Folding wheelchair suggestions for para

[Keepin' On]

Any paras out there have words of wisdom on chairs that are

1. light
2. can fold
3. are cheaper than something in the TiLite category, and
4. MAYBE don't look too institutional?

I know that is a tall order, but I want to do some traveling.
What about something like the Karman ultralight compact wheelchair (which does look institutional but otherwise seems OK on paper)? Can you suggest any other manual chairs?

Thanks.

BACKGROUND: L1 burst fracture but most functions returned to above L4. Walk with 2 canes. Need chair for distances & waiting in line. Lifting restriction of 25 pounds or so.

[DaleB]

Unfortunately it seems in the wheelchair arena you have Cheap, Pretty, and Functional of which you only get to pick 2. If it's cheap and functional it ain't pretty. If it's pretty and cheap it's not functional. And if it's both pretty and functional it ain't cheap!, etc, etc. Good luck. Quickie GTX should be one of your contenders, IMO. Of course, there are always the outliers e.g. Flight's Air folder which is highly functional, and neither pretty or particularly cheap. Give it a good look, too.

[Keepin' On]

Thanks. Your analysis is probably spot on. I appreciate the "leads" on the chairs.

[SCI_OTR]

How about the new Quickie2 Lite with an 80 degree fixed front frame...

[Keepin' On]

Nice pics. I'll have to add that one to my short list as well. Thanks.

[GroovyWheeler]

I have the Quickie 2 (2000 model) and I have to say it's a great wheelchair. It's held up well in the nine years I've had it with no parts breaking at all on it. Some parts on it (the armrests, footrests, the front caster wheels, and push handles) have been swapped on it to make it more manageable for someone to push me, and for me to push myself around the house when I need to.

It's been considered "one of the best manual wheelchairs out there on the market" because of the fact that it's so lightweight.

Samantha

[totoL1]

Originally Posted by Keepin' On

Any paras out there have words of wisdom on chairs that are

1. light
2. can fold
3. are cheaper than something in the TiLite category, and
4. MAYBE don't look too institutional?

I know that is a tall order, but I want to do some traveling.
What about something like the Karman ultralight compact wheelchair (which does look institutional but otherwise seems OK on paper)? Can you suggest any other manual chairs?

Thanks.

BACKGROUND: L1 burst fracture but most functions returned to above L4. Walk with 2 canes. Need chair for distances & waiting in line. Lifting restriction of 25 pounds or so.

What about the Quickie GTX?
-it`s light.
-it`s fold.
-it`s sheaper than Tilites.
-looks like a rigid.

You can see it in this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWOo-5pYBiA

[CapnGimp]

I use a Colours Spazz G. It is all of the things you ask.
oodles of pics of mine in my thread about it here.
http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showthr...ighlight=spazz

I have 6in casters and 25x1.75 tires on it now for the last year or so. I still say it is light as Ti and half th price. Very adjustable also.

[Adrian]

I have not used one of these but it is an interesting take on the folding chair. It aims at the convenience of a folding chiar whilst trying to retain the qualities of a rigid chair:


http://www.davincimobility.co.uk/ind...eelchair_range

[Keepin' On]

Thanks to all the respondents. It is useful to hear from actual users, plus some new ideas, like the DaVinci chair.