Like so many others, I hated my crutches from day one. Though I'm in my fifties, my body is in good shape from weight lifting and jogging, but crutches are just no fun and lead to sore spots on my hands and armpits. Plus, I have to rely on others to bring me beverages and food. The knee walker has tremendously enhanced my mobility while keeping me off of my left foot. In retrospect, i should have spent the extra money for the kind that turns, but I'm sure I'll get more and more comfortable with the roller's use as time goes on.
I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that the Drive 780 knee walker is a lifesaver. I used crutches for the first three weeks after my foot surgery, and I thought I was going to die. My husband actually had to take time off from work to watch me so I wouldn’t fall. We have a two-story house and basement, so there are loads of stairs and I kept catching myself slipping on the crutches. Not an ideal combo for someone recovering from really painful foot surgery. My husband and I ordered the knee walker after checking out other reviews on this site, and I’m so glad we did. Getting around is a breeze. It’s also easy to fold up and put in my passenger seat, so I don’t have to feel like a leper in my own home while I’m recovering. Yes, the turning can be a little annoying, but the knee walker is so lightweight that it’s no big deal to turn it. I guess this makes it more stable, which is exactly what I needed. One thing I learned while using a knee walker is that you have to pay attention to what you’re doing at all times. Always keep your hand resting on the brake and don’t get going too fast, especially if you’re going downhill. But trust me, it’s a lot better than using crutches…I know from experience.
This knee walker works great, but I earned the nickname “Sammi Scooter” after a bunch of my friends commented on how much it looks like a kid’s scooter. But I can live with the nickname, considering how it made my non-weight bearing recover so much more manageable. Whoever invented crutches should be punished for crimes against humanity.
I would heavily recommend this product for people with ankle/foot problems. I was so sore after using crutches for a few weeks, so my friend recommended knee walkers. My only issue is that the adjustable pins came loose after two months. But the cost is worth it. I looked at other models that were in the $800 range and my insurance refused to cover the cost.
This is a lot faster than using crutches and gives you free hands. This is ideal for moving around the house, and I found that I was able to interact with my kids more on a knee walker vs. crutches. My only complaint is that this knee walker is probably not meant for everyone. It was perfect for me, but it’s only meant for people less than 250 lbs. I’m sure this would be a problem for a lot of people, especially bigger guys like me. Also, I’m just less than six feet and I had it set up at one of the shorter settings. I think this might make it a problem for people to use if they’re around the five-foot mark, but I could be wrong. I only needed this for about a month or so, so I didn’t need any advanced steering options like on the more expensive models. It’s a bit of a workout to turn, but since I couldn’t exercise due to my foot injury, this actually became a really big benefit.
It’s kinda ironic that I got a knee walker for my upper body, considering that I had an Achilles tendon injury. But after using crutches for almost three weeks, I felt like my upper body was training for Olympic weight lifting or something. It got to the point where I was popping ibuprofen every few hours just to deal with the muscle soreness. I’d recommend this knee walker for people who have weaker upper bodies or who may not want to deal with the inevitable soreness of using crutches. It’s a great and affordable replacement.
I had surgery on my left foot and was hopping around on my crutches. My doctor recommended a knee walker, and I’m SO glad I found the Drive 780!!! I’m not a spring chicken, so this really helped me get around without the pain. I was able to get around my house, in my garden and in stores. Well worth it for the price!!! Also had a large number of friends comment on wishing they had knee walkers instead of crutches when they were recovering from foot injuries!
A while back I have a severe foot injury and was non-weight bearing for about four months. For about the first month of my recovery, I was put on crutches. I’m sure people reading these reviews can commiserate as to how lame crutches are. I kept losing my balance and I was afraid of falling on ice, as we’re still getting snowstorms up here in Maine. I ordered the Drive 780 knee walker from Knee Walker Central, and it arrived within two days. I’m not exaggerating when I say that the quality of my life skyrocketed when I got this knee walker. Getting around my house became a lot easier, and I didn’t need to rely on my roommates to help me up the stairs. It made life a lot easier, because I could fold up the knee walker and use my other hand to hold the handrail. Doing this with crutches in one hand was too much hassle, since I kept dropping them. The knee walker’s really lightweight, so I’d say this is the best model to use if you have a home or apartment with stairs. The knee walker’s pretty hands-free, so you can actually do normal things when you’re getting around. The only complaint I have about this model is that some of the screws came a bit loose after heavy use. But it’s nothing too crazy, as I was able to fix it with a simple allen wrench. I know Knee Walker Central has a good replacement policy, so I never really worried that I’d get stuck with a bad knee walker model. Final note: the Drive 780 model only has a 250lb capacity, which might be a problem for some people. I was just under the limit, so make sure you check the item description before ordering.
Generally an awesome product, especially given that it’s so affordable. I’m appreciative of the price considering how expensive it is to get foot surgery (thanks insurance company). Made it easy to get around in my house and at work. What’s even better is I get to my car and fold it up without help. Brakes have limited stopping power, which is why this got four instead of five stars from me. Other models probably have better steering and brakes, but are more expensive. Get this knee walker if you don’t want to speed tons of money.
For just $160 bucks, the Drive 780 knee walker is probably one of the most affordable yet high-quality knee walkers out there. I got my foot surgery just after Christmas, and I ordered my knee walker pretty much as soon as I got out (I refused to get crutches…saw my mom struggle with them when she tore her Achilles tendon a few years ago). The Drive 780 knee walker is soooo much safer than using crutches. It’s gotten to the point where I can’t even imagine my surgery recovery without this handy device. The only thing that I’d point out to interested buyers is that it does take a bit of effort to turn. You have to sort of lift the knee walker, which isn’t that big of a deal, considering it’s pretty lightweight. But this might be a deciding factor for someone who doesn’t want the hassle. But again, for the money you’re spending, you’re getting a great deal. I can’t say enough good things about the Drive 780 knee walker!
I bought this product after my dad broke his ankle. He was having a really tough time dealing with the crutches, so I decided to earn brownie points with this purchase. This knee walker doesn’t have the best turning ability in the world, but it’s super-stable, which is probably ideal for people who don’t have that great of balance. My dad doesn’t mind, he says it builds up his upper body strength. There’s still some ice left over from the winter, so this stability is super awesome when he needs to walk down the driveway or on the sidewalk. The price is pretty cheap… probably cheaper than other units out there. I would have given this product five stars if it turned more efficiently, but I think it’s a great product for the price.
I knew that the Drive 780 knee walker was gonna be a hassle to turn after reading these reviews. I guess the manufacturer made it so it could only operate it in a straight line, which makes it more stable. But it can get pretty annoying lifting and turning the knee walker whenever you want to change directions. But for the money, you’re getting a good deal. It’s probably the best option for people who need to save money and don’t mind the constant lifting and turning.
Happy I got the Drive 780 knee walker. Arrived quickly and was easy to start using. Would recommend for anyone recovering from foot/ankle injury.