2026 BUYING GUIDE
How to Choose a Manual Wheelchair
Advice from our South Surrey showroom
Start with one question: will the user wheel themselves, or will someone push? Then check the seat width, the weight you will lift, the folded size, and the arms and footrests.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Someone else pushes? The AeroFly Transport Chair weighs 17 lb with its rear wheels on.
Wheeling yourself? The AeroFly Folding Wheelchair weighs 19 lb with its rear wheels on.
Lifting it into a car? Check the weight with wheels on and the folded size.
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STEP 1 OF 6
Decide who will push the chair
A transport chair is pushed by a helper. The 12 Inch Wheel Transport Chair has attendant push handles with a united hand brake. The Steel Transport Chair is made for short trips.
A self-propelled chair has big rear wheels the user can push. The AeroFly Folding Wheelchair has quick-release rear wheels, and its dual brakes suit independent and assisted use. The Cruiser X4 is designed for active mobility.
YOUR CHECKLIST
Decide whether the user, a helper or both will push.
Check that the user can reach and turn the rear wheels.
Ask whether the helper needs brakes on the handles.
STEP 2 OF 6
Size the seat width and depth
Seat width comes in steps. The AeroFly Folding Wheelchair comes in 18 and 20 inch seats, and the Steel Transport Chair in 17 or 19 inch seats. For a larger person, the Bariatric Sentra comes in 20, 22 and 24 inch seats.
Depth matters too. The Cruiser X4 seat depth adjusts from 16 to 18 inches. On the MOVE, seat width and depth are both chosen for each chair.
YOUR CHECKLIST
Measure hips while seated, and allow for winter coats.
Check seat depth behind the knees, not just width.
Ask about an occupational therapist for complex needs.
STEP 3 OF 6
Weigh it and fold it for travel
If a helper lifts the chair into a car, the pounds add up. The AeroFly Folding Wheelchair weighs 19 lb with the rear wheels on. The 12 Inch Wheel Transport Chair weighs 26 lb, and the Cruiser X4 weighs 33.5 lb.
Folded size decides what fits in the trunk. The Steel Transport Chair folds to 9 inches wide in the 17 inch seat. The Cruiser X4 folds to 12 inches, and the AeroFly Transport Chair to 10.8 inches wide.
YOUR CHECKLIST
Have the person who lifts the chair try its weight.
Measure your trunk opening and depth before you shop.
Check which parts come off, such as wheels or cushions.
STEP 4 OF 6
Pick wheels for your usual routes
Bigger wheels ride over bumps. The 12 Inch Wheel Transport Chair has 12 inch rear wheels. They are big enough to ride over a door threshold or a curb cut. An 8 inch transport chair will not do that.
Tires matter too. The AeroFly Folding Wheelchair has flat-free treaded tires. The Medline Guardian rolls on solid tires, with 24 inch rear wheels. Think about the ground you cover most, from condo hallways and parkade ramps to the White Rock promenade.
YOUR CHECKLIST
List the curbs, ramps and thresholds on your usual routes.
Check that the wheels come off easily if you travel.
Try rolling it over a doorway threshold if you can.
STEP 5 OF 6
Look closely at arms and footrests
Arms that flip back or come off make transfers easier. The Cruiser X4's flip-back armrests detach and adjust from 10 to 14 inches high. The Medline Guardian has desk-length arms that come off.
Footrests matter for comfort and transfers. Swing-away footrests move aside so feet can reach the floor. The Steel Transport Chair has them. The Cruiser X4 offers swing-away or elevating leg rests, and the Guardian's elevating leg rests have a padded calf rest.
YOUR CHECKLIST
Check whether the arms flip back or come off.
Choose desk-length arms if the user sits at a table.
Ask about elevating leg rests if legs need raising.
STEP 6 OF 6
Consider a chair made to order
Some users need a chair built around them. The MOVE is made to order in Quebec from 6061 aluminum. Its seat-to-floor height, frame length, wheels and armrests are chosen for each chair.
The HELIO A7 is also made to order in Quebec, and the HELIO C2 is made to order in carbon fibre. All three come in standard and heavy-duty configurations. For a higher rating, the Bariatric Sentra carries 500 lb at every seat width.
YOUR CHECKLIST
List what matters most: seat, back, wheels or arms.
Ask whether standard or heavy-duty suits the user.
