Stairlifts are giving people back their mobility and their home. But deciding which is the best stairlift for your needs is not so easy. Not all residential models offer the same features and the price variation between brands can be enormous. What follows are the ratings for stairlifts from the most popular brands.
Summit Stair Lift
The Summit stairlift is for those on a budget. It has been designed to offer basic functionality that is reliable. The Summit is still powered by mains AC electricity. Almost all manufacturers use 24 volt DC rechargeable batteries. Battery powered stairlifts are better because they offer smoother starts and stops, they are easy to install since there is no wiring, they are safer than mains power, and the lift can still function during power outages. The Summit also uses an old-fashioned cable system to pull the cart along the track. The cable Summit uses on them is aircraft cable and is rated at 4,200 pounds, so there is no danger of it breaking.
The Summit comes with a basic security check. The footrest has a sensor that will immediately stop the chair if it finds an object on the stairs. You also get a seat belt. What you won’t get with a Summit stairlift are sensors on the cart itself, so an object on the track won’t stop the chair. The control panels are also not wireless, they are wall mounted.
The Summit chairlift is a product that will transport the user up and down the stairs, although not in great style. It is a workhorse and has been proven to be reliable with surprisingly little maintenance even though it employs old technology.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Acorn Stairlift
Acorn stairlifts, like the Summit, can only be used on a straight staircase. Unlike a Summit lift, the Acorn is a more sophisticated machine. The Acorn Superglide stair lift is a battery powered rack and pinion system. This is the industry standard. The rechargeable battery pack provides smooth starting and stopping, and the rack and pinion transmission ensures an overall smooth ride. The Acorn comes with two wireless remote controls with send/call functionality. There is also a mechanical joystick to control the stair lift; the lever overrides the remotes.
You can also purchase the Acorn Superglide outdoor stair lift. Interestingly, Acorn also makes a hanger-style stairlift for those who find it uncomfortable or impossible to sit on. The acorn hanger can also be used on narrower stairs. Acorn’s Superglide Perch comes with a ‘forward direction’ control that can be positioned to allow for maximum comfort and ease of operation.
The Acorn Stairlift would fit the bill of most and is excellent.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Bruno Stairlift
Few manufacturers make curved stairlifts. This is because they lack the experience. Bruno is a company that has this experience. Bruno is ISO-9001 certified, which is the most stringent and widely recognized quality standard in the world.
Bruno not only makes one straight stairlift, but four; 3 housing stairs and 1 exterior elevator. Every Bruno home offers plenty of features that come standard. The Electra-Ride Elite is his flagship model. It has 5 surfaces equipped with safety sensors, both on the footrest and on the trolley. It has an overspeed safety brake, retractable seat belts, and wireless remote controls and can carry up to 400 pounds. The seat height is adjustable from 19″ to 24 1/2″ and the footrest is also adjustable for maximum comfort. The rail protrudes 5″ from the baseboard; the industry standard is approximately 8″.
The Bruno Electra-Ride III Curved Rail can be installed on almost any staircase, no matter how much it curves. It can carry up to 350 pounds, and an optional wraparound “park” position is designed to save space and make it much easier to use.
The Bruno stairlift is one of the best on the market and continues to be very popular.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Stannah Stairlift
Stannah is a UK manufacturer of stairlifts now shipping to over 40 countries. In my opinion, this is the best stair lift you can buy. They recently released the Stannah 120 with the Solia and Solus models. The stair lifts were designed in collaboration with one of Europe’s leading design agencies and it shows. The Solus has a truly contemporary look, while the Solia appeals to the more traditional user. These risers not only look good, but are probably the most technically advanced on the market. They can be used on stairs with a 52 degree incline; almost everyone else in the industry can only handle 45 degrees. In addition, they have developed a unique and innovative double zipper system for the track. Not only does it look sleek, but it only protrudes 3.7″ from the baseboard, making Stannah ideal for steep or narrow stairs.
The other features that come with it can match and beat anything else on the market. For example, the Stannah chairlift can be supplied with a motorized swivel chair, great for those with severe mobility issues. No other manufacturer offers this.
The Stannah stair lift is the Rolls Royce of the industry.
Rating: I would like to give it a 5 out of 5 but nothing is perfect, so I’ll settle for 4.99 out of 5.