The right walking aid lets a person get around on their own, with less effort and less risk of a fall. The wrong one can be too heavy to lift, too low to stand up straight behind, or give less support than the person needs.
Choosing well comes down to four questions. How much support does the person need with each step? How far do they want to walk, and do they need to sit and rest? How tall are they, and how much do they weigh? And where will they use it? This guide takes them in that order. Every product on our walking aids page lists its own figures, and the product page is the one to trust for any particular model.
Start with how the person walks
The first questions are about the person, and they are worth asking the doctor or physical therapist who knows them.
| If the person | Look at |
|---|---|
| Walks on their own and wants a steady hand on one side | A cane. |
| Leans on the walker with each step, mostly at home | A standard walker. |
| Walks steadily and wants to go farther, with a seat to rest on | A rollator. |
| Bends over the handles of a walker and wants to stand up straight | An upright walker. |
| Needs to keep weight off a foot or ankle while it heals | A knee walker or crutches. |
Rollators
A rollator is a walker on wheels with hand brakes. The person walks with it instead of lifting it, so it suits someone who is fairly steady on their feet and wants to walk farther.
- Four wheels and a seat. Most rollators have four wheels, a seat to rest on and a bag or basket. The seat is for resting when the rollator is parked with its brakes locked.
- Three wheels. A three-wheel rollator is narrower and easier to turn in tight spaces indoors. It has no seat.
- Rollator and transport chair in one. Some rollators convert to a transport chair with footrests, so a companion can push the person when they get tired.
- Indoor rollators. Some are made for use around the house, with a tray for carrying plates and cups from room to room.
- Wheels. Most rollators roll on 6 or 8 inch wheels, which suit floors and smooth sidewalks. Larger wheels, up to about 12 inches on all-terrain models, and air-filled tires ride more easily over grass, gravel and rough paths.
- Weight. Most rollators weigh about 13 to 25 lbs. The lightest, made of carbon fiber, weigh as little as about 11 lbs., which helps when the rollator goes in and out of a car.
Lock the brakes before you sit
Always lock both brakes before sitting on a rollator seat, and sit facing forward. Never let someone push you along on a rollator seat unless the rollator is made to convert to a transport chair and is set up as one.
Upright walkers
An upright walker sets padded forearm rests high, so the person rests their forearms on them and walks standing up straight instead of bending over the handles. This can take strain off the back, shoulders and wrists. Upright walkers usually have a seat and hand brakes too. Check that the forearm rests adjust to the right height for the person.
Standard walkers
A standard walker is a light folding frame with no seat. It gives the most support of any walking aid, for a person who leans on it with each step.
- Tips or front wheels. A walker on four rubber tips is lifted and set down with each step. Front wheels, often 5 inches, let the person push it forward instead, which is smoother but less fixed in place.
- Side walkers. A side walker stands beside the person and is held with one hand, for someone who can use only one hand.
- Weight. Standard walkers weigh about 3 to 8 lbs. and fold flat to store or travel.
Canes and crutches
- Canes. A cane is held on the side opposite the weaker leg and gives a steady hand for balance. A folding cane packs into a bag when it is not needed.
- Underarm crutches. Crutches take weight off a leg while an injury heals. They are sized to the person's height.
- Forearm crutches. A cuff around the forearm holds the crutch in place, which suits a person who uses crutches every day.
Knee walkers
A knee walker rests the knee of the injured leg on a padded platform and rolls on wheels, with a handlebar to steer and a hand brake. It keeps the foot or ankle off the ground while it heals, with less effort than crutches. The person needs good balance on the other leg, and the knee pad and handlebar both adjust in height.
Get the height right
A walking aid set at the wrong height makes the person stoop or reach, and that works against them. Stand the person up straight in their everyday shoes with their arms hanging at their sides.
- Walkers, rollators and canes. The handle should sit at about the crease of the wrist, so the elbow bends slightly when the person holds it.
- Upright walkers. The forearm rests should let the person stand tall with the forearms resting level and the shoulders relaxed.
- Underarm crutches. The top of the crutch should sit about two finger widths below the armpit, with the hand grip at the crease of the wrist.
- Rollator seats. Rollator seats commonly sit about 17 to 24 inches from the floor, and some adjust. The person's feet should rest flat on the floor when they sit.
Each product page gives the handle or armrest height range, and many give the range of user heights it fits.
Check the weight rating
Every walking aid has a weight capacity. Standard walkers and rollators are commonly rated 250 to 300 lbs. Heavier-duty models are rated higher, some up to 500 lbs. or more, and some carry the higher rating only in their larger size. On the rollator and standard walker lists, use the Weight capacity filter to show only the models rated for the person, and check the rating for the exact size on the product page.
Accessories
Walker accessories include trays, bags, cup and cane holders, backrests and lights. Each accessory page names the walkers it fits.
Medicare and walking aids
Medicare Part B can cover a walker, cane or crutches as durable medical equipment when a doctor documents that the person has a mobility limitation at home, can use the device safely, and that the device solves the problem. A heavy duty walker is covered when the person also weighs more than 300 lbs. Medicare's cane and crutch rules do not list knee walkers among the covered items, so plan to pay for a knee walker yourself.
Hieline sells direct and does not bill Medicare or any other insurance, so the price you see is the price you pay.
Buying from Hieline
Shipping follows our shipping policy. Financing is available through CareCredit on purchases of $200 or more. Low price guarantee: find it advertised for less and we will work with you.
Returns
Walkers, rollators, canes, crutches and knee walkers can be returned new and unused within 30 days under our returns policy, less the restocking fee shown on the product page and the shipping costs our policy describes. Walker accessories cannot be returned. Check the height range and the weight rating on the product page before you order.
How to decide
- Decide how much support the person needs: a cane for balance, a standard walker to lean on, a rollator for walking farther.
- Choose an upright walker if they bend over the handles, and a knee walker or crutches if a foot or ankle is healing.
- Think about where it will be used: small wheels or three wheels indoors, larger wheels outdoors.
- Check the handle height range against the person's height.
- Check the weight rating, and use the Weight capacity filter if the person needs a higher rating.
- Check the folded size and weight if it will travel in a car.
Start on our walking aids page, or use Help me choose there to narrow it down in a question or two.
