The Nova STAR 8 Rollator: Our Favorite New Rolling Walker
Here at Oswald’s, we sell a lot of rolling walkers or rollators. One of the most common needs our customers have is that their rollator must be easy to adjust and assemble. Customization and ease of use are important points for most rollator users. Many people ask the question ‘can I change the seat height?’ when inquiring about rollator ease of use; a question we previously answered with a quick ‘no.’
We have had several ‘adjustable’ rollators stocked in the past, but every one of them had issues that would make us think twice about selling them to customers. Some were extremely complicated to adjust. Some had too many moving parts. And some just seemed unsafe.
On Thursday, May 3rd we received our first shipment of Nova’s new STAR 8 Rollator—the first customizable and affordable model we will always have in stock.
STAR 8, open position
The STAR 8 is remarkable in quite a few ways. Most new rollators are very similar, with the main differences being aesthetic or ‘new’ brakes or wheels. Not the STAR 8. This rollator has features that older rolling walkers could only dream about. Let’s take a look at some of these impressive features.
STAR 8, closed position
Quick Fit Easy Adjust Buttons
This is the feature our customers have been looking for—adjustable seat and handle height! Nova’s STAR 8 can change its height at the touch of a button. Similar to the buttons on traditional walkers, all a user has to do is press the buttons in, pull the tubing to the desired setting and let the buttons settle into the correct slot. The process is extremely easy, most users will not require any assistance adjusting the walker at home.
The Quick Fit Easy Adjust Buttons can change the seat height between 3 different settings; 19 ½”, 20 ½” and 21 ½”. Handle height has an incredible 8 different settings, letting a user choose almost exactly where they want the handles to be. The STAR 8 is recommended for users between 5’3” and 6’2”, but it can be used by anyone from 5’0” to 6’4” if they like the feel.
STAR 8 broken down into 7 lightweight pieces
The Most Portable Rollator
The plug and play system introduced with Nova’s Quick Fit Easy Adjust Buttons has a ‘hidden’ benefit most customers don’t think about when they shop for a new rollator; the STAR 8 can fit almost anywhere! Once a customer is comfortable with the assembly process, the STAR 8 can fit in everywhere from a packed trunk to a large suitcase.
The STAR 8 breaks down into 7 core pieces; the seat, the 2 front legs, the 2 back legs and the 2 handles. When all of these pieces are separated they can be arranged to fit in many places older rollators could only dream of. If you travel a lot the STAR 8 could be the best option for your mobility needs.
Strong and Safe
Most adjustable rolling walkers we stocked in the past seemed flimsy and unsafe. Many of the adjustable rollators we have seen customers roll into our store have been rated at a 250 lb. weight limit. In the medical equipment industry, a 300 lb. weight capacity is the closest thing to a standard weight capacity on any commonly used product. A 250 lb. capacity usually means the product has compromised structural integrity for other things like reduced unit weight or smaller wheels.
The STAR 8, like all of Nova’s previous rollators, has a weight capacity of 300 lbs. New oval tubing was selected to use for the frame of the STAR 8, producing an adjustable walker that is extremely sturdy. An added benefit is that the oval tubing is unique enough to make this walker stand out in a crowd. No more losing your walker at crowded events! The STAR 8 weighs only 17 lbs. total; about a pound and a half more than Nova’s older, comparable walkers. The construction is sturdy without adding too much weight—something very important for people who have trouble lifting rollators out of cars.
New Features
Rollators in today’s market seem nearly indistinguishable from one another. How they roll, how they fold, how they look—most brands and models seem to be almost identical. Nova has added several features to the STAR 8 that makes it stand out not just from their other models, but the rollator industry in general.
Our team’s favorite new feature on the STAR 8 is the foot pedal on both sides of the walker. Many of our customers complain about having difficulty traversing uneven terrain, like gravel alleys or parking lots in need of repair, even if their rollator has the 8” wheels. The STAR 8 not only has 8” wheels, it also comes stock with dual foot pedals to help patients get some extra leverage to get over cracks or thresholds.
A brand-new feature from Nova that is sure to be a customer favorite is the bag liner included with every STAR 8. Most older walkers have a flimsy bag underneath the seat, usually used for holding a few light items while on the go. These bags are almost universally weak, leading to the bottom getting quickly worn out. The bag liner that comes with every STAR 8 helps with weight and durability, making every bag hold more!
The bag liner covers up the bag handle Nova has traditionally used to easily fold up their walkers. This may seem like a problem, but the new carrying handle is the perfect solution. An extended metal handle is now connected to the walker frame, making the STAR 8 easier to pick up and fit into a car than any model before it.
The Best Old Features
All the best features from previous Nova rollators are still included with the STAR 8. Nova’s Feather-Touch brake system comes standard. The feather-touch brakes allow for easy stopping and locking—providing safety while the patient sits down. A padded, fold-up back guard is still a standard, allowing for patients to lean back a bit without having to fear falling out of the rollator. The STAR 8 has 8” wheels, which give users increased control over the rollator.
Come in and Try It Out!
The STAR 8 in Action!
We will have the STAR 8 on our showroom floor, ready for anyone looking to get a rollator with amazing features to test out. All the options available on the STAR 8 make it a safe choice to purchase if the patient can’t make it into the store. If a patient falls in the recommended size range (5’3”-6’2” 300lbs.), this walker will fit them and the person purchasing the rollator won’t have to worry about choosing the correct seat height.
The Nova STAR 8 retails at $199.99. If you have any questions, give us a call or just stop by the store—we are open 7 days a week!
