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Lightweight mobility scooters make mobility achievable for those who have trouble walking but still have the desire to travel, work and visit friends and family when they please. But options are plentiful, and it can be difficult to navigate the variety of brands and models of lightweight mobility scooters available both in person and online. So we decided to do the research for you.
To determine the top lightweight mobility scooters of 2022, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed data on almost 200 scooter products. From total weight to cost to comfort to safety features, discover which scooters stand out as the best of the bunch.
Note: All prices are accurate as of the publication date.
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This affordable three-wheel mobility scooter features a sturdy design with comfort in mind. It has on-scooter storage to stow away valuables, a padded armrest and an adjustable tiller for increased portability. With a top speed of 4 miles per hour, this scooter offers a safe and easy ride.
Free Rider says the FR Ascot 3 can travel for 15 miles on a single charge, but that range includes a battery upgrade. The standard battery features a 12-mile travel range.
This four-wheel scooter is designed with portability and travel in mind. It’s powered by a standard airline-approved lithium-ion battery, which the company claims charges faster and has a longer life than non-lithium-ion alternatives. The scooter is also easy to disassemble into five manageable pieces, so you can quickly get back on the move.
The standard airline-approved battery for this model has a range of just over 7 miles. The 16Ah battery upgrade isn’t airline-approved, but it does double the scooter’s travel range on a single charge.
Despite its name, the MiniRider packs a punch in terms of weight capacity and four-wheel stability. It also comes with a strong 36-month warranty, as well as an impressive battery range. What’s more, this model disassembles into four pieces, scoring extra storage and portability points.
The standard battery on this model offers a 10-mile range, but the upgraded battery can travel up to 18 miles on a single charge.
The most affordable scooter on our list, this model is made with both travel and portability in mind. According to Zip’r, this model is TSA-approved, can break down into five foldable pieces and can fit inside most car trunks. Users can travel up to 12 miles on a single charge.
The company touts a three-year warranty, but the fine print states that only a one-year warranty applies to the drivetrain, motor and electrical components. Customers must also register their scooter on Zipr.com within 30 days to validate any warranties.
The Roadster 3 offers an easy, smartly-priced way to up your mobility around town. This model comes with an 18-month warranty, and customers can also choose from a slew of optional accessories, such as an oxygen tank holder, weather cover, safety flag and foldable rear basket.
The Roadster 3 has a short battery range of just 6 miles.
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:
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:
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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.
Robby has spent his career in a variety of writing, editing and storytelling roles. He now resides near Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife and three kids. He enjoys woodworking, playing rec league soccer and supporting chaotic, downtrodden sports franchises like the Miami Dolphins and Tottenham Hotspur.