A recent injury or ongoing recovery does not have to stop you from carrying out your travel plans. As long as your doctor gives your trip the “okay”, you should do everything in your power to get equipped with a wheelchair that suits your destination a little better than the typical hospital-style chairs provided for most general rehabilitation purposes.

Traveling is all about experiencing new sights, sounds, and situations. Depending on your current wheelchair model, the equipment that gets you around your town and familiar surroundings might not stand up to the diverse landscapes you may encounter while on the road. This is part of the excitement but contributes to frustration when you’d rather be sightseeing.

This short guide will help you decide, in general terms, which type of wheelchair you should rent or purchase for your trip your choice will depend on destination and itinerary but the overall concepts are often the same. It’s important to pick a suitable wheelchair to prevent a temporary condition from standing in the way of making lifelong memories.

Simple and Transportable

Whether you plan on boarding cruise ships or trekking over ancient cobbled streets in historical cities, it can be difficult to pick a wheelchair that fits every excursion. Most people do like to start by looking at travel wheelchair specifically portable and lightweight models that fit just as easily on a subway as in the trunk of a taxi.

The downside is that collapsible wheelchairs are rarely as stable as a rigid chair. You’ll have to put more effort into propelling yourself whereas a rigid frame would glide smoothly. If you have the dexterity to remove the wheels before boarding any vehicles, we suggest opting for a rigid frame with disassembly options.

Hardcore Sightseeing

Going off-road is a completely different situation. Those lightweight travel chairs are not quite heavy duty enough to tackle uneven ground or spotty sidewalks. Ask the rental agency about wheelchairs equipped with large knobby tires (or sand/snow tires) and the appropriate outdoor lights or reflectors. Outdoor wheelchairs also have a different center of gravity that ensures stability.

Make sure to keep an open line of communication between you, your physical therapist, and the rental agency to be providing your vacation wheelchair rental. Good communication will ensure that you get the right chair in the right place at the right time without any of the worry. Don’t settle for anything less than ideal when there is a whole world of rental options out there.