Thursday, October 1, 2020

Best Folding Canes with Seats

Best overall
GoPlus Adjustable Folding Cane SeatGoPlus Adjustable Folding Cane Seat
  • Ergonomic cane handle
  • Built-in flashlight
  • Reinforced seat
  • Ergonomic cane handle
  • Built-in flashlight
  • Reinforced seat
Best for basics
Drive Medical Lightweight Adjustable Cane SeatDrive Medical Folding Lightweight Adjustable Cane
  • Weighs under 1.5 lb.
  • Carries up to 250 lb.
  • Adjusts to fit your height
  • Weighs under 1.5 lb.
  • Carries up to 250 lb.
  • Adjusts to fit your height
Best for outdoors
Freshore walking cane chairFreshore Walking Stick Cane Chair Seat
  • Durable cloth seat
  • Four legs for extra stability
  • Wide seat
  • Durable cloth seat
  • Four legs for extra stability
  • Wide seat

Bottom line: GoPlus offers support and lights the way 

Whether you’re exploring a museum or taking a walk in the park, the best cane stool provides a sturdy seat and comfortable handling while walking. 

The GoPlus adjustable folding cane seat adjusts to accommodate people of most sizes. It also comes with a built-in flashlight and ergonomic handle for all-day use. Plus, GoPlus also throws in a seat cushion for those longer rests and three rubber tip footpads to avoid scratching the floor. 

Best Folding Canes with Seats

Compare foldable cane chairs

Price
Weight capacity
Cane weight
Cane height
Seat size
Seat type
Adjustable
Best overall
Best for basics
Best for outdoors
Best for travel
Style pick
GoPlus Adjustable Folding Cane Seat Drive Medical Folding Lightweight Adjustable Cane Freshore Walking Stick Cane Chair Seat Mac Sports Folding Cane Chair Drive Medical Sling Chair
GoPlus Adjustable Folding Cane Seat Drive Medical Lightweight Adjustable Cane Seat Freshore walking cane chair Mac Sports folding cane chair Drive Medical sling chair
$47.99 $34.37 $57.98 $28.99 $27.64
220 lb. 250 lb. 250 lb. 225 lb. 250 lb.
3 lb. 1.3 lb. 3.6 lb. 2 lb. 2.4 lb.
Up got 35 in. Up to 38 in. 33.5 in. 34.5 in. 34 in.
6 in. 9 in. 15.7 in. x 17.7 in. 13 in. x 13 in. 15.5 in. x 6.25 in.
Plastic Plastic Cloth Cloth Cloth
Yes
Yes
No
X
No
X
No
X
View on Amazon View on Amazon View on Amazon View on Amazon View on Amazon

*Amazon.com price as of 09/29/2020 at 03:47 p.m. (MT). Read full disclaimer.

Our approach

We considered factors like portability, capacity, and a comfortable seat while looking for the best folding cane seat. To find the best, we checked reviews of popular picks for feedback on the cane’s stability and comfort. 

Each walking cane we selected weighs less than four pounds but can support at least 200 pounds. The seat types and number of legs vary, making some sturdier than others. But each is durable enough to last for years to come. 

Learn more about our review process from our methodology page. 

Foldable cane chair reviews

1. GoPlus Adjustable Folding Cane Seat: Best overall

Best overall
GoPlus Adjustable Folding Cane Seat

GoPlus Adjustable Folding Cane Seat

The GoPlus adjustable cane seat has a built-in flashlight perfect for those evening walks or finding something in your car at night. This unique feature sets the GoPlus apart from the rest of the crowd. 

The GoPlus transforms from a walking cane to a comfortable three-legged stool in moments and its reinforced aluminum legs support you comfortably.

Pros

  • Built-in flashlight
  • Adjustable legs
  • Cushion and footpads included

Cons

  • Lower weight capacity
  • Small seat

The GoPlus has a slightly lower weight capacity and smaller seat than our other choices. But it can still hold up to 220 pounds comfortably. The seat rests on three ribs made of aluminum tubing to provide extra support and prevent cracking.

