For those with limited mobility, a motorized scooter can be an absolute life changer, giving you back your independence and freedom of movement. Not every scooter will be a good fit for every lifestyle, though. We’ve rounded up the best lightweight mobility scooter options on the current market in this review. Overall, the EV Rider Transport AF+ is the top performer (>>> Check on Amazon), with a sturdy build, compact fold, and long run time. Curious how it compares to the other options? Read on to find out!
- Vive 3-Wheel Mobility Scooter
- EV Rider Transport AF+
- WISGING 3 Wheel Lightweight Scooter
- Luggie Compact Electric Folding Mobility Scooter
- Metro Mobility Folding Mobility Scooter
- SuperHandy 3 Wheel Folding Mobility Scooter
Best Lightweight Mobility Scooter 2022 – Top Picks:
| Vive 3-Wheel | EV Rider | WISGING 3 Wheel | Luggie Compact | Metro Mobility | SuperHandy 3 Wheel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  |
|
| Distance per charge | 12.4 miles | 15 miles | 12.8 miles | 11 miles | 20 miles | 6.5 miles |
| Max weight capacity | 265 lbs | 250 lbs | 280 lbs | 250 lbs | 264 lbs | 275 lbs |
| Number of wheels | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Max speed | 3.7 MPH | 4 MPH | 6 MPH | 4 MPH | 4.9 MPH | 3.7 MPH |
| Weight | 84 lbs | 49 lbs | 56 lbs | 51.8 lbs | 99.2 lbs | 26 lbs |
| Price | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon |
Maneuverability
A scooter that’s hard to control doesn’t give you the freedom of movement most are looking. Scooters with a 3-wheel design tend to have a tighter turning radius, an important factor for use indoors or in crowded spaces. It’s also important that you’re able to maintain complete control of your scooter at all times, helping you avoid collisions, tips, and other issues.
With its low center of gravity and easy-to-steer throttle, the EV Rider Transport AF+ practically glides over smooth surfaces. Its wheels can also handle uneven terrains, including surfaces like cobblestones and grass, without losing much from its steerability. The Luggie Compact Electric scooter is a close second to the EV Rider, with intelligent brakes and speed control that you won’t find on many scooters.
Most maneuverable: EV Rider Transport AF+
Distance per Charge
The last thing you want when you’re out and about is for your battery to die, leaving you stuck until you can find someone to help you lug it home. Luckily, you can go for miles without stopping on all of these scooters. At the top of the list are the EV Rider Transport AF+ (up to 15 miles per charge) and Metro Mobility Folding Scooter (up to 20 miles per charge).
Longest distance per charge: Metro Mobility Folding Scooter
Scooter Weight
When your mobility is already limited, you don’t want to have to strain to load your scooter into a trunk. While some larger models break down into multiple pieces for easier lifting, that adds an extra step you probably don’t want to worry about every time you leave. The SuperHandy 3-Wheel Folding Mobility Scooter is the far and away winner in this regard, weighing only 26 pounds. That’s lighter than just the battery section of larger scooters, like the Vive 3-Wheel Mobility Scooter.
Lightest scooter: SuperHandy 3-Wheel Folding Mobility Scooter
Travel
If you want to take your scooter on cruises, road trips, or airplanes, you’ll need to pay attention to some details that won’t matter as much to those using it around their neighborhood. Both the Easy Rider Transport AF+ and Wisging 3-Wheel Travel Scooter use a sealed battery that’s airline-safe. You can also fold them both up into a self-standing unit—in as little as 3 seconds, in the case of the Wisging.
The Easy Rider Transport AF+ takes a slight edge in this category for two reasons. First, it’s about 7 pounds lighter, coming in just under the 50-pound mark. Its long battery life per charge is a factor here, too, letting you roam further and longer before you have to go back and recharge.
