Which wheelchair, and who's pushing it?
Decide who moves the chair before you look at anything else. If you'll push yourself, you need a self propelled chair with big rear wheels and hand rims. If someone else will always push, a transit chair is lighter, narrower and cheaper.
Seat width, weight limit and how it folds all come second. The chairs are above, and this page is how to choose between them.
Self propelled or transit
A self propelled chair has 22 or 24 inch rear wheels. You grip the rims and push. The Aspire Assist 3 ($699) and the Max Mobility SP1 ($898.95) are the plain versions. The Aspire Evoke 2 ($1,199) is the adjustable one for someone in the chair most of the day.
A transit chair has small rear wheels and no rims. A carer pushes it and works the brakes. The Triton Transit ($449), the Max Mobility LA1 ($623.95) and the Aspire Transit 3 ($649) are the ones to compare.
Be straight about who'll push. A self propelled chair for someone who can't drive it is extra wheel for the carer to lift. The Aspire Vida ($799 self propelled, $829 attendant) and the Vida MG ($1,299) come both ways, so you only decide the wheels.
If pushing is getting hard on hills, the Pride Power Assist ($1,299) bolts a motor to most manual chairs. It's the module only, and not every chair takes it. Past that point, look at electric wheelchairs.
Measuring for the seat
Seat width is the number most people get wrong. Sit on a hard chair, measure across the widest part of the hips, then add about 25mm. Too wide and you lean to one side all day. Too narrow and the hips rub the armrests.
Seat depth runs from the backrest to the front edge. Sit right back and you want two fingers between that edge and the back of the knees. Most chairs here are 400 to 430mm deep. The Evoke 2 and the Breezy Basix ($949.95) adjust, which matters for someone tall or short.
Overall width is a different number. A 450mm seat on a self propelled chair is 670 to 690mm across the wheels. Measure the bathroom door before ordering.
Weight limit is the safe working load, the user plus whatever's carried. Chair weight is what you lift into the boot.
| Chair | Type | Seat width | Max user | Chair weight | Price |
| Triton Transit | Transit | 450mm | 125kg | 11.1kg | $449 |
| Aspire Transit 3 | Transit | 400, 450, 500mm | 140kg | 16.4kg | $649 |
| Aspire Vida | Either | 400, 450, 500mm | 135kg | 9.7kg attendant, 11.5kg self propelled | $799 |
| Aspire Assist 3 | Self propelled | 400, 450, 500mm | 140kg | 17.5kg | $699 |
| Max Mobility SP1 | Self propelled | Not published | 125kg | 16kg | $898.95 |
| Breezy Basix | Self propelled | 380 to 520mm | 125kg | 15.6kg gross | $949.95 |
| Max Mobility HD1 | Self propelled | Not published, 740mm overall | 250kg | 28kg packed | $1,073.95 |
| Aspire Evoke 2 | Self propelled | 350 to 500mm | 150kg | 14.8kg | $1,199 |
| Aspire Vida MG | Either | 450mm | 113kg | 9.5kg attendant, 11.5kg self propelled | $1,299 |
| Aspire Evoke 2 HD | Self propelled | 570 or 610mm | 190kg | 16kg | $1,499 |
| Breezy Relax | Tilt in space, either | 460 or 510mm | 140kg | 22kg | $4,699.95 |
| Invacare Action 3NG | Lever drive | 410, 460, 500mm | 125kg | 18kg | $6,499.95 |
The Triton steel chair ($399), Aspire Lite ($499, 9.5kg, 120kg) and Max Mobility LA1 ($623.95, 11.5kg, 125kg) are here too. The Triton's weight limit isn't published, so ask us first.
Lifting it into the car
A chair that goes in and out of a boot most days should weigh under 12kg. The Vida MG attendant chair is 9.5kg and the Aspire Socialite ($1,199) is 8.9kg. The steel Assist 3 is 17.5kg, which is fine if it lives in the house.
Every chair here folds side to side. Quick release rear wheels take most of the bulk off a self propelled chair. If you drive a small hatchback, measure the boot opening first. The Socialite self propelled folds to 650 by 380 by 740mm.
Heavy duty, children and tilt
The Max Mobility HD1 ($1,073.95) takes 250kg on a steel frame and is 740mm wide. The Evoke 2 HD ($1,499) takes 190kg in a 570 or 610mm seat at 16kg. The Assist 3 Deluxe Vinyl ($749) goes to 610mm and 180kg with a wipe-clean seat.
Children and small adults get their own chairs. The Max Mobility PA1 and PA2 ($1,123.95) run 22 inch wheels. The Evoke 2 Junior ($1,399) has a 300mm seat and the depth adjusts from 300 to 450mm as the child grows.
Tilt in space is for someone who can't shift their own weight in the seat. The whole seat tips back, so pressure moves off the sit bones without the hips sliding forward. The Breezy Relax ($4,699.95 self propelled, $4,999.95 transit) tilts to 20 degrees and reclines to 40. It's 22kg, so it isn't a car chair.
The Invacare Action 3NG ($6,499.95) is a lever drive chair. One hand works a lever to push, pull back and brake, which suits a stroke or a weak shoulder. Tell us which hand.
The cushion is separate
None of these chairs comes with a pressure care cushion, and sling nylon is fine for an hour at the shops. For longer, budget for one from our cushions range. Our NDIS pressure care cushion guide explains which one. Lap belts and the other add-ons are in wheelchair accessories.
Transfers, kerbs and brakes
Brakes on before every transfer, both sides. Swing the footrests away so nothing catches a foot, then bring the chair as close as it goes. Most chairs here have removable armrests, so a side transfer onto a bed is a slide.
If you're pushing, take kerbs and ramps backwards, rear wheels first. Anti tippers stop the chair going over on a slope. The Vida, Socialite, Breezy Basix and Max Mobility chairs have them. Our ramps sort out the step at the front door.
NDIS and manual wheelchairs
Most chairs on this page are under $1,500, so they're low cost assistive technology. NDIS participants buy them from the core budget without a quote or OT report, as long as the chair relates to the plan. The Breezy Relax and the Action 3NG are over $1,500, so the NDIA wants a written OT report that names the chair and its cost. The bands are on the NDIA's assistive technology page.
We're NDIS registered (4050144759) and quote the same day the OT report arrives. Plan and agency managed participants are invoiced direct, self managed pay and claim. The steps match our NDIS mobility scooter guide.
Common questions
Self propelled or transit for someone who still walks a bit?
If they can push 50 metres on flat ground, self propelled keeps that going. If the shoulders won't manage it, transit and a carer. We won't pretend there's a rule for the in-between. Call before you drive out and we'll tell you what's set up to try.
Which chairs are crash tested?
The Evoke 2, Evoke 2 HD and Evoke 2 Junior are tested to AS/NZ 3616.196, and the Breezy Basix is crash test certified. That matters if someone travels seated in the chair in a taxi or van.
Which cushion goes with it?
Measure the cushion to the seat, not the other way round. A 450mm seat takes a 450mm cushion. Our Jay Basic vs Jay 2 guide explains when a basic foam cushion is enough and when skin needs more.
Why are there commodes in here?
The two Aspire 440mm commodes ($699) are for the shower and toilet, not the street. The full range is in mobile shower commodes.
Can I return it if the width is wrong?
Yes, within 14 days. Our refund policy has the conditions.
Measure the hips, the narrowest doorway and the boot, then call Nadim on 1300 216 888 with the three numbers. If the $449 Triton Transit is the right chair, that's what we'll tell you.
