Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsReview from an actual user!
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2019
I've been meaning to publish a review and have been putting it off but, having just used this walker and becoming so uncomfortable sitting on it, I'm compelled to publish a review now- warts and all- so others will know the whole deal here... I read another review from a man who said he was a nurse who bought it for his mom. He said the seat wasn't too high, but, as in other reviews I've read for Amazon products, I suspect that reviews for different models have been grouped together. This is for the red aluminum Drive Rollator with 7.5" casters. Please also note it comes with a Prop 65 warning, which I believe is due to the BPA in the plastic handles and possibly the seat, though short of wrapping the handles, I don't know how you'd avoid that.
Initially, I was concerned mainly with the seat, sturdiness, ease of folding, stowing, and weight so I'll address each:
WEIGHT: THIS IS NOT 5.1 LBS AS ADVERTISED!!! It is closer to 15 lbs, heavy enough so that it takes all of the energy I have to load or unload it to/from the car. Consequently, I have no more energy afterwards to do what I was going to do in the car in the first place. This in and of itself is causing me to do further research into a different walker as my intent was to be able to be more active and independent outside the house! This is my biggest issue with this product, especially since I could have bought a cheaper one but went with this one based on the advertised 5.1 lb. weight.
SEAT- My second biggest issue with this product... It's far far too high at 23." I'd prefer something closer to 20" but was unable to find it here. It is NOT adjustable in height. I guess that makes it easier to stand up from but I am 5'8" with a 24" inseam (pretty tall for a woman) and cannot sit flat on it and have my feet flat on the floor. In fact, due to it's height, I tend to sit on the front edge of it, whereupon it digs into the back of my thigh, cuts off my circulation, and causes my feet to go numb, further negating the ability to stand in the first place. The description says the seat is padded, and I guess if you use your fingers to press on it, it does have some give, but it is uncomfortable to sit on for any length of time (meaning even 5 minutes!). The seat makes an awesome rolling dinner tray, though.
STURDINESS: It is pretty sturdy and seems well made. It took a bit of getting used to at first because I had not used a rollator before and it rolls so easily that it seemed a bit squirrely. In fact, I now know which areas of my house aren't completely flat because if I leave it there without setting the brakes, it rolls away.
EASE OF FOLDING AND ASSEMBLY/ STOWING: It comes nearly assembled and I found it quite easy to do the rest, though DO make sure all the little clips are unbroken and intact. My first one's clip to hold the brake cable against the handle bar was broken and I had to return the whole unit for replacement because I thought if I fell, I could easily get caught in it and it would be quite a wreck. Luckily Amazon made it easy. Thank you Amazon for your great customer service! It is very easy to fold one-handed (by pulling on the strap in the compartment under the seat) but does NOT fold flat and, sans bungee cord, doesn't want to stay folded. When folded, it doesn't stand by itself, either. This walker will fit in a Honda Civic trunk but will NOT fit in a BMW 330i trunk without unscrewing the knobs and collapsing the handle bars down.
It fits through all but the narrowest door in my house. Finally, the wheels roll quite easily outdoors, as advertised.
