I think the trouble with outdoor use is the uneven and unpredictable terrain. Rollators would be great if not too much terrain variation, they even make a 4-wheel drive model. But, as stated above they would not work well on sand. Wonder if the 4-wheel model would.
Regardless the type of walker, stay on hard surface/paved paths.
Rollator (or a variation) is probably the easiest for outdoors over uneven terrain, assuming that the person has the strength and coordination to use the brakes.
My Mom did not have enough strength or coordination to use the brakes. She did not want to use tennis balls.
However, I used to get "stabbed" by them when I carried her walker, and the front part of the ski soon broke off.
So I tried walker glide covers. Eventually they wear through, but they are cheap enough that I just replace them when she wore through one of them. She used them on asphalt, concrete, and hard dirt. However, it did NOT work on grass or soft surfaces very well.
When my Mom was outside I wanted something that might be easier to use on grass. Walker Buddeez looked interesting, but were considerably more expensive than the glider covers. She didn't walk on grass that much, so I didn't try them. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=walker+buddezz&crid=3IDF70NLJFQH1&sprefix=Walker+bud%2Caps%2C187&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_10
My Mom and I took a cruise up to Greenland. At one of the ports, the path to the asphalt road was gravel. I'm not sure anything other than a car would have an easy drive through it. People walked their bicycles through that section. For that section, she just used her walker like a cane, picked it up, put it down, took a step, pick it up, put it down, take another step. The pebbles were pushed around the glider cover, giving her a very stable "ground" for the walker. She was pretty impressive. I was really glad that we did NOT have a walker with 4 wheels. The people at the port and the guests of the ship who saw her were very impressed with her ability to go anywhere with her walker. I wish I had taken a picture. It could have been poster-worthy advertisement for the glider covers.
Is anyone else having trouble with this thread? There were some glitches, then my post and everyone else's post disappeared, even though it's shown that there are 5 responses. Hmmm...where did they all go??
Correction....apparently they were in hiding and are now back.
I'm for a rollator as well. It can offer more support, time out for rest, and to me is much safer. After getting a rollator for my father, he hardly ever used a walker any more, and that's when I saw how dangerous a walker really can be.
SuperiorShore, my Dad had a "rollator walker" which has 4 wheels, hand brakes, a comfortable seat and basket. Worked great outdoors on non-rocky surfaces. Dad loved his walker.
There are Rollators that have wheels front and back. Some come with seats and storage area under the seat. The problem is, they are not recommended for everyone. They tend to get away from some people. I would ask the PCP what they recommend for their patient. Or see if the Dr can set up a PT visit where the person can be evaluated for a walker. You really need to be instructed how to use them. They need to be adjusted for your height. There are walkers that are Jr size that not all can use or they should use.
No one should be bent over using a walker. This means its not high enough. The proper way to use it is to place it a little ahead of you and walk into it. You do not push it around.
IF ONLY we could get our LO's to follow that SIMPLE advice--stand straight (as you can) and use the walker for SUPPORT, not as something you're chasing around the place. Mom probably stands 3 ft away from hers and pushes herself into it--MANY falls, well, slumps to the ground and she still 'chases' that dang thing. Her back is a C curve, when she sits at a table, her chin almost rests in her plate. She was short to start with, but she was 5' tall at her tallest and is now 4'8".
IMHO, the 'rollater' type walker works better on uneven terrain. The aluminum ones tend to catch on everything. Plus with the seat on the rollater, the person can sit down when tired.
Regardless the type of walker, stay on hard surface/paved paths.
My Mom did not have enough strength or coordination to use the brakes. She did not want to use tennis balls.
Initially, we bought skis for the back "legs".
https://www.amazon.com/NOVA-Walker-Glide-Skis-Universal/dp/B001VE9XCK
However, I used to get "stabbed" by them when I carried her walker, and the front part of the ski soon broke off.
So I tried walker glide covers. Eventually they wear through, but they are cheap enough that I just replace them when she wore through one of them. She used them on asphalt, concrete, and hard dirt. However, it did NOT work on grass or soft surfaces very well.
https://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Surfaces-Support-Stability-Replacement/dp/B07H3WBC9R/ref=sr_1_16?crid=J1D0M1VYNXKU&keywords=covers+for+walker+legs&qid=1660983753&s=hpc&sprefix=covers+for+walker+legs%2Chpc%2C180&sr=1-16
When my Mom was outside I wanted something that might be easier to use on grass. Walker Buddeez looked interesting, but were considerably more expensive than the glider covers. She didn't walk on grass that much, so I didn't try them.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=walker+buddezz&crid=3IDF70NLJFQH1&sprefix=Walker+bud%2Caps%2C187&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_10
My Mom and I took a cruise up to Greenland. At one of the ports, the path to the asphalt road was gravel. I'm not sure anything other than a car would have an easy drive through it. People walked their bicycles through that section. For that section, she just used her walker like a cane, picked it up, put it down, took a step, pick it up, put it down, take another step. The pebbles were pushed around the glider cover, giving her a very stable "ground" for the walker. She was pretty impressive. I was really glad that we did NOT have a walker with 4 wheels. The people at the port and the guests of the ship who saw her were very impressed with her ability to go anywhere with her walker. I wish I had taken a picture. It could have been poster-worthy advertisement for the glider covers.
Correction....apparently they were in hiding and are now back.
No one should be bent over using a walker. This means its not high enough. The proper way to use it is to place it a little ahead of you and walk into it. You do not push it around.