Veloped vs. Walker, Which One is Right for You?

Article written by Gwen M Ray,

I’ve been road testing these two beauties for the past couple years. I’ve also tested them on sidewalks, whatever grocery store floors are made of, gravel, sand, dirt, snow, and my personal favorite – crunchy leaves.

Walker Rollator - The True Premium Rollator

Veloped - a Modern Alternative to a Rollator

So, I can help you decide between the two. But the first thing you need to do is talk to your physical therapist or doctor to make sure a rollator-type walker (and the type of activity you intend to do with it) is right for you.

Once you’ve received the green light, it’s time to decide which Trionic walker will join you on your adventures. They each have their activities where they truly shine, so having both is awesome! But if you must pick one, you want to make sure it’s going to suit what you’ll be using it for the most. Read on to see whether you’ll be team Veloped or team Rollator.

Now, you may be thinking you don’t need to choose because you’re planning to get one now and one later. You figure busting out that coin will be the easiest way to decide which to get first. But not so fast.

Life is unpredictable. I never thought I’d need a walker in my forties, but here I am rockin’ some cool leg braces and strolling along behind whichever awesome set of wheels I’m using that day. If something happens and you can’t get the “tails” walker later, you want to make sure “heads” is going to cut it for the long haul.

Even if you’re planning to get both at the same time, you still should read on. Because unless you drive a bus and have a private jet, at some point you’re going to only be able to take one of them with you. I take both whenever I can, but sometimes there just isn’t enough room in our vehicle for both. In that case, I consider where I’m going and what I’ll be doing to make sure I choose the right one.

So, now that we’ve determined that EVERYBODY considering a Trionic walker should read this, let’s dive in!

Where does the Trionic Veloped like to go?

The Veloped loves all types of terrain. For major off-roading it can’t be beat! The cane holder comes in handy for a walking stick. If we encounter terrain, I can’t push it through, such as deep sand, my husband pushes it and I use the stick until we get to a good spot for me to take over again.

While I love the extra support the Veloped gives me on the move, it is equally great for resting. I can sit on the comfortable, padded seat anytime I get tired. Before I got the Veloped, I didn’t want to go on long walks or hiking anymore because I dreaded tiring out and not having a place to sit. It took all the fun out of the outing. The seat especially comes in handy on the beach for taking off and putting on shoes.

The Veloped helps me a going up or down hills, as well as stepping down from curbs or up onto them. When climbing hills, I push the Veloped ahead of me, squeeze the brakes, then take a couple steps to catch up to it. Then repeat. Going downhill I use the brakes to keep from going too fast and for extra support. To descend curbs, I push just the front wheels of the Veloped over the edge, get the back wheels to the edge and hold the brakes while I step down. To go up curbs, I aim straight at the curb and push the front up onto it with the help of the climbing wheel. Then I squeeze the brakes as I use the Veloped for support as I step up onto the curb.

NOTE: Do not attempt any of the above maneuvers if you do not have a strong grip to squeeze the brakes.

The Veloped also likes to go the grocery store because it gets a lot of attention. However, it is a bit beefy for smaller shops and can be difficult to turn around in a tight bathroom. But it doesn’t mind staying outside if you lock it up to keep someone else from walking off with it. You can get a lock through Trionic.

When transporting the Veloped, it likes a bit more room than the Rollator. It can just fit into the back of our Toyota Highlander without removing any of the wheels. It folds down quite a bit, but it does require more space than the Trionic Rollator or a typical rollator. I would probably be able to load it into a vehicle that is lower to the ground – such as a minivan – myself.

It also weighs more than either the Trionic Rollator or typical rollators. I was able to load and unload it myself last year, but I probably won’t try it this year as my arms have gotten weaker. I also need to be careful not to hurt my back. But as hiking is an activity I enjoy with my family, I’m always with someone else who can do the loading and unloading.

Okay, so actually I can think of one place that the Veloped doesn’t like. It is not a fan of really off-camber surfaces. Because it only has essentially a single wheel in the front, it does tend to track to the side if you are on a trail or sidewalk that slopes a lot to one side. This is probably not a big deal for someone whose upper body strength is intact. For me, my arms will tire out if there is a long stretch of off-camber path.

I have a couple of ways to mitigate this. If my Goldendoodle is with me, I switch him to the uphill side, drape his leash across the handlebars, and he balances it out. If he’s not with me, my husband pushes it and I hold onto his beltloop and use him as my support until it levels off. We look a little silly, but if there’s a steep drop off on the downhill side, I feel safer with my husband in control of it.

We do not encounter this too much, so it’s not a big problem. Most places we go are level enough to keep the Veloped happy, or only have brief spots here and there that it needs some help staying on track.

However, if you frequently walk somewhere that is very off camber, the Rollator might be a better option for you. It has four wheels in typical rollator configuration and a belt thingy in the front (see Trionic website for further details) that keeps the two front wheels rolling along in perfect synch.

Where does the Trionic Rollator like to go?

Almost anywhere! It’s happy to leave the super-rugged treks to the Veloped, but it can take on rough pavement, dirt, gravel, and even snow! It’s exceptionally smooth with the pneumatic tires, no vibrations up your arms, even on rougher surfaces.

But where the rollator really shines is the city. It’s does great on rough asphalt and railroad tracks where typical rollators’ small, hard wheels come to a screeching halt. It also fits through narrow aisles in smaller shops yet has an ample basket to carry what you need and still have some room for smaller purchases.

The Rollator’s seat is not as deep as the Veloped’s, but the light and airy mesh serves its purpose well while my husband mulls over stepladders in Home Depot. The handle on the seat may prevent it from being comfortable for longer events, but it makes it super easy to quickly fold it up and toss it into your vehicle.

It’s also quite a bit lighter than the Veloped and folds up smaller. This makes the Trionic Rollator a good choice for people who are usually on their own and are lacking in upper-body strength. It easily fits into the back of our Highlander, and I can even put it behind the front passenger seat if I need to!

Team Veloped

You’ll get along great with the Veloped if you love the outdoors, hiking, walking on the beach, and/or live out in the sticks. If you can handle some rougher terrain but need a little help with balance, managing hills, and a place to sit, the Veloped is for you!

If you do choose the Veloped, be prepared to answer some questions. It gets noticed – in a good way – quite a bit.

With a typical rollator, I noticed people looking at me with pity and then looking away. It made me uncomfortable to go out with the regular walker.

When I’m using the Veloped, people look me in the eyes more and seem more comfortable around me. They are more likely to speak to me in general and will often ask about the walker. Walker users and non-walker users alike compliment the Veloped with a touch of envy in their voices.

Team Rollator

Everybody gets along great with the Trionic Rollator! It’s a super versatile, all-around walker. Even if you never leave man-made surfaces, the Trionic Rollator is comfortable, attractive, and solid. It won’t rattle over parking lots or slide on smooth floors when you apply the brakes. It can also take you over some rougher terrain if you need it to.

While the Rollator has a sleek, luxury walker look to it and does turn heads, it’s not a showstopper like the Veloped. The Trionic Rollator doesn’t trigger the dreaded pity reaction I used to get. It gives off a “nice piece of recreational equipment” vibe rather than a “medical device vibe.” I get occasional questions from other walker users who admire it, but otherwise, I feel like I blend in well.

Final Thoughts

A walker is a great device to increase your quality of life if you find yourself no longer wanting to get out due to weakness, fatigue, or instability. Trionic has great options to suit anyone.