Rollz Motion Performance

There comes a point, after a lifetime of independent travel, when getting around under your own steam isn’t quite as easy as it used to be.

For my husband Franz, that point came about ten years ago, after three back surgeries that didn’t quite do the trick. He started using a walking stick and could no longer manage the enormous distances modern airports demand.

But giving up travel wasn’t an option and, thankfully, we didn’t have to. Airlines and airports offer excellent services for travellers with reduced mobility. Booking wheelchair assistance when we booked flights was straightforward, and the staff were unfailingly friendly and efficient. These services are available to anyone who needs them, regardless of ticket class.

Once we reached our destinations, getting around wasn’t too tricky either. We’ve always hired cars for most of our travel, except when staying in major cities. Driving allowed us to see the sights and taxis made city dining convenient.

City sightseeing, however, became a real challenge. Franz’s pain levels eventually limited him to walking barely 100 metres, even with his stick.

Then, while visiting friends in Switzerland, we were loaned a Rollz Motion. This good-looking piece of European design converts from walker to wheelchair in a couple of minutes — and even we, with our two left hands, managed it without fuss. We loved it. Lightweight enough to pop in the back seat of the car, it was easy to reassemble on arrival. Franz could use it as a walker for as long as he felt comfortable, then flip it into wheelchair mode so I could push him. Suddenly, instead of him staying behind at the hotel while I explored, we were off sightseeing together again.

Back in Australia, we decided we needed a Rollz of our own. We opted for the ‘off-road’ Rollz Performance with pump-up wheels, perfect for the cobblestoned streets of Europe we plan to keep visiting.

On our most recent trip, Franz dislocated his hip. Without the Rollz, we would have been stranded. It saw heavy use in Scotland, Paris, and Switzerland, allowing us to stick to our itinerary and enjoy sightseeing and meals together. Franz even discovered the walking-stick accessory doubles as a tripod holder — very handy for a professional photographer.

At home, the Rollz remained indispensable. Franz couldn’t walk more than a few metres unaided for months, but the Rollz kept him mobile around the house and in the community. Determined to stay independent, he learned to lift it in and out of the car for shopping trips and photography outings. The off-road wheels proved just as capable on dirt tracks as they are on cobblestones; and the seat when it’s in walker mode is very comfy.