Do you or a loved one need an extra wide heavy duty wheelchair? Unfortunately, ordinary wheelchairs don’t work well for larger people. They either don’t have a high enough weight capacity or are too narrow to be comfortable. There are so many choices, though - how can you find the right one? After all, wheelchairs aren’t exactly cheap.
Here are our picks for the best heavy duty wheelchairs with extra wide seats that are available today. We hope one of them will be perfect for your needs.
What Makes a Good Heavy Duty Wheelchair?
How can you narrow down your options to find the right heavy duty wheelchair? Here are some things you should consider when looking at wheelchairs.
Maneuverability
Wheelchairs don’t just need to move forward and backward - they need to be able to get around objects and make tight turns. Be sure to check out the maneuverability of any chair you look at.
What is the turning radius? Is it tight enough to get around any tight corners in your home or other locations you may need the chair?
Reinforcement
Heavy duty wheelchairs need more reinforcement than other wheelchairs since they’re carrying more weight. Does the chair you’re looking at have single or double cross-bars for support? What other features does the chair have to help support a person’s weight? What materials are the chair and seat made out of?
Adjustability
People come in different sizes and with different abilities and medical conditions, so adjustability is crucial when selecting a chair. Look at things like the seat width, seat to floor height, and either foldability or a way to disassemble it for transportation.
Comfort
People who need heavy duty wheelchairs often spend many hours a day in them, so they need to be comfortable. Things that can impact the comfort level of a chair include the back height, wheelchair cushions, seat type, and upholstery fabric.
Self Propelled Heavy Duty Wheelchairs
1. Karman Healthcare Extra Wide Heavy Duty Bariatric Wheelchair
For a highly customizable manual heavy duty wheelchair, check out the Karman Healthcare Extra Wide Heavy Duty Bariatric Wheelchair. It comes in 5 different seat width sizes and includes options like seat cushions, back cushions, carry pouches, and seat belts.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
We couldn’t find any user reviews for this product.
Our Take
Without any user reviews, it’s hard to know what flaws this wheelchair may have. However, we love that it comes in 5 different seat width sizes and is highly customizable, with optional accessories like seat cushions and carry pouches.
2. Everest & Jennings Traveler HD Wheelchair
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly heavy duty wheelchair, look at the Everest & Jennings Traveler HD Wheelchair. It comes in 3 different seat widths ranging from 20” to 24” and has a 500-pound weight capacity and up to 2” of seat height adjustment.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
Users had mostly good things to say about this wheelchair. Some users reported parts wearing out quicker than others, but most people said this is a high-quality, affordable, and comfortable chair.
Our Take
If you need a budget-friendly wheelchair without a lot of bells and whistles, this one is an excellent option.
3. Invacare Tracer IV Heavy Duty Manual Wheelchair
Are you looking for a highly customizable wheelchair with color options beyond just black or dark blue? You may be interested in the Invacare Tracer IV Heavy Duty Manual Wheelchair. There are 8 seat width sizes and 7 seat colors to choose from as well as a 350-pound or 450-pound weight capacity.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
Most of the reviews are positive, with people saying it’s sturdy, comfortable, and lighter than similar models. Some people had problems with parts wearing out.
Our Take
All in all, this is one of the best lightweight heavy duty wheelchairs available. This highly customizable heavy duty wheelchair should work well for most users.
Electric Powered Heavy Duty Wheelchairs
1. Drive Trident HD Heavy-Duty Power Chair
The Drive Trident HD Heavy-Duty Power Chair is a solid choice with a 450-pound weight capacity and a 22” or 24” captain seat. The armrests are adjustable, padded, and removable, and you can buy an optional swing-away controller arm or elevating leg rests.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
Overall, customers are pleased with this chair. The front-wheel-drive can cause fishtailing, and the rear casters may damage walls and baseboards. Most people say this chair is sturdy and comfortable.
Our Take
This is a good option for a motorized heavy duty wheelchair. It’s comfortable, sturdy, and won’t mark up floors.
2. Pride Jazzy 614 HD Power Chair
For a highly customizable motorized wheelchair, check out the Pride Jazzy 614 HD Power Chair. Many parts of this chair are customizable, from the type and size of the chair to the color to the joystick mount to the size of the lap belt. It also contains optional features like a flag holder, saddlebag, rear basket, and a cane or crutch holder.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
Customers are overwhelmingly thrilled with this motorized heavy duty wheelchair. They say it’s comfortable, durable (one user reported that theirs had lasted 10 years so far), and easy to maneuver on multiple types of terrain.
Our Take
With its many customizable features and overwhelmingly positive reviews, this may be one of the best electric heavy duty wheelchairs on the market.
3. PaceSaver Scout Boss 675 Bariatric Wheelchair
Do you need a motorized wheelchair with a higher-than-average weight capacity? The PaceSaver Scout Boss 675 Bariatric Wheelchair has a 675-pound weight capacity. It also features a range up to 18 miles and many optional accessories, including an oxygen tank holder, adjustable headrest, a cane holder, and a safety flag.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
We could only find one review. The customer said the chair was comfortable, looked classy, and was of great quality.
Our Take
With only one customer review, it’s difficult to know what flaws this chair may have. However, it looks excellent on paper, with many customization options and optional accessories, along with a high weight capacity.
4. Merits Health P183 Travel Ease Folding Electric Wheelchair
If you want a motorized heavy duty wheelchair that’s also foldable for portability, the Merits Health P183 Travel Ease Folding Electric Wheelchair may be what you’re looking for. It has an impressive 700-pound weight capacity, yet it’s lighter than many other motorized chairs, coming in at only 190 pounds.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
We could only find a couple of reviews. Both customers were happy with their purchase, saying the chair was comfortable, light, and easily foldable.
Our Take
As long as you don’t need or want a lot of customization, this is a great choice for a motorized heavy duty chair.
5. Golden Tech Compass HD Power Chair
For a mid-range heavy duty motorized wheelchair, check out the Golden Tech Compass HD Power Chair. It has a 450 pounds weight capacity, a center-wheel-drive platform, and padded flip-up armrests.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Customer Reviews
We could only find one user review. The person was happy with their purchase of this heavy duty chair.
Our Take
As long as the 450-pound weight capacity is sufficient and you don’t need a lot of customization, this is a solid mid-range heavy duty chair.
Also known as bariatric wheelchairs, heavy duty wheelchairs are designed for people who are heavier than average. They have a higher weight capacity and larger seat depth and width than traditional wheelchairs. Heavy duty wheelchairs can be manual or electric, and weight capacities vary from 350 to 700 pounds.
Anybody who needs a wheelchair for quality of life in their daily living but weighs more than 250 pounds may need a heavy duty chair. Regular wheelchairs aren’t built to accommodate larger people, and bariatric wheelchairs are designed differently to work better for those who are heavier than average.
Transferring people to and from a wheelchair can be dangerous, difficult, and stressful. A sit to stand lift will help make the transfer process safer and easier for people who are able to bear some, but not all, of their own weight.
Wrapping Up
We know that finding a good heavy duty wheelchair can be stressful. With manual and electric options along with any number of seat sizes and other customizations, how can you select the best one? Hopefully, one of the options we’ve talked about here will be perfect for your needs, and we’ve saved you some time on your search for the best heavy duty wheelchair.
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