Written by Mike Price, OT
From hospitals and physical therapy clinics to retirement communities and handicap insignias, there is perhaps no more familiar and ubiquitous piece of medical equipment than the wheelchair.
Wheelchairs can make life smoother and easier for a massively diverse field of people. They help people with injuries that limit their movement, people with physical or developmental handicaps that impede their ability to move freely, and people who have difficulty maintaining their balance for any number of reasons.
Of the many groups of people represented within the field of wheelchair users, one of the largest and most diverse are veterans.
Military veterans are a unique and broad group of wheelchair users, due in large part due to the diversity amongst veterans themselves, as veterans include people of all ages, genders, races, and backgrounds.
In fact, the commonplace use of wheelchairs amongst veterans has prompted the formation of non-profit organizations and groups such as Wheelchairs for Warriors that serve to support and assist wheelchair-bound veterans.
Therefore, when it comes to veterans using wheelchairs, they may require them for a number of reasons, such as injuries caused in the line of duty, aging amongst older veterans, or many others.
Given the unique and numerous reasons why veterans might require a wheelchair, finding the best products may feel like a daunting task. With that in mind, we’ll break it down for you and outline the top five wheelchairs from our catalog that best suit veterans.
These wheelchairs have been reviewed and ranked in among the top five based on their utility, reliability, cost-effectiveness, and most importantly, the feedback of customers for each product.
Before we begin our top five list, let’s review a few of the important features to keep an eye out for in each of the wheelchairs. Depending on the veteran’s needs, these features may be crucial in a wheelchair.
Whether a wheelchair is manually operated or moved using electric power at the push of a control stick is crucial to recognize in a product. As we will see in the top five wheelchairs presented in this article, the majority of wheelchairs that are recommended for veterans are operated electrically. This makes them easier and safer to use, as it significantly reduces the potential for injury or strain while using the wheelchair.
Some wheelchairs are specially designed to be lightweight and collapsible, thus allowing them to be transported more easily than traditional wheelchairs. Because many veterans maintain active lifestyles, having the ability to quickly and efficiently fold up and transport the wheelchair can be a great benefit.
As time goes on, more and more wheelchairs are featuring ergonomic designs that promote airflow, as well as leg, hip, and spine support. These ergonomic designs are particularly popular for patients who spend extended amounts of time in the wheelchair, as they are able to help prevent common discomforts associated with that level of use.
Elevate your accessibility and enrich your life with the Vision Sport Elevated Power Wheelchair. This elevating wheelchair brings freedom, versatility, and stability combined into one amazing power wheelchair. The elevated seat helps you regain your freedom with eye-level conversations with friends and loved ones. Additionally, the elevated seat allows you to reach countertops, cabinets, high-top tables, shelves, and so much more.
Mid-wheel drives are the most maneuverable out of all the wheel set-ups in wheelchairs. This is due to the tight turning radius, which is great for small spaces and walkways. Another benefit to a mid-wheel drive is that it offers the most natural-feeling center of gravity. The Vision Sport Elevated Power Wheelchair showcases its exceptional design through its sturdy base. It can absorb 250-lbs on the footplate without tipping forward. This makes getting in and out of the chair much easier, knowing that the footplate is trustworthy to bear your weight on.
Not only can the seat elevate, but it can also recline. The seatback can stand at an erect 90-degrees or recline into a relaxed 135-degrees, and it can stop anywhere in between. This chair can come with a variety of optional accessories, such as: an oxygen tank holder, cane & crutch holder, walker holder, foldable rear basket, canopy and variety of color fenders, swing away joystick, and a height-adjustable armrest.
Taking the number four rank in our top five list is Freedomedi Technology’s Freedom Chair. This wheelchair earns its place among the top five in large part because of its dynamic portability. As we discussed in the introduction, wheelchairs with the ability to be folded up and transported are extremely popular for groups who often lead active lifestyles—such as veterans.
The Freedom Chair’s design enables it to be easily folded in just a matter of seconds, at which point it can be stored or transported. The chair comes with a waterproof travel bag, which protects it from the elements when being transported. Additionally, the chair features a car power inverter, which allows the battery to be charged in the car. This significant ability to be transported and powered on-the-go is without question one of the most frequently praised features of the chair.