Best for traveling: Easy Rider Transport AF+
Vive 3-Wheel Mobility Scooter
The Vive 3-Wheel Mobility Scooter is a breeze to use. The handlebar display is intuitive and well-labeled, with a helpful color-coded battery life indicator and a knob for adjusting the top speed. It’s just as easy to transport from place to place, quickly separating into 4 pieces that will fit into the trunk of even smaller compact cars. Once separated, the heaviest piece (the battery) only weighs about 29 pounds.
With its 3-wheel design and 8-inch easy-grip tires, the Vive 3-Wheel Mobility Scooter has a very tight turning radius and is easy to steer. It glides over smooth surfaces without leaving a mark and can travel more than 12 miles per charge, making it a great choice for use either around the house or out and about in urban areas.
This Vive mobility scooter also gets high marks for comfort. The padded seat and backrest are well-supported, with lift-up padded armrests that you can adjust for maximum comfort. The entire seat swivels so you won’t have to twist to get in or out, and the lever height adjustment prevents stretching or straining to reach the controls.
Pros
- Comfortable swiveling seat with adjustable height
- Flip-up adjustable arm rests
- Tight turning radius with easy-grip, flat-free tires
- Separates into 4 pieces for easier transportation
- Removable storage basket included
- Speed knob gives more throttle control
- Color-coded display with battery status
Cons
- Must be disassembled for transportation (no folding option)
- Low clearance may cause difficulty in doorways
EV Rider Transport AF+
The EV Rider Transport AF+ is one of the most portable mobility scooters on the market. It weighs less than 50 pounds, and has an automatic folding and unfolding mechanism, taking the effort out of storage and transportation. Once folded, it’s a compact, self-standing unit that’s easy to store in a closet or corner.
Travelers will love the EV Rider Transport AF+. Along with its lightweight build, it’s very maneuverable with a tight turning radius. It can also handle a range of terrains, including cobblestones and other uneven surfaces. Since it can travel up to 15 miles on a single charge, you can go on longer excursions without worrying that the battery will die along the way. The battery is a sealed lead design, too, which makes it safe to take on an airplane during trips.
While the per-charge capacity of the battery is high, its long-term lifespan isn’t as impressive. The most consistent complaint from users is that you’ll need to replace the battery more often than with other models (and those batteries don’t come cheap).
Pros
- Compact and lightweight
- Easy to maneuver, even on uneven surfaces
- Simple control panel with speed control dial
- Automatic fold and unfold with included remote
- Airline-safe battery
Cons
- No arm rests
- Some users report issues with short battery life
WISGING 3 Wheel Lightweight Portable Power Travel Scooter
The weight to weight capacity ratio of the Wisging 3 Wheel travel scooter is one of the best you’ll find. It only weighs 56 pounds but can safely support up to 280 pounds. The seat is also wider than on many portable scooters, making this a top option for larger users.
This is another scooter that’s ideal for travelers. You can fold it up in about 3 seconds and it stands on its own once collapsed. The battery is airplane-safe, too, while still powerful enough to reach speeds up to 6 miles per hour and climb hills as steep as a 15-degree grade. The solid rubber wheels can’t be punctured, and use an advanced suspension system that keeps the scooter stable even on uneven surfaces.
Our only major quibble with this Wisging scooter is that it doesn’t have a speed control dial, making it too fast and hard to control for some users. It also feels less stable than the other models on this list, especially during turns, which are best taken wide and slow. These issues aside, it gets high marks for power and rider comfort.
Pros
- Can climb grades up to 15°
- Shock absorption for smoother, more stable ride
- Puncture-proof solid rubber tires
- Higher weight capacity than most travel scooters
- Folds quickly into self-standing unit
- Comfortable and removable seat cushion
Cons
- No speed adjustment dial
- Not as stable while turning
Luggie Compact Electric Folding Mobility Scooter
The lighter battery on the Luggie Compact Electric Folding Mobility Scooter has pros and cons. On the plus side, it’s one of the easiest scooters to lift and transport, especially once it’s fully folded. The down side is it doesn’t hold quite as much power, with a lower maximum distance per charge than heftier scooters.
