Choosing the Right Powerchair for You
At Mobility Hire, we’re here to help you find the perfect powerchair to meet your unique lifestyle and mobility needs. Whether you’re looking for a compact folding powerchair for travel, a robust off-road model, or a highly functional chair with advanced support features, our wide range of options ensures there’s something for everyone.
Where Will You Be Using Your Powerchair?
When selecting a powerchair, it’s essential to think about where and how you’ll use it most often:
- Indoor vs Outdoor Use: Some powerchairs are optimised for indoor use, with a smaller turning radius to navigate tight spaces, while others are designed for outdoor adventures, equipped with larger wheels, better traction, and stronger motors. Our Indoor/Outdoor Powerchairs offer the best of both worlds, with increased suspension for uneven surfaces and narrow enough profiles to navigate indoors. If you love exploring nature, consider our Off-Road Powerchairs, built for rugged terrains and robust outdoor performance.
- Surface Type: Will you mostly be travelling over smooth surfaces, like shopping centre floors, or rougher pavements and paths? Knowing the type of surface you’ll encounter helps in choosing a powerchair with the right tyres, suspension, and motor power. Explore our Outdoor/Indoor Powerchairs to find the ideal model for more adventurous outings.
Portability: Is a Folding Powerchair Right for You?
If you’re frequently on the go, a folding powerchair may be the ideal choice. These powerchairs are lightweight, compact, and designed for easy transportation, making them perfect for holidays or day trips. Some models can be folded, while others can be disassembled to fit into vehicles.
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Key Features and Functionalities
Do you need additional support and features in your powerchair? At Mobility Hire, we provide a variety of High-Functioning Powerchairs with features like tilt-in-space, powered seat lift, and reclining seats. These added functionalities are important for users who spend longer periods in their powerchairs or require specialised support:
- Tilt-in-Space: This feature enables the chair to tilt as a whole, redistributing pressure to prevent sores and discomfort. Ideal for users who need frequent positional adjustments.
- Seat Recline: Allows the user to recline the seat while seated, providing comfort and pressure relief as needed.
- Powered Seat Lift: Lifts the seat to eye level, enhancing social mobility and independence for users by allowing easier reach and engagement.
Size and Storage Considerations
Our powerchairs come in a range of sizes, from standard adult models to Paediatric Powerchairs specifically designed for children. Additionally, we offer Bariatric Powerchairs for larger users, with extra-wide seats and higher weight capacities. Ensure you have adequate storage space indoors, as powerchairs should ideally be kept at room temperature to protect their batteries and controls from adverse weather.
Comfort and Customisation Options
Comfort is key, especially if you’ll be using your powerchair for extended periods. We offer customisable seating options to enhance comfort and support, including luxury cushions, adjustable backrests, and ergonomic headrests. Many of our models also feature adjustable leg rests and footrests, allowing you to customise the chair to your individual needs. Check out our comfort seating powerchair range for more details on custom options.
Controls and Accessibility
Most powerchairs come with simple joystick controls, usually mounted on one armrest. For added flexibility, some models feature attendant or dual controls, allowing a caregiver to operate the chair when needed. Specialised controls, including Bluetooth and infrared options, are available on certain models, as well as alternative control mechanisms such as chin or head controls for users with limited hand movement.
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Choosing the Right Drive Type
Powerchairs are available in three different drive types, each offering unique benefits depending on how and where you’ll be using the chair:
- Rear-Wheel Drive: The most common type, providing excellent stability and outdoor performance. Rear-wheel drive powerchairs are best suited for outdoor use, thanks to their stable design and higher speed capabilities, though they have a larger turning radius than other drive types.
- Mid-Wheel Drive: Ideal for indoor environments, as mid-wheel drive chairs offer a tight turning circle that allows them to manoeuvre in small spaces. Our mid-wheel drive powerchairs are also equipped with independent suspension, providing comfort on uneven surfaces.
- Front-Wheel Drive: These powerchairs excel at navigating rough terrain and offer better traction. Front-wheel drive models are often used for off-road or bariatric powerchairs and allow users to get closer to desks and tables.
Types of Powerchairs We Offer
Explore the diverse range of powerchairs we offer to find the one that suits your lifestyle and mobility needs:
- Folding Powerchairs: Perfect for short outings or trips to town. These compact powerchairs can be folded or disassembled for easy transport and storage. Check out our Foldable Powerchair selection.
- Indoor/Outdoor Powerchairs: Ideal for both home and light outdoor use, featuring a mid-wheel drive for tighter turns and great indoor manoeuvrability. Browse our Indoor/Outdoor Powerchairs to learn more.
- Outdoor/Indoor Powerchairs: Built for outdoor use, these models have larger tyres and enhanced suspension, while still being suitable for indoor spaces. See our Outdoor Powerchair range.
- Paediatric Powerchairs: Specifically designed for children, offering comfort, compact design, and the option for attendant control. View our Paediatric Powerchair options.
- Bariatric Powerchairs: Featuring wider seats and reinforced frames, these powerchairs are suited for larger users. Find out more about our Bariatric Powerchairs.
- Off Road Powerchairs: For those who love the outdoors, these powerchairs are designed to handle rough terrain with ease, providing better traction and control. Explore our Off Road Powerchairs.
- High-Functioning Powerchairs: State-of-the-art models with advanced features like standing functionality and compact turning circles, perfect for home and community use. Check out our High-Functioning Powerchair range.
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Powerchair Hire Options
Long-Term Hire
Our long-term rental contracts offer peace of mind and cost savings, ideal for users with ongoing mobility needs. With contracts lasting up to 36 months, our packages include servicing, repairs, comprehensive insurance, and a 24/7 breakdown cover.
Long-Term Hire Benefits:
- Includes all servicing and repairs.
- Comprehensive insurance, replacement batteries, and tyres.
- 24/7 breakdown cover and replacement powerchair if needed.
Short-Term Hire
If you only need a powerchair for a limited time, our short term hire options are available on a flexible, weekly basis. Short-term rental is perfect for holidays, post-hospital rehabilitation, or trialling a model before making a longer commitment. For more information, see our Information Hub.
Short-Term Hire Benefits:
- Ideal for post-surgery recovery and short-term rehabilitation.
- Convenient for visitors or temporary mobility needs.
- Great for travel, holidays, or trying out a powerchair before buying.
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Get in Touch
For further assistance or advice on finding the right powerchair, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team on 0800 111 6234. At Mobility Hire, we’re here to support you every step of the way, from initial selection to ongoing maintenance, ensuring you find the powerchair that best suits your mobility and lifestyle needs.
Please find below a checklist which may help you plan which kind of powerchair you would like to hire. It’s useful to have the answers to the questions below in order to make sure you can get a mobility scooter that suits your needs. If you speak to one of our team these are the questions they are likely to ask you.
Contact Us for Expert Advice | Browse Our Powerchairs
Checklist
| Height and Weight:
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Budget (£ per week)? |
| How far and how long are your typical journeys? (miles and minutes/hours)
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Do you want to travel on roads? |
| Do you need to travel on public transport when in your powerchair?
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Do you have to negotiate any high kerbs on a typical journey? |
| What type of terrain will you be travelling on?
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Does your typical journey take you on any steep hills? |
| Do you have to carry any mobility aids or shopping?
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Will you need to use your powerchair inside? |
| Will you need to get your powerchair in a vehicle?
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Can you store it safely at home? |
| Do you have a medical condition that may require modifications being made to your powerchair?
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Do you think your condition/needs may change over the course of your lease? |
