2026 BUYING GUIDE
How to Choose a Power Wheelchair
Advice from our South Surrey showroom
A power wheelchair has to get through your doorways, fit in your car and last the whole day on a charge. Check those first, then the seat and the battery.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Measure your narrowest doorway, hallway and car trunk before you compare chairs.
Check whether each listed weight includes the battery.
Choose a chair that folds, folds itself, comes apart or stays at home.
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STEP 1 OF 6
Start with where you will drive
Think about where the chair will go on most days. Indoors, it needs to turn in tight rooms. On the steep streets up from the White Rock waterfront, it needs the power to climb.
For everyday outings and car trips, the Travel Buggy AEROLUX 2C is the chair our customers choose most. For uneven ground, the Robooter X40 has 10 inch front wheels and air filled rear tires. For steep hills, the CITY 2 PLUS has two 250 W motors.
YOUR CHECKLIST
List the rooms, paths and slopes you use every week.
Note any grass, gravel or broken pavement on your routes.
Tell us about the steepest hill you need to climb.
STEP 2 OF 6
Measure doorways, halls and turning room
Measure the narrowest door the chair must pass through. Compare it with the chair's overall width, not the seat width, which is always narrower. Ask us for the overall width of any chair you like.
Makers publish turning figures in different ways, so compare them with care. The Robooter E40 turns in 17.7 inches, the tightest in the Robooter range. A test drive through a space like your hallway settles it.
YOUR CHECKLIST
Measure the narrowest doorway, hallway and bathroom entry.
Measure your condo elevator and any tight corners.
Drive the chair through a space like your hallway.
STEP 3 OF 6
Decide how the chair will travel
Most folding chairs fold into one piece. The AEROLUX 2C cross-folds to 12 inches wide, so it stands in a footwell rather than lying across the trunk. The CITY 2 PLUS folds by hand and lies flat to 13 inches.
Some chairs do the folding for you. The Robooter X40 folds itself with one button, so there is no bending down. The GRAND TOURER folds down to go in the trunk of a car.
YOUR CHECKLIST
Measure your trunk opening and storage space, not just the car.
Try the fold yourself before you decide.
Check parkade ramps and building entrances on your routes.
STEP 4 OF 6
Check the weight you will lift
Weights are listed in different ways. The AEROLUX 2C weighs 36 lb ready to drive. The AirFlyer starts at 28.5 lb before the battery goes in. The Golden Cricket LT weighs 31.3 lb assembled, the lightest chair in Golden's folding range.
A battery that lifts out lightens the load. The CarbonTouch weighs 40.8 lb ready to drive and 36.4 lb with its 4.4 lb battery lifted out.
YOUR CHECKLIST
Ask for the weight with and without the battery.
Ask whether the battery lifts out.
Have the person who will lift it try it.
STEP 5 OF 6
Match the seat and support
Check the maximum user weight first. The AEROLUX 2C is rated to carry 350 lb and the CITY 2 PLUS is rated to 400 lb.
If the chair will be used all day, look at comfort. The AEROLUX 2C has a memory foam waterfall cushion, a padded backrest and extra-wide padded armrests. The CarbonTouch has a 20 inch wide seat with flip back armrests.
YOUR CHECKLIST
Compare the seat width with the person's hip width.
Check seat height against your bed and favourite chair.
Ask whether the armrests flip up for transfers.
STEP 6 OF 6
Plan the battery, range and trips
Range is how far a chair goes on one charge. The AEROLUX 2C covers 20 km and charges in 3.5 hours. The Robooter E40 covers 23 km. Range varies with rider weight, terrain and driving conditions.
If you fly, check the battery first. The AEROLUX 2C's 250 Wh battery is airline-friendly, and so is the AirFlyer battery. The CITY 2 PLUS runs two batteries, each marked at 144 watt hours, so you can travel with one. Always confirm with your airline.
YOUR CHECKLIST
Add up your longest regular outing in kilometres.
Check your airline's battery rules before you book.
Plan where the chair will charge at home.
BEFORE YOU BUY
Four common mistakes
01
Comparing weights without asking about the battery. The Jazzy Ultra Light is 33 lb bare, and 38 or 40 lb with the battery in.
