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 where you’re having trouble moving around? Has your mobility issue made bathing a challenge? Are you a bit short on space? You will like what you read in this review if you answered yes to any of those questions.
Drive Medical is one of the most respected names in the industry. They make various medical devices, including 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 following sections, we’ll explain everything this stool offers so you can decide if this is the model you’ve been searching for. Let’s jump right in and take a closer look!
Key Features 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’ll likely think of when you see the stool for the first time.
If aesthetics are important, falling in love with this little stool will be hard. 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. You’ll find much to like here if that’s what you’re after.
Chair Specifications
Before we get into those details, let’s look at the core stats defining the model. Here are the key points:
There’s a lot to like about these numbers, but only two potential snags exist. First, it’s an average-sized stool, which is good 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 the weakest point in the design. Even so, 12” is sufficient, given the time you will likely spend on the stool.
Most of the furniture on the market today supports 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 plenty of models are available that will support more weight!
Finally, we love that this stool collapses 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, 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 mentioned it. The length of the legs is easily adjustable, changing the seat’s height between 17.5” and 18.5”.
Comfort-wise, it’s about what you’d expect from a stool made of tubed aluminum and hard plastic, which is not great. Then again, given the time you’re likely to spend in it, it’s fine for most folks.
One thing to note is that the seat has several drainage holes, so you won’t find yourself sitting in puddles of water when using it.
It’s 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 possible. This includes the wide spacing of the legs and the rubberized feet, which give the stool a sure grip and make 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 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 that you don’t need to do anything 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 are looking for something that will make a good accent piece and provide 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 style for a very modest price tag. If you weigh 300 pounds or less, we highly recommend it.
Recommended Reading
Health Line Heavy Duty Shower Stool Review
We looked into Health Line’s Heavy Duty Shower Stool, which is superbly designed with extra features and exceptional weight support.
NOVA Shower and Bath Chair with Arms Review
We evaluated the NOVA Shower and Bath Chair with Arms, which is exceptionally designed for serious mobility issues.
References & Resources
- Drive Medical, Official Brand Website.
- Drive Medical Folding Shower Chair Specifications Sheet.
- Why Shower Seats Are So Important, MED Ability.