Okay guys need some help here. I've been using a bear of a wheelchair for the past ten years anytime I have to go somewhere that requires a lot of walking (grocery shopping, the mall, Lowes) And while I haven't had many issues with my chair I do think I can do a bit better than the $100 hulking invicare special. Especially now that it has creaked its final spin (the seat is worn, the casters and wheels are chipped and the hand rims are veritable hand slicers)

So my DH has been looking at the ultralight weight chairs, narrowing the field to a toss up between the Quickies and the TiLites. Both offer reclining backs, elevating leg rests, pop off wheels, folding back and both are within a pound of each other as well as within $100 difference between the two. The Quickie only offers a 2" seat pad, while the TiLite offers up to a 4" cushion (but honestly, have sewing machine can easily make a cushion as thick or thin as I want) and both look compact enough to maneuver around the house if providing I remove the hand rims, and possibly take off the leg rests to get in and out of the bedroom (ranch style home with very narrow hallway 34" wide which is only 2" wider than a standard door frame)

My current wheelchair can go down the hall but there's no way to negotiate it into any of the bedrooms. The real kicker is I need to decide soon, my DH wants to take a trip to Disney in September and it takes about 6 weeks to get a customized chair. In addition to the fact that I'm currently without a chair, mine is simply dead to the point of being all but unusable excepting dire need.

Does anyone have one or the other that can give an idea about the comfort of those chairs? The ratings and reviews really don't help in figuring out which chair would be more comfortable which at this point is about the biggest difference I can imagine would arise. Otherwise if they're both comparable in comfort, I'm down to color acid green or black cherry, which still doesn't help me decide any easier since given a can of spray paint I can easily make it any color I like.

My first chair was bought as a cheaper solution to renting (never thinking I'd need beyond an 8 week casted period) this time I'm looking for all around comfort and compact.

i don't have any experience with chairs. but, why don't you try calling your local MS society. they may be able to steer you in the right direction.

Starz, be sure to try one out before you purchase one. I couldn't handle
and didn't like the Quicky or custom made chairs of that type. They're
not for everyone and very expensive.

A small lightweight scooter may be a better option?

Very true on the price, but at the same time I just can't quite set myself towards an electric mode of transport. I really want to move about as much as I can, which honestly is even an issue in the wheelchairs as I get exteremely fidgety. Nothing like having ADHD in a broken body

But I am leaning more towards the TiLite... Just looking at the pictures it looks more comfortable than the Quickie... So I guess I'm in for a long drive to go try some out. Just need to wait for my mom to get back in town so we can also take her car to see them...

It's the smallest car in the family but one I ride around in quite frequently. So i really want to be sure this time the chair will fit in the trunk without needing to fold down both of the back seats. Wheelchairs and mirages aren't exactly friendly with each other , not that my accent is much better, but at least one seat can be left up in the back.

Though honestly I'm almost...almost... Tempted to simply modify my current chair... Replace the axles, change out the wheels, maybe cut off the back and reattach it with an adjustable hinge, could do the same for the push handles... Replace the seat, add in a cushion or two and voila! Lightweight custom wheelchair for a fraction of the price (most expensive part would be the wheels I'm sure). Heck throw in a can of spray paint while I'm at it.

I used to customize my bicycles when I was a kid, we'd pick up used bike from the bike shop for $5.00 and then begin the remodeling of the bikes... Made a ten speed that I could fold up and carry on my back when I was ten... I think I could handle modifying my chair if my DH would let me use his power tools.... The bike took a little over a month to complete, with a hacksaw, hammer, screwdriver and wrench. With power tools I think it could finish it in a day

Have you tried googling "wheelchair alternatives" or something like that? I looked at different wheelchairs on Amazon and there were a lot of different styles and sizes. I haven't actively looked at any for my own personal use......yet. I hope you find what you need.

I got to thinking about what my Dad did when he needed an alternative mode of transportation but wasn't ready for a wheelchair full time.

He got a scooter that he could maneuver around his house and that he could also get in and out of easily.

I don't remember the model he had but he got it from The Scooter Store and they came out to his house to measure doorways and hall width so he could get the scooter that met all his needs. He had the same one for several years so I assume he was happy with it!

Here is a link to their website http://the-scooter-store.com/

It looks like you can rent them so at least you can test them out before you purchase. Does insurance or Medicare cover any part of the cost?

QUICKIE 2 chair & ROHO air cushion ($400 alone)

I'm numb & paralized from chest down since 1989, used nothing but above since.

They come every width & depth as do cushions, back height selectable & adjustable an inch up or down, back angle might come slightly reclined if desired but i brought the backrest pipes to muffler shop & had them bent exactly how I wanted They may also come with recline option.

I use fixed non raising footrests cause they're light & easy to throw in backseat. They come in at least 2 fixed angles.

I have tubular armrests cause they lift & swing out the way to transfer, also use them to knock stuff off high shelves in grocery store.

My chair folds by lifting up middle of seat like hospital chairs. Quick release wheels but I never take them off for car, I have large 2 door Caddy which fits it behind seat.

ALL settings are fine tune-able such as height, rear wheel fore/aft to adjust how easy it wheelies or doesn't, tilt/camber of rear wheels, lots.

Colors- more then a dozen.

MY ADVICE- go to local med supply & ask them to get a rep who gets Quickie demo chairs & try before ya buy. He'll measure & guess size/depth of seat though demo might not be exact size you'll need.

I work on cars & rebuilt engines. Quickie quality went down a bit over the years but I still use them.

Did you get one yet? I picked this up today for 20 bucks at a garage sale fo r20 bucks.

Not yet, but did decide to go with the aero x by TiLite, my mom and I drove to one of their 'dealerships' and I liked them fairly well. Of course anything is an improvemtent over my current beasty. But it should fit in the back of her car when I get mine. Still working through all the different options and resulting cost differences.....

So the costs of the chair swings widely from a little over a grand to upwards of almost 3 grand and everything in between. DH, God love him but ins't helping, just replies back with, "whatever you want...whatever will make you more comfortable... So what if it costs 2 grand to install XM radio, if that's what you want...." Grrrrrr... *grumble* Grrrr Grrrr. Gotta love he's willing to take out a second mortgage if it will make "me" comfortable, but he could help more if he'd help pick out what things are 'really' nice for the price and what things are the equivalent of cup holder on a lawn mower.q

What will your insurance cover. I don't think I have read any mention of insurance. Or is that something they no longer cover. Oh Lordy, I hope it's not going that way. I don't need one yet but when I do I want assistance!!! Way back in the day, 1999, when I was needing a wheel chair for my daughter's college tours and orientation, I was getting one through my insurance about every 2 months. So they just paid for it! I still use it and so has my sister, Mom, SIL and i'm sure other people. It's just a manual.