I read all the bad reviews and did some modifications before I brought it on a 3 week trip to Hong Kong.
1) People complain about losing the bolts that held the removable front wheels: I replaced them with clevis pins (M6x30mm) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ARAEFPI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and secure it with hairpin clips. The pins stayed in place and can be easily removed to take the wheels off.
2) As others have suggested, I bought long velcro straps and placed them on the handlebar. It's used it to stop the retracted chair from opening accidentally when you take it out of the trunk or jetbridge. The velcro is also a good way to hold shopping bags. (see 2nd pic, I used velcro to hold the bags. If you want a quality suit in Hong Kong, Jim's is highly recommended)
3) Some complained that the foam on the handle is cheap and goes flat after few uses. I replaced it with pipe insulation. Very comfy.
4) I applied Loctite to all the nuts and bolts. Although the bolts seems to have Loctite applied from the factory. I reapplied it with Loctite just to be sure.
I took the modified chair on a 3 week trip to Hong Kong. It held up well. Very light, easy to fold and put away even on a crowded subway train (Pic 1). It went over uneven streets of Hong Kong and cobblestoned sidewalks of Macau without any issues.
Be very careful when going over streetcar tracks. The chair is light and the front wheel bear quite a bit of weight so if it hits a gap on a train track or raised sidewalk, you have the potential of ejecting your passenger. Always remember to transfer a bit of the weight to the rear wheels when going over uneven surfaces.
Excellent chair, well worth the money.
Every bus driver's eyes lit up when my mom climbed on the bus herself and I collapsed the chair and carried it on. Our full sized wheelchair folded up more compact than a lot of the baby strollers at Disney! This chair alliowed my mom to enjoy our trip to Disney! We could just fold it up like a stroller to get on busses and rides. And she didn't have to walk miles and miles in the park, stopping at every bench to rest. This is a GREAT portable chair!!! So easy to assemble, just pop the two wheels on and go. To fold it up remember to first 1) put the arms up and 2) put the footrest down/open position. Usually we folded the footrest up for my mom to get out of chair but then I would try to close the chair and it wouldn't fold all the way shut and I realized it's because I had to put the footrest back down in the open position again before folding. We only saw one other Drive wheelchair in the park but lots of people noticed ours and were asking about it. I guarantee when we go back to Disney we will see these chairs everywhere! :) MAKE SURE YOU BUY A SEAT CUSHION!! We got this amazing one...Office Chair Seat Cushion for Sciatica Relief (2-in-1 Bundle) by Liliyo, Coccyx and... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012YONL3M/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_x_rsHdybE8S65WB
I RARELY leave reviews, but just bought my second of these chairs. First one is still fine, great shape, but I use it frequently and only purchased this second one so in case it's discontinued I'll always have a backup. The chair is very lightweight, and thin enough to go through narrow places, both home and out & about. Folds up easily and quickly; we often take it to go to stores, the library, etc. I walk very minimally but don't like to always use those large, clunky chairs. I'm a fairly light woman - likely not so useful for a large man. And of course since this is not self-propelled or electric, one must have an other to accompany/push it. But for the correct user and uses (as described above),I can't imagine anything better and would be sadly limited without it -- hence my second/current purchase. Final notes: all components (tires, frame and fabric/seat) have held up in fine shape. I've never found anything similar anywhere. In my opinion the cost I paid here is WELL worth the investment..
I have tried all types and manufacturers of transport chairs and wheel chairs for my elderly mother. This is by far the absolute best one I have ever come across. It is extremely well made. Although its very light, it is not the least bit rickety. It is solid and locks in tight, yet it folds down to an extremely small profile and fits very easily in the trunk of a car. Probably my favorite point among all of the favorables surrounding this chair is that it is unbelievably light and very easy to maneuver. Its aircraft aluminum with welded joints. It has held up very well having taken its share of punishment in everyday use and it has not yet shown any noticeable wear. The fabric is very strong. My only suggestion to the manufacturer would be that it would be nice if the folding arms were a bit longer. But, nevertheless that is a minor point and just a personal preference of mine. I would like to mention that I am writing this review on December 13, 2017. However, I purchased the chair from Amazon on January 23, 2014 - just a shade under 4 years ago. I happened to be reviewing some old Amazon orders and came across this one. I never thought to write a review, but I thought after 4 years of experience with this chair, some potential buyers might be interested in my experience. All I can say to any prospective buyer is that this chair is probably a little more pricey than what you normally find - but you get what you pay for, and this chair is worth every penny I invested in it. You will not be disappointed. Its a well thought out, quality item.