We also like its ergonomic handle with a comfortable grip that makes using it as a walking cane suitable for all-day use, especially if you have joint issues like arthritis.

To top it all off, GoPlus throws in a comfortable seat cushion for long periods of sitting like the grandkids’ soccer game and footpads for the legs to prevent scratching the floor. 

Why we like the GoPlus cane seat

The GoPlus adjustable folding cane seat is the only product we came across with a built-in flashlight. We love this additional safety feature for low lighting. And the extra goodies like a free seat cushion and footpads sweeten the deal. Plus, it costs under $50.

2. Drive Medical Folding Lightweight Adjustable Cane: Best for basics

Best for basics
Drive Medical Lightweight Adjustable Cane Seat

Drive Medical Folding Lightweight Adjustable Cane

The Drive Medical folding lightweight adjustable cane has no bells, whistles, gadgets or do-dads. Which is exactly why we like it. 

It’s a simple convertible cane stool that will get you where you need to go and provide a convenient seat for resting when you get there. Its gold-brushed aluminum legs and sleek black seat add a touch of class too. 

Pros

  • Weighs under 2 lbs
  • Adjustable legs
  • Supports up to 250 lbs

Cons

  • Small seat
  • Not reliable for outside terrain

This Drive Medical folding cane weighs less than 2 pounds (1.3 to be exact). It’s the lightest cane with a seat on our list, but its sturdy aluminum legs are durable enough to use for years. 

Its adjustable rubber-tipped legs can stand it up to 38 inches high—tall enough for those over 6 feet. Unfortunately, its small seat and weight limit of 250 won’t accommodate larger users.

The tripod legs make it a good fit for hard surfaces like wood, vinyl, and concrete, but you may not feel as stable on outdoor surfaces like grass, sand, or gravel.

Why we like the Drive Medical folding cane seat 

Drive Medical is a trusted name in mobility devices. Mobility scooters and wheelchair ramps from the company have both made our lists in the past too. This Drive Medical product is super simple and free of fuss. 

If you’re looking for function and simplicity, this is a reliable cane with a seat that’s good for your mobility and your wallet. 

3. Freshore Walking Stick Chair Seat: Best for outdoors

Best for outdoors
Freshore walking cane chair

Freshore Walking Stick Chair Seat

The Freshore Walking Stick Chair Seat blends in perfectly at outdoor concerts, theater in the park, and sporting events. Its comfortable mesh seat and aluminum legs provide enough to seat 250 pounds like a regular camping chair. 

This cane chair folds out into a soft seat with four sturdy legs strong enough to support you on wet grass, gravel, and sand. 

Pros

  • Comfortable mesh seat
  • Wide seat
  • Fits people under 6'1"

Cons

  • Less of a cane, more of a chair
  • Heaviest on our list (3.4 lbs)

Standing at 33.5 inches tall, the Freshore best fits folks under 6 feet tall. And unfortunately, it doesn’t have adjustable legs. 

But the good news is it has the widest seat of any folding cane chair we found. It’s 15.7 inches wide by 17.7 inches long, giving your tush plenty of cushion and support. 

However, the comfortable seat comes with a trade-off. Because the seat is wider and supported by four legs, the cane is heavier than most. It weighs 3.4 pounds total, which might be a problem for some to use all day. 

But if you have joint or muscle issues, it’s better as a temporary solution for special outdoor occasions.

Why we like the Freshore folding cane seat

The Freshore is a great addition to your picnic kit. Take it to concerts, the beach, and barbecues for a sturdy place to rest between activities. 

But, because of its weight, it may be a better solution for those events where you’ll be outside all day.

4. Mac Sports Folding Cane Chair: Best for travel

Best for travel
Mac Sports folding cane chair

Mac Sports Folding Cane Chair

The Mac Sports folding cane chair is sporty and super portable. It’s small enough to store in an overhead compartment on a plane or under the seat in your vehicle. It weighs 2 pounds but can hold up to 225. 