Joining its impressive portability, the Freedom Chair also offers customers a wide range of optional features. These include options such as backup chargers and batteries, specialized headrests, and cup/phone holders, among many others. These options allow customers to design the wheelchair to their exact needs.
Perhaps one of the most unique wheelchairs in our top five, Solar Mobility’s Liberator Solar Power-Assisted Wheelchair claims the number three position. As its name implies, the Liberator Solar Power wheelchair uses a solar panel canopy that harnesses the sun’s energy to constantly charge the wheelchair’s battery. This consistent charging means that the Liberator wheelchair has one of the longest battery run times of any powered wheelchair on the market.
Beyond the obvious benefit of supplying power to the wheelchair, the solar panel canopy also provides the wheelchair user protection from the elements, as it is held as a canopy above the chair that offers shelter from poor weather.
Another benefit of the Liberator chair is its active seat ventilation. This innovative technology provides consistent air circulation through the seat, which helps to prevent moisture buildup and reduces the risk of developing sores from extended periods of sitting. Given the Liberator’s long battery life, this is particularly important, as people can spend more time in the wheelchair than they can with other products.
Claiming the number two rank in our top five list is the Literider Envy Power Mobility Chair by Golden Technologies. This wheelchair earns its place thanks in large part to its ability to provide high-quality features at a lower price than most of its competition. This makes it distinctly the most cost-effective wheelchair in the top five.
The Literider Envy is a rear-wheel drive wheelchair that features a vinyl-covered seat that is designed for comfort and breathability. Its 22 amp battery is capable of traveling up to 15.5 miles between charges—a respectable range that is competitive with many other wheelchairs.
One of the unique features of the Literider is its portability. Where many portable wheelchairs are able to be folded up, the Literider is designed to be broken down into four easy to carry pieces. This four-piece arrangement means that the wheelchair can maintain a dense, heavyweight when assembled, which provides stability. However, when broken down, the heaviest piece is just 35 pounds. This makes the Literider easily portable while remaining sturdy when fully assembled.
Earning the title of number one wheelchair for veterans in our top five is the Karman Tranzit Go Foldable Lightweight Power Wheelchair by Karman Healthcare. It earns the title due to its ability to combine the noted benefits of almost every other product in the top five into a single unit.
One of the most frequently praised features of the Karman Tranzit is its lightweight design. With the batteries included, the wheelchair weighs just 51 pounds—significantly less than most other wheelchairs on the market. Joining this, the wheelchair’s frame is quickly and easily folded up for quick, efficient transport.
The wheelchair is fully padded and designed to provide support and stability to the patient. Additionally, the Karman Tranzit’s design allows it to operate both indoors and outdoors with ease. This supportive and adaptable design is another of the wheelchair’s popular features in the eyes of customers.
Karman Healthcare’s Karman Tranzit Go Foldable Lightweight Wheelchair clearly earns its place as the number one wheelchair for veterans available from Rehabmart.com through its ability to accommodate an active veteran lifestyle through its portability, comfort, and innovative design.
The wheelchairs in our list were ranked with significant consideration given to the customer feedback on each product. When it comes to the Karman Tranzit, there was an overwhelmingly large amount of positive feedback from customers with almost no negative notes at all.
With its features and its ratings by customers all considered, the Karman Tranzit clearly earns its place as the number one wheelchair for veterans.
To learn more about the wheelchairs featured in this top five article or to browse other high-quality products, visit Rehabmart’s full selection of wheelchairs. And, for more helpful product reviews, buying guides, and helpful caregiving tips, be sure to check out our full library of articles on Caregiver University.
Co-Founder of Rehabmart and an Occupational Therapist since 1993. Mike has spent his professional career working in multiple areas of Occupational Therapy, including pediatrics, geriatrics, hand therapy, ergonomics and inpatient / outpatient rehabilitation. Mike enjoys writing articles that help people solve complex therapeutic problems and make better product choices.
