At some point during the time when my dad used a cane, it became essential to get a walker to use when we went out. Sometimes he had to walk a little further than he comfortably could with his cane, and sometimes we were in situations when he really needed to sit for a while. Having the walker made that possible.
My dad’s a tall guy, so he had a stronger, sturdier, bigger walker than most. Because I knew he would be sitting on it sometimes, we got one with a padded bar across the back, so he’d be able to lean against it when tired. Like most walkers, his folded so that it was more-or-less flat — convenient, but not as convenient as I would have liked. Even collapsed, it was one bulky beast for the back seat or trunk.
Naturally, then, I like the idea of this Pilot Rollator. It folds quite differently from other walkers, and it’s a fold I’m quite familiar with, because it’s been used in Combi baby strollers (link below) for years. Instead of folding flat, front legs against back legs, the Pilot’s legs fold into each other. The 1800wheelchair.com website calls this an “umbrella” fold, which isn’t quite right, but the effect is kind of similar — you end up with a column to carry, rather than a broad, flat piece. It’s much less bulky.
As is the case with the popular stroller, this fold can be a whole lot simpler to get in and out of tight spots, and probably would be a whole lot easier to check on airplanes or take on public transportation. There’s a back rest, and also a large basket, which, unlike most walker baskets, looks actually usable.
Combi International (strollers with the clever fold) — The website takes forever to load, even with a very high-speed connection, and if you use a pop-up blocker (as I do), you won’t be able to see anything anyway. But there you have it. More dumb web design, what’s new?