Features to Look for When Purchasing a Mobility Scooter
Depending on how and where you plan to use your mobility scooter, there are numerous features to consider. You must always consider your comfort so having the correct sized seat width and suspension is important. When using your scooter it is important to feel safe, therefore, safety features must also be investigated. If you are someone who likes to travel or is just busy locally, how portable your mobility scooter is will be very important to you. The overall usability will include turning radius, weight capacity, and battery life. Those three specifications are some of the most important to consider before purchasing.
Comfort Features
When it comes being comfortable during use you should considers scooters with adjustable parts to fit your specific needs.
- Armrests: Some larger mobility scooters offer armrests that are adjustable. Also, some scooters have swing away armrests making it easier to get on and off.
- Tiller: The tiller aka the steering column can usually be adjusted to lean in or out. This allows the user to customize the fit to their specific needs. Rarely scooters will feature an infinitely adjustable tiller like the Buzzaround CarryOn.
- Seat: The size of the seat and thickness of the cushion will make all the difference if you use your mobility scooter for long periods of time. Standard scooter seats are roughly 17-18" wide and decently padded. Larger scooters like the Buzzaround LX will feature a seat referred to as a captains seat which will offer more back support.
- Suspension: Having a mobility scooter with suspension you allow you to go over bumps and different terrains without any added discomfort. This is a must have if you plan to use your scooter off-road.
Safety Features
Safety is always important to consider when researching mobility scooters. This is especially true for bigger mobility scooters that are designed for outdoor use.
- Horn: Most mobility scooters come equipped with a horn. This is a helpful feature if you plan to drive your new scooter in busy places.
- Indicator Lights: Indicator lights can be useful on outdoor paths and in parks where there is a fair amount of foot traffic.
- Flag: Some scooters come with a flag. This allows other people to see you approaching or leaving.
- Seat belt: Some larger scooters come with a seat belt. If you require a seat belt to safely use a mobility scooter you may not be an ideal candidate for a mobility scooter.
- Mirrors: Most smaller mobility scooters do not come with rearview mirrors, but some of the larger ones do which will allow for safe turning.
Portability
If you are looking for a portable travel mobility scooter you must consider the following:
- Heaviest piece: Some mobility scooters disassemble into pieces. If you are considering a disassembling mobility scooter you must look into the heaviest part before buying. If you cannot lift the heaviest part then that mobility scooter isn't a good fit for you. Most automatic folding portable mobility scooters won't disassemble and you will have to look at the total weight with the battery.
- Product weight: Look for a scooter’s total weight—not just the weight of the body of the scooter, but the weight of the seat and battery as well. Meanwhile, product dimensions listed on the spec sheet will indicate whether the scooter will fit into your car. One of the lightest manual folding mobility scooters on the market is the EV Rider Transport M at only 42 lbs. total. One of the lightest automatic folding mobility scooters on the market is the EV Rider Transport AF+ at only 49 lbs. total.
Usability
Where and how far you plan travel with your mobility scooter will determine which features below are most important to your lifestyle.
- Speed: If you mainly plan to use your scooter indoors then a standard 3 to 5 miles per hour max speed should work perfectly. However, if you plan to use your mobility scooter outdoors and for longer trips you may want to consider a recreational mobility scooter with max speeds up to 15 mph.
- Battery range: The battery range a mobility scooter can travel on a full charge is a wide range. That range can be anywhere between 8 to 43 miles. Nearly every mobility scooter has a battery capacity meter. This will allow you to monitor miles you can travel before your next charge. These battery do not charge very quickly so please allow 6-8 hours minimum to fully charge the battery.
- Turning radius: This refers to the sharpest turn your mobility scooter can make. A low number like 31 inches means the scooter can make a tight turn in small spaces. The higher the number the more space you will need to properly maneuver your mobility scooter.
- Weight capacity: The weight capacity is one of the most important specifications to consider. Most travel mobility scooters can support maximum user weight of up to 250- 300 lbs., whereas some heavy duty mobility scooters can support up to 500 lbs.