The seat of this Luggie scooter is made of contoured air pocket foam. This absorbs vibrations for a smoother ride and is relatively well-padded, although you may want to add a cushion for longer rides. Both the angle and the height of the steering column are adjustable, too, making it easy to find a comfortable position.
From a safety standpoint, the Luggie Compact Scooter is a top contender. It can take relatively tight turns without toppling and is easy to control. The self-monitoring speed control and intelligent automatic brakes are helpful in crowded areas, and it can be safely used both indoors and outside.
Pros
- Comfortable contoured seat
- Electronic speed control for smooth ride
- Automatic braking system
- Super-compact fold
- Adjustable steering column height and angle
- Removable seat and arm rests
Cons
- Shorter per-charge lifespan than other scooters
- No built-in storage
Metro Mobility Folding Mobility Scooter
If stability is your main concern, the Metro Mobility Folding Mobility Scooter should be on your radar. Its 9-inch pneumatic tires provide a stable base, even when turning, and the scooter can be safely steered with one hand using the ergonomic folding tiller.
While the tiller folds, that’s the only thing that does. The seat and battery are removable, making it easier to load into a trunk, but it’s one of the larger options on the list in both weight and dimensions. Along with this extra weight you’ll get a lot of power. It runs up to 20 miles on a single charge and has a maximum speed of 5 miles per hour.
On the plus side, it’s easy to find a comfortable position with the Metro Mobility Scooter. The seat height is adjustable and the chair swivels for easy access, with arm rests that both lift and expand. It’s also versatile in terms of where it can go, with a relatively high clearance and wheels that can handle rough terrains.
Pros
- Swiveling adjustable seat
- Long life per charge
- Safe and easy to control with one hand
- Flat-free, anti-tip tires
- Includes a storage basket
- Folding tiller
- Expandable lifting armrests
Cons
- Only tiller folds (must be disassembled for transportation)
- No speed control option
SuperHandy 3 Wheel Folding Mobility Scooter
If you’re looking for the lightest mobility scooter, the SuperHandy 3-Wheel Folding Mobility Scooter is your winner. It weighs about half as much as other portable scooters, thanks in large part to its slim, minimalist frame. It’s the most compact scooter on the list, too, both when it’s in use and when it’s folded.
That light weight does have some downsides, however. It’s not as stable of a ride, with foot rests in place of a full deck and relatively small tires. The turning radius is tight but you need to take turns slowly or risk tipping. Its battery capacity is also lower, only going about 6 miles before you need to recharge it.
Luckily, this SuperHandy scooter isn’t entirely bare bones. Its adjustable handlebar and seat make it easy to find a comfortable position, and the seat is well-padded and comfortable. It also has a fast-acting brake system and a variable speed accelerator, so you’ll get a good amount of control over the ride.
Pros
- Adjustable handlebar and seat height
- Super compact and lightweight
- Solid, non-marking tires
- Easy to collapse and transport
- High weight capacity
Cons
- Not suitable for use on uneven surfaces
- Short per charge lifespan
The Verdict: Best Lightweight Mobility Scooters
When you’re choosing a mobility scooter, it all comes down to your lifestyle and needs. The EV Rider Transport AF+ is relatively lightweight with a quick, compact fold, and has the maneuverability and battery lifespan you need when you’re on the go.
That doesn’t mean it will be the best choice for everyone, though. The Vive 3-Wheel Mobility Scooter is a great choice for use in urban areas, with built-in storage, a swiveling seat, and an advanced throttle display. Larger users will appreciate the sturdy build of the Wisging Power Travel Scooter, which is also the fastest model, with a top speed of 6 miles per hour. If safety is your main concern, the automatic brakes and intelligent speed control of the Luggie Compact Electric Scooter will be very appealing.
The truth is, every scooter on this list has its strengths, and will be the right fit for a certain kind of user. We hope this comparison has helped you find the perfect one for you!