothing or the edge of shoes, feet, or paws, causing scratches or even more falls and injuries. HandiTreads’ rounded corners, on the other hand, are flush to the ground and won’t snag or scratch.
Beyond just the material of the tread itself, HandiTreads also includes high-quality stainless steel screws for installation. Unlike the cheaper and lesser-quality screws used by imitators, HandiTreads screws are also color-matched to the tread for seamless installation.
Proven Durability
So what do an exclusive traction surface, years of experience, and high-quality materials give you in a non-slip product? Proven durability. We are so confident in HandiTreads’ longevity and reliability that they’re backed by our industry-leading lifetime residential warranty. Unlike imitators that don’t even have a year warranty, we can guarantee that HandiTreads will prevent slips and falls at your home for years to come.
HandiTreads: Safety You Just Can’t Imitate
In conclusion, when it comes to safety, durability, and performance, HandiTreads Aluminum Non-Slip Treads clearly outperform imitation products. Their high-quality materials, exclusive design, and proven durability make them the ideal choice for anyone seeking a long-term solution to slippery outdoor steps, ramps, and decks. Unlike cheaper alternatives, HandiTreads are built to withstand the test of time, providing peace of mind and superior value for your investment. Don’t compromise on safety or quality—choose HandiTreads and experience the difference firsthand.