Have only used the chair 4 times for my wife who has Alzheimer's and has difficulty walking, but loves to sightsee. So far, I am quite pleased. Some reviewer said it was like a lawn chair on wheels....I disagree. It is much stronger and durable than I anticipated and quite easy to maneuver. I'm over 70 and I do find it a bit heavy to simply carry around. The bag is a tight fit unless the front wheels are removed, so we've not used it yet. I simply keep the chair in the car and when we want to stop and walk, it pops open easily. I'm very pleased with the product, as is my wife who initially stated that she would not ride around in a wheel chair. This doesn't even look like one and is quite comfortable. Now when we get in the car to go somewhere she's asks "did you bring my chair?" It also eliminates the need to continually look for a bench to sit down when we go for a walk. We are pleased.
UPDATE: It is several weeks later and we are still pleased with the chair, HOWEVER, have had several bolts come loose and fall out without our knowing. That is frustrating as they are specific to the chair and require contacting the company for replacements (which they provided). Just a pain to get out tools to repair a product that is only weeks old.
Feature Product
- Wheelchairs & Accessories
- Transport Chair Super-Light Folding with Carry Bag
- Made in: United States
Description
This Super Light Folding Transport Chair with Carry Bag by Drive Medical has a lightweight, silver aluminum frame and maintenance free composite wheels with rear wheel locks. Weighing only 19 pounds, this transport chair is one of the lightest in the market. It folds like a conventional folding chair and comes with a carry bag for easy storage and transportation. Comes standard with padded flip back arms, composite, maintenance free wheels that provide a smooth ride over most surfaces, fold down footrests and rear wheel locks ensuring a convenient, comfortable and safe transport chair.
Just got it and she’s loving it. Wasn’t sure when I purchased it if the foot and arm rests folded away, but happy to say they do and the width of it is great, perfectly fits between doorways. After reading most of the bad reviews I’ve checked the bolts and all seem good, but will most likely pick up some loctite. I’ll probably also pick up some grip tape for the foot rest cause it is a bit smooth. Other than that and the price as I will say it was a bit more than I expected, it cost more than her actual wheel chair, but for getting from bed to bathroom, her wheelchair was far to big and as I said, the arm rests fold up so transitions are easy. Overall happy with this device. (4 stars, cause it’s only the first day)
P.S. tested some water on it and it beaded, so for the most part seems waterproof. If there are any accidents while sitting in, it will probably soak in, but can’t be sure unless that happens?
Note: Just to be clear, nobody has offered me anything in exchange for this review.
July 24, 2012 - initial impressions:
This chair is awesome for compactness and weight compared to the regular 45lb wheelchair. I've only wheeled it around the yard so far but upon unboxing I removed the velcro seatbelt and reduced the tension to apply the brakes (it took alot of force to put them on out of the box).
I'm contemplating removing one of the brakes too to save even more weight but we'll see. The chair is sturdy and I can add a small cushion if needed. My purpose for this chair is just as an energy saver so that the majority of the walking can be skipped and energy saved for the important things like shopping and such.
The chair folds up a bit bigger than a patio lounge chair would, pretty compact!
It will be used on a big trip later this summer and I'll update this review after that. So far after unboxing and pushing around the yard and house, 5 stars!!
Oct/2015 UPDATE: Over 2 years use and a few big overseas trips. Tip #1: keep a bicycle allen key set with you as the allen head bolts come loose. I'm diligent on checking them but I still ended up losing one of the spacers on the foot rest. I could still use it though afterwards. I've learned to do a "pre-trip inspection" of all the bolts! Tip #2: add your own cushion, your butt will thank you. Tip #3: add a velcro strap to strap the foot rest to the handle when storing it for awhile (taxi, plane...) that way there's no way for it to come open as some handlers don't know where to grab it and it may swing open on them.
