Rollator Buying Guide

Outdoor

• An outdoor walker has to deal with different terrains. If you're using more on flat surfaces, smooth footpaths and around the mall, then most of our walkers will be ideal for that.
• If you're going over mixed terrain, like outside over cobble stones, garden pathways, fields, then larger tyres are a good option. These help up roll better over the bumps and cracks.
• Outdoor walkers should also be easy to fold so you can store it in the car, bus, train or plane. If your using it in wet conditions, think about the brakes - for example, the Rollz Motions use drum brakes which are excellent in wet conditions.
• We have some fantastic outdoor options including the byACRE Carbon Overland, the Saljol Aluminium and , the Rollz Performance 2-in-1 Walker Wheelchair, all with larger wheels and cushioning.

WHAT SORT OF TYRES DO I NEED?

• Solid plastic | Usually these have no 'give' in them at all. Touch them and you’ll notice how hard they are, which can mean a bumpy ride without shock-absorption. That jarring can travel from the wheels, up the frame and into to your wrists and arms - so think about how much shock absorption you might want.
• PU (Polyurethane) or Rubber composite | These are solid tyres, but can often incorporate some rubber or soft material such as foam to reduce vibration.
• Air-filled or pneumatic tyres | These are tyres that you fill with air, just like a bike. They make for a more comfortable ride. However, like a bike, they may need checking occasionally to see if more air needs to be pumped into them.

DO YOU WANT TO CARRY MUCH WITH YOU?

• If you need to carry things like books, groceries or some shopping, then you’ll want to attach a bag. Most walkers should have some sort of bag accessory and a good way to attach it. So check the accessory options that go with the walker, what sort of bag does it have?
• The Rollz Flex is especially good for carrying things because the bag can carry up to 20kg, and it is located low and distributes weight centrally across all four wheels, which is great for stability.
• byACRE have a great range of accessories with lots of different options, from small pocket bags to larger weekend bags.
• Rollz have a basket option that goes under the seat, but also a Shopper bag that can sit higher on the frame.
• All our other walkers have bags that you can attach too - most of these need to be bought in addition, as an accessory. Scroll down on each product's page and there is a section on the available accessories

WILL YOU BE TRAVELING ON A PLANE WITH IT?

• Some walkers come with a travel bag, which helps to protect the walker from scratches and bumps.
• Of course there’s no guarantees this will offer 100 percent protection, especially as some airline baggage handlers can be pretty rough! So think about how the walker folds and can be stored. Some people like to keep the box it comes in and be extra cautious with their walker by using the box again as added protection on flights.
• Most airlines allow you to check-in mobility equipment for free without adding it to your luggage restrictions, but it’s good to check with the airline.

WHAT ARE GOOD BRAKES AND BRAKE CABLES?

• Drum Brakes use a mechanism that expands inside a cylinder within the tyre. Many cars and trucks use drum brakes. Because they are inside the tyre, they are fantastic in the wet or dry. All the Rollz Motion models use drum brakes.
• Alternatively, the byACRE uses brakes that extend a resistance lever onto the tyre. These are lighter.
• Do you need Slider Brakes? Slider Brakes, also known as 'Drag Brakes' or 'Slow Down brakes', attach to the rear wheels of your rollator to give you controlled friction to slow the rollator down. Some people want these when they are walking down hill so they are not using their hand brakes as much. Rollz have an accessory for this, called the Rollz Slow Down Brake. Saljol have these attached to their Saljol Carbon Walker already.
• One-hand brake option? Some people struggle with weakness in one hand and can only use one for braking. In this case, a ione-hand brake system is a great solution. The Saljol Carbon Walker and the Saljol Aluminium Walker can be changed to a one-hand system.
• Hidden brake cables are a great quality in a walker, so they don’t get caught on things as you walk past. Most walkers don’t hide their cables, but byACRE does put the cables inside their carbon fibre frames, and Rollz run most of them through the handle and then tuck it through a guide so they are out of the way.

DOES THE WALKER ABSORB VIBRATION?

• Think about how the jars and bumps travel through your walker up to your wrists? Does your walker absorb impact?
• Quality tyres help with this, as does the shape of the frame and the handles.
• Does the shape of the frame help? For example, byACRE have incorporated their boomerang shape into their walkers to help absorb shock, plus some cusioning in the wheels and handles. The Overland also has air filled tyres to go the extra distance.
• The Rollz Motion has PU tyres which offers a little bit more give, as well as their comfortable but sturdy foam on the handles. The Rollz Motion Performance makes the ride smoother with air-filled tyres for the outdoors.
• Saljol have quality wheels made of PU rubber. Includes internal foam for better shock absorption and a smoother ride.
• Many other walkers don’t add shock protection and have hard handles, so consider if that’s necessary for you.
  
  

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

• This is more about style, which might not be a priority, but it certainly can't hurt. There are some companies who ensure their mobility equipment avoids a harsh and clinical appearance. They are taking on the stigma of mobility aids by not only designing them to be incredibly functional, but also to look awesome.
• Locomo's customers often say they get people commenting on their byACRE, Saljol, Trive or Rollz walker, asking where they got it and admiring how cool it looks.
  
  

WHAT SORT OF WARRANTY DOES IT HAVE?

• Good brands will back their product with good warranties, so you’ll want to check that. At Locomo, our brands do just that.
• Rollz places a 5 year manufacturers warranty in relation to the extruded aluminum frame and 2 years in relation to the other parts. Full terms of the Rollz warranty can be found on their website here
• The byACRE has a lifetime warranty on the carbon fibre frame and a 2 year warranty on other parts (including the seat and wheels). You can register your byACRE for its warranty on their website here.
• Saljol offer a four year warranty when you register your product on their website here.
• Trive has a 2 year warranty on the frame.
• As you would expect, any damage resulting from normal wear and tear, improper use, maintenance neglect, etc. is not covered by the warranty - that is more a matter of repair. It's a good idea to check the product's manual for maintenence recommendations - like anything, if you spend some time maintaining it, the lifespan will be a lot longer.