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Lightweight mobility scooters make mobility achievable for those who have trouble walking but still have the desire to travel, work and visit friends and family when they please. But options are plentiful, and it can be difficult to navigate the variety of brands and models of lightweight mobility scooters available both in person and online. So we decided to do the research for you.
To determine the top lightweight mobility scooters of 2023, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed data on over 100 mobility scooter models, ranking them based on total product weight, price, comfort, safety features and more. Discover which lightweight mobility scooters stand out as the best of the bunch.
Note: All prices are accurate as of the publication date.
This three-wheel mobility scooter features a sturdy, stylish design with comfort in mind. It features on-scooter storage to stow away valuables, an adjustable backrest, padded armrests and an adjustable tiller for increased portability. The scooter disassembles into several pieces for easier transport, with the heaviest piece weighing 32 pounds. This Buzzaround model also has a top speed of 4 miles per hour and a travel range of 9 miles on a full battery.
This sturdy-yet-lightweight scooter is designed with portability and travel in mind. The Go Go Elite Traveller can traverse over 10 miles with a full battery and reach a top speed of 4 miles per hour. It disassembles into several pieces for easier transport, with the heaviest piece weighing 29 pounds. The scooter is also designated as a Class II Medical Device, meaning users with a doctor’s note may be eligible for at least partial Medicare coverage.
The lightest scooter on our list—and the possibly “lightest mobility scooter in the world,” per the company—TravelScoot’s Escape scooter boasts an impressive weight capacity despite its sleek frame. It also comes with a 24-month warranty and features a 13-mile battery range. Designed for all-terrain use, the scooter’s default speed is 4.7 miles per hour, but users can lower the top speed to 3.7 miles per hour or raise it to 5.2 miles per hour. The scooter also disassembles for easy transport, with the heaviest piece weighing 22.5 pounds.
Have you considered ZooMe Auto-Flex Folding Travel Scooter?
Its easy-to-adjust tiller places the scooter's controls in the ideal position, and it's aluminum alloy frame is lightweight for superior portability. Here's why we chose it:
Auto-folding seat with padded, adjustable armrests
Secondary manual-release levers and toggle switch for folding and unfolding
2 ignition keys and 1 key fob included
The most affordable scooter on our list, this Zip’r Roo model quickly breaks down into five foldable pieces (with the heaviest piece weighing 32.5 pounds) and can fit inside most car trunks, according to the company. It’s also approved by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), making it an ideal travel companion. Users can travel up to 12.4 miles on a single charge at a safe top speed of 3.7 miles per hour.
Drive Medical’s ZooMe Auto-Flex Folding Travel Scooter features an airline-safe lithium battery and is designed to fold quickly for storage, making it an ideal choice for frequent flyers. This four-wheel model reaches a top speed of 4 miles per hour and offers a travel range of 13 miles on a full battery. It comes with padded, adjustable armrests and an adjustable tiller to ensure a smooth ride.
To determine the best lightweight mobility scooters ranking, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed data on over 100 scooter products, with each product’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of factors, including:
Lightweight mobility scooters are a great solution for seniors with limited mobility and people who are recovering from a medical procedure, says Lenny Tim, owner of LAMobilityscooterrentals.com, which delivers rental scooters to customers in Los Angeles. Designed to be portable, these scooters can be taken apart quickly and easily and placed in a car.
“They are designed to go places,” adds Dave Tuchler of Step Ahead Mobility in Raleigh, North Carolina. In fact, many people want a mobility scooter to take on longer trips, such as a cruise or a destination requiring air travel, so they can get around comfortably while on vacation, he says.
With that said, there are some tradeoffs with portable mobility scooters. “You may give up range, cargo capacity or size,” says Tuchler. Scooters with small batteries (which weigh less) travel a shorter distance before needing to be recharged compared to scooters with larger batteries. But a short travel range may not be an issue for you—like if you reside in an assisted living facility and primarily use the scooter to drive to the dining room for meals, says Tuchler. Similarly, if you just need the scooter to get from a car to an airport gate, this range limitation probably won’t be a problem.
Here are important features to consider when shopping for a lightweight mobility scooter.
