Top 12 gear and gifts for people with Parkinson's and other similar conditions

My Dearest Friend,

I was diagnosed with Parkinson's about six years ago. As the years have gone by and my symptoms have worsened, I've identified 12 items that I view as "Parkinson's Gear Essentials."

These items are not specific to people with Parkinson's or other similar conditions, are readily available, and are easy to give as gifts (depending on your budget). I hope you find this list helpful and share it with others to whom it might provide benefit!

The links below are not affiliate links and I do not earn anything from the purchase. This post is for information purposes only and shouldn’t be seen as health advice – consult your qualified medical professional regarding your particular needs.

Parkinson's Gear Essentials

At a glance, here is what you will see below.

1. Darn good socks
2. Good quality, supportive sneakers
3. A digital tablet with good voice control and other accessibility features
4. Smart home devices, ideally ones that are Amazon Alexa-compatible
5. A comfortable and attractive lap desk
6. A wireless charging pad for your smart phone
7. A huge library of free audio books
8. Lots of light, loose clothing layers
9. A good cane and/or trekking poles
10. Portable pillows: an inflatable pillow and a neck pillow
11. A percussion massage gun
12. An excellent travel mug

Be sure to read the Bonus Tips throughout!

1: Darn good socks

Not just good socks, but darn good socks that add extra cushion while still having a snug fit. I swear by Darn Tough Vermont "Full Cushion" socks, which I wrote about in another post specifically about socks. If you prefer, these can also be purchased on Amazon. My feet often hurt, and these help a lot. Because of their material and construction, these socks also help my feet to stay dry and help with temperature regulation.

Bonus tip: Some days it is difficult to pull up socks, particularly if they are close-fitting. My solution is to apply body lotion to my feet before putting on my socks! This makes it easier for me to smoothly pull them up.

2: Good quality, supportive sneakers

After trying a number of options for sneakers that provide a good blend of cushioning, stability, breathability, etc. I have found the most helpful and reliable to be Brooks sneakers, particularly the Ghost series. I've also tried a number of different options from Nike, New Balance, HOKA, Merrell, Sketchers, and more – there are some good options among them, but to me Brooks are the best. And guess who else loves Brooks? My podiatrist, physical therapist, and neurologist.

If Brooks are out of your price range, consider waiting until the current model year is discounted to make way for the new model.

Bonus tip #1: Generally, the best place to buy Brooks (and most other shoes) is through Zappos.com because of their available selection of sizes and styles, as well as their generous shipping and return policies.

Bonus tip #2: If you have difficulty tying shoelaces and don't want to go to Velcro sneakers, consider elastic shoe laces such as these from Caterpy RUN on Amazon.

3: A digital tablet with good voice control and other accessibility features

I prefer the Apple iPad to the other options available, for two reasons. First, it has comparable good voice controls that let you navigate many tasks (browsing the web, email, messaging, etc.) using your voice only, and has very good voice-to-text recognition. Second, over the years I have found it far easier to teach my older family members and friends to use the iOS (Apple) interface than any Android OS (Google) interface.

Bonus tip: You should consider an adjustable floor stand for your digital tablet – this makes going hands-free much easier. After trying a few, I prefer this floor stand available on Amazon, which is good for sitting, reclining, and lying down. The company recommends adding some weight to the base for "heavier tablets," and I would say that is a must. I just used a couple of ankle weights.

4: Smart home devices, ideally ones that are Amazon Alexa-compatible

If you buy the right devices and configure them properly, the voice-activated features can lead to significant quality of life improvements. When I say, "Alexa, good night" to my Echo Dot smart speaker, the bedroom lights turn off (using Kasa Smart bulbs), the noise maker turns on (connected to an Amazon Basics Smart Plug), and the LEVOIT smart humidifier turns on.

Bonus tip: Consider getting a smart thermostat with remote sensors that allow you to optimize temperature for certain rooms and/or certain types of day. I use the Honeywell Home T9 Wifi Smart Thermostat, which works better with my needs than Alexa-compatible options.

5: A comfortable and attractive lap desk

Fatigue and muscle issues typically prevent me from sitting or standing at a desk – I am much better off in a reclined position with full support behind my back, shoulders, and neck. Having a good lap desk helps me to be functional – at least for short periods of time – when I need to write or use a laptop. This helps me get things done while resting in such a reclined/supported position.

For functionality and looks, I prefer this LAPGEAR option on Amazon. The rail at the bottom helps keep my work material from sliding towards me when my legs are elevated, and slot can hold a pen and pencil.

6: A wireless charging pad for your smart phone

If hand tremors make it difficult to plug in your smart phone for charging, and your phone is compatible, you might consider a Qi-certified device like this that allows you to just set down your phone on a wireless charging pad. That's the upside. The only real downside is that charging pads aren't as fast as a wired charger – even the more recent Qi2-certified charging pads.