If you’re looking for a walking cane seat you can take with you on vacations or outings, the Mac Sports seat cane provides support whether you’re standing or sitting. Its seat is made out of tough moisture-resistant fabric that isn’t bothered by water or mildew.

Pros

  • Fits in overhead compartments
  • Water- and mildew-resistant seat
  • Wide seat

Cons

  • Lower weight capacity
  • Not adjustable

This sturdy quad cane is reliable on uneven ground too. So whether you’re on a short hike or enjoying the view at the beach, you can set up your seat and take a break without worrying about tipping over or wobbling. 

The Mac Sport stands 34.5 inches tall, perfect for most people between 5 and 6 feet tall. But taller folks may want a cane with adjustable legs. 

Why we like the Mac Sport folding cane chair

While there are cane chairs with a higher weight capacity and adjustable legs, the Mac Sport still impresses us. 

We like its durable seat and sporty look. It’s also super lightweight and easy to take whether you’re on a plane, train, or automobile.

5. Drive Medical Sling Chair: Style pick

Style pick
Drive Medical sling chair

Drive Medical Sling Chair

The unique Drive Medical sling chair is a reliable and stylish folding cane. With brushed aluminum and comfortable foam grip handles, this cane stands out with its sling-seat design (think Hollywood director’s chair). 

It quickly converts from a cane into a four-legged stool. The seat is designed for straddling, which might help with issues like hip pain, sciatica, or leg pain. 

Pros

  • Unique sling seat design
  • Brushed aluminum and comfortable foam grip handles
  • Large seat

Cons

  • Straddling may not be comfortable for everyone
  • Not adjustable

But it won’t be comfortable for everyone. The seat is slightly low, so taller people may want to look for a cane stool with adjustable legs. The sling seat measures 15.5 inches long and 6.25 inches wide and can support up to 250 pounds.

Why we like the Drive Medical sling cane

This Drive Medical folding cane chair looks great as a cane or a seat. Its brushed aluminum legs and comfort handles add extra support and make it easier to use regularly. 

The sling seat can help those with unique lower body pain, but because it’s designed for straddling, it may not provide maximum comfort for everyone.

Final word

We chose the GoPlus Adjustable Cane Seat for its high weight capacity and sturdy aluminum legs suitable for indoor and outdoor use. The cane seat itself is lightweight and has awesome features like a flashlight built right into the handle.

Folding cane seats are a creative way to make getting around easier while giving you a place to rest. When looking for one for yourself, consider your height and the places you’ll use your cane seat the most.

Folding cane chairs FAQ 

Can folding cane chairs hold over 250 pounds?

Yes. You can find folding cane chairs that hold up to 400 pounds. They may cost a little extra, but they can support twice the weight of standard cane chairs. 

Are folding cane seats prone to tipping over?

Yes. Like any stool or seat, they can tip over. But you can prevent tipping by choosing even surfaces and avoiding rocking or moving too much in the seat. Make sure your feet can firmly touch the ground while you’re seated for extra stability. 

How do I find a cane that fits me?

Measure the distance between the ground and your hand with your arms at your side. Canes generally stand anywhere from 31 to 38 inches tall. If you can’t measure yourself for a cane, look for one with adjustable legs to suit your stature. 

Disclaimer

*Amazon.com list price as of 09/29/2020 03:47 (MT). Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

The post Best Folding Canes with Seats appeared first on SafeWise.

Best Identity Theft Protection in 2020

Best Comprehensive Coverage
Identity Force Logo 2019IdentityForce
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Affordable plans
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Affordable plans
Best Affordable Protection for Individuals
ReliaShield logoReliaShield
  • 100% recovery success rate
  • Excellent customer service
  • 100% recovery success rate
  • Excellent customer service
Best Family Coverage
Identity Guard LogoIdentity Guard
  • Cyberbullying monitoring
  • Social insight report
  • Cyberbullying monitoring
  • Social insight report
Calendar Icon
Last Updated: Less than 6 months
Now that more of us are WFH and engaging in online learning, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it's more important than ever to keep our personal information safe. Identity theft protection is a great way to bolster your defenses.

