Written by Donald Jacobsen, MSN, MBA, RN-BC (NI)
Most people don’t realize that balance starts to decline around the age of 40. Our fall risk increases as we age, and our balance becomes less reliable. The National Institute of Health reports that one in three seniors will experience a fall each year, with common injuries being fractures of the hip, wrist, humerus, and pelvis. Using a walker for balance can significantly reduce the risk of a fall. It helps you safely continue daily life activities and maintain the independence that comes from accomplishing things you want and need to do.
Like choosing any helpful tool, selecting the right walker depends on your needs, lifestyle, budget, and personal preferences. Sometimes it’s obvious what your best choice is. Other times it’s helpful to compare the features and benefits of what’s available so you can determine which will be the best walker for you. To help you make that decision, we’ve compiled a list of our top 8 lightweight walkers for seniors.
1. Best Overall: Signature Life Elite Travel Walker
2. Best Folding: EZ Fold-N-Go Height Adjustable Lightweight Travel Walker
3. Best Stand Assist: Stand Assist Folding Walker by Medline
4. Best Standard: I-Class Dual-Release Lightweight Folding Walker
5. Best One Hand: Cardinal Health Side Hemi Adult Walker
6. Best Heavy Duty: Bariatric Folding Walker with Wheels by Medline
7. Best With Seat: Drive Medical Clever-Lite LS Walker with Flip Up Seat
8. Best on a Budget: Two Button Folding Walker with 5-inch Wheels by Medline
Standard walkers weigh between 5 and 6 pounds, while front-wheeled walkers usually weigh between 7 and 8 pounds. With a reinforced frame and more robust components, bariatric walkers typically weigh between 7 and 12 pounds.
A storage pouch allows you to keep your hands free to carry something while using your walker. Keeping necessary and often used items close by while still leaving your hands available to operate the walker safely makes a storage solution a valuable option for any walker.
Although walkers with wheels take less effort to propel forward, this design is slightly less stable. If you have significant balance problems, choosing a walker without wheels may be the best option.
Because handle height determines the fit, support, posture, and optimal function of the walker, correctly measuring is essential. Walker handle height should be at the crease of your wrist with your arm extended, so a model that can be adjusted to accommodate your frame will provide you with the most comfortable and safest user experience.
Price is almost always an important consideration when making a big purchase. This lightweight Two-Button Folding Walker with 5-Inch Wheels from Medline made our list at number 8 and is our choice for the best walker on a budget. It has height adjustability to serve a wide range of users and portability that makes it easy to transport and store.
This walker moves smoothly with the help of 5-inch front wheels and folds flat for storage with the press of just two buttons. Its handle height is adjustable from 32 to 38 inches, and each side folds independently to help navigate narrow spaces. It has a weight capacity of 300 pounds.
Medline’s two-button folding walker has been thoughtfully designed, including latex-free construction for those who have a latex allergy. This walker is great for seniors and is a fixed 17-½ inches wide.
The Clever-Lite LS Walker with Flip Up Seat by Drive Medical has a flip-up seat with a carrying handle that provides a convenient and comfortable place to rest when using this multi-featured mobility aid. The rear-glide push-down brakes lock easily with added weight, providing stability and security when used as a seat. It landed on our list at number 7 and is our pick for the best walker with a seat.
The anodized extruded aluminum frame weighs only 8 pounds, making this walker extremely durable and strong for users weighing up to 300 pounds. Thanks to its two 5-inch fixed front wheels, it rolls easily while providing balance and supporting independent mobility.
Its height adjustability provides a customized fit, with the handle height ranging from 29.5" to 39", while the seat height can be set between 19” and 25.5”. It folds up in one motion, making it simple to prepare this walker for transport and storage.
Raising the seat allows users to operate the product like a traditional walker, stepping within the frame to walk. Lowering the seat helps patients to rest comfortably when needed. A soft and flexible sling-style backrest provides users with more security when sitting down.
The Clever Lite LS Walker with Flip Up Seat can be folded in one motion using the dual lever side paddle release. The seat has a built-in carry handle, making it easy to transport and lift the unit when folded.
With its 500-pound weight capacity and extra wide frame for larger users, the Bariatric Folding Walker with Wheels from Medline made our list at number 6 and is our top choice for a heavy-duty walker.
This walker is height adjustable and is a good fit for 5’5” to 6’6” tall users. Wheel-to-wheel, it’s 27 inches wide with a 20.5” inside width. It has an aluminum frame with dual side braces and a front cross brace to ensure stability, and its two-button folding mechanism allows the user to adjust the width for support moving through narrow spaces.
Two 5-inch front wheels add to this walker’s stability. It’s great for people who have had surgery that requires them to be non-weight bearing on one of their legs, as this walker’s heavy-duty design can provide the support needed to keep them mobile without resorting to crutches.
Our number 5 pick can be especially helpful for users who have limited use of one arm or hand. The Side Hemi Adult Walker by Cardinal Health can provide more balance and leverage than a cane and is our choice for the best one-hand walker for balance.
Even though its wide base is very lightweight, it can accommodate users weighing up to 500 pounds. It is height adjustable between 29 and 36 inches with slip-resistant rubber tips on the feet to prevent slipping. The dual-level hand grips allow for easy transitions between standing and sitting.
Being lighter than a standard walker, it’s easy to lift and position with only one hand. It comes fully assembled and folds down easily for vehicle transport or storing it out of the way.