7: A huge library of free audio books

When I have down time, I typically am too tired or hurting to hold a book or even look in the same direction for a long period of time – I need to be lying down or reclined, with my arms at rest, so my muscles can relax. This challenge qualifies me for BARD Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) membership that provides access to a huge library of free audio books via a physical cassette player, computer, or smart phone.

Bonus tip: It is relatively easy to enroll for the program, but it will be a smoother process if you first get a document containing evidence of your diagnosed condition or disability from your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider. This will be required as part of the process.

8: Lots of light, loose clothing layers

With Parkinson's, I have a lot more temperature sensitivity and more difficulty regulating my body temperature. Cold in particular sets off my tremors and causes my muscles to stiffen. Heat makes me sleepy.

The solution is to wear a lot of light layers and then add or shed layers as the situation demands throughout the day. I used to do this when hiking and camping, so I was able to apply that knowledge forward.

If you want to browse high-quality outdoor performance attire designed for comfort and temperature control, you might consider looking at REI. But you can also get what you need on Amazon or your preferred retailer.

Bonus tip: Consider experimenting with some layering options you might not have previously considered, such as running tights under a pair of shorts, or a long-sleeve base layer under a t-shirt. Get creative!

9: A good cane and/or trekking poles

To help me be more mobile when I am tired, hurting, dizzy, or off-balance, I use a good cane or trekking poles.

Canes: After trying a couple of cane options, I settled on a wooden one with a curved, shepherd's crook style handle. The reason I think the "crook" style is the best is primarily because it is easiest to get out of the way when you are standing and need two hands – you can just hang it over your arm. Wrist straps on other styles of canes just cause the cane to dangle uncontrollably and bonk into my knees. Multi-footed canes that stand on their own don't make me feel more stable and often get in the way of myself and other people.

Sadly, the particular crook cane I have is no longer for sale – but there are plenty of other examples to choose from, including this one.

Bonus tip: If you use a cane, make sure to use it properly – which my neurologist says most people with Parkinson's don't do. You might be better off with a walker. Consult your medical professional!

Trekking poles. I use a set of foldable (not telescoping) carbon Black Diamond Hiking Poles, but those are a legacy from my hiking days and aren't suitable for anything except trail surfaces. If you prefer trekking poles suitable for all surfaces, you can try something like these Cascade Mountain Tech Trekking Poles – which will also give you the opportunity to try out different pole tips for different surfaces and conditions.

Bonus tip: If you want to use your trekking poles on multiple surfaces in the same walk – be sure you don't use hard, small tips. These might be good on the dirt, grass, or pea gravel, but will "leave you" when you get to hard surfaces (like pavement, where the poles will skitter) or surfaces with a lot of cracks (like boardwalks or decking, where the tip may get stuck). I learned both of these lessons the hard way!

10: Portable pillows: an inflatable pillow and a neck pillow

I've derived a huge benefit from having a good inflatable pillow to help me rest when away from home (and don't have a bed or couch available). I recommend one that is comfortable, durable, packs up very small, and has a good valve that prevents air from retreating when blowing it up. Mine is the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow. This one goes everywhere with me.

More recently, after years of trying to find a truly comfortable neck pillow for airplane and car rides, I purchased the Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow, which is the first one I've found that is really comfortable. I use this for long car rides, on the plane, and when I need to sit upright for a long time (like in a doctor's waiting room).

11: A percussion massage gun

To help sooth my aches and pains – and particularly to help calm my legs at bedtime – I have a percussion massage gun that has an adjustable arm and comes with several different massage heads to meet different muscle needs. It is the RENPHO R4, recommended by my physical therapist, and has been an indispensable part of my daily life – it goes with me on every trip.

When I have boarded airplanes with this massage gun it has been treated as a medical device and not counted against my carry-on allotment (your experience may differ) but please be aware that you may need to clear it in advance, since it does have a lithium ion battery.

12: An excellent travel mug

I try to stay well-hydrated and have to take medicine at least every four hours, so I need a water container to bring with me in the car. I also need a cup that won't spill if I knock it off my nightstand in the middle of the night. (I have done this more often than I care to admit.)

Water bottles are great, but taking the top on and off constantly can be tricky. I found the solution when I was gifted a YETI Rambler 20 oz. Tumbler travel cup with a Magslider lid. It comes in a lot of colors and all the parts are dishwasher safe.

Bonus tip: For a few bucks extra, the Yeti cups can be customized with text or a graphic/logo. I have bought several for other people as gifts, and they have been well-received.

I hope this information is helpful to you or a loved one!

Wishing you good health and much love,

John S.