Hugo Mobility Portable Rollator Walker with Seat, Backrest and 8 Inch Wheels, Blue

I came onto Amazon looking to purchase this exact walker for my 82 year old aunt who has Lewy Body Dementia (LBD). My 88 year old grandmother has had this walker for a while now and it's been fabulous for her! I did look at other rollator walkers before I purchased this one - A couple were less expensive but most were far more expensive and did not have the features I thought made the Hugo so purchase worthy. LBD effects a persons body as well as their minds. My aunt has balance issues and needed something to hold on to while getting around and something that she could grab onto if her balance started to waver. This was the perfect solution and even with the memory issues it did not take very long before she got the hang of it. I did have to put a note on the seat reminding her it was a walker and not a wheelchair, tho. The seat caused some confusion in the beginning and she wondered why is was so hard to move and steer while sitting in it. There were several reasons why I chose this walker over the others I looked at and price was not one of them (tho a definite bonus)...if the more expensive rollators had been the ones with the features I was looking for I would have gladly paid it... 1) The large wheels. My aunt LOVES being outside. I wanted her to maintain as much freedom as possible for as long as possible so being able to get outside and enjoy her gardens was VERY important and this walker can handle it...it goes over the grass and uneven ground better than the rollators with smaller wheels...is it an all terrain bike? NO, but if someone has need of a walker they will most likely not be "off roading" to that extent...but this allows my aunt to walk easily on the road (even the dirt road) and the mowed areas of the lawn, thus allowing her to still enjoy the things she loves to some extent. 2) The basket. This walker is one of the few with an enclosed basket rather than a wire one and the basket is under the seat rather than in the front of the walker. Nothing falls out and nobody can view anything personal she may be carrying in her basket (like incontinence pads). Having it under the seat instead of in front of the walker gives easier accessibility for her...no leaning, reaching, or spinning the walker around to get to the basket, making it a safer option...and it's out of the way for maneuverability purposes. 3) The quality. Having seen...and used...my grandmother's Hugo I knew it was very sturdy but rolls very well. It turns very easily and is extremely stable...which is just what we needed. It was also very easy to assemble and required no tools to do it. After reading the reviews and some of the complaints..I can't say a whole lot about the folding/unfolding. I've done it a couple of times just to make sure it worked properly and I knew how to do it. I didn't have any trouble at all doing either and was thankful to have to pull out the button to unfold it as I knew it would prevent accidental pinching if it unfolded without warning. The seat is comfortable enough...the back bar not super comfortable...but this is a WALKER, not a barka lounger. It's meant for walking and an occasional rest...it's not designed to be a long term chair...and as a rollator walker it is fabulous! The seat is fine for short term sitting...like waiting in line or even a full waiting room but not for curling up and reading your favorite book. For my aunt especially it's far easier (and safer) to roll up to a nice comfy chair and sit in that than it is to spin around, remember to set the brakes, and sit in the walker...not to mention remembering to release the brakes when she gets up ;) It is a little bit heavy...tho not as heavy as some of the others...and not considering what it is. I personally don't think it's too bad...I have a truck and have to lift it over the side to get it in and out...also why I don't have to fold it...I am a 36 year old female and I have two bad shoulders but can do it without a problem...for that matter my small 8 year old daughter can get it in and out of the truck (with tailgate down and up and down the stairs. I personally think the weight adds to the stability of the walker. It does not tip or wobble even on the uneven surfaces. I'd much rather that than a lightweight one that doesn't offer the stability my aunt needs. It's also just heavy enough that my aunt doesn't try to lift it or carry it up and down stairs...which is a definite no-no in her case...tho her sister who is 4 years older with bad knees has no trouble doing it for her. One other thing to mention is that some reviews mentioned not being able to get close to a sink or other area...I don't think this is reason to dock stars in a review. ALL rollator walkers will have this trouble as they are bigger and have a seat and or basket in front of you! But they are so easy to maneuver you can just roll it to the side and stand at the counter/sink and do whatever it is you need to do, which btw, is what you are suppose to do with a walking aid anyway..not leave it in front of you and lean over it. No matter which way you slice it, using a mobility aid of any sort is never going to be as convenient as the freedom of walking on your own. All things considered, this walker has made my aunt a lot safer and has therefore given the rest of us a little bit more peace of mind...you can't put a price (or less than 5 stars) on that :) **UPDATE** It's now 6 years later and my aunt has just recently stopped using this walker, only because her disease has progressed to the point where she needs a wheelchair. However, the nursing home where she now lives asked if we didn't have another use for it, could they keep it on hand there because it's nicer than most and still works fabulously. That says a lot in my opinion.

UPDATE 02/20/2017 Well, it got to the point after I wrote this review that I had to start using this walker every day in 2016. I am now scheduled for a complete hip replacement surgery in seven days! I have used this walker all over my house, all over my backyard, at flea market sales in a grassy and bumpy terrain, over gravel and blacktop and I must say this walker is worth it's weight in gold to me! I love that I can put my purse in the large storage compartment under the hinged seat and that there is a backrest to make sitting more comfortable. This is very sturdy and when you set the parking brakes you don't have to worry about the walker sliding around when you just need to sit. And although it clearly says not to use as a wheelchair, I have on very rare occasions had to do that very thing. I cannot urge you enough to get this walker if you need a walker to make your walking less painful. I will be keeping this even after my hip is completely healed. It is great for those long shopping sprees. You can store your purse or purchases in it. It's like having your own personal shopping cart! I love this! I had some hip issues for a while and had to use this walker. Thank God I don't have to use it currently, but it's good to know I have it in case I do have to use it again. It's sturdy and makes me feel secure. Plus, when I can't walk anymore, I can sit without worrying about it not holding my weight. I also love the storage under the seat so I can store my purse, Kleenex, water, etc. Would recommend. Works great on hard surfaces or on bumpy ground.

Ordered this for my sister so she didn’t have to use her wheel chair & her walker. This is a great product for helping her walk & get around & if she gets tired can use it to sit on (not used for transport just sitting). The underneath storage is great for holding necessities, phone, pocket book or even a magazine or book. I wish they still offered the front pouch (elite model) because she had used that one at the rehab facility & she liked it a lot & liked the extra storage. Hopefully they sell it separately again someday? The customer support was great. A screw came out on the brake system somewhere possibly in transport & after calling customer support they sent us a new screw plus extras so I was able to fix & the braking system works perfect again. Note: after putting your new rollator together (instructions real easy) grab a Phillips screwdriver & tighten the screws if they need it in the hand breaking system. That way you won’t have to call them at all. Something they might want to add to there instruction manual, just my thoughts. All in all this is a great product & my sister likes it a lot.

This is a wonderful walker for those who need heavy duty support. Pros: Heavy duty construction, can support up to 300 pounds (stated on literature) Big wheels glide over cracks in ground/sidewalk--a big plus Stable when trying to sit down Seat is comfortable for long periods of time Seat contains basket for storing items. Also has a velcro closure pocket for papers Great value for the money Cons: Size makes it hard to fit into tight spaces Does not close as flat as standard (without seat) walkers Relatively heavy when you need to lift it Brakes do NOT work part way --there is no light breaking pressure. Either the brakes are fully engaged or not engaged at all. Assembly instructions are unclear, particularly about wheel placement Although heavy duty, this walker should NOT be used for wheeling someone. The walker has several warning signs pertaining to this.