Finding the Best Lightweight Folding Manual Wheelchair for Travel and Daily Life

Discover the benefits of a foldable manual wheelchair, when it comes to convenience, storage and transportation, and learn how to find the perfect one for your individual needs.

Are you searching for a manual wheelchair that is both lightweight and easy to transport for both everyday life and travel?  A wheelchair is a crucial piece of medical equipment for people with limited mobility as it can greatly help improve their quality of life and give them a greater sense of freedom and independence.  Not all wheelchairs are built the same and selecting the right one for you can make a world of difference in terms of comfort. Discover the benefits of a foldable manual wheelchair, when it comes to convenience, storage and transportation, and learn how to find the perfect one for your individual needs.

The Best Manual Wheelchair Buying Guide for Lightweight Folding Chairs

For people with limited mobility who use a wheelchair for daily activities, outdoor commuting, and travel, a lightweight folding manual wheelchair may be the ideal option versus using an electric or powered wheelchair. Foldable lightweight manual wheelchairs are convenient when it comes to storage and transportation. Most of them will fit well in vehicles and on flights, making them appropriate and convenient for travel. This guide will concentrate on helping you choose the best folding manual wheelchair for your requirements.

Advantages of a Lightweight Manual Folding Wheelchair

• Portability

  A lightweight folding manual wheelchair's portability is one of its main advantages. It usually folds down into a compact size and any wheelchair accessories can usually be removed saving even more space and making it convenient for both the user and the carer.

• Ease of transport and storage

  A folding manual wheelchair is not only portable and lightweight but also simple to transport, store and carry. This is a fantastic option for travelling because it can be folded and packed into a compact space like into the trunk of a vehicle.

  It is also ideal for traveling and taking on flights as it can be safely stowed away on an aeroplane.

• Easy to use

  Compared to electric wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs are easy to use for both carer and the user. Manual wheelchairs also require less costly maintenance and spare parts.

Glide’s Lightweight Foldable Manual Wheelchairs

Here at Glide Products, our LightGlide range of wheelchairs incorporates a durable and versatile folding frame. With subtle design changes, it can accommodate active users who require a sports-style chair and those who are looking for a wheelchair designed for reliability and stability.

As a manual wheelchair user will require some upper body strength movement, using one may even help provide cardiovascular exercise and improve strength training as well. The LightGlide range also has a modular frame allowing for changes in user conditions and growth patterns.

LightGlide

The Lightglide range incorporates a durable and versatile folding frame. With subtle design changes, it can accommodate active users who require a sports-style chair and also those who are looking for a chair designed for reliability and hard work. The Lightglide range has it covered with its modular frame allowing for changes in user conditions and growth patterns.

SAFTEY – Crash tested to AS 3696:19
when fitted with Glide appropriate tie-down plates.

LightGlide Plus

LightGlide Plus manual wheelchair incorporate the proven, durable and versatile LightGlide folding frame and removable full length armrests. With minor design adjustments the LightGlide Plus can provide additional features to accommodate the more active user who require a sports style chair as well as those who are looking for a chair designed for reliability and hard work.

SAFTEY – Crash tested to AS 3696:19
when fitted with Glide appropriate tie-down plates.

Choosing a Lightweight Folding Manual Wheelchair: Important Considerations

To ensure you find the right wheelchair for you, here’s a quick guide to the following qualities when considering the purchase of a manual wheelchair:

• Weight: Taking weight into consideration is important when selecting a lightweight folding manual wheelchair. You need to choose a chair that is portable and lightweight but still strong and stable enough to offer support. Glide Product uses aluminium as it is a strong but lightweight material and therefore an excellent option.

  To further improve the weight of the lightweight wheelchair, Ultralight folding and non-folding wheelchairs are created and these are made from materials such as carbon fibre, titanium and magnesium. Despite being ultralight, these wheelchairs are durable, easier to lift and store, provide greater efficiency, and some even have a lifetime warranty on the frame.

• Foldability: This is a crucial feature to think about. Look for a wheelchair that is compact, and can be folded up and stored in tight locations, such as the overhead compartment of an aeroplane or the trunk of a car. Some wheelchairs also have removable swing-away footrests and rear wheels that are removable making them an excellent choice.

• Comfort: Comfort should also be taken into account. For increased comfort and pressure relief, look for a wheelchair with a supportive seat and backrest. Selecting the right cushions and seating options is important of course.  

• Efficiency: The lighter the wheelchair, the less energy the user needs to propel forward resulting in less fatigue. This may possibly reduce further health complications.

Recommendations

Try Prior to Buying: It's crucial to take your wheelchair for a trial before purchasing. This will allow you to familiarise yourself with all its functions and see if it is the perfect one for you.

Consult Your Healthcare Professional: Before trailing any wheelchair, it is crucial to speak with your healthcare professional. They can provide you with tailored advice depending on your unique requirements and mobility problems, and help you select the right chair. Remember to request a free trial with one of our Glide Products wheelchairs.

Your chair. Your way.

As one of Australia’s leading wheelchair manufacturers, Glide Products specialises in wheelchair accessories and spare parts. Glide offers a range of power-assisted chairs, together with power add-on kits for manual models, designed to give you an extra boost of power whenever you need it.

Explore our spare parts or contact us for more information. For more information on power add-ons, read our article or check out the full range on the Glide website here.