The advancement in technology has made sports wheelchairs much lighter and stronger than ever before allowing those with mobility issues to push the limits of sports while in a wheelchair. If you have been looking for the best sports wheelchairs this guide will be for you.
We are going to cover all types of different sports wheelchairs, what they are best for, and what to consider when choosing one. Let’s dive in and take a look at some of the top sports wheelchairs on the market.
- Differences between a sports wheelchair a regular manual wheelchair
- Most common types of sports wheelchairs
- Basketball wheelchairs
- Racing wheelchairs
- Tennis wheelchairs
- Our best sport wheelchairs ranked
- Comparing the best Sports Wheelchairs
- 2. Quickie Match Point Tennis Sport Wheelchair
- 3. Invacare Top End Excelertor Handcycle
- 4. Quickie GP / GPV Sports Wheelchair
- 5. Quickie All Court Sports Wheelchair
- 6.Invacare Top End Pro Basketball Wheelchair
- Best sports wheelchair buying guide
- Type of sport you will be using the wheelchair for
- Your dimensions need to fit the sports wheelchair dimensions properly
- Ability to adjust your sports wheelchair
- Optional 5th wheel
- Final thoughts on the best sport wheelchairs
Differences between a sports wheelchair a regular manual wheelchair
When looking at the difference between a sports wheelchair and a daily use wheelchair you will quickly find major differences. These wheelchairs have different designs and functionalities.
Sport wheelchairs are typically determined by the person’s weight, height, age, and what type of sport is played by the person using the wheelchair.
Another major difference is the back wheels. On sports wheelchairs, you will notice that those wheels are angled differently than a daily wheelchair. The wheels are angled outward relative to the floor.
This is done to help the wheelchair stay upright during hard and faster than normal turns that are performed when playing sports.
Most common types of sports wheelchairs
Just because you are in a wheelchair does not mean you can’t play sports. in-fact sports wheelchairs make it possible to play some of the most popular sports while using a wheelchair.
Unlike a standard type of wheelchair sport, wheelchairs are designed differently. They are designed to be faster, turn tighter, and allow for much more strenuous use than your standard chair.
Basketball wheelchairs
Wheelchair basketball is one of the most popular para-sports. These types of wheelchairs are able to turn very quickly and tight without flipping. These types of chairs function very similarly to tennis wheelchairs because a lot of the same movements are used.
Racing wheelchairs
For those who race wheelchairs, these athletes are looking for a few key features. They want a wheelchair that is designed for speed, streamlined, and extremely balanced. Having these features allow for a lightweight wheelchair that is much easier to maneuver.
Models will allow for both sitting and kneeling. Unlike other types of wheelchairs, the tires on racing wheelchairs are air-filled. Racing wheelchairs must meet racing regulations and part of that is having air-filled tiles.
Tennis wheelchairs
Tennis wheelchairs much like basketball wheelchairs are used to make quick and sharp turns. Because of this tennis, wheelchairs use slanted wheels so flipping is greatly reduced. The best tennis wheelchairs can give you an edge over your competition and help you dominate.
Our best sport wheelchairs ranked
| Our Rank | Sport Wheelchair | Our Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Quickie Titanium All Court Sports Wheelchair | 4.7/5 |
| 2. | Quickie Match Point Tennis Sport Wheelchair | 4.6/5 |
| 3. | Invacare Top End Excelertor Handcycle | 4.5/5 |
| 4. | Quickie GP / GPV Sports Wheelchair | 4.5/5 |
| 5. | Quickie All Court Sports Wheelchair | 4.6/5 |
| 6. | Invacare Top End Pro Basketball Wheelchair | 4.6/5 |
Comparing the best Sports Wheelchairs
| Key Specs | Quickie Titanium All Court Sports Wheelchair | Quickie Match Point Tennis Sport Wheelchair | Invacare Top End Excelertor Handcyle | Quickie Gp Sports Wheelchair | Quickie All Court Sports Wheelchair | Invacare top End Pro BB Basketball Wheelchair |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight capacity: | 250 lbs. | 250 lbs. | 250 lbs. | 250 lbs. | 250 lbs. | 250 lbs. |
| Wheelchair weight: | 21.5 lbs. | 22.5 lbs. | 30 lbs. – 35 lbs. | 23.5 – 24 lbs. | 24 lbs | 21 lbs. |
| Seat width: | 12″ -20″ | 12″ – 20″ | 14″ – 18″ | 15″ – 21″ | 12″ -20″ | 12″ – 20″ |
| Seat depth: | 10″ – 20″ | 10″ – 20″ | 15″ | 12″ – 22″ | 16″ – 21″ | 12″ – 18″ |
| Seat-to-floor height: | 16″ – 21″ | 16″ – 21″ | 13″ | 15.5″ -23″ | 16″ – 21″ | 13″ -21″ |
| Rear wheel size: | 24″ – 26″ | 24″ – 26″ | 26″ | 22″ – 26″ | N/A | 24″ – 26″ |
1. Quickie Titanium All Court Sports Wheelchair
This is our top choice for the best sports wheelchair. Made with a titanium seat frame and extremely lightweight tubing that provides a sturdy and reliable frame. This wheelchair is designed for athletes and has a camber angle of 16 and 20 so tipping can be minimized. This model has a center-of-gravity range of 3.5″ to 5″ of the vertical seat -squeeze adjustment. This provides optimum seat angles without having to change fork size.
This chair also features a single-wing number. Those looking for a higher-end sports wheelchair will find this model has what you could be looking for.