Best Rollators

While our ratings can give an overall idea of a rollator’s features and performance, different people have different requirements and needs, making some rollators better for them than others. For instance, the weight of a rollator might be very significant for someone with poor upper-body strength.

Walkers vs. Rollators: What’s the Difference?
Rollators are sometimes confused with walkers but are distinct in a few ways. While walkers tend to have wheels only on the front legs, rollators have wheels on all legs. Rollators are usually sturdier—the wheels are stronger, with larger casters, allowing you to easily maneuver over thresholds and across various terrains. They may have hand brakes and a seat, sometimes with a backrest.

Both walkers and rollators are generally designed to be foldable and easy to transport.

As mentioned above, for many people, the weight of the rollator is one of the most important features. The user wants to be able to easily fold the rollator and lift it into a vehicle, and a heavy rollator can make that difficult. I learned this firsthand when helping a family member after knee surgery—just a few extra pounds made the difference between being able to confidently lift the rollator into the trunk and struggling with it.

You might benefit from a rollator if you:

• Have balance issues and are at risk of falling
• Are recovering from surgery, such as a knee or hip replacement
• Are recovering from an injury
• Tire quickly while walking and could use a convenient place to rest (many rollators have a built-in seat)

Walkers are better for people who need to lean on a device for support. Rollators should not bear someone’s full weight, but they can provide greater speed and independence for those who are active and mobile. Most rollators have a seat, so if you tire easily, you can take a rest.

Even though many rollators have seats, you should never use a rollator the way you’d use a wheelchair. The seat is meant to be used while the rollator is stopped and the brake is engaged. When I sat on the seat of a rollator, I could feel the rollator shift slightly, which made me much more conscious of brake quality.

The handles should be adjusted so that when your elbows are slightly bent, you can push the rollator. You should also check the seat height and adjust it so that you can sit with your feet flat on the floor. 

One user wasn’t aware that the rollator was too tall until she noticed shoulder tension after long walks. Adjusting the handles greatly improved the usability.

A rollator with three wheels is frequently easier to maneuver. A four-wheeled one is typically more stable. Three-wheeled rollators are usually lighter and might be easier to lift into a vehicle. Four-wheelers generally have a seat.

If your rollator fits your body appropriately, it should be comfortable to use. When sitting on your rollator seat, your feet should be flat on the floor, and the width should easily accommodate you. Not all rollator seats have a backrest, so if you feel you need one, look for one that does. If you cannot test before you buy, measure your sitting width and sitting leg length to ensure a proper fit. Users also felt that padding was important. If your rollator lacks padding, you can add a small cushion for long outings to make the seat much more comfortable.