Updated October 2025

What is a walker?

A walker is an assistive device for people who are having difficulty walking on their own.

Some typical reasons for choosing a walker include:

• Arthritis, especially of the knees and hips
• Moderately severe balance and gait disorders
• Generalized weakness of hips and legs

Unlike a cane, which supports about 25% of a person’s weight, a standard walker supports up to 50% of the user’s weight, assuming the user has sufficient upper body and hand grip strength. A walker can come with or without wheels. The difference is that a standard walker has rubber feet, while a rolling walker (also known as a rollator) can have 2, 3 or 4 wheels. It all depends on the needs and ability of the person as to which option they should choose. A walker needs to be fitted to your height, weight and dimensions, so that you do not put yourself at risk of further damage to your joints.

There are many different walkers to choose from, with an overwhelming range of options to suit the needs of every person. Below is a guide to how to choose a safe walker, based on your needs and general requirements.

What are the essential safety features on a walker?

• Hand grips that are padded or cushioned to minimize stress on the user’s hands, but not slick, which could cause the hands to slip and the user to fall.
• Frame that is lightweight so it can easily be moved, but sturdy and stable enough to hold the weight of the person using it.
• Strong legs to support the weight of the user.
• Anti-tip mechanisms.
• For walkers without wheels, rubber feet that are not worn or torn. Walkers should be inspected regularly and the rubber feet should be replaced when they show signs of damage.
• For walkers with wheels, a wheel size of 7 to 10 inches if the walker will be used outdoors, or 5 inches if the walker will be used in tight indoor spaces.
• For walkers with wheels, a reliable braking system.
• A walker that is the correct size for the user’s height and arm length. Mayo Clinic offers an easy guide for determining whether a walker is the right fit for an individual user.

Which walkers have the best reviews?

Professional consumer reviewers at SafeWise and the New York Times Wirecutter agree that the top-rated rollator for indoor and outdoor use is the Drive Medical 4-Wheel Rollator with 7.5-inch castors. SafeWise recommends the Vive Health 3-Wheel Rollator for use in tight spaces.

The best walker without wheels is the Drive Medical Deluxe 2-Button Folding Walker, according to SafeWise. For seniors on a budget, Wirecutter recommends a 2-wheel version of the same walker, the Drive Medical Trigger Release Folding Walker.

There are countless models on the market, each with pros and cons. To choose the best for you, make a list of your needs and then search accordingly.

What makes these walkers so safe?

Brands like Drive Medical, Medline, and Helavo are often recommended for safety, comfort, and reliability, inspiring confidence in the people who use them. When choosing a walker, it is important to consider safety in terms of what you need, and to tailor the walker so that it best suits you.

Things to consider include:

• How strong does it need to be?
• How much strength do you have?
• Could you control a walker with wheels?
• Do you need a walker with a built in seat?
• Can you maneuver the frame easily through doorways and across unsteady paths?
• Is it easy to fold down and pack away, if needed?

Are there other features that make a particular walker great to use that is not particularly tied to safety?

Walkers that are also fitted with seats can provide that extra level of comfort for the buyer. Height-adjustable handles help users maintain good posture as they walk. A storage basket is useful for users who carry or shop for small items while using their walker.

It is also a good idea to check how much maintenance your walker needs. You will need to maintain parts of your walker as they wear out with use, so it will be important to make sure that your walker has replacement parts that are readily available.

(This article was updated October 2025.)