After years of searching, I have found my favorite manual wheelchair and transport chair! If one of my family members needed a manual wheelchair or transport chair, I would, without question, purchase a Strongback chair.
The Strongback Wheelchairs and Transport Chairs have built in lumbar support that can be adjusted for your comfort and support. You must sit in the chairs to believe the comfort difference. So often we have customers sit in a standard wheelchair and then try the Strongback chairs and immediately decide the Strongback is the best choice for them. There is no other chair on the market as instantly comfortable as the Strongback chairs.
My second favorite feature is the slightly tilted seat. This tilt helps to align your back for proper support and prevents sliding forward and out of the seat. Combined, the lumbar and tilt promotes proper spinal alignment and reduces fatigue and discomfort from improper posture.
One of the best aspects of Strongback Wheelchairs and Transport Chairs is their diverse line. You can pick and choose which features would be best for you!
Manual Wheelchair – Strongback 24 with Attendant Brakes
The best manual wheelchair, in my opinion, is the Strongback 24 with Attendant brakes. For starters, the chair is lightweight, weighing only 27.4 lbs. Take off the wheels, footrests, and anti-tippers, and the chair only weighs 16.6 lbs. A standard manual wheelchair weighs 38 lbs., over 10 lbs. heavier than a Strongback wheelchair! The weight of a wheelchair is important both to the user and caregiver. If the wheelchair is too heavy, it can cause pain or be hard to move ambulate in the chair. Additionally, having a lightweight chair makes it easy for the user or caregiver to get it in and out of the car. The chair folds in half up the middle and the back can be folded down by trigger levers on the chair leaving the chair in a compact position for storage and transportation.
I love that this wheelchair has attendant brakes. While only necessary if someone is pushing you in the chair, the attendant brakes make it so the caregiver can brake the chair easily or squeeze the brakes to slow the chair on an incline. Attendant brakes are optional; you can purchase a wheelchair without it. However, some of our customers choose this wheelchair with attendant brakes because it can function like a transport chair, and they do not need to purchase and store two pieces of equipment. Many individuals choose manual wheelchairs even though the user does not self-ambulate in the chair because the large wheels on a wheelchair make it easier to go over rougher terrain.
Transport Chair – Strongback Excursion 12 with Attendant Brakes
A transport chair is a more lightweight option if the user of the chair cannot self-propel and requires a caregiver to always push them. Weighing at 21.9 lbs., this transport chair is packed with all the features I love about Strongback and more!
You may have picked up that I love attendant breaks. Gone are the days of bending to the floor to engage brakes or walking to the front of the chair to push down the brakes on the large wheels. Attendant brakes make it easy for the caregiver to engage and get peace of mind while moving to the front of the chair to assist someone.
This transport chair has large 12-inch wheels—the largest wheel size for transport chairs—for easy navigation on uneven surfaces. Additionally, the chair has built in foot pedals that you can step on to raise the front end of the chair up to go over thresholds or a small step. There are no anti-tippers on the transport chair since someone would always be behind the chair and the user cannot self-propel.
Budget Friendly Options
While I believe the Strongback wheelchairs are the best non-custom wheelchair, they are not in everyone’s budget. I can truthfully say, there is no product in the shop I would not use for my family, and I can always recommend a product for any budget. When it comes to budget friendly manual wheelchairs and transport chairs, I sell and love the Medline brand.
A great option for people on a budget that will easily fold for transportation and storage is the Medline Manual Wheelchair. The wheelchair weighs 38 lbs. and can accommodate standard leg rests and elevating leg rests, should someone need their leg extended in front of them. Medline manual wheelchairs and transport chairs make up most of my rental fleet, proving how durable and safe these chairs are! You can always add a seat and lumbar cushion to make the chair more comfortable.
By far my best-selling item in the store, the Medline Transport Chair is a customer and staff favorite! The chair weighs only 15 lbs. for easy transportation and storage, comes with a cup holder, and most importantly, has leg rest catchers. With leg rest catchers, you do not have to remove the leg rests from the transport chair. Instead, you swing them back to the frame where the “catchers” grab onto them to keep them from swinging. The only downside to this transport chair is that it has smaller wheels which makes it a bit difficult to navigate on uneven terrain. But, if you are on sidewalks and flat surfaces, this is a fantastic transport chair!
No matter your needs or budget, CVI Medical is guaranteed to stock a great option for you! Our retail showroom in North Dallas is open Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm, and 10am – 2pm on Saturdays. You can also shop online or give us a call at 214-363-2289 with any questions!