In this article, we have reviewed the best mid wheel drive wheelchair. If you are in a hurry, the table below gives a quick snapshot of the top ones.
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Have you been using a rear or front-wheel drive power wheelchair, and are not comfortable with the stability that it provides?
Nearly 6.8 million community-resident Americans use assistive devices to help them with mobility[1].
Stability is a very important factor that they look for in a wheelchair, especially if they are using a power wheelchair for the first time.
The mid-wheel drive wheelchair has a large drive wheel in the center, with two pairs of smaller tires both at the front and the back.
This configuration is easily the most stable way to use a wheelchair since the center of gravity of the user is directly above the drive-wheel.
Secondly, mid-wheel drive wheelchairs can perform 360 degree turns in a smaller radius than the front and rear-wheel drive configurations.
There are many mid-wheel drive power wheelchairs in the market. This article will guide you to the best mid wheel drive wheelchair for your needs.
Our Top Choice – CTM Mobility Scooter Wheel Drive Chair
The Compact Mid-Wheel Drive Power... is our top choice for Best Mid Wheel Drive Wheelchair, because of the following reasons:
- It features an anti-tip wheel design to keep you safe.
- The extra-turning RadiusRadius can easily handle corners and curves.
- A mid-back seat with an adjustable headrest gives better comfort.
- Its swing-away armrest is height and width adjustable.
- The maximum speed of this wheelchair is four mph.
- This wheelchair can support a weight capacity of up to 300 lbs.
- This wheelchair is easy to maneuver and simple to operate.
Best Mid Wheel Drive Wheelchair
#1 CTM Mobility Scooter Wheel Drive Chair
This is our top choice for the best mid-wheel drive wheelchair. The power wheelchair features a patented anti-tip wheel design. It turns smoothly and has a small turning radius with corners and handles. This mid-wheel drive wheelchair is suitable to operate in tight spaces.
Features and Benefits
- Anti-tip Wheel Design: The anti-tip wheel design is good to keep you safe. The flat-free wheels are smooth and turn efficiently. You can use this wheelchair on all kinds of surfaces. The extra-low turning radius easily handles corners and curves.
- Adjustable Settings: The wheel drive chair comes with adjustable settings. The adjustable headrests are height and width adjustable. So you can adjust the size at your convenience. Moreover, the adjustable footplates give ease to people with mobility issues.
- Seat: The mid-back seat of this wheelchair adds to your comfort. It also features a seat belt that assures comfortable seating. This wheelchair can hold a weight capacity of up to 300 lbs.
Why should you buy it?
The CTM mid-wheel drive chair is very comfortable. Its anti-tip wheels keep you safe at all times. The wheelchair turns smoothly on any surface. The extra-tight turning radius gives a lot of maneuverability for you to move around the house.
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#2 CTM Homecare Wheel Power Chair
This compact wheelchair is our second choice for the best mid-wheel drive wheelchair. It features a mid-back seat with adjustable height. The wheelchair is suitable to use if you are recovering from surgery. The center gives full comfort and better adjustability. You can adjust the seat height as per your comfort needs.
Features and Benefits
- Power Chair: the mid-wheel power chair has a tight turning radius. The power chair works well in both indoor and outdoor environments. Its easy operations enable stable support when you stand and move.
- Mid-back Seat: the mid-back seat gives comfort while you sit on this wheelchair. The adjustable armrest optimizes accessibility and comfort. The wheelchair comes with a safety belt for security and support while standing.
- Design: the mid-back wheelchair is of plastic material. This wheelchair can hold a weight capacity of up to 300 pounds. The wheelchair provides enough support and stability.
Why should you buy it?
The compact wheelchair is good for both indoor and outdoor activities. It has a tight turning radius, which makes your chair easy to move. Moreover, it is a very safe and stable model. It has easy operations which let you comfortably drive it when you sit on this power wheelchair.
#3 Drive Medical Image EC Wheel Drive Wheelchair
The wheel drive power wheelchair offers a perfect mobility solution. This wheelchair is also good for those having back issues. The reclining backrest with adjustable headrest lets you adjust the height of this chair.
Features and Benefits
- Adjustable Settings: the chair has highly adjustable settings. Its reclining backrest and adjustable headrest let you adjust the height of the chair. It also has a flip-up armrest that allows for easy transfer. The armrests are padded and are removable. This adds to your comfort and convenience.
