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Wheelchair Store: Manual Wheelchairs
SpinLife talked me through the process and sold me the right transport wheelchair for me at a great price.
Charles B.
Selecting the best manual wheelchair involves considering various factors to ensure that the wheelchair meets the your specific needs and preferences. Here are some important considerations:
1. User's Measurements: Seat Width and Depth: Measure the user's hips and thighs to determine the appropriate seat width and depth. The user should sit comfortably without feeling cramped or too loose. Seat-to-Floor Height: Measure the distance from the user's heel to the back of their knee while they are sitting. This measurement helps determine the seat-to-floor height for proper foot placement.
2. Mobility Requirements: Self-Propulsion vs. Assistance: Consider whether the user will self-propel or if they will require assistance. This affects the type of wheels and handrims needed. Wheel Size: Larger wheels provide better propulsion efficiency. Users with good upper body strength may prefer larger rear wheels for easier self-propulsion.
3. Weight Capacity: Ensure that the wheelchair can support the user's weight. It's crucial to consider both the user's body weight and any additional weight from accessories or personal items.
4. Frame Material: Wheelchair frames are commonly made of aluminum or steel. Aluminum is lighter but may be more expensive, while steel is durable but heavier.
5. Folding vs. Rigid Frame: Folding frames are easier to transport and store, but rigid frames generally provide better performance. Consider the user's lifestyle and transportation needs.
6. Adjustability: some wheelchairs offer adjustable features such as seat height, backrest angle, and footrest height. Adjustability can enhance comfort and accommodate changing needs.
7. Cushion and Back Support: Choose appropriate cushions and backrests to provide comfort and support. The right seat cushion can help prevent pressure sores. The proper back support can aid in good posture, for ideal line of visual sight.
8. Armrests and Footrests: Consider the type of armrests and footrests that are most comfortable for the user. Options include detachable or flip-back armrests and swing-away or elevated leg rests.
9. Transportation and Storage: If transportation is a concern, consider the weight and folding mechanism of the wheelchair. Ensure it fits easily into the user's vehicle.
10. Budget: Wheelchairs come in a range of prices. Consider the budget and explore options that provide the best balance of features and affordability.
SpinLife groups wheelchairs into 5 basic groups to help you narrow down which wheelchair category might be right for you.
1. Transport & Basic Wheelchairs
With four small wheels and lightweight frames, transport chairs are the perfect choice for moving someone to and from the house or around the mall. Transport wheelchairs are narrow, making them a good choice for tight hallways and narrow doorways around the house. These chairs are meant to be pushed by someone else, so the person in the wheelchair will not be able to self-propel.
Basic or standard wheelchairs have starting weights around 35 pounds, basic wheelchairs are a reasonable choice when you need a wheelchair that will be used for less than 4 hours per day and when the user needs to self-propel, but you won’t be moving the wheelchair from place to place much. Our selection ranges from the most basic models with fixed legrests and armrests to models that have elevating legrests and removable armrests. There are also models with a "hemi" height option, which allows the user to lower the set-to-floor height and remove the legrests so they can use their feet to help propel the chair. All of these chairs fold for transport and storage, but keep in mind that they can be on the heavy side, so we recommend considering a lightweight chair if you intent to take the chair with you in the car. Many people also find a cushion helpful for additional comfort.
2. Standard and Lightweight Wheelchairs
These chairs weigh between 28-34 pounds, and are a great choice when you need a chair that will be used more frequently and that is easy to move from place to place. Lightweight wheelchairs also offer more customizable options than basic wheelchairs. Custom options include adjustable angle backs, more frame and upholstery colors, pneumatic (air-filled) tires, easy to remove wheels, a wide range of seating sizes and heights, and multiple legrest and armrest choices. These are our most popular chairs, and the category we most highly recommend. Many of the chairs are offered in Quick Ship configurations and can be on their way to you the same day you order.
3. Ultralightweight Wheelchairs and Custom Built Wheelchairs
Ultralightweight chairs weigh as little as 14 pounds and are available in both rigid and folding models. An ultralightweight chair is ideal for advanced users who spend the majority of their day in their chair and users who demand superior performance. These chairs are highly customizable and made to fit you like a glove. Our Product Experts can help you to select and configure the perfect ultralightweight wheelchair to fit your lifestyle and preferences perfectly.
Heavy Duty chairs can be transport wheelchairs, basic wheelchairs, or highly configurable models. The weight capacity for a heavy duty wheelchair will range from 300 pounds to 850 pounds. Our transport models will feature removable armrests and Legrests. Standard models will typically have seat will have seat widths ranging from 18" to 24". Seat heights that can be adjusted to 19.5" or 17.5" for those who propel with their feet. Higher weight capacity models will seat width options up to 30" and will have options as varied as our most complex ultra lightweights.
5. Specialty Wheelchairs
Reclining Wheelchairs: Manual chairs with reclining backs and elevating legrests
Sport Wheelchairs: From the track to the court - wheelchairs for all sports and recreation
Shower and Toileting Chairs: Added bathroom safety with roll-in shower chairs
Beach Wheelchairs: These can handle the sand and surf
Selecting A Wheelchair
Selecting a Wheelchair
Looking for a wheelchair for quick trips to the store or to get you out on the court? You've come to the right place. SpinLife.com is the #1 provider of mobility products on the internet and has the selection and expertise to help get you the right wheelchair for your needs. There are a lot of choices out there, but our Product Experts are here to help make sure you get a wheelchair that fits your needs and your budget.
Learn more about wheelchairs at SpinLife University or the following brief descriptions to help you pick the best wheelchair for you.
