I Wrote This In Response To Someone Asking For Advice, But I Think It Might Be Useful As It's Own Post.

I wrote this in response to someone asking for advice, but I think it might be useful as it's own post.

Choosing a budget manual wheelchair

I've been using a wheelchair most of my adult life, and I know a lot of you do get an off-the-shelf manual wheelchair and wanted to lend my experience to help get the most out of it.

Important to know is most off-the-shelf chairs aren't actually made for self propulsion (even though they're labelled self-propelled) so here are good features to look for.

You want one with the axle directly beneath the back end of the seat, this will bring the wheel several inches forward of most off-the-shelf chairs, make self propulsion much much easier and allow you to tip more easily for a wheely (fun, and takes pressure off your spine which is more important than you might think).

If possible you want a low or folding back rest, not an absolute must but this allows you more back flex for more powerful propulsion, this is more desirable as your back and core muscles are strong for extended work and only using your arms can lead to long term shoulder injury.

You want to make sure nothing is in the way of your arms for the most natural movement (we don't want rotation injuries), so if needed ask if the arm rest is removable and how.

I would hope any chair has adjustable length foot rests, but that is really important.

You want at minimum a foam, ideally a gel cushion for pressure care... No cushion means no good, it's worth the extra money to avoid sores and pain from something you're spending all day in. I fully endorse e-begging to help afford a chair that isn't damaging your health.

This is just self care, if you can walk get up every couple of hours and take a few steps, it's good for you.

This is an example of what to look for. Anti-tip wheels will help while learning, arm rests fold away, back rest folds down for more powerful propulsion, looks like a decent cushion, adjustable foot rests. This one is the "Drive Spirit lightweight aluminium wheelchair" but I've seen it advertised under other names too and I'd say it's in the budget wheelchair range ($300-$500) but punching well above its price point in features.