How Much Does a Walker Weigh? Is Lightweight Always the Best?
If you’re wondering how much a walker weighs, here’s a quick breakdown of the different types and weights available today.
There are many styles and sizes of walkers. Three main types are:
- A standard walker (frame with four rubber-tipped legs).
- A front-wheeled walker (like a standard frame with wheels on the front legs).
- Rollator walkers (three or four wheels along with hand brake).
Walkers are popular mobility aids among senior citizens. They reduce the risk of falling when moving around and aid in independence.
How Much Does a Walker Weigh?
- A standard walker (no wheels) weighs about 6 pounds.
- Front-wheel walkers usually weigh around 8 pounds.
- The weight of three- or four-wheel walkers (rollators) ranges from 12 to 26 pounds.
The mobility device you choose should not be too heavy for you.
This is essential with a standard walker. With every step, you must be able to lift it off the ground and move forward.
Weight can also factor in with a wheeled walker if you need to pack it into a vehicle or carry it on stairs.
Is Lightweight Walker Always the Best Option for a Senior?
Lightweight walkers are excellent options for many situations as they support mobility.
Heavier walkers tend to be cumbersome, especially when traveling. Using the walker on the stairs is even more challenging.
Lightweight devices are easier to carry around and fold when needed.
But the lightest options aren’t always best for seniors.
The absolute lightest walkers tend to be standard walkers without wheels.
A lightweight frame isn’t necessarily bad for walking short distances around indoors. But it gets harder when you go outside as they are not easy to walk with.
You have to lift and move the frame with every step. That is not ideal for people who are physically challenged.
And lightweight frames may not be sturdy enough to accommodate more prominent individuals.
Instead, consider getting a sturdy but lightweight 4-wheel rollator. They are stable, allowing for greater support and stability even outdoors.
Drive Medical Nitro 4-wheel rollator, weight 17.5 pounds.
Another option is a lightweight front-wheel rollator. With wheels, it is easy to move throughout the home.
They are not as lightweight as the standard walkers but offer much better help when moving around.
Drive Medical 2-wheel rollator with a seat, weight 12 pounds.
What Determines Walker’s Weight?
Walker’s weights range from 5.5 pounds for a standard non-wheeled walker to 26.5 pounds for a wheeled bariatric device.
However, structural components determine a walker’s weight (comparison chart on Justwalkers):
- Width and depth of the frame
- Wheel size
- Frame materials
- Seat
- Basket
Each of these components will add extra weight to your device. Your physical or occupational therapist needs to prescribe a mobility device based on your capabilities and other co-morbidities.
Weight of Walkers
As previously mentioned, there are varying types of walkers that serve different purposes. Here are a few common walkers and their weights.
Standard and Front-Wheel Walker
A standard walker is a basic frame with handles and legs. If your device doesn’t have wheels on the front legs, you must lift it before every step, so it’s crucial that this walker is as light as possible.
Drive Medical 10200-1 folding walker, weight 6 pounds.
The standard type is easy to use for most people. Without wheels, it weighs 5.5 pounds, and with wheels, it weighs seven to eight pounds.
Drive Medical 10210-1 folding walker with wheels, weight 7.5 pounds.
A standard walker can safely support 300 to 400 pounds. Bariatric standard walkers can safely support up to 650 pounds.
Unwheeled bariatric walkers weigh around 9 pounds and wheeled 10 pounds.
MediChoice Heavy Duty Bariatric Walker, weight 10.5 pounds.
Rollator Walkers
Rollator walkers have wheels on all four legs, so they do not have to be lifted with each step. This increases mobility but is also more challenging to control and is not safe for everyone. Be sure to contact a physical therapist to ensure you’re safe to use a rollator.
Drive Medical 10257BL-1 4-wheel rollator walker with seat, weight 18.6 pounds.
Regular rollator walkers weigh between 10 to 25 pounds and can safely support up to 300 pounds. They can also feature a seat and basket. The contents of the basket can add significantly to the weight of the rollator.
Bariatric rollator walkers weigh up to 26 pounds and can support up to 600 pounds. They are less easy to transport due to restrictions on collapsibility.
Medline Heavy Duty Rollator with Seat, weight 25 pounds).
Roami Walker
Assistive devices have remained very traditional for a long time. But now they are developing rapidly, thanks to new materials and technologies. There are innovative devices on the market, and Roami is one example.
A Roami walker increases mobility as it can safely navigate multiple surfaces in addition to going up and down stairs, declines, and inclines.
Roami has retractable wheels for stability in working in one spot, and it functions as both a walker and a rollator.
It weighs 11.9 pounds and can support 300 pounds.
What Is the Lightest Walker Available for Seniors?
The lightest walkers are the standard non-wheeled walkers.
One of the lightest walkers is the folding frame from HGNA. It weighs only 4.4 pounds. But it has no reviews, so it’s hard to say anything about its durability.
Drive Medical 10200-1 is a traditional device that weighs 6 pounds, which is pretty much the typical weight for standard non-wheeled walkers.
One of the lightest ones for 4-wheel rollator walkers is the byACRE carbon rollator walker.
It has a modern design and looks different from any other rollator! And it weighs only 10.6 pounds, which means that it is very easy to lift, for example, into a car when folded.
It certainly is one of the lightest rollator walkers in the world!
Weight of Walker Accessories
Remember to consider what you will be transporting when walking. When you add up the weight of food, a phone, medications, and a sweater or jacket, they increase the weight that you need to move.
A device with a portable bag, basket, and seat will weigh more than one without these accessories.
If the device weighs too much, it is hard to lift and transport and can shorten and narrow the person’s stride, causing imbalance.
As a result, most older adults consistently used lighter walkers than heavier ones indoors and outside (study: the importance of the 4-wheeled walker).
How Much Does a Walker Weigh – Final Thoughts
It’s best to consult a physician, physical therapist, or occupational therapist before deciding on a walker. These trained professionals can help you choose an assistive device that suits your needs and keeps you safe. Buying an assistive device on your own or using a hand-me-down isn’t safe.
Generally, it’s best to choose a light walker if you are active, as picking up or pushing a device can be very taxing. Alternatively, a rollator walker can give you the freedom to sit when you are tired.
It’s also important to consider your body weight and height. Someone five feet tall doesn’t have the same needs or strength to lift or push a heavy walker as someone over six feet tall. A trained professional can prescribe a mobility device according to your height and weight.
The correct weight choice for a supportive mobility device will assist you in not only recovering from a procedure but also in maintaining your independence.
Read More: How To Fold A Rollator Walker (For Travel and Storage)