You’re looking for a mobility scooter for yourself, a relative, a client, or a friend. How do you know what to look for? What are the features? When shopping for a mobility scooter, it can be intimidating. The amount of choices and options involved is overwhelming! It’s similar to shopping for cars for the first time. Exciting…but scary too.
Seniors may want their family, doctor’s, or therapist’s input before making a final decision. It’s important to know what the scooter is going to be used for, where it will be used, why the scooter is needed, how well it can be operated by the driver, and how it will be transported. There are certain features that are particularly important to consider: 3 or 4 wheels, maximum weight limit, range, the terrain it can handle, whether or not the scooter is airplane safe, the weight of the heaviest piece, and price.
One of the very first questions to ask is, will it be a 3 or 4 wheel mobility scooter? 3 wheels have a tighter turning radius, which is great for maneuvering in small spaces. It also makes the front end of the scooter a bit lighter if transporting.
Will this be used in an apartment? Will it be used in small stores? With 4 wheel scooters, they typically have a larger turning radius than 3 wheels. However, for stability, 4 wheels tend to work better due to the extra front wheel.
Knowing the user’s height and weight before shopping is helpful. Taller individuals will need to pay attention to foot space. Some 4 wheel scooters may be a no-go since they usually have wheel wells that restrict foot placement.
Also, there are some weight brackets that may have limited options. Being under 250 lbs. will give the most options. Whereas being over 325 lbs. severely limits the products available. The rule of thumb in the industry suggests that the rider should be at least 25 lbs. below the maximum weight limit. This extends the life of the scooter because it won’t need as many repairs. It also means the scooter may perform better. For instance, the batteries can focus more on power and range than supporting a weight that is too close to the maximum weight limit.
The range is determined by miles, not the amount of time you have to operate the scooter. The measurement of miles is not exact. A mobility scooter that is driving at a conservative speed with a lighter weight rider will get the most range. However, a scooter being driven fast with a rider closer to the maximum weight limit will shorten the range.
Whether the terrain is flat or hilly can also affect how much power is used. So a scooter with an 8-mile range may be better suited for indoor use whereas a scooter with a longer range may be better for outdoor use.
The batteries that power these scooters may or may not be airplane safe. For instance, lithium (Li) batteries over 10AH may not be allowed on the flight. If 10AH or less, the battery can usually be in the cabin of the plane as a carry-on while the rest of the scooter gets stored in cargo. However, scooters with sealed lead-acid (SLA) batteries are allowed to travel in cargo. If travel rarely happens this may not be an important concern.
If just transporting in or out of a car, pay close attention to the “heaviest piece” listed in the specs. If needing to assemble and disassemble, this is extremely important! The user will need to be able to lift at least that amount of weight. If they are unable, typically a class 3 hitch would need to be available on the vehicle to attach either a carrier or lift. This could limit the options if already on a tight budget or a hitch can not be used on the car. This is also something that may be needed for those that can not physically assemble and disassemble their scooter.
It is important to know your budget and payment options. New mobility scooters for seniors can range from about $600 to over $5,000. Some businesses have financing available if paying out of pocket. Paying out of pocket may occur if insurance determines equipment is not needed or it would take months of paperwork before actually being able to take home the scooter.
Keeping all of this in mind, here are my picks for the best mobility scooters of 2022, in no particular order:
Best Manual Folding Travel Scooter
Drive Medical: ZooMe Flex
- 4 Wheel Scooter
- Weight limit is 275 lbs.
- Range on full batteries is an estimated 13 miles.
- Works well indoors.
- Airplane Safe? Yes, just keep the 10AH battery in the cabin of the plane and the rest can go in the cargo area.
- Weight of heaviest piece: 53.6 lbs. without batteries, with batteries 58.6 lbs.
Best Automatic Folding Travel Scooter
Drive Medical: ZooMe Auto-Flex
- 4 Wheel
- Weight limit is 300 lbs.
- Range on full batteries is roughly 13 miles.
- Works well indoors.
- Airplane Safe? Yes, just keep the 10AH battery in the cabin of the plane and the rest can go in the cargo area.
- Weight of heaviest piece: 55 lbs. without batteries, with batteries 60 lbs.
Best Stable Affordable Travel Scooter
Pride Mobility: Go-Go Elite Traveller Plus
- 4 Wheel Scooter
- Weight limit is 300 lbs.
- Range on full batteries is up to 8.3 miles.
- Works well indoors and can be used on short outings.
- Airplane Safe? Yes, the 18AH batteries can go in the cargo area. No removal is needed. Still check your airline for specific details on the process.
- Weight of heaviest piece: 34 lbs.
Best Weather-Ready Outdoor Scooter
eWheels: EW-54 Buggy
- 4 Wheel Scooter
- Weight limit is 500 lbs.
- Range on full batteries is outstanding! Up to 40 miles.
- Operate outside or in open spaces.
- Airplane Safe? Maybe, check your airline for specific details.
- Weight of heaviest piece: 333 lbs. A carrier or lift would need to be added to the vehicle if the scooter is being transported.