We've also added some easy (and free) steps you can take today to keep your identity safe.

The Bottom Line: IdentityForce Offers the Most Comprehensive Coverage

While many companies save the bonus features like monthly credit scores, social media monitoring, and account activity monitoring for their top-tier plans, IdentityForce puts these features in its lowest-tier—but aptly named—UltraSecure Plan.

At $9.99 a month, the UltraSecure Plan includes protection services that other brands reserve for higher-tier plans, like instant access to credit reports, sex offender alerts, payday loan alerts, and court records monitoring.

IdentityForce’s UltraSecure Plan also includes all the essentials, like wallet recovery, address change alerts, anti-phishing protection, data leak notifications, and a million-dollar insurance plan. And of all the companies we reviewed, IdentityForce is the only one that offers its members two-factor login authentication, which is crucial if you’re giving a company your bank account numbers, Social Security number, and other personal information.

Between its excellent value, full-service coverage, and top-notch security, IdentityForce easily came in first among the best identity theft protection services.

Starting Price
Recovery Insurance
Family Plan
Dark Web Monitoring
Credit Report Monitoring
Price
Best Comprehensive
Best Individual Coverage
Best Family Coverage
Best Budget Pick
Best Insurance Coverage
IdentityForce ReliaShield Identity Guard Zander LifeLock
Identity Force Logo 2019 ReliaShield logo Identity Guard Logo Zander Insurance logo lifelock logo
$9.99/mo. $7.99/mo. $7.50/mo. $6.75/mo. $9.99/mo.
$1 million $1 million $1 million $1 million, lost wages up to $30k $1 million, reimbursement up to $1 million
Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Up to 3 credit bureaus Up to 3 credit bureaus Up to 3 credit bureaus No Up to 3 credit bureaus
View Plans View Plans View Plans View Plans View Plans

Data effective 10/01/2020. Offers and availability subject to change.

Top 5 Identity Theft Protection Services

  1. IdentityForce: Best Comprehensive Coverage | Read Review
  2. ReliaShield: Best Affordable Protection for Individuals | Read Review
  3. Identity Guard: Best Family Protection | Read Review
  4. Zander | Read Review
  5. LifeLock | Read Review

Reviews: Best Identity Theft Protection Services

Best Comprehensive Coverage
Identity Force Logo 2019

IdentityForce

1. IdentityForce: Best Comprehensive Coverage

IdentityForce‘s UltraSecure Plan is $9.99 a month ($24.90 for family) and its UltraSecure+Credit Plan is $19.99 a month ($35.90 for family). UltraSecure+Credit is one of the most comprehensive plans out there, and is priced under other top-tier plans that average about $25 a month.

All plans give you instant access to credit reports, but only the UltraSecure+Credit allows you to access reports from the three major bureaus. The plans also monitor your credit score, check the dark web for your private information, watch for address changes on your accounts, monitor your social media, and keep an eye on all of your accounts for suspicious activity. If IdentityForce sees anything fishy, it sends an alert to your smartphone.

One of IdentityForce’s strongest selling points is its two-factor authentication. Your IdentityForce account will contain a lot of sensitive financial and personal information, and the last thing you want is a criminal hacking it.

Two-factor authentication requires anyone logging into your account to enter in not only a username and password but also something like a PIN number or an answer to a security question. We’re hoping that all identity theft services follow suit and add this feature to protect their customers.

Pros

  • Affordable plans
  • 30-day free trial
  • Court records monitoring
  • New account alerts
  • Two-factors authentication

Cons

  • No antivirus coverage
Best Affordable Protection for Individuals
ReliaShield logo

ReliaShield

2. ReliaShield: Best Affordable Protection for Individuals

Our “award” for ReliaShield was a toss-up between Best Affordable Protection for Individuals and Best Customer Service.

Everywhere we looked for information about ReliaShield, we found glowing reviews from happy customers, and the company boasts a 100% success rate for stolen identity recovery. These factors put it near the top of our list, because working with a company you can trust is essential when it comes to protecting your identity.