Con: I wish there were vertical handles to push with rather than the horizontal bar, I looked all over and the closest I could find were mountain bike bar ends but I couldn't find any with small enough a diameter. Vertical push bars would make it way more comfortable for the pusher!
All that said, this thing is SOLID - San Fran, Boston, London, China....it handled it all (check the bolts though!!). People (seniors) ask me about it frequently. The planes like it because it folds up so well.. It handles cobblestones great - with a good cushion. Easy to do the one foot lift over bigger bumps....
UPDATE: August 2016 - well be careful over grass!! I had my first passenger ejection with this in 4 years. Front wheel hit a hidden small hole and it tipped forwards and the person fell out - albeit slowly - but nonetheless still a bit of a scene. When others have used it, they have had mini-ejections where the rider just stood up as it tipped. I'm usually super aware of the ground and any upcoming lips/bumps... but this hidden hole in the grass escaped my vision. I have lost one bolt on the support arm but no biggie to replace. Maybe I'll get some loctite. People always ask about it when we're out in a public area still. Great lightweight chair.
**UPDATE July 2017** - many bolts are loosening and 2 were lost with their spacer/washers. I had to get the spacer/washer made from roll stock UHMW and nuts were locktite'd on. A good chair but watch for missing nuts/bolts!
i love the chair i bought 2 - one for a friend --- my husband had a severe stroke at a young age-- and while he can walk it does fatigue him to go a great distance.. this thing is light !! and folds ( for lack of a better word) like a stroller i can steere him one handed through a busy airport and pull luggage with my other hand.. and then fold up the cair with one hand ( i can also open it one handed ) -- the only thing i would add to it --- a option for a attachement of sorts to hang a purse or bag and or a basket option that collapses under the seat for buying small grocery items ..... that and about 4 inch longer arms and a little longer brake handles oh and a cup holder option--- if it had all that it would truley be a dream chair fo our situation !!! i would always be willing to speak for this product !!!!!!!!! oh and all the airline personnel love it also !! you should try marketing it to cruise ships--- i think you might find a customer with the norwegian company they were very impressed to.... love it !!! and i am usually a critic
Love it! Have a relative who prefers to use a wheelchair for now, not wanting to move to walker. That’s fine but regular wheelchairs are often hard to maneuver in situations, bulky, and fold up hardly at all. When going on vacation, I decided to look into something easier to fit into a rental car along with the rest of our luggage. It works great! It’s comfortable to sit in, steers SO smoothly, and is very easy to collapse and re-open. However, I am fully able bodied myself, so it likely wouldn’t be as easy for anyone who’s not to open and close it.
Also, the bag comes for you to remove the front wheels per time you collapse it, but I just leave them on and don’t use the bag. Easier for quick easy set up plus the foot rail and handle rail meet together very smoothly to grab and carry it without worrying it’ll fall open or pinch me.
I bought this wheelchair for my mom as we both share the love of travel. I was hoping that we can continue to share more time traveling together even though she is not able to walk for more than couple minutes.
I have gotten many compliments of this wheelchair including a feedback from a doctor in Australia which described it as a "brilliant design".
This wheelchair is very light weight to be handled by a female including a teenager (my niece).
The fabric color and design is very pleasing. Not matter how much my mom resisted at the beginning about getting a wheelchair, she had fall in love with this wheelchair that gave some of her life back.
Since I bought it in 2016, this wheelchair has traveled to many countries just like one of the reviews has mentioned. Most airlines would allow this wheelchair inside the airport and all the way to the gate. Upon landing, the wheelchair will be by the door or another wheelchair will be supplied by the airline which will take you to pick this wheel chair. It also fits in a regular taxi trunk easily.
I would suggest not to bag the wheelchair while traveling between airports as the airport staff would not be able to see the wheelchair for security reason. The bag is more of for storage when not being used.
I have lost a knob to the wheel of this wheelchair and hope i can find the replacement.
I would buy this wheelchair for my mom again if it needs to be replaced.
For all the die-hard traveler out there, this wheelchair would be the right one.
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