Transport & Basic Wheelchairs
With four small wheels and lightweight frames, transport chairs are the perfect choice for moving someone to and from the house or around the mall. Transport wheelchairs are narrow, making them a good choice for tight hallways and narrow doorways around the house. These chairs are meant to be pushed by someone else, so the person in the wheelchair will not be able to self-propel.
With weights starting at 35 pounds, basic wheelchairs are a reasonable choice when you need a wheelchair that will be used for less than 4 hours per day and when the user needs to self-propel, but you won’t be moving the wheelchair from place to place much Our selection ranges from the most basic models with fixed legrests and armrests to models that have elevating legrests and removable armrests. There are also models with a "hemi" height option, which allows the user to lower the set-to-floor height and remove the legrests so they can use their feet to help propel the chair. All of these chairs fold for transport and storage, but keep in mind that they can be on the heavy side, so we recommend considering a lightweight chair if you intent to take the chair with you in the car. Many people also find a cushion helpful for additional comfort.
Lightweight Wheelchairs
These chairs weigh between 28-34 pounds, and are a great choice when you need a chair that will be used more frequently and that is easy to move from place to place. Lightweight wheelchairs also offer more customizable options than basic wheelchairs. Custom options include adjustable angle backs, more frame and upholstery colors, pneumatic (air-filled) tires, easy to remove wheels, a wide range of seating sizes and heights, and multiple legrest and armrest choices. These are our most popular chairs, and the category we most highly recommend. Many of the chairs are offered in Quick Ship configurations and can be on their way to you the same day you order.
Ultralightweight Wheelchairs
Ultralightweight chairs weigh as little as 14 pounds and are available in both rigid and folding models. An ultralightweight chair is ideal for advanced users who spend the majority of their day in their chair and users who demand superior performance. These chairs are highly customizable and made to fit you like a glove. Our Product Experts can help you to select and configure the perfect ultralightweight wheelchair to fit your lifestyle and preferences perfectly.
Sport Wheelchairs
Take these chairs to the court or the mountains - sport wheelchairs come in models for nearly every kind of recreational sport out there. With wheelchairs for everything from tennis and basketball to handcycles, we can get you the right equipment for whatever pastime you choose.
Recliner & Tilt Wheelchairs
A reclining wheelchair is ideal for users with limited mobility who spend the majority of their day in a wheelchair as it offers more flexibility for positioning the upper body. A tilt wheelchair offers alternative positioning and pressure relief for those who are unable to re-position themselves. Both of these options add weight to the wheelchair, so keep this in mind if easy transport is a concern.
Heavy Duty Wheelchairs
Heavy Duty chairs can be transport wheelchairs, basic wheelchairs, or highly configurable models. The weight capacity for a heavy duty wheelchair will range from 300 pounds to 850 pounds. Our transport models will feature removable armrests and Legrests. Standard models will typically have seat will have seat widths ranging from 18" to 24". Seat heights that can be adjusted to 19.5" or 17.5" for those who propel with their feet. Higher weight capacity models will seat width options up to 30" and will have options as varied as our most complex ultra lightweights.
How do I buy a manual wheelchair from Spinlife?
Once you’ve found the chair that’s right for you go to the section called “Customize and Buy”. Select any configuration choices and choose your Accessories. Then click “Add To Cart”. From there you can either proceed to checkout or add additional items to your cart. If you need help our Product Experts are here to help at 1-800-850-0335.
Will I be charged sales tax?
SpinLife is required to collect sales tax for items shipped to certain states. Please click here: Sales Tax Info to see if your state is on the list.
Is shipping free?
Yes, standard ground shipping is FREE. All orders over $50 always ship for free everyday at SpinLife.
Do you sell used wheelchairs or rent wheelchairs?
We do not sell or rent used wheelchairs for sanitary reasons. To ensure you receive the best quality chairs we only sell new wheelchairs. We do, however, have some new, open-box wheelchairs for sale. We do not offer wheelchairs for rental.
How are the wheelchairs you sell different from those I might find on other sites?
SpinLife only carries high quality wheelchairs from the best manufacturers. There are probably 250 or more basic chairs available in the US, and it would be an exhausting process for you to sort through them and pick the right one for your needs, so we do the work for you! Our merchandising team, with years of industry experience, picks the best quality, selection and value of chairs and then makes it easy to find the right chair to meet your needs. Many sites just throw everything on their website….the choice is overwhelming, confusing, and frankly ridiculous. At SpinLife, you can buy with complete confidence that if we carry it, we think it is high quality AND great value. So while you might find a cheap wheelchair at another site it may not be the best choice for your needs. If you need assistance choosing a wheelchair feel free to call our Product Experts.
Do you sell wheelchair ramps?
Yes, we offer a great variety of wheelchair ramps at varying lengths and prices. Please visit our Ramps section to see our full selection.
What happens if I need repairs or parts for my equipment?
SpinLife provides parts and service for all wheelchairs we sell, and many that we don't. We will be happy to help you with any problems that may come up after you receive your equipment. SpinLife honors all manufacturer warranties on the products we sell. Call us at 1-800-850-0335 for assistance. If the part is covered by warranty we will send it to you at no charge. If it is not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty we will give you a quote for the price of the replacement part.
What happens if I want to return my equipment?
We want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase. If your equipment arrives and it is not what you expected or needed, you can return it within 30 days as long as it is unused (tires are clean and no scratches) and in its original packaging. Unless SpinLife made an error, return freight is the customer's responsibility. The two exceptions to this are custom lightweight wheelchairs, which incur a 15% restock fee, and ultralightweight and sport wheelchairs, which are non-returnable as they are manufactured to order. For more information please see our Return Policy.
