Transport chair or self-propelled wheelchair: who pushes, and how far

Manual wheelchairs fall into two broad families, and the easiest way to tell them apart is to look at the rear wheels. A self-propelled wheelchair has large rear wheels the rider can reach and push. A transport chair has small wheels all around and is designed to be pushed by someone else. Which one you need comes down to two questions: who will be doing the pushing, and how far.

Transport chairs: made to be pushed

Vive puts it plainly in describing its Transport Wheelchair: a transport chair is pushed by someone else, and this one is not for self-propelling. A caregiver steers with handles 40 inches high and locks the loop hand brakes when the rider gets in or out. It has 12-inch rear wheels and 8-inch front wheels, a 19-inch-wide seat and a 300-pound capacity (Vive Health).

Because the wheels are small, transport chairs are often lighter and more compact than self-propelled chairs. The Feather 18 in Transport Wheelchair weighs 13 pounds without footrests, has 6-inch front and 8.5-inch rear wheels, folds to 15 inches wide and carries up to 300 pounds; Feather offers it with or without caregiver hand brakes (Feather Mobility). For larger riders, Vive's Bariatric Transport Wheelchair is rated at 450 pounds with a 22-inch-wide seat, and weighs 48 pounds (Vive Health).

A transport chair may suit you if the rider will always have a companion to push, if the chair is mainly for appointments, outings and travel, and if lifting it into a car matters.

Self-propelled wheelchairs: the rider can push

A self-propelled wheelchair has large rear wheels with hand rims, so the rider can move without help. Most can also be pushed by a companion using the handles at the back.

• The Feather Chair 18 in has 22-inch rear wheels on quick-release axles and 6-inch front wheels, weighs 19 pounds with wheels, and has bicycle-style locking brakes at the push handles for a caregiver (Feather Mobility).
• Vive's Core Wheelchair rolls on 24-inch rear and 8-inch front wheels and weighs 39 pounds; Vive's page shows an 18-inch-wide seat (Vive Health), and we list it in 16, 18 and 20-inch widths.
• The ComfyGO X-1 SE weighs 32.5 pounds, has quick-detach wheels, and has both side brakes the rider can use and hand brakes for a caregiver (ComfyGO).

A self-propelled chair may suit you if the rider has the arm and shoulder strength to push for the distances they want to cover, or wants the option to move on their own around the house even if someone pushes outdoors.

Weight: the same family, two designs

Comparing chairs from the same maker shows what the smaller wheels save. Vive's Core Transport Wheelchair weighs 29.5 pounds (Vive Health), while its self-propelled Core Wheelchair weighs 39 pounds (Vive Health). Feather's 18-inch transport chair is 13 pounds without footrests, while its 18-inch self-propelled Feather Chair is 19 pounds with wheels (Feather Mobility: Transport, Feather Mobility: Feather Chair). A few pounds may not sound like much, but it adds up when you lift a chair in and out of a car several times a day.

Who pushes?

Be realistic about the household. If the rider will push themselves, a self-propelled chair is the only choice. If a companion will always push, a transport chair is lighter and easier to fold. If it will be a mix, a self-propelled chair with caregiver brakes, like the Feather Chair or ComfyGO X-1 SE, covers both.

Think about the person pushing, too. Pushing a loaded chair up a ramp or across a parking lot is real work. Caregiver hand brakes help on slopes; Feather says the bicycle-style handbrakes on its Feather Chair 20 give a caregiver control on slopes (Feather Mobility).

How far?

Distance changes the answer. Inside the home, short trips are manageable for most riders and helpers. A day at a fair, a zoo or a large church campus is a different matter. If the rider tires quickly from pushing, or the helper does, consider whether a power chair would serve better for longer outings. Our power wheelchairs include lightweight folding models for travel. For pushed outings, plan routes with smooth paths and places to stop and rest, for the rider and the helper alike.

Getting in and out

Transfers are easier when footrests and armrests move out of the way. Vive's Transport Wheelchair has footrests that adjust and come off without tools (Vive Health). The Feather Chair's footrests swing away (Feather Mobility), and the ComfyGO X-1 SE's armrests raise for an easier transfer (ComfyGO). Always lock the brakes before any transfer.

Lifting it into the car

Compare the chair's weight with what the person loading it can lift comfortably. Quick-release rear wheels help: the Feather Chair 18 in frame weighs 13.5 pounds with its wheels off (Feather Mobility). Check the folded size against your trunk.

Questions to settle first

1. Will the rider push themselves, be pushed, or both?
2. How far are the typical trips, indoors and out?
3. Who will lift the chair into the car, and how much can they lift?
4. What seat width and weight capacity does the rider need?
5. Does the chair fit through your narrowest doorway?

See all our wheelchairs and transport chairs, or email info@faithmobility.com for help choosing.

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Sources

• Vive Health: Transport Wheelchair
• Feather Mobility: Feather Transport Chair
• Vive Health: Bariatric Transport Wheelchair
• Feather Mobility: Feather Chair
• Vive Health: Core Transport Wheelchair
• Vive Health: Core Wheelchair
• ComfyGO: X-1 Manual Lightweight Wheelchair