Hippocampe wheelchair

[Riz]

Does anyone have, or heard anything about this wheelchair? It is made in France and distributed by Spokes "N Motion in the US. I am interested in it for the beach.

Thanks!

Riz

[POPO367]

I saw this wheelchair at the Expo, looked awesome and seems like it is a lot more practical than the normal bulky beach chairs. Does anyone have one of these. Pros / Cons. Thanks

[KVP612]

I tried one briefly wasn't overly impressed, then again it was briefly.
Do you plan on pushing yourself or being pushed?

If you are ever in southern NH you can rent one from Northeast Passage (A program promoting sports and physical activity out of UNH) for $15/day $55/week $90/2-weeks http://www.nepassage.org/rentals.html

[addiesue]

looks better than the beach chair I was stuck in. I would like to try one.

[POPO367]

I want to try both....saw a video on it and it looks like if the sand in packed enough you could push yourself. The sucker also floats so you ride it right into the water and just roll off, when you are ready to get back on shore you get into it and right right out. It is covered in foam so it does not get hot. Very light I think about 25 pounds. You can also add a ski to the front tire and use it in the snow. Little pricey 2500.00, but I think it is average for a beach wheelchair.

[addiesue]

Would it float away? ? Am I am idiot imagining me in the ocean and my wheelchair thing floated away?

I would like to see a pic of this from another angle. How wide are those tires?

I wish there was some way people could get togewther with equipment lkike this and share it. I can't make it to a beach often enought o justify a purchase. It's so dang expensive to have hobbies and interests in this freakin chair. Everything you want to do costs about 2 grand just to sit and do it. AHHH

[Scott Pruett]

it sure doesn't look easy to push. the majority of a user's weight will be on the rear tires, which don't look to be able to float over soft sand very well. on hardpacked sand it'd probably be fine, but then what's the advantage over using an everyday chair w/ 2" wide knobby tires and a front end light enough to lift off the ground?

[POPO367]

http://www.vipamat.fr/usa/indexusa.htm

Here's the link...

[amyk]

ive tried it out at an exhibition, but it didnt fit. they have small, medium and large, but each different width has a proportional length - so not for me. its very close to ground, but also difficult to transfer into from sitting on the floor. theres 2 versions, pool and beach. the pool one is a bit lighter and has indoor tyres, and is meant to be pushed. the beach one has bigger knobbies with a weird pushrim that is actually a continuation outwards of the tyres with a foam covered inset bit for your fingers. it has a pushing handle as well. both chairs disassemble and go into a bag for transport, and there are lots of accessories, like clothes guards, armrests, backpacks.

[Andrea J]

I recently purchased the beach version of this chair. Although it is easier to use at the beach than a regular chair, it is very hard to push by yourself in the sand. My husband had little trouble pushing me though. It also works great as a "rough terain" chair allowing us to do some hiking trips.

I have found that as it is very low to the ground, it is hard to transfer in and out of this chair. For people with higher injuries than me (t8), I think iot would be very hard to get in and out.

[DaleB]

the basketball team i play with (vb sun-wheelers) went to a surfing event (http://www.liferollson.org/site/pp.asp?c=egLLKTNJE&b=242310) last month and had the opportunity to try this and the landeeze as the methods of entrance/egress from the water.

the landeeze was suck for me - had to be pushed. it floated, tho, some liked that they could sit up and paddle themselves around with their hands (after someone took them out, of course).

Hippo worked well for me. hard to push? well...you're in sand, it's hard to WALK in sand ;). but...i could push it myself and that was all i needed.

it doesn't float, but i found this OK for getting in and out of the water. roll in, float out of the chair, swim back, settle back into the chair - all under water.

tho...it was nice to "walk" down the beach with my wife. i would have never gone the same 1/2 mile or so in my everyday chair in sand, for sure this was easier once you got out of the "powder" up near the dunes.

my bottom line? i live 2 blocks off the atlantic ocean and i'm not buying one. like scott said, if you can ride a wheelie (and sand is MUCH easier to wheelie in), an everyday chair with any 30mm+ wide tire would do the much same, except getting in and out of water, perhaps.

most folks use a 'beach' chair to get to a spot, then sit. this rig affords and little more mobility once you're there, but if you go to the beach to sit and chill out like most of us, then i'd pass on this.

gl,
dale

[MultiMacGreg]

I built a rickshaw to get across the beach to the water so I can sail my boats when the tide is out. My wife can now pull me up a steep gravel beach! I could tell you how to build one if you are interested in spending about $400 for parts.

-Greg Jacobs

[JoeyMearig]

Eagle makes a similar beach chair that costs about $1000 I think. When I was in Hawaii one of the Expedia "Local Experts" whose job is to sell tourist attraction tickets, happened to live with a para guy who owned this one and let us borrow it. What luck, huh?

Anyway this one seemed pretty easy to push, except the front wheel did not turn due to a broken handle, so I was not able to steer. The footrest is way out front (Llona is actually sitting on it in the pic). We ended up using it kind of like a rickshaw. My wife (or random strong man) would lift the front and pull. The chair fit in the back seat of our rental convertible, so that was nice.

[JoeMonte]

Hello Everyone,
Yes, I own one of these units. unfortunately, I am not happy with it at all. I was told that it would work great on the sand and beach. On a hard surface you can push it but it is hard. The seat fits your body tight. I love to fish and swim in the ocean. I have a hard time getting to the beach. They told me this would be the answer. Well, I just bought it in Oct. of 2008 and used it twice. It just doesn't work for me.

This unit is really made for children. It would be great for any parents who have kids in wheelchairs. I am not a big person. I am 5 '6" and 168 pounds. I am strong and I had a tough time pushing it. My wife would help me too. It was just to much strain on the both of us. I was sized up by their representative.
It just doesn't work well. It is hard to turn too. The problem is the cost. I paid $3,500 for this unit. I will sell it for $2,500 . What an investment. I really got taken. Well, If anyone wants to buy it. Here is a great deal. I also purchased a new travel bag for it. It has never been opened. My email is jlmonte@echoes.net.
Best Regards,
Joe Monteforte

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