An Explanation of the Different Kinds of Mobility Scooters

Getting around can sometimes become much more difficult with age, often as the result of diseases such as arthritis, which can make moving the hips and knees very painful. As a result, it is not uncommon for a senior to have difficulty walking for an extended period of time and even things like going to the local mall can become a chore. For this reason, mobility scooters are a very popular type of mobility vehicle used to increase accessibility and restore independence.

If you have ever went shopping for a mobility scooter, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the many different models and designs available, but they can basically be broken down into three distinct categories, namely Travel Scooters, Traditional Scooters and Heavy Duty Scooters.

Travel scooters are designed, as is implied by their name, to make traveling easier. These devices are lightweight and can be taken apart into several easy to lift pieces. Usually taking these scooters apart is very straightforward and many are designed so that the clasps can be operated with only a single hand.

The main advantage to a travel scooter is that because they are so lightweight and can be taken apart easily, transporting these devices is very easy. A travel scooter can quickly and easily be stored in a car or taken with you on a plane, however this comes at the expense of features and stability. To save space, travel scooters lack a number of creature comforts and features that other scooters include. They are also not as stable, making them not preform as well on off-road surfaces, nor are they able to support as much weight as other types of mobility scooters.

Heavy duty scooters, on the other hand, are designed to be used off-road and feature reinforced bumpers and increased ground clearance. They have a much higher weight capacity, often supporting over 500 pounds, and are incredibly stable across almost any surface. Heavy duty scooters also include larger off-road tires and a very high per-charge range, as well as a significantly higher top speed. However, due to their size it is not as easy to transport a heavy duty scooter. They typically require a vehicle scooter lift to allow the device to be transported. They also do not preform as well in tight areas, due to their size, so might not be a good choice for use inside of a home.

Traditional scooters fall in an area that is between travel scooters and heavy duty scooters. They include more special features and have a higher weight capacity than travel scooters, but less than heavy duty scooters. Traditional scooters also preform better off-road than a travel scooter would, but can not preform as well as a heavy duty scooter. In regards to price, they also typically fall in between heavy duty scooters and travel scooters.

For millions of seniors all over the world, walking is something that is not done easily. This is why so many seniors turn to mobility vehicles, like travel scooters and traditional scooters to help improve accessibility and safety.