Power chairs, also sometimes referred to as electric wheelchairs, are designed to help those with limited mobility to get around without needing someone to push their chair. Not to be confused with mobility scooters that tend to be used to get from A to B (usually outside), these are wheelchairs that people commonly spend a lot of time in to help them get around everywhere.
Power chairs are specialist mobility aids, so it’s worth seriously considering your needs and what you’re looking for in a chair. But with so many different options available it can be hard to know where to look. To help, we’ve put together a list of some great options to get you started or you can get in touch with our wheelchair specialists for further help.
If you’re looking for a chair that you can spend most of your time in, you’ll likely want one that’s extremely comfortable. The comfort level of a power chair can often go hand-in-hand with how customisable it is.
For this, the Quickie range and Permobil range are excellent wheelchairs to look at first.
If you need a comfortable, customisable chair that can navigate the tightest of spaces, the Quickie Q300 R Power Wheelchair – Mini might be for you. Its base perfectly balances stability and size to help make sure you can get where you need to go.
There are multiple components on this chair all working together to make for a seriously comfortable seat. It has a flexible back that wraps around the contours of the spine and integrated laterals that mould to your curves, keeping your trunk aligned and stable. Not only that, but the seat position can also be moved forward or backwards without making the chair unstable.
The Permobil M5 Corpus Powerchair has six wheels each with their own agile independent suspension to help give you the smoothest and most comfortable ride through a variety of terrains. Not only that but the Corpus Seating system is designed to help improve pelvic position and lateral stability, to help keep you sitting comfortably while you’re on the go.
If you find reaching what you need to from your chair is becoming an issue, the M5 Corpus can tilt the seat forwards up to 20° and raise it. This helps to extend your functional reach, making everyday activities – and transfers – that little bit easier.
This is a power chair that’s built for exploration and keeping you comfortable in the process.
If you like to travel off the beaten track and go exploring, you’ll need a wheelchair that can keep up with you. There are a few options to consider when it comes to which wheelchair would be best for off-roading, but this particular chair is a great place to start.
As the name implies, this wheelchair has true off-road capability so you can head off the beaten track to explore to your heart’s content. It has Crossover wheels that are designed to help with the challenges of outdoor terrain – including mud. With 25 years of off-road and all-terrain wheelchair experience, you can be confident that Magic Mobility have designed a chair that won’t let you down at the first sign of a rougher surface.
This wheelchair’s off-roading capabilities aren’t at the sacrifice of comfort either. There are adjustable coiled springs that help to reduce the impact of bumps on your route and keep the chair level. The MPS seat is specifically designed to support you during your adventures and can grow from 12 to 22 inches, making it ideal for both children and adults.
The Magic 360 is also great indoors as well. It has C-Me seating technology that let you raise up your seat at the touch of a button – even when driving – so you can be eye level with those around you as needed.
There’s no getting around it: power chairs can be very expensive. But, if you’re working with a tighter budget, there are still power chairs available that can help get you where you need to go, keeping you as independent as possible.
For those with a more compact living space, the Salsa Q100 R Power Wheelchair could be just what you’re looking for. Its small turning circle and intuitive controls make getting around tighter spots much easier.
The controls sit on the right-hand side as standard and can swing away as necessary. The chair’s outstanding traction and stability combined with the SMART base technology makes it smooth and intuitive to drive. It now also comes with an optional kerb climber at no additional cost to help make it that little bit easier to get around.
It’s been crash-tested to make sure it can be used when in wheelchair accessible vehicles, too.
This nimble wheelchair will help get you from A to B through the tightest of spaces, with its small turning circle making it a great option to help you navigate your home.
Looking for something a little more comfortable? NE+ control system and Smooth Ride Suspension combine to make sure you’re sitting comfy no matter what speed you’re going. There are also several cushion options and seat sizes available to help make sure you’re properly supported.
Like the Salsa Q100 R, the Quantum Edge 3 Stretto with Contoured Seat has also been crash-tested for use in wheelchair accessible vehicles, making it a little easier to transport. The seat back can also fold and the arm rests flip up as standard (although other armrest types are available).
You can really add your personal style to this power chair too, as it comes in 17 different colour options.
If you’re prone to wanderlust and love to head off on an adventure, you need a wheelchair that can keep up with you and be travel-friendly, whether that’s being able to take it on a flight or fit it in the car.
As the name suggests, this is an extremely lightweight chair weighing in at only 14.5kg (without batteries). It’s made from carbon fibre, which helps keep the weight of the chair down without sacrificing the strength of the frame. What’s more, it folds up with ease and can even be charged while it’s folded.
The carbon fibre frame has another benefit too, it naturally flexes on uneven surfaces to help give you the smoothest ride possible.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) have approved this power chair as safe for transportation by aircraft, making it a great option if you’re a jetsetter who loves to travel abroad (it’s always worth checking your chosen airline’s rules around lithium batteries before flying).
Need further help to find the perfect power chair for your needs? Get a free home wheelchair assessment with one of our expert wheelchair specialists.
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