- Front Suspension System: the wheelchair features a front suspension system with flat-free tires that ensure a smooth ride. It’s turning RadiusRadius is 27.5 inches, which provides smooth turning of your wheelchair.
- Controller Mount: the adjustable-length controller mount gives better control of speed. The maximum speed is 4.5mph, and the full range is 15 miles. The fold-down seat makes it easy for you to take this chair anywhere.
Why should you buy it?
The wheelchair is perfect if you have back related issues. It features a reclining backrest, adjustable armrest, and fold-down seat so that you can use this wheelchair with full comfort and safety.
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#4 Vision Sport Mid-Wheel Drive Power Wheelchair
The power wheelchair is suitable to use on a variety of terrains. It has a turning radius of 20 inches. This tight turning radius gives the convenience to fit it in smaller spaces. Moreover, its footrest provides more foot room when the wheelchair is not in motion.
Features and Benefits
- Full Suspension: the entire suspension system gives ideal control over this wheelchair. Its dual-in-line motors and electromagnetic brakes provide better speed control.
- Tires: the reliable tire brakes ensure a safe and secure grip. The 6 inches front and rear solid tires provide better traction. You can take this wheelchair while on outdoor activities because these rear tires are right to use on uneven terrains. The drive wheels ensure a safe and stable ride.
- Turning RadiusRadius: the turning RadiusRadius of this wheelchair is 20 inches. This turning radius gives ease to turn this wheelchair in small spaces. Moreover, you can easily maneuver this power wheelchair. The maximum speed of this wheelchair is five mph.
Why should you buy it?
The mid-wheel drive wheelchair has a turning radius of 20 inches. It features solid tires, which ensures a solid grip on an uneven surface so that you can take your wheelchairs on outdoor adventures.
#5 Golden Technologies Mid-Wheel Power Wheelchair
The Compass Sports wheelchair is ideal to fit in small spaces. It features an automatic frame, which gives a durable and robust look to this wheelchair. Moreover, it can handle a weight capacity of up to 300lbs.
Features and Benefits
- Height-adjustable seat: the compass sports wheelchair features a height-adjustable seat. The wheelchair seat can be adjusted as per your comfort need. You can choose the best seating position. The adjustable depth seat and headrest gives you the most comfortable seating position. You can get the desired angle that suits your back.
- Turning RadiusRadius: the wheelchair has a turning radius of 19.5 inches. It let the wheelchair turn with ease and smoothness. Moreover, you can fit it inside small spaces. Thus, this wheelchair assures us to give a smooth and stable ride.
- Material: the articulating frame gives a better seating experience. It is capable of holding a weight capacity of up to 300lbs. The wheelchair is strong and durable and is easy to assemble.
Why should you buy it?
The wheelchair is suitable to use for curbing mobility issues. It has a strong yet durable articulating frame. This frame gives a stable and robust look to your wheelchair. Moreover, it provides ease of operations.
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Buyer’s Guide: Best Mid Wheel Drive Wheelchair
A quality wheelchair is a worthy investment for someone who is immobile. You might have several questions while buying a wheelchair.
For eg, where and how will you use this wheelchair? Does it cater to your comfort and safety needs? What is the weight capacity of your wheelchair? Is it easy to transport from one place to another?
Below we have listed some of the key factors that you should consider before buying a mid-wheel drive wheelchair.
Turning Radius
You might have heard the term “Turning radius” a lot when buying your first wheelchair. The turning radius dictates how much space you will need in order to make a turn. Let me try to explain it a bit more (spoiler alert, you might have to remember a bit of geometry from school):
When you move straight, only the length and width of the chair is important. But when turning, the wheels have to make a circular motion, which takes up more space than just the wheelchair’s width. This space is basically dictated by the radius of the circle that the wheel is making
Why does this matter? Well, in an open space it hardly matters, because there is no obstacle like a wall to stop you. But try imagining turning the wheelchair around in your bathroom. You are limited on all sides by walls. So the space that the wheelchair takes to turn matters a lot!
Try to look for wheelchairs that have a turning radius of less than 20 to 25 inches. Mid wheel drive wheelchairs have a naturally lower radius than the front and rear-wheel drive wheelchairs for 360 degree turns, but also consider right-angled turns, and smaller turns.
Take measurements of the smaller spaces in your home and check if they are able to accommodate the turning radius of the wheelchair that you are considering. If not, then you might have to look for a different model altogether!
