Wheeled Walkers Buying Guide
There are lots of different types of Wheeled Walkers and they are all great for different reasons! Most of them are foldable and lightweight making them ideal for transportation and portability. Wheeled Walkers with a seat are great for those who need to take a rest when out and about too. If you suffer from breathlessness, COPD, have heart conditions or breathing conditions and so on, they are ideal as you can rest whenever you need to.
There are lots of things to consider so let’s dive into the differences and important aspects to consider!
Types of Wheeled Walker
Walking Frames
Walking Frames are always used for indoors only. They are not robust enough for use outdoors. They are narrow and lightweight which makes them ideal for indoor use. They can have either, wheels on the front and rubber ferrules on the back or rubber ferrules on the front and back. Either way this means the user will have to be strong enough to lift the frame as they walk.
3 Wheeled Walkers
3 wheeled walkers, also known as tri-walkers, are ideal for use indoors. Because they tend to be lighter, narrower and more compact they are well suited to narrow spaces indoors. They usually do not feature a seat, which for some people is quite important. The reason they don’t always have a seat is again to make them lighter and more compact.
Having only three wheels means that the turning circle on tri-walkers is much tighter and as such they are well suited to indoor environments. This doesn’t make 3 wheeled walkers unsafe; it just means you have to take more care when using them.
Three wheeled walkers have height adjustable handles which you use to push the walker around. Three wheeled walkers often come with a bag too to store your shopping and personal items.
Take a look at our three wheeled walkers here.
4 Wheeled Walkers
4 wheeled walkers, also known as rollators or just wheeled walkers, are generally more popular because they are suitable for most indoor and outdoor uses because of there being 4 points of contact on the ground as opposed to only 3. The front two castors swivel so that you can navigate narrow and tight spaces when out and about. There are heavy duty options available which feature higher weight limits and can handle rougher terrain – such as the Server XC with a 31 stone weight limit.
Most of our 4 wheeled walkers come with brakes as standard. This is great because you are in full control when using the walking aid. The brakes can be parked by pushing down or used as slow down brakes by squeezing up.
View our range of 4 wheeled walkers here.
Indoor Trolleys
Indoor Trolleys also known as Indoor Rollators or Indoor Walkers are specifically designed to help you around the home. They come as standard with a tray for you to carry plates and cups from room to room. Some models also fold up neatly to be stored when not needed.
Features of Wheeled Walkers
Wheeled Walkers with Seat
Walkers that come with a seat are our most popular option. They are great because they not only provide you with stability and support, but a seat for you to rest when out and about. This is the best feature of any wheeled walker in our opinion as it helps those with limited mobility go further and enjoy time with their family.
Folding and Storage
Almost all of our wheeled walkers at Mobility Your Way will fold so that you can store and transport them with ease. Some even feature a locking mechanism to prevent the walker from unfolding when in transport.
The Four-wheel Folding Rollator folds twice, making it super-compact. If space is a premium in your home or car boot, the Four-wheel Folding Rollator is the one for you.
Brakes
Most walking aids have brakes which enables you to slow or stop the walker when you need to. They can be “parked” too which enables you to sit on the walker if it has a seat and take a rest. Brakes are easy to use but you do have to have a certain level of strength to squeeze them. We can show you the options in-store and see what’s best for you.
Wheeled walkers help a wide range of people with a wide range of needs to be more independent when out and about. Whether it’s for moving around your home or for when you are out and about we have something that will work for you!
We stock a wider range of wheeled walkers across our mobility showrooms. If you would like to pay us a visit or arrange a home demonstration, contact your local showroom or our customer care team.