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NOVA Walkers Reviewed: 4 Best NOVA Walkers for Every Need

By Maurice

NOVA Walkers

When it’s time for mobility assistance due to an injury, recovering from surgery, degenerative conditions like arthritis or aging, the NOVA brand offers a wide variety of walkers to help with just about any mobility issue out there.

Not only does NOVA offer multiple sizes and shapes of walkers, beautiful colors and numerous standard options are featured within each of their product lines.

Here are four of the most popular NOVA walkers reviewed, so you can make a good purchasing decision!

Best Nova Walkers: 4 Top Nova Walkers Reviewed

NOVA Zoom Series

The Zoom product line is the very staple of the NOVA rollator walkers. The Zoom series walkers are designed to give users stability with style and comfort without compromise.

These walkers are available in four different seat heights to customize the user’s experience. Choose from 18”, 20”, 22” and 24” based on your height.

Features /Benefits:

  • High quality design offers stability and comfort
  • From petite to tall, select from four different seat height sizes for a customized fit
  • Multiple color choices
  • Foldable for easy storage and transport
  • Locking hand brakes for safety
  • Sturdy, durable 8” wheels
  • Comfortable, padded seat
  • Movable backrest for additional back support
  • Under-seat storage
  • Helpful instructional videos available on NOVA website

Pros

  • Extremely easy to fold up for storage and transport
  • Lightweight for easy lifting
  • 8” wheels tackle outdoor terrain
  • Comfortable hand grips and easy to use hand brakes
  • Excellent company reputation

CONS

  • Grip handles attract household items and clothing which stick to handle coating/material
  • Backrest moves around and doesn’t lock into place
  • Handles are a bit low
  • Securing walker in folded position isn’t well explained/doesn’t work very well

Who is Best Suited for this Nova Rollator Walker?

The Zoom series by NOVA is a great choice for petite to tall users needing stable, sturdy mobility assistance. This model is for users no more than 300 lbs. and who can easily lift and store the walker, which weighs about 18.5 lbs.

The Zoom series walkers easily travel through all kinds of terrain like gravel and grass without slowing you down for users who spend their time outdoors.

  • 18” Zoom24.5” W x 25.5” D x 28.75”-31.25” H
  • 20” Zoom24.5” W x 26” D x 30.5”-33.5” H
  • 22” Zoom24.5” W x 26.25” D x 32.5”-36” H
  • 24” Zoom24.5” W x 27.25 D x 35”-38” H

NOVA Traveler Series

One of the most popular products for seniors on the go, the NOVA Traveler series, features the smaller, easy to maneuver 3-wheel design. This makes the NOVA traveler walker a smart choice for outdoors, with rugged 8” wheels and indoors for smaller, compact living spaces.

Features /Benefits:

  • Easy to maneuver 3-wheel design
  • Locking hand brakes for safety
  • Lots of storage features including a pouch, basket and tray
  • Folds up easily due to compact design perfect for storing and transport
  • Lightweight yet sturdy aluminum frame
  • Comfortable seat and backrest

Pros

  • Sleek 3-wheel design handles well in tight, small spaces
  • Lots of storage for smaller size walker
  • Locking hand brakes for safety
  • Heavier duty 8” wheels for tackling the outdoor terrain
  • Easy to fold and store

CONS

  • No seat
  • No backrest
  • Heavier at 16.5 lbs. than other 3-wheel rollators between 11-15 lbs.

Who is Best Suited for this Nova Rollator Walker?

Adults or seniors who need light mobility assistance and are looking for a smaller, more compact design.


It’s a perfect solution to users who live in small apartments or assisted living communities due to its smaller size. The Traveler model is designed for users who are mostly mobile and don’t require the use of a seat, who tire easily or who cannot easily lift the walker at 16.5 pounds.


Overall size:23.5″ W x 24.5” D x 33.25”-37″ H

NOVA Mack Series Rolling Walkers

There are three different sizes featured in the NOVA Mack series. The mini, standard, and mighty Mack. These are heavy-duty rollator walkers built to last.

Features /Benefits:

  • Durable, sturdy aluminum frame construction
  • Heavy duty 8” wheels power through outdoor ground conditions
  • Dual loop design locking handbrakes
  • Higher weight capacity of 400 lbs.
  • Extra-wide seat
  • Backrest
  • Large wire basket for storage

Pros

  • Available in 3 different sizes for shorter or taller users
  • Higher weight capacity and extra-wide seats with removable cushions
  • 8” wheels for all-terrain
  • Locking hand brakes for safety
  • Storage available

CONS

  • Handlebars and backrest require some assembly
  • Brake cables too long and can get caught or snag on things

Who is Best Suited for this Nova Rollator Walker?

Adults and seniors who are more weight-dependent on a walker for support. The heavy-duty Mack series accommodates those users who need more durability and a greater weight capacity. The Mighty Mack offers users more roomy comfort with extra-wide seats and a weight limit of up to 600 lbs.


A cautionary note for users to be sure to measure hallways, doorways, and bathrooms because NOVA Mack walkers are bigger and bulkier than standard, less heavy-duty walkers.

NOVA Phoenix Rise UP

In a new and exciting release announcement, NOVA now offers the Phoenix Rise UP rollator walkers.

This new product gives users the opportunity to walk in an upright, more natural posture position, eliminating stress and strain on the back. It has a user weight capacity of 300 lbs.