02
Choosing a chair before measuring the narrowest door, hallway or elevator it has to pass through.
03
Assuming a chair that folds itself is light. The Robooter X40 weighs 92 lb without its battery.
04
Buying a light travel chair for grass and gravel. Rough ground calls for bigger wheels and air filled tires.
TEST DRIVE IN SOUTH SURREY
Compare chairs side by side
Our showroom is in South Surrey, minutes from White Rock. You can sit in different chairs, try the controls and drive them side by side. Bring your doorway and trunk measurements, and the person who will use the chair.
If getting here is hard, ask about an in-home consultation. Financing is available, and we help with insurance and funding paperwork.
Unit 930, 15057 32 Ave
Surrey, BC V4P 0A2
START WITH YOUR SITUATION
Which one is right for you?
Start with the situation closest to yours.
You will lift it into the car
Look for a light, folding frame. The AEROLUX 2C weighs 36 lb ready to drive. The AirFlyer starts at 28.5 lb before the battery goes in.
TRY FIRST
You fly or travel often
Check the battery before you book. The AEROLUX 2C has a 250 Wh airline-friendly battery. The smaller Jazzy Ultra Light battery is airline-friendly too. Always confirm with your airline.
TRY FIRST
Mostly indoors, in tight rooms
Look for a small turn and a chair built for indoors. The Robooter E40 turns in 17.7 inches and is built for getting around furniture.
TRY FIRST
Hills, grass and rougher paths
The CITY 2 PLUS has two 250 W motors for a real slope. The Robooter X40 has 10 inch front wheels and air filled rear tires, and climbs a 2.4 inch obstacle.
TRY FIRST
Comfort for long days out
The GRAND TOURER has two 250 W brushless motors, three driving modes and a USB-C charging port on the joystick. The AEROLUX 2C has a memory foam waterfall cushion.
TRY FIRST
No bending to fold it
The Robooter X40 folds itself with one button, so there is no bending down and no catches to work.
TRY FIRST
Power wheelchair questions
Which power wheelchair do your customers choose most?
The AEROLUX 2C by Travel Buggy. It is a carbon fibre folding power chair that weighs 36 lb ready to drive, cross-folds to 12 inches wide and carries 350 lb. Its 250 Wh battery is airline-friendly, but check with your airline. You can try one in our showroom beside the other chairs.
Is there a power wheelchair that folds itself?
Yes. The Robooter X40 folds itself with one button, so there is no bending down and no catches to work. It weighs 92 lb without the battery, so plan transport rather than lifting it. Other chairs, like the Robooter E40, fold by hand into one piece with no tools.
How much room does a power wheelchair need to turn?
It depends on the chair, and some need very little room. The Robooter E40 turns in 17.7 inches, and the CarbonTouch lists a turning radius of 27.6 inches. Makers publish turning figures in different ways, so the surest check is a test drive through a space like your narrowest hallway.
Can a family member drive or push the chair?
On some models, yes. The CarbonTouch switches between powered and manual mode, so an attendant can push it. On the eFOLDi Navigator, an attendant control is fitted as standard. Ask us which chairs offer this when you call or visit.
What should I look for if I sit in the chair all day?
Look for good support and padding. The AEROLUX 2C is built for all-day comfort, with a memory foam waterfall cushion, an ergonomic padded backrest and extra-wide padded armrests. The CITY 2 PLUS has a reclining backrest that goes back far enough to be a resting position. Sit in both before you decide.
Can I use a power wheelchair in the rain?
Some chairs are rated for wet weather. The Robooter X40 has an IPX4 rating, which means light rain is not a problem. Ask us about the rating of any chair you are considering before the wet winter months.
Where can I try power wheelchairs near White Rock?
At our showroom in South Surrey, Unit 930, 15057 32 Ave. You can sit in the chairs, try the controls and compare models side by side. Call 778-545-0102 before you come to check which chairs are on the floor, or ask about an in-home consultation.
Ready to compare power wheelchairs?
Try them side by side in our South Surrey showroom, or browse every chair we carry online.