Everyone wants comfort in a mobility scooter, “especially if you’re planning to be using it all day,” says Tim. But lightweight mobility scooters are not typically made with heavy padding. “Sometimes the smaller mobility scooters that are easy to transport are not that comfortable,” he adds.
In terms of comfort, look for:
Leg room. If you’re on the tall side, look for a scooter with plenty of space for your legs and feet.
An adjustable tiller. An adjustable tiller, or steering column, that can accommodate your body size makes driving the scooter easier and more comfortable.
Adjustable armrests. Armrests that can be adjusted to various heights makes the scooter more comfortable, and flip-up armrests make getting on and off the scooter easier.
The size and padding of the seat. The wider and more padded the seat, the more comfortable it is—but that extra material might also make the scooter heavier overall.
Your Search For Portable Travel Scooter Ends Here
ZooMe Auto-Flex Folding Travel scooter from 1800Wheelchairs folds & unfolds with a click of a button. It also has a auto-folding seat with padded & adjustable armrests.
Portable mobility scooters are typically streamlined without a lot of extras. For instance, “they generally do not come with seatbelts,” says Tim. “But they’re slow and pretty easy to control.” Average top speeds for lightweight mobility scooters are 4 to 5 miles per hour—“a fast walking speed,” he says.
Headlights. Though some have headlights, many lightweight mobility scooters do not, so check the spec details carefully if additional visibility while driving is a priority for you.
Anti-tip wheels. Some scooters come with two additional small wheels that sit at the back of the vehicle to provide extra stability.
If transportability is high on your list, consider:
The total weight. Some manufacturers list the weight of the base unit, battery and seat separately. Add these numbers together to determine a scooter’s total weight.
The disassembly process. Some scooters simply fold for transporting while others are designed to separate into multiple pieces. Make sure you can safely lift the heaviest piece of the scooter once disassembled.
Many aspects go into a mobility scooter’s overall usability. Consider the following elements when shopping for your new ride:
Scooter dimensions. The length and width of the scooter must fit in the hallways and doorways of your home. Meanwhile, most airlines allow a lightweight scooter to be stored with cargo under the plane. “Some of them are really compact and do fold down to the size of a carry-on suitcase,” says Tim. “But generally, you transport the scooter like a big piece of luggage.”
Turning radius. This term indicates the diameter of the smallest turn the scooter can make. The smaller the turning radius, the sharper turn a scooter can make. It also indicates easier maneuverability. Generally, 3-wheel scooters turn more easily than 4-wheel scooters, but they are less stable, says Tim.
Top speed. Most lightweight mobility scooters are slow, traveling at a maximum speed of 4 to 5 miles per hour.
Travel range. The distance a scooter can travel on a single charge is important to consider if you’re planning for all-day use. Some travel up to 6 miles per charge while others can go as far as 18 miles per charge. You can increase the range of some scooters by using larger batteries.
Maximum weight capacity. Most scooters can safely carry drivers of up to 250 to 350 pounds. The heavier the driver, the shorter the distance the scooter can travel before needing to be recharged.
Battery life. Batteries can last two to three years, says Tuchler, depending on how often the scooter is used, among other factors.
Whenever possible, give mobility scooters a test drive in a retail showroom before buying. And generally, remember the ideal portable mobility scooter is:
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Nicole Gregory is an editor and writer in Los Angeles who has contributed to the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register, Vegetarian Times, Good Housekeeping, Family Circle, New Woman and Living Fit, among other publications. She enjoys interviewing medical experts and researchers about their work and is passionate about communicating accurate and relevant health information to the public.
Robby has spent his career in a variety of writing, editing and storytelling roles. He now resides near Birmingham, Alabama, with his wife and three kids. He enjoys woodworking, playing rec league soccer and supporting chaotic, downtrodden sports franchises like the Miami Dolphins and Tottenham Hotspur.
Mobility Scooter Alena is a professional writer, editor and manager with a lifelong passion for helping others live well. She is also a registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and a functional medicine certified health coach. She brings more than a decade of media experience to Forbes Health, with a keen focus on building content strategy, ensuring top content quality and empowering readers to make the best health and wellness decisions for themselves.