Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

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.