ReliaShield’s coverage isn’t as complete as IdentityForce—it lacks any anti-phishing or anti-keylogging tools. But its plans start at $7.99 a month, and it checks all the boxes for basic tools like dark web monitoring, credit report monitoring, address change alerts, and Social Security number tracking.

Other services like social media monitoring, payday loans, and sex offender alerts are included only in higher-tier plans. While ReliaShield doesn’t give you regular credit reports, the top-tier plan gives you a monthly credit score. The service will also remind you to request your free credit report each year so you can check it for errors.

The pricing for family plans is straightforward: just double the cost of the individual plans. For top protection for an entire family, you can expect to pay around $48 a month.

Pros

  • Affordable fees
  • Exceptional customer service
  • 100% recovery rate
  • SSN tracking
  • Credit report monitoring

Cons

  • No device protection
  • Limited features in lower tiers
Best Family Coverage
Identity Guard Logo

Identity Guard

3. Identity Guard: Best Family Coverage

If you have kids and want to make sure they’re protected from identity theft, we recommend taking a look at the family plans from Identity Guard. Individual plans start at $7.50, with family plans ranging from $12.50 to $29.17 per month.

Unlike other family plans that just extend the individual protection to kids, Identity Guard’s family plans add on monitoring for cyberbullying on social media. All of Identity Guard’s plans also come with safe browsing tools and anti-phishing guards to help everyone in the family stay safer while surfing the web.

Identity Guard lacks some important features found in our other top picks, like financial account activity monitoring or sex offender alerts, but its second-tier plans offer financial account takeover alerts and address change monitoring.

We like the unique tax refund alerts that will let you know when your taxes have been filed in case someone tries to file in your name. We don’t like Identity Guard’s limited customer support hours—they’re not 24/7 like the others on our list—but on the plus side for customer service, users say it’s easy to cancel the service if you need to.

Pros

  • Tax refund alerts
  • Affordable family plans
  • Cyberbullying monitoring
  • Easy cancellation
  • Safe browsing tools

Cons

  • No financial account monitoring
  • Limited customer service hours

More Identity Theft Protection Services That Are Worth a Look

Maybe you know someone who’s had a bad experience with one of the companies mentioned above, or maybe you’re looking for a specific feature that you didn’t see in one of our top three service selections. Here are two more quality options that didn’t quite make the top of our list but still offer unique identity theft protection features for you to consider.

4. Zander: Best Budget Pick

If IdentityForce is the fully loaded Cadillac Escalade of identity theft protection, then Zander is the Ford Focus. Zander offers only one individual plan at just $6.75 a month and one family plan at $12.90 a month, making it the cheapest service on our list.

But you get what you pay for—Zander’s bare-bones protection services include only dark web monitoring, identity theft insurance, Social Security number tracking, medical ID tracking, and criminal court records monitoring.

We found several customer complaints about long waits for customer service, but others appreciated the company’s 36-month follow-up policy for victims of identity theft. If you’re budget-conscious and you don’t mind getting your fraud alerts by email (no mobile app alerts), Zander might be a good fit for your identity protection.

5. LifeLock: Best Insurance Coverage

When it comes to identity theft, LifeLock is a well-known name in protection, but its shifting pricing policies and lack of family plans is dragging it down.

The company also uses Equifax for some of its monitoring, which is concerning after the 2017 data breach.1 At $29.99 a month, its top-tier plan is the most expensive on our list, and it doesn’t include monitoring for payday loans, social media, or medical ID theft.

On the upside, LifeLock has teamed up with Norton Security to include antivirus software in its offerings, including PC cloud backup storage.

LifeLock’s higher-tier plans also offer the highest reimbursement and insurance coverage levels we’ve seen, so it’s worth a look if you value your computer data and you stand to lose a lot financially if your identity gets stolen. Read our full LifeLock review.

Take Extra Precautions During the Pandemic

With so many more "everyday" things happening online, identity theft protection is more important than ever. Here are some extra things you can do to ramp up your online protection right now.

