Wheelchairs come in two basic forms and the difference is easy to see once you know what you are looking at: the size of the rear wheels.
Self-propelled
Large rear wheels with hand rims around them, so the person sitting in the chair can push themselves along.
Good: independence. You can move around without waiting for someone. Larger wheels also roll over bumps and rough ground far better, and the chair can still be pushed by someone else whenever you want.
Less good: wider and heavier, so more awkward in narrow doorways and in a car boot. And it requires the arm strength, grip and shoulder movement to propel yourself — which is a bigger ask than people expect, especially on a slope or a carpet.
Transit
Small wheels all round, no hand rims. Someone else pushes.
Good: lighter, narrower and more compact. Easier to fold, lift into a car and manoeuvre through a busy shop. Usually cheaper. Brakes are on the handles for the person pushing.
Less good: no independence at all — you cannot move without help. Small wheels also give a harsher ride and catch on kerbs, thresholds and rough ground much more readily.
The honest question
Will the person in the chair push themselves, ever?
If yes, even occasionally, choose self-propelled. The ability to move a few feet without asking anyone matters more than the specification sheet suggests.
If the chair is genuinely only for outings where someone else is always pushing — hospital visits, days out, the shops with family — a transit chair is lighter, easier and cheaper, and there is no point paying for wheels nobody will use.
A point people miss
Self-propelling on a carpet, up any kind of slope, or for any real distance is much harder work than it looks. Someone who can wheel themselves confidently across a smooth hospital corridor may find their own hallway a struggle.
If independence is the goal but arm strength is limited, it is worth looking at a powerchair instead. A joystick asks almost nothing of you.
Getting the fit right
More important than the type:
- Seat width — measure across the hips sitting down and allow roughly an inch either side. Too narrow is uncomfortable; too wide loses support and makes self-propelling harder
- Seat depth — back supported, a couple of fingers' gap behind the knee
- Weight capacity — check it, particularly on lightweight aluminium frames
- Chair weight — if it goes in a car, somebody lifts it every time
- Doorway width at home. Self-propelled chairs are wider than people plan for
Other things worth checking
- Removable footrests and armrests make transfers much easier
- Attendant brakes on the push handles are essential on hills
- Solid or pneumatic tyres — the same trade-off as scooters: puncture-proof versus comfortable
- Cushion. If the chair is used for hours, a proper pressure-relieving cushion matters more than almost anything else on this list
Not sure?
Ring free on 0800 593 0400. Tell us who will be pushing, where it will be used and what car it travels in.