Best Shower Transfer Benches – Reviews & Analysis
Finding the best shower transfer bench can be a difficult task if you don’t have too much time on your hands. After a careful examination of what the market has to offer, we have concluded that the product that has garnered the best reviews of shower transfer benches is the Platinum Health Carousel. The professional-grade sliding transfer bench will allow for effortless sliding and pivoting, especially when combined with a quality non-slip bathtub mat. The seat, back, and armrests are padded with a soft and warm material similar to what you would find in a premium bath seat for elderly citizens. For increased comfort, the padded armrests are adjustable and can be lowered, raised, or locked into place to meet the needs of all seniors. If you find that our first choice is not available for sale, but you are determined to get the best transfer bench shower chair, we recommend you consider the Platinum Health Gateway.
Comparison table
1st Choice
The professional grade sliding transfer bench is used in thousands of hospitals and nursing homes, a testament to its quality and reliability. The robust, pivoting armrests are fully-adjustable to meet the requirements of as many persons as possible. The unit is also extremely easy to clean and disinfect.
Customers have complained that the seat is too small, which makes the unit uncomfortable to use by persons that are more corpulent.
As the name of this model gives it away, if you want to get a premium purchase, the Platinum Health Carousel will satisfy your need for a high-quality, comfortable, and reliable shower transfer bench.
2nd Best
This model is designed by front-line healthcare workers which helps explain the numerous positive customer reviews. It offers a full 360 degrees swiveling and locking seat for maximum comfort and safety. The water-shedding soft padding will prevent skin tears and it feels warmer to the skin than hard plastic.
Most buyers had only good things to report, with only a few having the misfortune of getting a defective unit that did not swivel to the full 360 degrees.
The Platinum Health Gateway is a reliable purchase that will make sliding and pivoting in an out of the tub an easy and pleasant experience. Assembly is straightforward and should not take more than 5 minutes.
Also To Consider
This transfer bench comes standard with a removable safety belt to keep you protected while sliding, a safety net to catch dropped personal items, and a removable soap dish to keep your cleaning products close. The unit folds flat for easy transport and storage and comes with a maximum weight capacity of 300 pounds.
A few buyers have reported that the bench is too big and it won’t fit in smaller bathrooms. Keep this in mind if you want to get a more compact unit.
If affordability is on your mind and you want to make a smart purchase that won’t cost you a fortune, the Drive Medical Folding Universal manages to offer quality and reliability for a small price.
7 Best Shower Transfer Benches (Reviews) in 2024
If you’re looking for a sturdy and comfortable bench to help you effortlessly take a shower whenever you need, then you’re in luck. We’ve created a list with the top-rated products available online so you can choose a bench that’s been tested and appreciated by countless buyers.
1. Carousel Sliding Transfer Bench with Swivel Seat
This professional-grade sliding transfer bench for shower and bathtub allows effortless sliding and pivoting for a safe and easy transfer in and out of the tub. The fact that the Platinum Health products are used in thousands of nursing homes and hospitals is a true testament to the quality and reliability that its options offer.
For increased comfort, the seat, back, and armrests are padded so that you no longer have to complain about cold, hard, and slippery plastic parts. The closed-cell molded polyurethane padding will not absorb water and is very easy to clean and disinfect. As a plus, assembling this model should not take more than 5 minutes.
To make this unit even more comfortable, unlike the standard shower seat which has no armrest, this unit features padded armrests that can be raised and lowered until you get the right height for your body type. This way, elders of all ages and sizes will get to enjoy the versatility of this model.
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2. Gateway Premium Sliding Bath Transfer Bench with Swivel
The swivel design of this seat makes it easier to use and more comfortable than a standard fixed seat. As a plus, the design will ensure that the chair will not protrude into the room more than a traditional transfer bench. This way, you will be able to save a lot of space in your bathroom, making this option ideal for smaller rooms.
The padded assist handle will aid users to glide smoothly in and out of the tub or shower. For the best performance and safety, you might also pair this option with a quality non-slip bath mat for the elderly. The unique HI-VIEW BLUE color will help seniors that are vision impaired as well as dementia-afflicted users.
While other options on the market may try their best to blend in with the background, the blue contrast color of this option will help users to distinguish the chair from its surroundings and thus reduce chances of slips, trips, and falls considerably.
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3. Drive Medical Folding Universal Sliding Transfer Bench
The key advantage of this option is undoubtedly its low price point, but that does not mean that when purchasing this model you will trade affordability for lack of features or quality. The unit works wonderfully, and it can be folded flat for transport or storage so that it won’t take unnecessary space in your bathroom when not in use.
The seat height adjusts in ½” increments so that you can find the ideal size to help you reach your handheld shower head for the elderly. The transfer bench comes with a safety belt to help you slide left and right along the frame safely, a safety net that will catch dropped items such as a bath sponge, and a removable soap dish to store your bathroom products.
The two legs that attach to the bathtub feature two sizeable non-slip suction cups so that you can rest assured by knowing that the bench will never fail you.
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4. Carex Tub Transfer Bench – Shower Chair Transfer Bench
If you want to purchase cheap shower transfer benches, you are going to like what the Carex alternative has to offer. This model is the most affordable option on our list, and it is available for a low price point without sacrificing too much when it comes to reliability.