Check the privacy settings on every app, device, platform, and software package that anyone in your household is using.
Lock down private info. Don't share any personal information like your phone number, birthday, or social security number. Make sure that none of that info is listed in online profiles.
Install updates. Software and firmware updates can be a pain, but they're your first line of defense. Updates include security patches to any new threats that are discovered. Make sure you install the latest updates on all of your devices.

These are just a few ways that you can have some extra protection while we're all spending more time online. Find more safety tips in our guide to keeping your computer safe while working from home.

Things to Consider before You Buy

The most important thing to remember when it comes to identity theft protection is that it’s more like a security system than a bodyguard. If your identity is like your home, an identity theft protection service can alert you once a criminal has gotten in, and it can limit the damage, but it can’t always protect your information or your money from being stolen.

Pretty much all the identity theft services out there have insurance policies up to $1 million to help you with the financial costs of recovery, so don’t let that impressive number sway you to choose one over the other. And remember that no identity theft companies can guarantee to protect you against all types of identity theft.

The biggest question to ask yourself before you purchase an identity theft protection plan is how much work do you want to do to protect your identity?

Unless you’re a computer expert, you probably don’t know how to do your own dark web monitoring, but most other services offered by identity theft protection companies are things you can do yourself for free, like checking your credit report, scanning your financial accounts for fraudulent activity, freezing your kids’ social security numbers, and doing the legwork if your identity gets stolen.

But all of these things take time, and for most busy people, time equals money.

Decide how much protection you want and shop for identity protection companies that offer the recovery services that are most important to you. Check out Identity Theft 101 to learn more.

Identity Theft Protection FAQs

What happened with the Equifax data breach? Should I be worried about data leaks?

In September of 2017, an Equifax data breach leaked the personal information of 147 million people, including their Social Security numbers and addresses.

Since Equifax is one of the three major credit reporting bureaus, this was a highly concerning event, and one you should take seriously. Because of the scale of the breach, how poorly it was handled, and how difficult it is to get reimbursement, it’s hard to recommend companies that still use Equifax for monitoring.

Are there any laws in place to protect me if a data breach occurs?

Yes. In fact, it was the Equifax breach that led to some positive changes in data breach law.

In September of 2018, federal law removed all fees from credit freezes, and state governments are expanding privacy laws and requiring that credit card companies provide identity theft prevention and recovery assistance for customers in the event of a breach.

The new law also sets stricter legal deadlines for companies and bureaus to notify customers about data breaches.

How does a credit freeze work?

A credit freeze is like putting a padlock and an alarm on your credit report. If companies or individuals try to run a credit check on your report, you’ll be notified, and you have to give your express permission before anyone can see your report.

It’s free to freeze your credit, but you have to request a freeze from each of the three credit reporting agencies separately. Keep in mind that it takes longer to unlock your credit than it does to freeze your credit, so it might prove to be a hassle if you need to apply for a loan or open a new account.

Still, it’s a free (and more secure) alternative to credit monitoring, and it’s a good choice for older adults and kids who don’t frequently need credit checks.

How do I protect my account passwords?

Change your passwords frequently, and try to create longer, more complex passwords that will be more resistant to hacking. Don’t keep your passwords all in one place, and consider using a password manager to protect your accounts.

What does identity theft insurance cover?

Most identity theft insurance is to help you with financial costs associated with recovering from identity theft: private detectives, lawyers, experts, etc. Some identity theft insurance also covers additional financial considerations, like reimbursement for lost wages or funds.

No matter which identity fraud insurance product you choose, be sure to look over the insurance policy carefully before purchasing. You don’t want to be faced with any unpleasant surprises if your identity is stolen.

How We Picked the Best Identity Theft Protection Services

To find the top identity theft protection services, we researched each company to dig into pricing, services, and insurance offered. We put all the information we found into a huge comparison table so we could clearly see which company offered the best services for the most competitive prices, and we also checked out other review sites to see what customers were saying about their experiences with each company. If you want to know more about how we rank and review services like these, check out our full methodology.

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