byACRE Carbon Ultralight Review: What Owners Should Know

The Carbon Ultralight is designed in Denmark and won a Red Dot Design Award in 2019. Every figure below comes from byACRE's own specifications and owner's manual. This guide covers what matters once the box is open: lifting it into the car, folding it, the brakes and seat, picking a size, looking after it and the warranty.

The numbers, size by size

Every size folds to 9.8 inches wide, or 26 x 9.8 x 31.5 inches in all, and rolls on 7.9 inch puncture proof wheels.

Living with it day to day

Lifting it into the car

The whole rollator weighs 10.6 lb, so the lift into the trunk is a light one. byACRE says the flat folding frame fits most car trunks, and once folded it stands up on its own. The Elastic Lock that comes in the box keeps it folded while it travels.

Folding and opening

1. To fold it, lift the seat by the slot in the middle and push the handles toward each other.
2. To open it, push the seat rails down until you hear a click, then check that the hook has locked.

Brakes and sitting down

Two separate brakes work on the rear wheels, and the brake cables run inside the frame. To slow down while walking, pull the brake levers up a little. To park, press each lever down until it clicks. byACRE's rule is simple: set both parking brakes before you sit down, and keep them on while you sit.

The seat is for resting, not riding. The manual says not to move the rollator while someone sits on it, not to use it to push a person, not to sit on it on public transport and not to use it on stairs.

Curbs

A built in curb lifter helps with curbs. Press it with your foot and pull the handles slightly, and the front wheels lift up onto the curb. byACRE suggests going around high obstacles rather than climbing them.

Where it rolls best

The wheels are 7.9 inches across and puncture proof, so there is nothing to pump up. byACRE says the Ultralight glides on sidewalks, streets, cobblestones, grass, airport floors and even compact sand, and describes it as designed for smooth surfaces, travel and city life. For gravel paths and forest trails, byACRE recommends the Carbon Overland and its larger air filled tires.

Choosing the size

All three sizes share the same handle height, 30.7 to 37.4 inches, so the choice comes down to width.

• Wide has the widest seat, at 18.5 inches, and the most room between the handles. byACRE says most people prefer the Wide.
• Regular has the same 24 inch seat height in a narrower frame, 24.6 inches overall.
• Compact is the narrowest, at 23.6 inches, and has the lowest seat, at 22.4 inches.

Two checks from byACRE: standing upright, the handles should be level with your wrists, and your hips should be narrower than the space between the handles. If you are torn between two sizes, byACRE recommends the wider one.

What comes in the box

The Ultralight arrives fully assembled. byACRE includes three things with it:

• The Organiser Bag, a removable bag that clips under the seat and can be carried over the shoulder.
• The Elastic Lock, which keeps the rollator folded for travel.
• The byACRE care guide tool, which you need to fit accessories such as the cup holder.

Looking after it

• Wipe it with a soft cloth and clean water, adding a little detergent that will not scratch if needed, then dry it. byACRE says not to use paper towels, which can scratch the finish.
• Keep the brakes and wheel hubs free of dust and dirt.
• Before each use, check that both brakes work and that the screws and nuts are tight.
• Replace worn wheels and brakes in good time. byACRE sells spare parts for every part of the rollator.
• Do not store it with the parking brakes on. byACRE says long periods on the parking brake can mark the wheels and weaken the brakes.
• If the brakes start to feel weak, the manual shows how to adjust them with a 3 mm Allen key.

Warranty

byACRE covers the Carbon Ultralight for 2 years, excluding moving parts, misuse and normal wear. The carbon frame has a lifetime warranty for the original owner when the rollator is registered at byacre.com within three months of purchase. Keep your proof of purchase. The serial number is on the frame under the right rear wheel.

Care Made covers you through any warranty claim.

Travelling with it

byACRE strongly recommends never checking the rollator in as baggage, because checked rollators are often damaged. Bring it into the cabin when you can, and check your airline's rules before you fly. The Carbon Ultralight travel bag fits all three sizes and has a pad between the wheels to protect the front forks.

Accessories worth knowing

• Padded backrest: clicks on and off for support while you sit, in one size for the Compact and Regular and one for the Wide. byACRE does not recommend folding the rollator with it attached.
• Bags that fit every size: the 15 L Grocery Bag, the 12 L Weekend Bag and the 17.5 L Daypack.
• Cup holder: fits with the care guide tool from the box.

Carbon Ultralight or Carbon Overland?

Compare the two side by side on the Carbon Overland page, or read our longer look at whether a byACRE rollator is worth the investment.

Questions owners ask

How much does the byACRE Carbon Ultralight weigh?

10.6 lb in the Compact and Regular sizes and 10.8 lb in the Wide, without accessories.

What is the weight limit?

285 lb, the same for all three sizes.

Which size should I choose?

The handle height is the same on every size, so choose by width. Your hips should be narrower than the space between the handles. byACRE says most people prefer the Wide and recommends the wider size if you are between two.

Does it arrive assembled?

Yes. It comes fully assembled, with the Organiser Bag, the Elastic Lock and the care guide tool in the box.

Can it go on a plane?

byACRE recommends taking it into the cabin when you can rather than checking it as baggage. Each airline sets its own rules, so check before you fly.

What does the warranty cover?

2 years on the rollator, excluding moving parts, misuse and normal wear, plus a lifetime warranty on the carbon frame for the original owner who registers it within three months.