Weight
How much weight your wheelchair holds is also essential to consider. You should always look for a wheelchair that can comfortably hold at least 50-75 pounds more than the user for whom you are buying the device.
How much weight a wheelchair can hold is decided by the frame material and other components. Typically wheelchairs that have a steel or aluminum frame are the best because these are tough metals that can withstand a lot of weight.
If you are shopping for someone who weighs more than 250 pounds, you should ideally look for a bariatric wheelchair, instead of a normal one. These wheelchairs come with reinforced steel rivets and other ways in which they are able to hold much higher weights.
Seating System
If you are buying a wheelchair, the likelihood is that you are going to be spending a lot of time sitting on it.
You need a wheelchair with comfortable seating and adjustable settings for height, recline, and other parameters.
The seat width should be appropriate enough to not cause any pressure on your hips. The chair should have a tall backrest to support your back and neck at all times.
Similarly, the seat depth should be large enough to distribute your weight. Moreover, the leg rest should have calf support that is at an appropriate height.
Moreover, you should choose a wheelchair with an easy-to-fold design and adjustable armrest. The wheelchairs which have an adjustable height are great because you can sit comfortably as per your own height.
All of this will help you to get the perfect seating posture.
Wheels
The wheels of your wheelchair should be reliable and easy to move. They must provide good traction on uneven surfaces. The solid rear wheels of your wheelchair are useful in turning your wheelchair. Moreover, you can choose wheelchairs with electromagnetic brakes. It helps you to control your speed. But also provides full safety while you sit on it.
Maneuverability
It determines the turn of your wheelchair when it moves. You can measure it with turnaround width. It would help if you chose those wheelchairs that are easy to maneuver. Moreover, these wheelchairs should fit inside your small spaces to not have to worry about the area.
Frequently Asked Questions: Best Mid Wheel Drive Wheelchair
Are mid-wheel drive wheelchairs safe to use?
Yes, mid-wheel drive wheelchairs are safe to use. These wheelchairs are suitable to use for back and mobility issues. These wheelchairs feature caster wheels on the front and the back, with the drive wheel in the center.
This configuration is the safest possible way to move when in a wheelchair. It prevents your chair from tipping forward or backward. Moreover, these wheelchairs have a tight turning radius.
You can easily fit them inside your intimate rooms or space, these wheel drive wheelchairs provide good traction and full safety.
Can you push a power wheelchair?
Your electric wheelchairs feature a manual freewheel. This lever is mounted on each motor.
You can disengage the drive motor with these levers. Moreover, you can also push your wheelchair manually. These freewheel levers allow you to try and pull your wheelchair.
How much space does a wheelchair need?
When you are moving forwards, the only space that your wheelchair needs is its own length and width. While turning however, the wheelchair will need a bit more space. This space will depend on the turning radius of the chair.
If you are planning to make renovations to your home to accommodate a wheelchair, allow for at least 32 inches at a point for the wheelchair to turn. If there are going to be two wheelchairs in the home, you should budget for at least 60 inches.
The two wheelchairs will need a space of at least 60 inches, especially if they are making a turn at a 180-degree angle.
What is the minimum width of wheelchair access?
The minimum and ideal width of wheelchair access is 32 inches. It requires a maximum length of 24 inches and 36 inches. This is the perfect width of your wheelchair access.
How can much weight a wheelchair hold?
Regular wheelchairs can hold a weight capacity of up to 300lbs. But the heavy-duty wheelchairs can have a weight capacity of as much as 700 lbs.
Conclusion
Mid wheel drive chairs are very stable when compared with rear or front-wheel drive options. However, they might have slightly less maneuverability in certain scenarios (such as a right-angled turn or a smaller turn). However, they are still a great option to go with if you are using a power wheelchair for the first time.
While there are many power wheelchairs available in the market, we have tried to pick and choose the best options that match your need and budget expectations.
In our opinion, the Compact Mid-Wheel Drive Power... is the best choice among the various options that we have considered, because the anti-tip wheel design is good to keep you safe. The wheels are smooth and turn efficiently. You can use this wheelchair on all kinds of surfaces.
The Upgraded Compact Mid - Wheel Power... is our next best choice because it has a tight turning radius. The power chair works well in both indoor and outdoor environments. Its easy operations enable stable support when you stand and move.
If you are looking for a value for money option, you can also consider the Mid-Wheel Drive Power Base... , which offers great value and features at a very reasonable price point.
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References:
[1] Mobility Device Statistics: United States | Disabled World (disabled-world.com)