Landing at number 4 on our list is our pick for the best standard walker, the I-Class Dual-Release Lightweight Folding Walker by Independence Medical. This walker does not have wheels, which is ideal for users with limited balance.
This lightweight walker takes minimal effort to open and close via the ergonomic folding mechanism that is easy to reach from a seated position. When the user opens the walker, comfortably shaped nylon paddles that resist cracking and shattering pop up for easy access.
Able to accommodate users weighing up to 300 pounds, the composite lower side brace adds stability to the frame, while the PVC hand grips allow for comfort, control, and long wear. It is quieter and doesn’t rattle like other models when in use. Folding up to just 4 inches deep, this walker is easy to transport and store between use.
It comes in multiple sizes and options to accommodate just about any user, from youth to adult.
Number 3 on our list, the Stand Assist Folding Walker by Medline, has two levels of hand grips to help users independently pull themselves up from a seated position. This is an especially attractive feature while traveling to ensure safe mobility in an unfamiliar restroom, and it folds compactly to make it easy to take along wherever you go. This walker can also be used as a toilet safety frame for additional support.
Supporting users weighing up to 300 pounds, this walker has a 2-button folding design that makes it more maneuverable and comes with cross bracing to prevent any wobbling. Further adding to this walker’s stability, the rubber-tipped feet keep it from slipping on slick surfaces.
The lower handles prevent tipping when the walker is used to assist when standing. It has a 6-inch adjustable height range to provide appropriately positioned support.
Our number 2 choice, the EZ Fold-n-Go Height Adjustable Lightweight Travel Walker by Stander, Inc., made the list of top walkers because of its ability to fold down four times smaller for easy traveling.
This portable, lightweight walker is easy to use and looks great. It comes in your choice of black, blue, or rose and weighs less than 8 pounds, even though it can support users on the go weighing up to 400 pounds. It fits easily into the backseat or trunk. You can adjust the height with one touch, and it will fit users from 4’10” to 6’8” tall.
Its slim design allows you to navigate tight spaces, including narrow doorways. It has 6-inch swivel wheels in front, making it easy to maneuver. The rear gliding feet travel smoothly over a variety of surfaces. It comes with a storage pouch to keep personal items close at hand and a lifetime warranty.
Earning our top spot for the best overall walker is the all-terrain, highly portable Signature Life Elite Travel Walker by Stander, Inc. Specifically designed for use while traveling, this walker allows you to continue to enjoy activities that would otherwise be unsafe without stable balance support.
Its large front swivel wheels make maneuvering outside a breeze, and they lock in place when you need a stationary standing aid. It is height adjustable to ensure a proper and comfortable fit for users between 5’6” and 6’3” tall. It has a weight capacity of 400 pounds.
This walker weighs only 8 pounds and folds down with a joint mechanism in the middle of the support crossbar. The folded walker is small enough to fit in the overhead bin of an airplane or the passenger seat or trunk of a car. The storage basket and organizer bag can help improve independence, allowing you to organize and access your must-have accessories on the go.
View the product demo here.
A: There is quite a range in prices, from the most basic and inexpensive walkers starting around $50, with the most expensive models costing as much as $300. The average price is between $100 and $200.
A: Medicare Part B may pay for a walker as durable medical equipment (DME). The walker must be deemed medically necessary, and your medical provider must prescribe it for use in your home. Both your medical provider and the DME provider must participate in Medicare. Speak with your medical provider to determine how much you may have to pay out of pocket for a walker.
A: Studies have shown that walkers can improve balance and mobility.
A: The most stable kind of walker, a standard non-wheeled model, is also the most common.
A: A cane may be best for people who experience slight balance issues, while a walker provides a higher level of stability for more significant balance problems, especially when combined with naturally occurring age-related conditions of pain and weakness.
A: Walkers are an excellent option for anyone who experiences shortness of breath, arthritic pain, who can't walk and carry something at the same time, or who is at risk of a fall. Speak with your medical provider to determine whether a walker may be helpful.
A: There are advantages to both. A wheeled walker doesn’t require the user to lift the walker off the ground, so it may be the better choice for anyone who doesn’t have the strength or stability to complete the required lift. Wheeled walkers are not designed to bear a user’s weight, so anyone who has to lean on a walker for support, rather than just balance, should choose a model without wheels. Walkers with wheels are generally more maneuverable, making them suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Walkers without wheels are usually lighter and easier to transport in a vehicle.
Walkers for seniors can reduce the risk of an injury from a fall and support independence by allowing users to continue traveling, keep up with daily chores and activities, and safely get around without relying on the assistance of caregivers.
Our list of top walkers is full of high-quality mobility aids with features that address different user priorities. The highly portable Signature Life Elite Travel Walker by Stander was our top choice overall because it is specifically designed to allow the user to continue to participate in activities that require them to venture out of the house. It is super light and compact and can be taken along just about anywhere while traveling.
Thank you for reading about our list of top walkers. View our entire catalog of Walkers & Rollators to shop for the one that’s right for you. Visit Caregiver University for more articles and buying guides to help you make the most informed purchasing decision when you need to buy a walker.
Donald Jacobsen, MSN, MBA, RN-BC (NI)
Donald Jacobsen is a registered nurse and healthcare content writer who is passionate about patient education and quality improvement. With over 15 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Donald has a wealth of knowledge to share with readers. He is board-certified in nursing informatics and holds a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Memphis. He has also earned a Master of Business Administration from Western Governors University.
