Hi, my name is Mike. I'm 87 years old, a retired engineer, and I have balance and foot problems. I've had my byACRE Overland rollator for some weeks now and, during that time, I have travelled on uneven roads, cobbles, grass, stone floors, and carpets. I have been in various cars, buses, and trains — and I would like to share my experience of getting used to my new aid.
First Impressions
First off, I love the simplicity and elegance of a well-designed piece of kit. It has given me increased stability and mobility over ground conditions that would have been difficult or impossible with just sticks. Also, when using a stick there is strain on one wrist and shoulder; having two handles spreads the load. The light weight makes for easy handling on steps, and it has been fitted into a number of different cars — either in the boot or behind the front seat.
The rollator runs very smoothly and the large wheels and pneumatic tyres handle bumps well. The brakes give good control with just a light touch. I like the way that the arrangement of the brake levers makes better use of the, usually, stronger fingers. The style and colour are much admired by my contacts. So, marks? 10/10 for design and usability!
Tips and Practical Advice
What follows are some thoughts and comments — some perhaps obvious — arising from my use.
- Remember to lock the brakes before letting go of the handles!
- Be very careful to avoid slopes that are too steep or that slope two ways. On steep slopes I stop, move the rollator forward a little, apply the brakes, and then step forward (small steps).
- You will come across doorways, or gaps between furniture, that are narrower than the (usually rear) wheels of the rollator. Simply stop, put the brakes on, lift the seat a little to narrow the aid, and ease the wheels through — re-latch the seat before moving forward.
- If stowing the folded rollator in narrow spaces, put the fixed wheels in first; otherwise the swivelling wheels will jam when trying to retrieve it.
- The small elastic loops that hold the rollator closed can get lost (folding and unfolding may be done by well-meaning friends who do not put them back on properly). My solution is to use 30mm wide elastic hook-and-loop straps that slip over the handles. These can also be used to secure the folded rollator to handrails on buses.
- When getting up from the seat, put the brakes on and have both feet close under the seat. Then push up, not back, as locked wheels may slide on a smooth hard surface. Better still, have a wall behind you.
Accessories and Attachments
Backrest: I bought a backrest but have since removed it, as I found that my belt or items in my pockets would catch under it when getting up from the seat. I have since sat for an hour or more sketching quite comfortably without it. The backrest, close to its attachment, is very flexible. A user whose height requires the handles to be low when walking will need to raise the handles when seated; otherwise they will push the rest down when leaning back.
Cup holder: Fine for cans, but not for tall or narrow bottles. Good to know that if I fall over, my coffee stays upright!
Weekend Bag: Brilliant! I can carry all my sketching and painting materials in it with easy access. With a shallow plastic open box in the bottom, it will stand by itself when away from the rollator.
Suggestions for Improvement
Having used the byACRE Overland extensively, I do have a few suggestions that could make it even better:
- A mechanical latch for when folded (stick rests might pose a minor challenge here)
- A hiding space for a tracker device (within the foot pegs or handles, perhaps)
- Soft adhesive lining to the inside of the stick rest claw, which rattles on cobbles
- Reflectors — Cornish lanes are very dark at night
- A bracket (similar to the stick rest) for a torch, positioned low down to illuminate rough ground at night
- A less flexible backrest with a longer metal support
Learn More About Mike's Rollator
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