Customer Reviews

Carex Portable Shower Bench

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The product itself is of nice quality, however I haven't been able to use it. This bench requires a tub that has a ledge on both sides. Most newer tubs do not have that ledge against the wall, so there is nowhere for that side of the bench to rest on the tub. My recommendation is to check to make sure your tub will accomodate this type of bench before you purchase it. I know now I needed a bench with legs on it. Just something to consider.

I had my doubts about this product. I'm in my 40s, and didn't want something in my bath that would say "Grandma" to all my friends. Still, I needed something that would make showers comfortable. I looked into the teak benches, but reviews said that the joints loosened after a year or two, and replacing them that often would've been too expensive. I considered the little stools that sit on the floor of the tub - but I am a pretty big gal and didn't think they'd be comfortable - plus, they were ugly and I didn't like the idea of being so low.

When I saw the Carex Portable Shower Bench, I was skeptical - but the price was so low, I figured I'd take a chance and just use it until I found something I liked better. The bench arrived fine, but required a bit of putting together. The instructions had no words - only diagrams, and figuring out what they wanted me to do took a few minutes - but I finally made sense out of it. The knobs which adjusted the bench to fit the sides of the tub went together very easily. The rubber pads that protect the tub were a bigger challenge. There were four options for their location, depending on how the seat fit the tub. We have a clawfoot tub that's against the wall, so the fit is different on each side, and I used different settings. The rubber pads are largest in the center and fit tightly, so I had to get my husband to help get them in place - my hands weren't strong enough. Still, total time to having the bench completely assembled took less than 15 minutes.

The bench is wide, and the height is perfect. My first shower was difficult, but once I discovered that it words best to have my BACK to the showerhead, things suddenly fell into place. It is so much more comfortable than sitting directly on the tub floor, and all my shower goods can be set right next to me on the bench. No more lost scrubbies! The subtle sculpting of the seat makes it very comfortable.

I adjusted the knobs so they slide easily, but tightly, into the tub. The bench is VERY secure - there is no way it's going to slide sideways. The plastic is high quality, not dry and brittle as I'd feared. It is VERY solid. And, when my shower is over, I simply place it out of sight - since it's only about four inches thick, it doesn't require a lot of space to be hidden away.

I like this shower bench so well, in fact, that I've stopped looking for an alternative. Hard as it may be to believe, the low priced Carex is actually just perfect for me and I can't imagine anything which could improve upon it.

The bench is wide enough and long enough for one to feel that it will stay securely in place while it is being used. And it IS comfortable to sit on. And when it is not in use, it requires very little storage space. I do recommend this bench for comforts sake and because it does require so little storage space.

Although this product seemed sturdy enough, it did NOT fit my "standard" size bathtub. I called the manufacture directly and was informed that the "front" of the tube was too wide (3.5" to 4"). The bench would not adjust for this width. The advertisement did not mention this, which I think is an important measurement to mention. This is the first item I've ever had to return to Amazon.com. Which buy-the-way was very easy. I purchased a tub chair instead which worked out perfectly (also from Amazon.com).

The first version of this product lasted 14 months used almost daily and finally broke with person aboard. That was a scary experience, but this is still a very good product.

WOW!! This was an answered prayer for me. I have even traveled to relatives and taken this bench along. For my needs it has been a blessing. Stays put in place and is lite weight also. Would not recommend for heavier individuals.

This bench did not fit our tub which is 26.5 inches wide edge to edge with an opening 21.5 inches wide.

At first look, this seems to be a fantastic bath bench. It appears very sturdy and easy to use. Unfortunately, the description of the item is WAY off. It will not "fit a 19"-28" bathtub." The smallest width it would fit is 28". Had it fit, I think I would have been extremely pleased with the product. But since I was not able to use it with my 24" bathtub, I had to return the item and seek a different bath seat.

As other have said in their reviews, the quality of this item is quite good, but determining if it will actually be compatible with your tub is quite a bit more difficult that simply measuring the width of the tub opening. As other reviewers have noted, this bench requires a ledge or support point on both sides of the tub. There are rubberized stiff leg/braces that extend down into the tub, the position of these legs are adjustable (to a point) to grip against the inside of the tub, to securely "lock" the bench into place. This seems like a good design, and these supports appear quite secure and sturdy, if they will fit your tub. This may be confusing to picture with my written description, but I will try to explain my fit-problem in detail, so others can avoid ordering this and then discovering it in incompatible with your tub geometry. Although my tub is 20" wide (so should "fit" this bench), with the bench pressed up against the wall on one side and the brace legs adjusted to the minimum possible position (the legs slid all the way "out", minimizing the extent of the bench ledge that overhangs the edge of the tub) the bench is still essentially too wide for my bath configuration. The leg-support on the opposite side of the bench can not be adjusted "in" far enough to fit down into my 20" wide tub.

I have a 1.5" ledge on top of the tub, and then wall. The 1.5" would be plenty of bearing surface to support the bench, if the support legs could be adjusted to fit my geometry-situation. To use this ledge one would need to have more than 2" of clearance between the inside edge of your bathtub and an adjacent wall, or with less clearance from tub to wall, you would need to have a tub (opening) that is at least an inch wider than 20". Hope this is clear enough, and will help someone else...

I had to use this while I had a foot injury. This is a great compact seat. It takes up much less room than the ones with legs. Also, the ones with legs you need to put in the middle of the shower because of the curved sides. This one can go all the way to the back of the tub giving you more room to get in and out and room to stand if you need. Since it can go all the way to the back of the tub I ended up just leaving it in there for an occassional seat.

One annoying thing with this design, though, is that it will get in the way of the shower curtain if you have it further forward in the tub since it overlaps both sides.