Many modern mobility products are designed with portability in mind. Frames that were once built with stainless steel frames are now built with aluminium and equipped with compact folding mechanisms that make it easier than ever to take them with you in the car.
Walking sticks are among the simplest and most convenient mobility aids to transport. Lightweight and compact, they can be placed in the footwell, on the back seat, or in the boot without taking up much space. Folding walking sticks are barely noticeable once collapsed down and stored in the boot.
Rollators are also designed to be practical for everyday travel. Most feature a simple folding mechanism that allows them to collapse into a much narrower shape in just a few seconds. Once folded, they fit comfortably into the boot of most cars, leaving plenty of room for shopping, luggage, or other essentials. Rollators like the dual-fold provide an ultra-compact design that folds down width-wise and then height-wise.
Their lightweight frames also make lifting them in and out of the vehicle much more manageable; if even aluminium-framed rollators are too heavy, new carbon fibre rollators are not much more than 5kg.
Wheelchairs have come a long way in terms of portability over the past 30 years. Many manual wheelchairs feature quick-fold frames, folding attendant handles, and removable footrests (or compact swing-away footrests), making them surprisingly compact for transport. This makes them suitable for a wide range of vehicles, from small hatchbacks to larger vehicles. Self-propelled wheelchairs have bigger wheels and are therefore more cumbersome to handle and stow. In this case, it may be necessary to remove the wheels to make it fit. The ease of this and access to do this depends on the model.
Mobility scooters are often thought of as bulky, but many modern models are specifically engineered with travel in mind.
Portable boot scooters can typically be dismantled into several lighter sections or folded into a compact shape, allowing them to fit neatly into the boot of many family cars. This makes them an excellent choice for people who want greater independence without needing a specially adapted vehicle. For this kind of boot scooter, see our dismantling guide to understand how easy this process can be.
The alternative to dismantling a scooter is to buy a boot scooter, which has folding functionality. Folding scooters have massively improved in recent years in terms of stability and weight distribution. However, it is worth double-checking the weight and testing how easy you find lifting these scooters. Even with lightweight machines, you are lifting everything as one, you shoulder the weight of the motor, the frame, the folding mechanism, the battery and all the component parts. This makes them hard to lift into a car boot for those with lower body strength.
Before travelling, it’s always worth checking your vehicle’s boot dimensions and the folded or dismantled size of your chosen mobility aid. Manufacturers usually provide these measurements, making it easy to ensure a suitable fit before purchasing.
Thanks to advances in design and engineering, today’s mobility aids are more portable than ever. From walking sticks and rollators to wheelchairs and mobility scooters, there are options available to suit a wide range of vehicles and lifestyles. With the right equipment, getting out and about can be simple, convenient, and enjoyable, giving you the freedom to travel with confidence wherever life takes you.
For more information, don’t hesitate to contact our team. When working out what is best for you, there is no better way to find the right product than to test them for yourself. This means testing them, lifting them and boot for yourself. In this situation, book a consultation with our team!
