Manual wheelchairs

With the largest selection of wheelchairs in Canada, 1800wheelchair.ca is able to bring you a complete shopping experience - from comfort of your home. As an authorized dealer of all the major manufacturers, such as Drive, Medline & Pride, you can be assured that we stock the right product to fill your mobility needs.

Choosing the right wheelchair
Shopping for a wheelchair can be overwhelming; there are many options and features available. We suggest you take the following questions into consideration:

• What type of environment will you be using your wheelchair?
• How often will you be using the wheelchair?
• What's your height and weight?

Different environments
Consider where you'll likely be using your wheelchair

• Home and indoors - take note of interior and exterior doorways and sharp corners.
• Stairs - if you or an attendant will be carrying a wheelchair up or down stairs, consider the overall chair weight - perhaps consider a lightweight wheelchairs
• Car or van - Transport your wheelchair in car - perhaps to and from the mall or doctor's office - consider the size of your vehicles storage area and the size of your wheelchair. You may also require a wheelchair ramp to easily meanuever the wheelchair into a back or side door.

How long will you need the aid of a wheelchair?
Are you a short term user or long term user?

• Short term (One to eight weeks) - Dealing with a temporary injury? If so, investing in a high end wheelchair may not make sense. High end wheelchairs are usually heavier, so we suggest standard weight manual wheelchair in these cases.
• Medium term (Two to six months) - For more severe injuries that may take several months to heal, we suggest you look at both standard wheelchairs, as above, but also customized rigid framed wheelchairs. While it is a heavier chair, we suggest a standard weight manual wheelchair in these cases.
• Long term (Six month and beyond): Spinal cord injuries or birth defects may necessitate a patient to use a wheelchair for an extended period of time - perhaps the rest of their life. In this case, we recommend investing in a high-end customized rigid frame wheelchair. Lighter weight, more tailored seating and size options, and greater maneuverability will come in handy for the long term user.

What's your height and weight?
Incorrect fit can lead to discomfort and, if left unattended in the long term, further injury.

• Height - Taller users need a longer seat to floor height - adjustable or hemi height wheelchairs offer this flexibility.
• Weight - Patients who weight more 250lbs or have large waist will need a wider wheelchair.

What kind of wheelchairs do you offer?
Now that you've considered where, how long and who will use the wheelchair, it's time to choose the type of wheelchair.

There are two classes of manual wheelchairs:

• Standard wheelchairs - this is generally what one normally thinks of as wheelchair - large wheels in the back, smaller wheels or casters up front.
• Transport wheelchairs - here you'll find smaller wheels in the front and back. Lightweight and compact, this type requires a companion to push the patient - ideal for short trips.

These are the more basic wheelchair types that cover most standard mobility challenges. There are however several other types of wheelchairs designed for more specific needs.

• Pediatric wheelchairs: visit our kids store for a complete selection of pediatric mobility, Transportation safety, Adaptive strollers, Walkers, Seating & Positioning and Pediatric standers.
• Reclining back: This feature allows you to recline to a sleeping position. Visit our reclining back store.
• Sport wheelchairs: For more active users, we have a complete selection of sport wheelchairs, handcycles & all terrain wheelchairs that can be used on the courts, track or beach.

Looking for more comfort and mobility, check out our selection of wheelchair cushions and backs, wheelchair accessories and mobility scooters.

Always consult your doctor or physical therapist before purchasing any medical device.