The seat height can be adjusted to make it easy to level the bath bench to your preferred height, and it will not require any special tools or hassle to make adjustments. The seat can also be disassembled quickly for easy storage and travel, allowing you to take the unit with you wherever you go.
The product is also quite strong thanks to the use of high-quality and durable materials that can hold persons up to 300 pounds. The legs of the chair feature oversized slip-resistant tips, and to increase your safety, you can consider combining it with a pair of non slip slippers for elderly citizens.
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5. EagleHealth Tub-Mount Swivel Sliding Bench 77762
The innovative and convenient design of this model will ensure that the entry side of the bench can clamp to most tub walls to help with space savings in smaller bathrooms. You can easily glide and swivel into the bathtub or shower without having to scoot across the seat as is the case with traditional transfer benches.
The swivel seat can turn to 360 degrees and locks every 90 degrees. The comfortable molded plastic seat and back feature a textured finish that is exceptionally comfortable and non-slip, meaning that you won’t have to fear that you will slide off of it. The frame of the unit is built from rust-proof and lightweight aluminum.
The Eagle Health Supplies Tub-Mount provides comfort, safety, independence and dignity to adults and elders that suffer from reduced mobility. The reliability and quality of this option make it a good choice for you if you are looking for great gifts for grandparents.
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6. Drive Medical Heavy Duty Bariatric Plastic Seat Transfer Bench
The Drive Medical tub shower transfer bench is built from heavy-duty plastic while the legs and frame see the use of a very durable metal. This model is the perfect choice for the more corpulent elders that require the highest-quality construction. The unit can withstand a total weight of 500 pounds.
Despite the heavy-duty construction of this model, the bench remains quite compact, and it can easily accommodate any bathroom because of the extension legs with extra-large suction cups that can lock into place to provide increased safety and versatility. The height of the legs can also be adjusted in 1/2” increments thanks to the unique “Dual Column” technology.
Buyers were very happy with the assembly process that won’t have you scratching your head. The assembly process does not require any tools, and it is straightforward to understand, especially once you have read the clear instructions.
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7. HydroGlyde Premium Heavy Duty Sliding Bathtub Bench
This alternative comes with a cut-out seat which allows proper access to all of your body parts for easy and effective cleaning. The easy-to-use insert can be popped into place quickly to give your back more support while showering or you can remove it entirely, depending on your needs and preferences.
It is also possible to adjust the height of the legs without having to use complicated tools. What’s more, the HydroGlyde model is constructed from sturdy and rustproof aluminum that is guaranteed to offer many years of reliable use. Since the product is 100% reversible, it works great with both right side and left side access tubs and showers.
The padded assist handle eliminates the dangers of old style bath benches that posed a severe danger of tearing your skin, hurting your knee, and straining your hip joint. It will also give you increased support so that you never risk falling off your new transfer bench.
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Our Yearly Guide
Finding a good shower transfer bench can be a strenuous task, especially if you lack the time to do some proper research. There are many models on the market, and they all seem to offer reasonably similar features, and that can make it even more challenging to sift through the options and pick the ones that offer the best value.
Below you will find a short buyer’s guide that will go through some of the key features a quality shower transfer bench should possess. Take a quick look below if you have the time.
Adjustability and sturdiness
The primary purpose of a transfer bench is to help you get in and out of the shower safely, since the bathroom is statistically the room in which most accidents happen, especially for elders or people that have a disability. In order to get the best experience from your purchase, you need to get a unit that is adjustable.
A chair that offers several height adjustments is a must-have since every person has a different height that they find most comfortable, depending on their body type. Similarly, we recommend options that come with a reversible backrest that can fit in almost any shower or bathtub.
A quality purchase should also be able to stand the test of time and not pose a safety risk as the years go by. For this reason, we advise that you look for transfer benches made from durable plastic and a rust-resistant frame. Most frames are made from aluminum since this metal offers excellent durability without rendering the product too heavy.
Weight capacity
Checking the product description to make sure that the chair can support your weight is another critical step that you should never forget to do. If you weigh more than 250 pounds, for example, you shouldn’t get a chair that has a maximum weight capacity of say 200 pounds.
Even if the unit might hold you for the moment, the chances of it breaking down and injuring you down the line are very high, and you shouldn’t gamble with your health. The good thing is that you won’t have to worry that finding the right model for your needs will be hard since certain models nowadays can handle a maximum weight capacity of 500 pounds and more.
Size and security
Another factor that you should consider is the size of the model, for a couple of reasons. First, you need to make sure that the overall size of the product will not be too large for your bathroom. If you are not yet sure about which size you should get, you can measure your bathtub and check the dimensions of the transfer bench to ensure that it will fit right in.
If you happen to have a tiny bathroom, you should be glad to learn that most units are foldable, meaning that once you are done using them, they won’t take too much space. The second important aspect to consider is the size of the bench. It should be large enough to allow you to sit on it comfortably.
Security is another crucial factor, which is why we recommend getting an option that features non-slip suction feet or suction cups to ensure that the feet that touch your bathtub won’t slip. What’s more, some transfer benches can come with a seatbelt for added security, a feature that you might want to consider.
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Bibliography:
1) Showering with a transfer bench
2) Sliding or Rolling Transfer Benches
3) How many people risk falls inside their bathroom?
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