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Lightweight mobility scooters make movement possible for people who have trouble walking but still want to travel, work and visit friends and family freely. But options abound, and it can be difficult to navigate the various brands and models of lightweight mobility scooters available both in person and online. So we did the research for you.
To identify the best lightweight mobility scooters of 2022, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed data on nearly 200 scooter products. From total weight to price to comfort to safety features, see which scooters stand out as our top picks. Note: All prices are accurate as of the publication date.
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Pride Mobility Go-Go Elite Traveller 4-Wheel
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This sporty, streamlined 3-wheel scooter has a contemporary and ultra-portable design. You just fold down the tiller for easy transporting—no disassembly required. And when you remove the seat, it’s easy to store in tight spaces. With a maximum speed of 3.7 miles per hour and both a hand and foot brake, this scooter offers a safe and easy ride.
This stable 4-wheel scooter from Pride Mobility is not only comfortable, but also easy to disassemble while traveling. It’s easy to maneuver in tight spaces, and it comes with a handy front basket for carrying items, making it ideal for seniors on the go. With a travel range of up to 15 miles on a single charge, it’ll get you where you need to go.
This scooter is heavier than the other options on this list, but it supports a higher maximum weight capacity. It can also travel up to 16 miles on a single battery charge, which means you can take it on long outings without worry. Even as it cruises at a top speed of 5 miles per hour, the ride remains smooth, making it a safe choice for seniors with low back pain.
This affordable 3-wheel scooter has plenty of space for the rider’s legs and feet, and it features anti-tip wheels that provide extra stability. And with the option to use larger batteries, you can increase its travel range from up to 9 miles to up to 15 miles on a single charge. It disassembles into five parts for easy transport as well.
This super-portable scooter folds down to a width of just 12 inches, yet its four wheels provide plenty of stability. It can travel up to 18 miles on a single battery charge, making longer outings possible. And unlike many other lightweight scooters, it features both front and rear lights.
Lightweight mobility scooters are a great solution for seniors with limited mobility and people who are recovering from a medical procedure, says Lenny Tim, owner of LAMobilityscooterrentals.com, which delivers rental scooters to customers in Los Angeles. Designed to be portable, these scooters can be taken apart quickly and easily and placed in a car.
“They are designed to go places,” adds Dave Tuchler of Step Ahead Mobility in Raleigh, North Carolina. In fact, many people want a mobility scooter to take on longer trips, such as a cruise or a destination requiring air travel, so they can get around comfortably while on vacation, he says.
With that said, there are some tradeoffs with portable mobility scooters. “You may give up range, cargo capacity or size,” says Tuchler. Scooters with small batteries (which weigh less) travel a shorter distance before needing to be recharged compared to scooters with larger batteries. But a short travel range may not be an issue for you—like if you reside in an assisted living facility and primarily use the scooter to drive to the dining room for meals, says Tuchler. Similarly, if you just need the scooter to get from a car to an airport gate, this range limitation probably won’t be a problem.
Here are important features to consider when shopping for a lightweight mobility scooter.
Everyone wants comfort in a mobility scooter, “especially if you’re planning to be using it all day,” says Tim. But lightweight mobility scooters are not typically made with heavy padding. “Sometimes the smaller mobility scooters that are easy to transport are not that comfortable,” he adds. .
In terms of comfort, look for:
Portable mobility scooters are typically streamlined without a lot of extras. For instance, “they generally do not come with seatbelts,” says Tim. “But they’re slow and pretty easy to control.” Average top speeds for lightweight mobility scooters are 4 to 5 miles per hour—“a fast walking speed,” he says.
If transportability is high on your list, consider:
Many aspects go into a mobility scooter’s overall usability. Consider the following elements when shopping for your new ride:
Whenever possible, give mobility scooters a test drive in a retail showroom before buying. And generally, remember the ideal portable mobility scooter is:
To determine the best lightweight mobility scooters ranking, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed data on nearly 200 scooter products, with each product’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of factors, including:
Information provided on Forbes Health is for educational purposes only. Your health and wellness is unique to you, and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment plans. For personal advice, please consult with a medical professional.
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Nicole Gregory is an editor and writer in Los Angeles who has contributed to the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register, Vegetarian Times, Good Housekeeping, Family Circle, New Woman and Living Fit, among other publications. She enjoys interviewing medical experts and researchers about their work and is passionate about communicating accurate and relevant health information to the public.
Alena is a professional writer, editor and manager with a lifelong passion for helping others live well. She is also a registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and a functional medicine certified health coach. She brings more than a decade of media experience to Forbes Health, with a keen focus on building content strategy, ensuring top content quality and empowering readers to make the best health and wellness decisions for themselves.