Check the weight rating for the exact seat width.
BEFORE YOU BUY
Four common mistakes
01
Buying a transport chair for someone who wants to wheel themselves. Transport chairs are made for a helper to push.
02
Stopping at seat width. Seat depth, arm style and footrests change comfort and transfers too.
03
Forgetting who lifts it. The AeroFly Folding Wheelchair weighs 19 lb with its rear wheels on, and the Cruiser X4 33.5 lb.
04
Skipping the weight rating. The 12 Inch Wheel Transport Chair carries 300 lb, but the Steel Transport Chair carries 250 lb.
TRY WHEELCHAIRS IN SOUTH SURREY
Sit, push and fold before you choose
Our showroom is in South Surrey, minutes from White Rock. The user can try a few chairs while the helper pushes each one across the floor. Then fold one and lift it the way you would at the car.
Bring the user's hip width and your trunk measurements. Only need a chair for a few weeks? Ask about renting one. If travel is hard, ask about a consultation at home. We also help with insurance and funding forms.
Unit 930, 15057 32 Ave
Surrey, BC V4P 0A2
MATCH THE CHAIR TO YOUR DAY
Which one is right for you?
Start with the situation closest to yours.
A helper pushes on short trips
The 12 Inch Wheel Transport Chair rides over a door threshold or a curb cut. The Steel Transport Chair folds to 9 inches wide in the 17 inch seat.
TRY FIRST
The user wheels themselves every day
The AeroFly Folding Wheelchair has quick-release rear wheels and dual brakes for independent and assisted use. The Cruiser X4 is designed for active mobility and folds to 12 inches.
TRY FIRST
Light enough to lift into the car
The AeroFly Folding Wheelchair weighs 19 lb with its rear wheels on, and the wheels come off quickly. The AeroFly Transport Chair folds to 10.8 inches wide.
TRY FIRST
Sits for long hours, needs repositioning
The Medline Guardian reclines from 90 to 180 degrees on a quick-adjust handle, and a caregiver pushes it. Its elevating leg rests swing away for transfers.
TRY FIRST
Needs a higher weight rating
The Bariatric Sentra carries 500 lb at every seat width, in 20, 22 and 24 inch seats. The MOVE comes in standard and heavy-duty configurations.
TRY FIRST
Manual wheelchair questions
Will a wheelchair fit in my car?
It depends on the folded size, so measure your trunk first. The Steel Transport Chair folds to 9 inches wide in the 17 inch seat. The Cruiser X4 folds to 12 inches. The AeroFly Folding Wheelchair weighs 19 lb with its rear wheels on, and those wheels come off quickly.
Do wheelchair tires need air?
Many of ours do not. The AeroFly Folding Wheelchair and the AeroFly Transport Chair both use flat-free treaded tires. The Medline Guardian rolls on solid tires. Ask about the tires on any chair you are comparing.
What does made to order mean for a wheelchair?
It means the chair is built for one person. On the MOVE and the Motion Composites HELIO A7, both built in Quebec, the seat size, seat-to-floor height, wheels and armrests are chosen for each chair. The carbon fibre HELIO C2 is made to order too, and all three come in standard and heavy-duty configurations.
What are desk-length arms?
Desk-length arms are shorter at the front, so the chair can roll close to a table or desk. The AeroFly Transport Chair has padded desk-length arms. The Medline Guardian's desk-length arms also come off. Measure your table height before you compare.
What does hemi height mean?
Hemi height is a lower seat that lets the user move the chair with their feet. The Lightweight Steel Wheelchair has dual axles, so the seat can drop to hemi height. The Cruiser X4 has a triple rear axle for easy seat height changes.
How is a tilt chair different from a reclining chair?
A reclining chair lowers the back, while a tilt chair tips the seat and back together. The Medline Guardian reclines from 90 to 180 degrees on a quick-adjust handle. The Kanga Adult tilts 45 degrees and still folds to 12 inches wide.
Where can I compare manual wheelchairs near White Rock?
Visit our showroom at Unit 930, 15057 32 Ave, in South Surrey. Sit in a few chairs, have your helper push you across the floor, and fold one to feel its weight. Phone 778-545-0102 ahead of time, since the chairs on the floor change.
Ready to try manual wheelchairs?
Come and sit in a few chairs in our South Surrey showroom, or look through the full range online.