Travel Chair

The problems I had with NHS chair and the chair I swapped it for with vouchers was they didnt fold small. Even with wheels off and frame folded in half you still had awkward length to lift and it took both me and helper (i had one at time) to lift it into their boot and they had to keep folding back seats down.

At the time I could just about balance holding on with one hand onto side of car whilst helping to lift chair in with other.

When my brother announced he was getting married and the reception was in North Yorkshire our major problem was getting me there cos of distance from church to wedding many people were car sharing and fitting 4-5 people in a car, impossible with my old chair considering it took up half the back seat on its own if the boot wasn't big enough.

I remembered seeing a Quickie Revolution when I was looking at chairs with NHS for my vouchers, however they would not allow me to put vouchers towards that chair as they said it was for more experienced users, they were recommending I had one with arm rests to support back and anti tips. I chose removeable arm rests though and they came off as soon as I got it home!

The Quickie Revolution had a special folding mechanism so that the front part folds under the seat and the back folds down, when I was researching online I also came across the Da Vinci chair that did the same. So contacted both to find out prices. The nearest quickie dealer to me never replied to email whereas Da Vinci were quick to reply and arrange a visit to my home.

Da Vinci Leggara Super Compatta folded down

Da Vinci also offered a bigger range of materials and frame finishes and as it was for a special occasion I decided to go the whole hog and have one with black suede upholstery, polished chrome finish with matching polished chrome Tri-star wheels. (as I was forever getting fingers caught in spokes when trying to release wheels on other chair). They even made me matching frame protectors in black suede (standard is like a black plastic tubing to protect leg frames as you fold it down)

Everyone thought my chair was really cool and looked smart with my suit!

You can get one also with standard nylon seating and regular spoked wheels and it costs around £1,800 mark which was around same price as the Quickie Revolution which only offered standard upholstery and frame colours (at the time of ordering).

It is much easier to get chair into a boot now, I leave the Da Vinci chair folded in Hall cupboard to give me more space (as i also got a scooter parked in hall for dog walking!) and I use my old chair for just around the house as that doesn't fold up as small anyway.

When I have to go anywhere in car then, family or friend driving me just reverses their car under my car porch to front door and lift Da Vinci chair straight out of cupboard into car boot, once I'm in car they just put my old chair back in house. We do same on return which makes the process alot quicker and easier and it means their back seats are free for our shopping or extra passengers!

I also add Nu Drive levers (bought seperately) if going to flat shopping centre where I know I can propel myself around easily, my friend can then walk alongside so I can see her signing and communication is not cut off with her behind me (as we are both deaf). If only going out for meal or something or going to be sat all time I don't bother putting them on as whoever is taking me can push me into the place and I often have to remove the levers again anyway to be able to get legs under tables.

Side View showing Nu Drive Levers fitted to chair

The Nu Drive levers allows you to use your upper arm strength to steer and control your chair as well as for propelling. The difference is if you have difficulties with finger dexterity that you don't need to feed the rims of chair through fingers for braking if you have difficulties with gripping/releasing quickly. The levers have chunky handles which are easy to grip and you just pull them both in towards yourself to brake.

Overall it is an excellent solution as a travel chair if you need one to fit in a smaller hatchback or saloon car boot. Although not cheap I feel it has been worth it and hopefully will last me many years as a 'travel chair' as I still use my old chair around the house and use electric ones around my village to be able to go out without assistance daily (for dog walking/local shops).