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For small stuff around the house, a telescopic ladder is more practical because it takes up less space and you can store it anywhere. A conventional one is more stable if you're gonna be standing on it for longer periods, but for changing a lightbulb or cleaning a high shelf, a telescopic one does the job just fine.
When it's just a quick thing - changing a light bulb, hanging a picture, cleaning the gutter - a telescopic ladder is unbeatable. It takes up a tenth of the space and is always within reach. The problem is that it kind of limits how long you can stay up on it without your legs getting tired, and if you need to lean or push sideways (like bracing yourself with your body), the stability becomes questionable.
If it's work that requires you to be supported for a few minutes or you're dealing with heavy tools, a conventional ladder wins. But there's a trick not many people know about: a telescopic ladder with a triangular base (the ones with feet spread wider apart) really changes things. Most of them are too narrow, and that's where the fear of falling comes from, but the best ones have a more solid base. It's worth looking for that version if you're going to use it regularly.
Either way, ideally you'd have both if space allows. A telescopic one for everyday stuff, and a small conventional ladder (like 1.5m or 2m) stored in a corner for when you need something more robust. It's not a matter of picking one or the other - it really just depends on the task.
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