If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

This Amazon Find Became a Travel Essential When I Was Experiencing Mobility Issues — and It's $20

It's compact and portable, perfect for any destination.

By

Published on October 15, 2024 07:00AM EDT

Portable Stool — Photo:
Travel + Leisure / Tyler Roeland

I adore exploring the world and discovering all I can about new places and cultures. As a travel writer, I am grateful for each new adventure I get to have. However, when I experienced some temporary mobility issues, I was afraid that they would stop me in my tracks. I worried about how I would get around on a couple of active trips I had planned.

What a relief it was to discover the Giraffe Creation folding stool. I ordered it with great anticipation, and it exceeded my expectations. It empowered me to walk with confidence, knowing that I would be able to stop and rest a moment no matter where I was on my travels. As I carried it through the streets of New York City in December, I could savor window shopping without worrying about looking for the nearest bench.

Giraffe Creation Upgraded Folding Stool

$20 at Amazon

What I like most about the stool is its simplicity. When I urgently needed to rest a bit, I didn’t want to spend a lot of time trying to assemble a stool. I was worried it might be complicated and time-consuming to use, but I was pleasantly surprised at how easily it opened. It expanded and locked into place within a minute. Navigating the cobblestone streets of Rome, I felt comfortable pushing myself further because I knew I had a plan to stop for relief if I needed it. Walking through a European museum without any benches wasn’t a problem because I knew I could take a break without a big fuss.

This stool has an adjustable height, from 2.5 to 17.7 inches, and when I found the right size, I just gave the stool a small twist and it locked securely in place. Then, when I was done, I twisted it in the opposite direction to quickly collapse it.

Giraffe Creation Upgraded Folding Stool

$20 at Amazon

When the stool is collapsed, it’s easily portable with the attached handle and will even fit in large backpacks (which is where I usually would carry mine). It only weighs two pounds, so it won’t feel heavy, and it also has an adjustable strap so you can throw the strap over your shoulder and carry it like a purse.

A fun side effect of carrying the stool was that it was a conversation starter, causing people to approach me with curiosity and interest in getting a similar stool for themselves. I am naturally an introvert but love meeting new people, so it was a fun way of breaking the ice with strangers anywhere I went. More than one fellow traveler swore they were getting this stool for themselves.

I am not the only person whose travel plans were saved by this stool. Many travelers praise how lightweight and versatile it is, while one Amazon reviewer marveled at how it was “so convenient and portable.” They explained, “You can take it everywhere. Great for parades, concerts, festivals, or any place without a seat.”

Another reviewer used it for other activities like sitting in long convention lines and watching fireworks displays. They observed that it was “easy to set up and collapse” and praised the “handy strap” for slinging over their shoulder.

One other shopper appreciated how it was “very easy to open and close” and that the stool can be used as a mini table when camping for greater versatility. “This can be placed on the side to hold your dinner plate or something,” they said, ultimately calling it a “great buy.”

Whether you are worried about walking long distances or dealing with mobility issues like I was, this handy Giraffe Creation stool can help you live your best life and continue to enjoy your travels to the fullest. It offers a sense of freedom and comfort so you can put your best foot forward. Since it provides the peace of mind of knowing you can rest whenever and wherever you need to do so, you can dare to take on longer walks and adventures.