In a Nutshell:
A simple, sturdy, no-frills folding design. The Drive Medical Deluxe Folding Bath Bench is recommended for anyone with a slight to moderate mobility issue weighing up to 300 pounds, especially those who don’t have much space to work with.
Value for the Money
Comfort
Brand Reliability*
Overall Rating
4.3/5
Benefits
Drawbacks
Recommended For: Anyone with a slight to moderate mobility issue weighing up to 300 pounds, especially those who don’t have much space to work with.
Have you reached a point in your life where you’re having trouble moving around? Has your mobility issue made bathing a challenge? Are you a bit short on space? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you’re going to like what you read in this review.
Drive Medical is one of the most respected names in the industry. They make a wide range of medical devices, including a number of shower chairs in various shapes and sizes. The Drive Medical Deluxe Folding Bath Bench is a lesson in simplicity and is about as basic as it gets. It does have its share of limitations, and as such, it might not be for everyone.
In the sections that follow, we’ll step you through everything this stool has to offer so you can decide for yourself if this is the model you’ve been searching for. Let’s jump right in and take a closer look!
An Overview of the Drive Medical Deluxe Folding Shower Chair
The Drive Medical Deluxe folding bath bench won’t win any beauty contests. That’s the first thing you’re likely to think of when you see the stool for the first time.
If aesthetics are important to you, it’s going to be hard to fall in love with this little stool. While it’s true that it falls short of being outright ugly, it certainly won’t win any beauty contests either.
The good news is that while the design team responsible for this model didn’t put any effort into making their shower stool attractive, they did make it delightfully functional. If that’s what you’re after, you’ll find a lot to like here. Before we get into those details, though, let’s take a quick look at the core stats that define the model. Here are the key points:
There’s a lot to like about these numbers and only two potential snags. First, it’s an average-sized stool, which is actually a good thing because it will work well with most showers and larger tubs. If you have a standard-sized tub or a pocket shower, though, this one won’t fit. You’ll need to look for something slightly smaller.
The seat height is adjustable, with the lowest setting just under the big and tall range and the highest setting just above it. That makes it useful for all but the shortest potential buyers, which is fantastic.
The seat width is a good fit for most of the market, but the depth is a bit underwhelming, and we’d rate it as being the weakest point in the design. Even so, 12” is sufficient given the amount of time you’re likely to be spending on the stool.
Most of the furniture on the market today support 300-pounds of user weight and the Drive Medical deluxe folding shower chair is no exception. As such, this stool is useful for 95% of the market. Take the manufacturer’s weight limit seriously, though. The last thing you want is to have it collapse under you while you’re in the shower, and there are plenty of models available that will support more weight!
Finally, we love the fact that this stool collapses down to a tiny footprint, making it easy to store when it’s not in use. If you’ve got the space for it, fantastic! Just leave it in the shower all the time. If space is at a premium in your house, though, you’ll appreciate how easy it is to fold and store, a fact made even easier thanks to its delightfully lightweight!
Adjustability and Comfort
There’s only one adjustable feature on offer here, and we already made mention of it. The length of the legs is easily adjustable, which changes the height of the seat in a range between 17.5” to 18.5”.
Comfort-wise, it’s about what you’d expect from a stool made of tubed aluminum and hard plastic, which is to say, not great. Then again, given the length of time you’re likely to be spending in it, it’s fine for most folks.
One thing to make a note of, though, is the fact that the seat features a number of drainage holes so you won’t find yourself sitting in puddles of water when you’re making use of it.
A small detail, but a very nice touch, and exactly what you’d expect from one of the biggest and best-known companies in the industry.
While most shower stools offer fewer safety features than bench-style transfer seats or shower chairs, Drive Medical took pains to include as many safety features as they could. This includes both the wide spacing of the legs and the rubberized feet, which gives it a sure grip and makes it very unlikely that it will slide away from you when you’re getting onto or off of it.
It’s a good addition, but be aware that if you have a serious mobility issue, you’ll probably need a more robust solution than a simple shower stool, preferably something with no-slip handgrips. Note that this stool does offer handgrips, but they don’t feature a rubberized surface. So, the more serious your mobility condition is, the less confident you may feel about relying on them.
No Assembly is Required
Another small but nice perk offered by the Drive Medical folding bath bench is the fact that there’s nothing you need to do before you can start using it. Just take it out of the box when it arrives, unfold it, and it’s ready to go! Given that most of the furniture you can buy online today has to be assembled, we were happy to see an exception to that rule.
Drive Medical Deluxe Folding Bath Bench Pros and Cons
In no particular order, here are the things we think you’ll like best about this model:
On the flip side, if you weigh more than 300 pounds, or if you’re looking for something that’s going to make a good accent piece, in addition to providing you with a convenient bathing platform, this model probably isn’t the one you’re after.
Drive Medical Deluxe Folding Bath Bench Review Conclusion
We like the Drive Medical deluxe folding bath bench very much. Most people with mobility issues are more interested in safety features than they are worried about aesthetics. This one delivers in style on that front, and for a very modest price tag. Provided you weigh 300-pounds or less, we highly recommend it.
References & Resources
- Drive Medical, Official Brand Website.
- Drive Medical Folding Shower Chair Specifications Sheet.
- The Advantages of Bath Seats for the Elderly and Disabled, UKS Mobility.
- Why Shower Seats Are So Important, MED Ability.