Best All-Terrain Scooter
Pride Mobility: Wrangler
- 4 Wheel Scooter
- Weight limit is 350 lbs.
- Range on full batteries is about 18-22 miles.
- Operate outdoors.
- Airplane Safe? Maybe, check your airline for specific details.
- Weight of heaviest piece: 372 lbs. A carrier or lift would need to be added to the vehicle if the scooter is being transported.
Best Long Range Affordable Travel Scooter
Pride Mobility: Go-Go Elite Traveller Plus
- 3 Wheel
- Weight limit is 300 lbs.
- Range on full batteries is up to 14.4 miles.
- Works well indoors and can be used on long outings.
- Airplane Safe? Yes, the 18AH batteries can go in the cargo area. No removal is needed. Still check your airline for specific details on the process.
- Weight of heaviest piece: only 32.5 lbs.
Best Long Range Folding Scooter
Golden Technologies: Buzzaround CarryOn
- 4 Wheel
- Weight limit is 300 lbs.
- Range on full batteries is an estimated 18 miles. If using the 6.5 AH battery, the range would be diminished.
- Works well indoors and can be used for quick outings or travel.
- Airplane Safe? Not for the standard 15 AH battery, however an optional airline-friendly 6.5 AH lithium-ion battery pack removable for carrying on is available to order for an additional cost.
- Weight of heaviest piece: 47.5 lbs.
Best Scooter with Power Elevating Seat
Golden Technologies: Companion GC-340
- 3 Wheel
- Weight limit is 350 lbs. for the optional power elevating seat.
- Range on full batteries is up to 16.5 miles.
- Works well indoors and can be used on long outings.
- Airplane Safe? Yes, the 18AH batteries can go in the cargo area. No removal is needed. Still check your airline for specific details on the process.
- Weight of heaviest piece: 172 lbs. (which includes batteries)
Best Affordable Indoor Scooter
Pride Mobility: Go Go Elite Traveller
- 3 Wheel
- Weight limit is 300 lbs.
- Range on full batteries is up to 8.5 miles.
- Works well indoors and can be used on short outings.
- Airplane Safe? Yes, the 12AH batteries can go in the cargo area. No removal is needed. Still check your airline for specific details on the process.
- Weight of heaviest piece: only 29.5 lbs.
Best Indoor Scooter for Tall or Large People
Pride Mobility: Revo 2.0
- 3 Wheel
- Weight limit is 375 lbs.
- Range on full batteries is up to 12 miles.
- Works well indoors and can be used outdoors as well.
- Airplane Safe? Yes, the U-1 batteries can go in the cargo area. No removal is needed. Still check your airline for specific details on the process.
- Weight of heaviest piece: 48 lbs.
Best Long Range Outdoor Scooter
eWheels: EW-36
- 3 Wheel
- Weight limit is 350 lbs.
- Range on full batteries is up to 43 miles.
- Works well on long outings.
- Airplane Safe? Yes, the 48V 20AH batteries can go in the cargo area. No removal is needed. Still check your airline for specific details on the process.
- Weight of heaviest piece: 200 lbs., does not disassemble.
*Recommend getting the optional electromagnetic brakes for better brake control and ease of use.
Best Portable Mobility Scooter for Tall People
Pride Mobility: Go-Go Sport
- 3 Wheel
- Weight limit is 325 lbs.
- Range on full batteries is up to 12.7 miles.
- Works well indoors and can be used on long outings.
- Airplane Safe? Yes, the 18AH batteries can go in the cargo area. No removal is needed. Still check your airline for specific details on the process.
- Weight of heaviest piece: only 35.75 lbs.
Best Turning Radius for a 4 Wheel Scooter
Pride Mobility: Jazzy ZT Zero Turn 8
- 4 Wheel
- Weight limit is 325 lbs.
- Range on full batteries is up to 10 miles.
- Works well indoors and has more stability than a 3 wheel.
- Airplane Safe? Yes, the 22AH batteries can go in the cargo area. No removal needed. Still check your airline for specific details on the process.
- Weight of heaviest piece: only 48 lbs.
Best Affordable Portable Mobility Scooter for Petite People
eWheels: EW-M34
- 4 Wheel
- Weight limit is 300 lbs.
- Range on full batteries is up to 10 miles.
- Works well indoors and can be used outside.
- Airplane Safe? Yes, the 12AH batteries can go in the cargo area. No removal is needed. Still check your airline for specific details on the process.
- Weight of heaviest piece: only 28 lbs.
Best Long Range Affordable 4 Wheel
eWheels: EW-M39
- 4 Wheel
- Weight limit is 300 lbs.
- Range on full batteries is up to 15 miles.
- Works well indoors and can be used on long outings.
- Airplane Safe? Yes, the 18AH batteries can go in the cargo area. No removal is needed. Still check your airline for specific details on the process.
- Weight of heaviest piece: 39 lbs.
Regardless of which mobility scooter is purchased, no scooter is perfect. Just find whichever one is best suited to the senior. Happy shopping!
Featured Image Credit: Luis Prado / The Noun Project