Much like the other NOVA walkers, the Phoenix Rise UP upright walker features:

Overall dimensions: 12” W x 33” D x 53.25” H to accommodate users between 5’2”-6’0”

Features /Benefits:

  • Two 10” wheels in front and two 8” wheels in back for maximum stability
  • Weighs 20.5 lbs.
  • Seat (18” W x 9” D) and Backrest
  • Dual loop design handbrakes
  • Storage
  • Folds up easily for storage and transport

Pros

  • Users stand in upright position eliminating stress and strain on back and shoulders
  • Color options
  • Wider seat of 18” vs. 12”

CONS

  • Expensive
  • Taller users (5’10” to 6’0”+) unable to stand completely upright

Who is Best Suited for this Nova Rollator Walker?

Users who have chronic back pain or desire to use a rollator walker with an upright vs. slightly hunched position.


This NOVA rollator walker is perfect for users needing light to moderate mobility assistance while walking in an upright position.


It is not recommended for petite users under 5’2” or tall users up to or over 6’0”. It is not a safe or comfortable walker option for bariatric users, who would do better with a NOVA model featuring a wider, sturdier seat and higher than 300 lb. weight restriction.

Buyers’ Guide for Nova Walkers

About the NOVA Company

Dr. Bruce Chen, an esteemed leader in the rehabilitation field, had a vision to manufacture quality products to people who were struggling with mobility issues and limited independence.


After losing his battle with cancer, Dr. Chen’s inspired daughter, Sue Chen, brought her father’s vision to fruition with humble beginnings in a small 4,000 sq. ft. facility in El Segundo, California back in 1993.


Since then, Sue Chen realized her father’s vision and NOVA has grown to become an industry leader in the mobility aids/independent living products market segment. Included in NOVA’s extensive product line are bath safety products, transport and wheelchairs, canes and rolling walkers, to name just a few.


To quote the company vision and mission in part as printed on their website, the NOVA mantra back then, and still rings true today, is “to provide and service superior quality products with great function and fashion for physically challenged people to live a healthy, independent, and beautiful lifestyle.”


After doubling in growth and outgrowing facilities in El Segundo and another in Gardena, NOVA has operated from a large, modern facility in Carson, California since 2004.


NOVA has experienced continued growth and expansion, opening distribution centers in Chicago and Atlanta.

Where NOVA Products are Made?

NOVA Medical Product orders are fulfilled and shipped from distribution centers located in the Los Angeles area, Chicago, and Atlanta.

Price Range of NOVA Rollator Walkers

Most of the NOVA rollators are extremely affordable given the number of sizes, options, features and benefits.


The NOVA Zoom series walkers range in price from $189.95-$199.95. The largest Zoom rollator walker (24”) is the most expensive.


The NOVA Traveler 3-wheeled walker is priced at around $139.95.


The heavier duty Mack series comes in with an MSRP of $299.95 for the Mini and up to $399.95 for the Mighty Mack.


The NOVA Phoenix Rise UP model has a suggested MSRP of $399.95.

Placing Orders

Orders can be placed on-line through authorized NOVA product distributors. Simply visit the NOVA website, type in your zip code and a list of authorized dealers in your area appears.

Returns, Refunds, Replacements

Contact the dealer directly for questions about repairs, replacement parts and any warranty questions.


NOVA has an extremely generous limited lifetime warranty on walker frames and a one-year warranty for replacements parts. If purchasing a NOVA rollator walker, read the fine print to understand the warranty and if you have questions, contact customer service at NOVA’s corporate headquarters. You may also be able to clarify warranty details with your local distributor.

Customer Reviews

There are very few negative reviews or comments about the NOVA company or its products. Customer ratings are always 5-star or nearly 5-star consistently for any of their walkers.


For customers who rated a NOVA walker at less than 5 stars, it was usually related to the walker not being tall enough or other sort of preference disappointment. There are very few negative comments regarding safety, stability, or durability.

Tips for Buying the Best NOVA Rollator Walker

Seek Expert Advice

Whether it comes from your doctor or a physical therapist, the professionals deal with mobility limitations all the time. They will be able to talk with you about your physical needs as well as your personal preferences and help you make a wise walker purchasing decision.


Especially when choosing a NOVA rollator walker, there are so many options and choices which can be extremely daunting when trying to select just one.

Stability vs. Mobility

When choosing a rollator walker, it’s important to understand that you are still the one in charge of the walker. Even though a rollator walker may be easier to operate because of its wheels, you still need to have the coordination to steer it, stop it, secure the walker for sitting and lift it in and out of your vehicle.


Generally speaking, the more stable the walker, the more challenging it can be to maneuver. More stable rollator walkers are usually a bit bigger, heavier and have larger wheels.


If you choose a sturdier rollator, take measurements of the hallways and door openings in your home and your trunk. It’s also important that you can fold and lift the walker in and out of your vehicle without assistance.

Budget

While you want to feel safe, secure, and stable with your rollator walker, you don’t want to buy one based solely on a low price to get a good deal. If you don’t feel safe and secure with your walker, any money you spend on it is wasted.


Sometimes a higher priced model is worth the bigger investment because you will feel comfortable using it all the time and get peace of mind from that extra feeling of safety and stability.


It doesn’t hurt to check your personal health insurance or Medicare coverage to see if some of the costs of buying a walker are covered.

Correct Size

Pay special attention to the walker sizes to ensure you purchase the right size walker for maximum benefit and comfort.


You might call around to see if there is a local distributor or medical supply store that has floor models available so you can actually see what your ideal walker looks like, sit in the seat, and kick the tires, literally. It’s always helpful to see the product before making a purchase.


While the good news is that when purchasing walkers on-line, you can always ship it back for a refund or replacement. It’s just so much easier to read through all the fine print and “measure twice, cut once,” so to speak.


By carefully reviewing all the sizing details, you can avoid the hassle of having to return a walker that doesn’t give you the right height, seat size or features for your safety and most importantly, revived independent lifestyle.

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