You may think of a walking frame as something solely used by the elderly, but in fact, they can be used by anyone who has trouble walking, either temporarily or as part of a longer-term condition.
If you’re on this page, you may be pondering a walking frame purchase. Before we take a look at the best options, allow us to explain the different types on the market to help you decide which is the right option for you or your loved one.
What’s the difference between a walking frame and a rollator?
There are two main types of walkers available: frames, also known as zimmer frames, which you must pick up and move by yourself; and rollators, which have wheels fitted to the end of each leg making them easier to push along, whether you’re going from room to room at home or you’re out and about.
What are the benefits of a rollator?
Complete Care Shop is a specialist in both styles of frames, and explains further features of rollators on its website: “Some rollators have a seat, giving you a handy space to rest when needed, which walking frames won’t have.
“There are also rollators that come with bags, so you can easily carry items like small amounts of shopping with you without risking overbalancing.”
Rollators offer independence and freedom to those who would otherwise be stuck indoors and reliant on others to run errands for them.
What to look for in a rollator
This very much depends on your needs and your lifestyle. Rollators come as easily manoeuvrable three-wheelers, sturdy four-wheels, in a robust plus size and as two-in-one designs which can helpfully double up as a transit chair if you have trouble walking for long distances.
If you want to be able to get out of the house and do some shopping, opt for a rollator which comes with a built-in bag to carry your things as your hands will be otherwise occupied pushing the frame along.
Best walking aids: rollators and walkers at a glance
- Best for overall: Nitro Rollator - £280, Argos
- Best for lightweight: Fenetic Wellbeing Ultra lightweight folding rollator wheeled walker - £89.99, Amazon
- Best for user control: Days Tri Wheel 3-Wheel Folding Mobility Walker - £89.08, Amazon
- Best for F1 style: MobiQuip Aluminium Rollator - £129, Amazon
- Best for all-day wanderings: Let’s Go Out Rollator in cream - £332.32, Complete Care Shop
- Best for compact storage: Drive Devilbiss Aluminium Four Wheel Rollator Walking Frame - £117, Argos
- Best for the weekly shop: Nrs Healthcare Mobilitycare Aluminium Four Wheeled Rollator - £96.99, Robert Dyas
- Best for portable sitting: NRS Healthcare A-Series Lightweight 4 Wheel Rollator - Blue - £62.49, Complete Care Shop
- Best for indoors: Homecraft Walker Trolley - £124.94, Amazon
We’ve rounded up the best options to help shopping for the perfect one that much easier.
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Nitro Rollator - Lightweight and Foldable
Best for: overall
Offering both comfort and convenience in equal measure, the four-wheeled Nitro Rollator is an ideal choice for the person who likes to be outdoors as much as they can manage.
The padded seat and backrest make it a comfortable place to sit and there’s plenty of storage space available too. As well as adjustable handles and puncture-proof wheels, one of the best things about this design is that it can be closed single-handedly.
The best praise we’ve seen? One customer wrote: “Bought this for a friend who was finding it difficult and painful to walk too far. She has told me it is her ‘Rolls Royce’ of walking aids and she doesn’t know how she coped without it. Very satisfied.”
Max user weight: 21st.
Buy now £280.00, Argos
Fenetic Wellbeing Ultra lightweight folding rollator wheeled walker
Best for: lightweight
So wonderfully light that you can pick it up with one finger (6.3kg), as demonstrated in the photo, this walker folds down to such compact dimensions that it can be put into a car boot, or taken away with you on holiday.
The tyres are solid and puncture-proof and anatomic handles mean it’s comfortable to hold, whether you’re out for a long time or a good time. And the storage bag also doubles up as a seat, giving you a handy place to sit if you get tired on your adventures.
Buy now £89.99, Amazon
Days Tri Wheel 3-Wheel Folding Mobility Walker
Best for: user control
So popular that Complete Care Shop struggle to keep this design in stock (all the more reason to pre-order yours now), this three-wheeler is made from durable yet light aluminium, aiding mobility even further. The Tri Wheel Walker comes with a removable storage bag, adjustable handles and large front wheels for easier transportation and user control. When it’s not in use, it folds away quickly and is convenient to store.
Buy now £89.08, Amazon
MobiQuip Aluminium Rollator
Best for: F1 style
It’s a tall order for a rollator to look stylish, but MobiQuip manages it with this design. Weighing a lofty 6.4kg, the super light machine offers four wheels for extra stability, easy grip handles with breaks to help you stop or slow when you need to, a flip-up padded seat and a removable backrest. There’s even a walking stick holder, another example of considered design. Do your daily shop without worry thanks to the mesh shopping basket which sits in the centre.
Buy now £129.00, Amazon
Let’s Go Out Rollator in cream
Best for: all-day wanderings
Available in black or this elegant cream, this four-wheel design is perfect for assisting life beyond the garden gate. The bigger 9.5-inch front wheels help navigate tricky edges like kerbs, while the spring system aids movement and makes getting from A to B easier.
You can adjust the handles to your preferred height and they’re fitted with ergonomically shaped rubber hands, so they’re comfortable to hold for long periods. Need a break? There’s a faux leather seat to perch on, but be sure to engage the lockable cable breaks first!
And if you plan to take it shopping, your purchase will come with a specially designed bag that you can attach to the machine or use by itself with its handles.
Buy now £332.32, Complete Care Shop
Drive Devilbiss Aluminium Four Wheel Rollator Walking Frame
Best for: compact storage
Four wheels make this rollator easy to take out and about as well as use at home or in the garden. The twin grip handles are ergonomic and comfortable to hold, and there’s a storage space that doubles up as a space to sit if you get tired. Designed for users 18st or less, it folds down making it easier to store when it’s not in use.
Comes with a one-year manufacturer’s guarantee.
Buy now £117.00, Argos
Nrs Healthcare Mobilitycare Aluminium Four Wheeled Rollator
Best for: the weekly shop
Keep your independence for longer thanks to this walker, which features a large basket on the front to allow you to do the weekly shop and run errands.
It features many of the headline attractions as its peers: adjustable handgrips with cable brakes, a padded seat for pit-stop breaks, and a strong set of wheels.
It folds down easily for storage but will require self-assembly, so get some friends or family over to help. Comes with a one-year manufacturer’s guarantee for complete peace of mind.
Buy now £96.99, Robert Dyas
NRS Healthcare A-Series Lightweight 4 Wheel Rollator - Blue
Best for: portable sitting
This four-wheel design is made from strong yet lightweight aluminium, making it perfect to glide along on your next trip out. The height-adjustable handles mean you can prop it up to where it is most comfortable to hold and once you get home, it folds away for easy and compact storage. Extra features include a backrest, a bag for small amounts of shopping and hard-wearing puncture-proof wheels.
Buy now £62.49, Complete Care Shop
Homecraft Walker Trolley
Best for: indoors
Never rue forgetting things in the other room again thanks to this walker, designed exclusively for indoor use. A set of large twin frames sit above four wheels, giving you ample space to transport things from one area to another: think dinner plates to the sink. Hand brakes keep the unit stable and offer support, especially when you’re going from a seated to a standing position. Made for users with a maximum weight of 19.5st.
Buy now £124.94, Amazon
Verdict
A sturdy yet lightweight design with a comfortable space to sit and a roomy basket, the Nitro Rollator is an excellent purchase for anyone experiencing mobility issues.
