Top 10 Best Mobility Scooters - Sep 2023

Finding a good mobility scooter that is reliable and certainly durable can be a hard task. The reason behind this is that there are hundreds of these scooters in the market today. Every manufacture claim that their mobility scooters are the best which is certainly not true. We have taken this heavy load of research off your back as we spent tens of hours going through reviews and hence ranking them by their merits. After going through reviews of hundreds of these scooters, we came up with a list of the 10 best ranked by merits listed below.

Mobility Scooters Buying Guide

Mobility scooters are a great solution for older people who find it hard to move around with ease. Not only do they make life easier for seniors, but they also help them remain at home.

Mobility scooters can mean a world of difference for seniors who’re finding it hard to be as mobile as they once were. These motorized, sit-on vehicles are designed to get users around and are relatively easy to operate.

Mobility scooters give seniors their independence back, allowing them to move about and around seeing family and friends, attending social events, and running simple errands. The good thing is that there are lightweight foldable scooters that are easy to transport in the trunk of a car. Such scooters allow families to travel with their elderly loved ones without having to worry about how they will get about once they have reached the destination.

Factors to Consider When Buying a Mobility Scooter

Picking the right scooter for a loved one, or even for your personal use can be overwhelming. However, if you focus on some of the things that address your needs or those of a loved one, narrowing down to the perfect scooter shouldn’t be that hard. Here is a look at some of the things you need to know about mobility scooters and the questions you need to ask before buying one.

Profitability and Storage

If you plan on traveling by airplane or car, consider choosing a portable or travel scooter. These types of mobility scooters are either easy to disassemble or are foldable for easy transportation. When checking out different options, consider how much the heaviest piece weighs. Check to see if you can lift it with ease when stowing.

Comfortable Seating

If you are going to be spending a lot of time on the full-sized three-wheel or four-wheel mobility scooter you buy, make sure the seat is well-padded, contoured and comfortable. Captain seats tend to offer the most support and comfort. Since travel and portable scooters are more compact, their seats tend to have lesser padding.

However, it is worth noting that comfort features in scooters vary by model. While most basic models are good enough, they usually are not suitable for prolonged use and might be uncomfortable for older people with physical challenges such as back or joint problems. Nevertheless, there are a couple of models out there that come with adjustable armrests, adjustable seat backs, extra-padded seats, or extra-wide seats. If comfort is something you aren’t willing to compromise, check to see the comfort features the scooter you are considering has to offer before buying.

Operating Range

What distance can the scooter go before requiring a battery recharge? The distance covered varies from model to model; however, the average range is between 7 to 25 miles.

Safety Features

We recommend that you check to see if the scooter you are considering has anti-hip wheels – these wheels help keep both the user and the scooter from tipping over. Also, check to see if the scooter has a charge level indicator. Another thing to consider is if the scooter has easy-to-use brakes and straightforward single-hand controllers for safer use.

If you are thinking of getting a highway-worthy scooter, then ensure it has hazard lights, turn signals, a rear-view mirror, front and rear lights, and a horn.

Size and Maneuverability

When choosing a scooter, consider the intended use. Depending on your needs, you can go for either a two-wheeled, three-wheeled, or four-wheeled model.

• Two-wheeled scooters look more like the typical scooter you see on the roads and go 2-3X faster than three-wheeled and four-wheeled models.
• Three-wheeled models are lightweight scooter models that do well on sidewalks or paved roads and indoors.
• Four-wheeled scooters are a bit bulky and are designed to serve several purposes. Heavier-duty, four-wheeled mobility scooters can travel on gravel roads and a variety of unpaved surfaces while navigating public buildings with ease.

Height & Weight

Weight and height once you’ve determined what type of scooter you are looking for, the next thing you need to consider is the height and weight of the scooter you are considering. To pick a scooter that suits you, consider how tall you are and how much you weigh to have an easier time narrowing down to the perfect scooter based on weight capacity and seat height. If you weigh more than the scooter’s weight capacity, you will end up damaging it or even breaking it. To get the most out of your scooter, pick something that has a weight capacity that’s at least 50 pounds heavier than you. Remember, the bigger you are, or the heavier you are, the harder your scooter will work. In turn, this will lead to your batteries draining much faster.

Controls

Do you have experience operating a standard tiller? For you to operate one, you need to be able to hold it with both hands and still have the manual skill to control speed and other things like turn signals. Most mobility scooters require that you constantly apply pressure to move the scooter back or forth. In such scooters, removing pressure from the throttle engages the brakes. If you lack hand strength and manual dexterity, consider working with Delta tillers as they can be controlled using either hand.

Affordability

Purchasing a mobility scooter is a significant investment that will require you to plan wisely. Fortunately, with the tons of mobility scooters on the market, it shouldn’t be that hard to find a scooter that suits your budget and needs.