I searched high & low for an upright walker that would help me keep my balance without killing my hands. I had been using forearm crutches & a regular hospital walker, but they were both causing major hand, back, neck & shoulder pain. I’m a young person recovering from a stroke that affected my left side & balance. I am weight bearing when I use the UpWalker, so keep that in mind as you read my review. I work this thing really hard. I also bought directly from their website, not through Amazon.
When unfolding the UpWalker to use, be sure you press down on both sides of the seat to lock it into plastic grooves. The manual didn’t mention this & I didn’t notice at first; it’s really unstable if not locked in place! (See photo)
Pros:
-no hand pain using it because there’s very little grasping required (you only need to grasp when squeezing the brakes)
-I haven’t needed to adjust the brakes, but I was really impressed with how adjustable they are
-the seat is surprisingly comfortable! It’s nice & wide, so I can easily fit between the arm platforms
-the basket that attaches to the seat is really handy
-the headlights are awesome!! I will say that the magnets that hold them on are not nearly strong enough. I lost one of the lights the first time I used it outside, which brings me to my next “pro”:
-the company provides shockingly good customer service! I emailed them about the headlight & they responded immediately saying they would send me a replacement, AND replace them for the life of the walker. They suggested using strong tape to secure them on.
-also, the headlights are rechargeable via micro USB & the walker came with cables for each light
-the large wheels make it so much easier to use than every other rollator I’ve tried. I can even use it to get around the yard. It doesn’t get caught in every nook & cranny. It’s a smooth ride
-I wouldn’t suggest this for someone with Parkinson’s, but it is really sturdy
-the handles near the seat are really helpful in going from sitting to standing
Cons:
-the arm platforms are at a bit of an angle, which cannot be adjusted. Because of the amount of weight bearing I’m doing on it, that didn’t work for me. My arms kept slipping off, so my OT made custom ones that she attached to the existing platforms (see pic). They have really helped me, but I do wish the arm platform angles were adjustable
-while the “luxury” personal bag is a nice touch, it’s not very practical. It attaches to the walker with velcro straps that are neither long nor strong enough. It couldn’t hold the weight of my full water bottle with out one of the Velcro straps failing. I plan to get carabiners to rig my own bag to it. Also, it may be obvious, but you have to remove the bag in order to use the seat
-as mentioned above, the headlight magnets are way too weak. They fall off at the slightest bump
All in all, I LOVE this walker. I did extensive research, tried a few different kinds and was nervous ordering this without trying it first given the expense, but I’m so glad I took the leap! It’s allowing me to walk more, giving my brain more practice for a quicker recovery.
(973) 826-0265
