A Healthcare Professional's Review of the byACRE Overland rollator

Background and Health Challenges

I've been looking at rollators for quite a while. As a retired rehab RN with fibromyalgia and post-COVID issues affecting my balance and activity tolerance, I had been coming to the reluctant conclusion that my health was being adversely affected by not having one. I could tell that I was losing ground physically, largely because I had stopped taking walks for fear that I would fall or could simply need to stop suddenly and take a break where there was nowhere to sit down. As a rehab nurse, I had worked primarily with people who had sustained strokes, or had hip or knee replacements, and knew what features I needed; however, I was having trouble finding a rollator designed to increase my abilities, rather than make me more dependent.

My Requirements and Research

I knew I needed a walker with a well-designed frame, which has enough space to allow me to walk within it for balance, not behind it, and standing upright, rather than requiring me to lean into it and push it, which also meant that it needed to be lightweight and have improved wheels so it would move with me without increased effort. I also needed one with a seat, but not so deep or so low as to get in the way of my walking with a normal length of stride. Additionally, it had to be suitable for use in our semi-rural area and for camping, as well as indoors and in urban areas. I needed it to be easy to fold and transport too.

Discovering the byACRE Carbon Overland Walker

I found all those features in the byACRE Carbon Overland Walker, but was initially hesitant to spend so much on a rollator, although I knew that it's being made with carbon fibre, which makes it stronger, as well as considerably lighter weight than the competition, and having higher-end components made the price reasonable for the quality. However, further searching confirmed that nothing else fit my requirements, and none were even close to being so beautiful.

I love that the designers came up with their own, forward-thinking, sleek Scandinavian design, centred on the user's needs, rather than another redesign of an institutional walker, as the original rollators and the ones based on that are. (I'm a fan of Danish designer Arne Jacobsen's work, and can't help but think that if he'd designed a rollator, it would look and function a lot like this.) Nothing else came close, and my husband and I both came to the conclusion that the Overland would be the best choice for me because of where we live and the fact that we love to camp, most often in undeveloped sites.

Making the Decision and Purchase Experience

It was an upcoming trip to visit our son and his family, and the realisation that I was not going to be able to participate in some activities with them without a rollator, and I simply must make a decision. Let's Roll Mobility was absolutely wonderful to work with. They helped confirm that I was choosing the right model for my needs. They had the colour I had fallen in love with, the accessories I wanted (and offered a package deal), and could ship it to my son's house to arrive shortly after we did.

First Impressions and Immediate Benefits

It immediately felt natural to walk with the byACRE walker, since I can maintain good, upright posture, and I have no sense at all that I'm having to push it. Having adjusted the handles to the height of my wrist bones, by just resting my hands on the handles, it simply rolls with me; and although I still have a tendency to wobble, that never gets out of hand because the frame is right there on both sides, and I'm able to correct my balance before I'm close to getting notably off kilter. I'm also able to keep up a good pace with my normal stride when walking. The only thing that slows me down is curbs, which are made easier by using the curb lift feature at the bottom end of the frame.

As a surprise benefit, my usual resting pain level has gone down from 4 to 2.

Real-World Testing: Family Visit and San Francisco

Having my byACRE Overland for our visit meant that I was able to go on walks with everyone, enjoy outings to local attractions, and walk to church. Because I'm now able to get around on foot much better, we decided to add three days in San Francisco to our trip, and it was wonderful being back in my favourite American city again.

I even ventured down Powell Street from Nob Hill to Union Square (not a jaunt I'd recommend to anyone who didn't have a lot of experience walking very steep hills, as I did from having lived there), which confirmed the outstanding brakes were working perfectly. Later, we walked down to Chinatown to get some authentic Chinese food, and back up again by way of Sacramento Street, which is, I think, even steeper than Powell.

Airport Travel Experience

I have been needing wheelchair assistance in airports for quite some time. With fibromyalgia, although I could sometimes traverse small airports without one, I was always flat out and in a lot of pain for days afterward, which made trips very challenging. People sometimes looked a bit askance at me when I walked in without any assistive device and asked for a wheelchair, but I found they were more ready with assistance when I made my way to the check in counter, with less pain and difficulty, I might add, using my byACRE rollator.

Because it's so well balanced and lightweight, I was able to hold the walker partially on my lap in the wheelchair, with the rear wheels toward the back, between my feet. My only problem was that many people who hadn't watched the video showing how to put the walker in its fittedcarry bag easily wanted to do it for me and were sure they didn't need to listen to my instructions until they discovered for themselves that it's impossible to do if you don't go the (simple) right way about it. (I wish byACRE would make that video downloadable so that it would be easy to show to helpers.) I gate checked the walker, so it went on the top in the hold, near the door, and came out to ride with me to the next point on our journey.

Life-Changing Impact and Physical Improvements

I can't believe how much easier life has become with my Overland. I'm getting out a lot more. I'm definitely getting a lot more exercise than I was when I was worried that I'd crash, figuratively or literally. I'm also getting to enjoy nature a lot more again, and I love always having a readily available, comfortable seat, complete with armrests (the handles) which happen to be at the perfect height for me, all of which has really improved my quality of life.

I barely notice the Overland because it rolls effortlessly and without vibration, thanks to the great shocks and pneumatic tires. I wish I'd gotten it sooner, but am so very glad that I found the incredibly well-designed byACRE walkers by the time I got over the mental hurdle of realising I needed one for daily life.

Social Response and Professional Assessment

I love that wherever I go, people comment on how sleek and beautiful my byACRE walker is, that they love my wheels, and that it's not like their parent or grandparent's walker, and notice that I'm able to walk normally with it. Because I'm fully upright, people seem to see me before they notice the walker.

Best of all, I feel that I'm gaining ground physically, both in walking and standing strength, and in stamina, and I can feel and see that I'm now building muscle instead of losing it. From a rehab point of view, I think the byACRE walkers are perfect!