By Bill Maclean, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
A few years ago, I purchased a Travel Scoot, and it has been an excellent investment. I use it for any distances and it has traveled the world with me. It is great for going to the mall for shopping and any type of event that requires some walking. We have used it on multiple cruises. It has been in multiple European cities, many with cobblestone sidewalks and fairly steep elevations. While these obstacles slow one down, I have never been stopped.
The Travel Scoot is fully qualified for airline travel. You can gate-check it and carry the battery onto the plane. The scooter is light. Fully assembled (three parts: main body, seat and battery), the current version weighs around 35 pounds, and the heaviest individual part (main body) weighs 22 pounds. The body can be collapsed, so it can fit in a standard trunk.
When I first bought mine, I would fold it and put it in the trunk. Then we got a mid-sized SUV and it can be put in the back of the SUV assembled. (We normally take the seat off for better visibility through the back window.) My wife is able to lift it into the SUV without difficulty.
The scooter is supposed to have a battery life of 5 to 6 hours, depending on the rider’s weight and the terrain. I have never run out of power, even on full-day walking tours.
The scooter is very agile. It can do tight turns and fits through virtually all doorways. When going up any type of incline (e.g. a ramp from the street to the sidewalk), lean forward to ensure the weight is balanced from front to back. When taking sharp turns, slow down to avoid any balance issues.
A few other tips
TravelScoot offers 2-inch spacers that can be used to raise the seat. Most of us will find a higher seat easier to get on and off, which is beneficial. TravelScoot does not charge for these spacers, except for a $5 shipping charge.
The standard scooter comes with a canvas “shelf” that goes across the lower two bars of the main body. This can be handy if you want to carry something. It is easy to put on and take off – Velcro holds it on. (That said, I rarely use it. It is easier for me to get on and off the scooter without the “shelf.”)
When traveling on an airplane, you can gate-check the scooter. I have done this many times and have only had a problem on one flight, when the airline cracked the on/off switch unit. It still worked, and the airline ultimately replaced the unit. To avoid this, you can create a cover for the on/off switch that you use when traveling by air. A simple thick cloth pad with Velcro on each side can be created to address this issue. TravelScoot has a pad that covers the entire handlebar system, but I find it too big to carry around.
Their web site contains the information you need to understand the scooter and its characteristics. You can call their office at any time to ask questions and I have found them to be very responsive.
I want to know how well it travels over unpaved areas or unlevel areas- like grass or small gravel paths. How does it operate outdoors?
Hello Judy,
It works well. I have used it on coblestone roads, fine gravel paths, lawns, and other rough pavements. You sometimes need to slow down a bit to avoid bouncing too much, but it seems to handle everything. When going up inclines, lean forward to ensure that the overall scooter remains balanced. going up or down curb cuts you should slow down a bit too. But is has handled all terrains I have encountered so far. I have not tried doing a long hicking trail, but it has gone longer distances on rough pavements. Hope this helps.