Though at first glance they are similar, but there are significant differences between a transport wheelchair and the more standard wheelchair. The biggest difference is that standard wheelchairs are designed with large wheels so that you can propel yourself. Transport wheelchairs have small wheels and are meant to be pushed from behind by a second person.
Transport chairs are designed to be pushed from behind. They have no method of self-propulsion at all. They are ideal for people who are concerned about keeping up with family members or friends on a day out. If you will always have another person around to push, you should buy a transport wheelchair.
Transport wheelchairs are often a little smaller than standard wheelchairs, though they can still carry the same amount of weight as standard wheelchairs. They are designed to fold compactly and easily. Since they lack the large rear wheels of the standard wheelchair, they are often very lightweight and can be reduced to a size that is much easier to store.
Transport wheelchairs are intended to be used for short amounts of time. They are ideal for daytrips outside the home. As such, they tend to be designed with portability in mind. The seats of transport chairs are usually flexible fabric with little support, a design which allows them to fold easily. If you are looking for a rigid seat for full- or near full-time use, you would probably be more interested in a standard wheelchair.
Standard wheelchairs and transport chairs may seem similar at first glance, but there are actually a lot of small differences that lead to them being two very different devices. Weight, wheel size, material, and seat type are all factors to consider when looking into a wheeled mobility device.
