|  |
| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 59 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
107 of 108 found the following review helpful:
 OK Gate Feb 01, 2008
By P. Lundberg
After a long search for a quality top-of-stairs gate, this is what I decided to buy. Although it works OK it could be better.
Two things really bother me about this gate. First, Amazon is selling it as a pressure-mounted gate. This isn't exactly true. While technically it is pressure-mounted, you also need to use the cups that come with and either stick them on or screw them into the wall. This gate is not designed to have a firm mount, it uses hand wheels to adjust tension. As a result, it's not sturdy enough to use without the wall mount cups, meaning you won't be able to move it around much. The hand wheels are "tamper proof", basically meaning that they are a pain to loosen. Since this gate can't be set up in multiple places easily anyway, this shouldn't be a problem. Nevertheless, I would prefer wrench-adjusted tension for a more secure fit and the ability to mount the gate without the cups. This would require a redesign, as it doesn't take much pressure to close the gap at the top when installing (compared to true pressure-mounted gates).
Second, I thought this gate was made in the USA. This statement is prominently displayed on North State's website today. But it is actually now made in China. This was a factor in my decision and I don't appreciate inaccurate websites.
Now, to the details. This gate was easy to setup and did not require any tools. Previously I had purchased a Summer Infant Extra Tall gate but returned it because I was not satisfied with the gate mechanism. I couldn't get it to operate both smoothly and safely at the same time. The release mechanism on this North States gate works very well. The auto-close feature also works well. However, whether or not you will like that feature is another thing.
It became immediately apparent that the auto-close feature can be a pain in a high-traffic area. Keep in mind this gate is not easy to remove, so once installed you will need to open it each and every time you go through it unless you rig up your own doorstop to hold it open. The main advantage is that it will always be closed, and that makes it safer. I prefer the safety, but I can see where some people might get annoyed.
It also closes with a fairly loud clang, which can be a nuisance when you have a sleeping baby. The metal latch is pulled into place by a magnet so even if you manually close the gate, it will probably clang, although sometimes you get lucky and it doesn't. A little duct tape over the magnet helps.
Another thing to keep in mind is that since this is a top-of-stairs gate, it will only open in one direction and it cannot be setup to operate in both directions at the same time.
As with all pressure-mount gates, there is a steel bar at the bottom of the gate that you will need to step over.
All in all, this is still the best top-of-stairs gate I have been able to find. It does the job I need it to. But obviously it isn't the most flexible gate and there is a lot of room for improvement. If you don't need a top-of-stairs gate, I would recommend The First Years Hands Free gate, which we use in our kitchen. But please remember that if you need a gate at the top of the stairs, there are only a handful available that are designed for this, and they are all hardware mounted.
UPDATE 8/11**********************
A commenter has stated this gate now opens in both directions, which would make it unsuitable for top of stairs use. I don't know if the design changed of if the commenter has a slightly different model, but buyer beware.
20 of 20 found the following review helpful:
Fantastic gate Feb 01, 2007
By Terry
The only reason that I did not give the gate a rating of 5 stars was due to price. I installed the gate in one of my bedroom door openings. It is nice and sturdy and it does close on its own. That was the key selling point to me. Not everyone remembers to close the gate behind themselves and that defeats the purpose of a gate in the first place. I do not want it to ever stand open on its own. I love the gate, I just wish that it was a little cheaper so I could install in into more of my door frames.
15 of 16 found the following review helpful:
Good Gate Oct 05, 2007
By Mr Scott Kelly
This gate has been good so far. The instructions for installation weren't very good, and that is why I didn't give it 5 stars. Just be careful when ordering the extension bars, as it comes with a 2 bar extension that is a fixed 5.75 inches already so you have to take that into consideration when ordering any other extensions. We have a 48" space we are using the gate in, so I ordered the 5 bar 14 inch extension thinking it would adjust, but with the fixed 2 bar extension the gate was just too long, so I didn't use the 2 bar and only used the 14. This leaves a gap on each end bigger than the 2.75 inches recommended, but it work fine.
11 of 12 found the following review helpful:
 Great stairway solution! Mar 09, 2007
By Kelli J. Robertson
"SpeechTeach Mom"
We have tried 3-4 different gates at the top of our stairway over the past 3 years with our 2 young children (now 4 yrs and a 10 month old). This is a GREAT option for a gate. Ours is solidly installed, it clicks shut automatically with an audible click (so after my 4 year old goes through, I don't have to worry about him leaving it open - it closes by itself AND I can hear the "click" that tells me it closed), and you don't have to drill holes in your woodwork/staircase to install this.
It is much easier to open, just as sturdy as the drill-in gates, and looks nicer than all of the other gates we tried. We love it for our house!
6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
Great gate Sep 03, 2008
By Melanie Moore
This is the best gate yet. We have it at the top of our stairs and we purchased it because it is pressure mounted and easy to install. We have a 2 1/2 year old who he has figured out how to open other gates and other child-proofing items we have around our home. This gate is more challenging to open for a toddler, which is good. It is a strong, heavy and sturdy gate. The best. We will be purchasing another because it is the only gate our toddler cannot open.
See all 59 customer reviews on Amazon.com
|
| | |
