Quickie Helium – Manual Wheelchair

Wheelchair Description:
White rigid frame with orange accents, quick release self-propelled wheels, carbotecture forks, and standard caster wheels. Removable J3 backrest, removable seat Matrix, Flo-Tech Lite seat cushion, folding footplate, and retractable push handles.

Source of Wheelchair:
N/A as the wheelchair was a gift.

Diagnosis:
Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS)

Personal Opinion:
In 2015 I was kindly gifted a Quickie Helium by a gentleman who sadly could no longer use this chair due to his ever-changing needs. Luckily the wheelchair was only half an inch bigger than my day to day chair, so it was the perfect fit!

It came with both the standard 18 spoke Proton Wheels and electronic E-Motion Wheels, allowing me to change the wheels depending on my symptoms and activity! Although neither of these wheels is designed to go across rough terrains, so I decided to purchase the 24” Quickie Mountain Bike Wheels to use when walking my dog off-road. I also opted to replace the low backrest and lightweight seat cushion as they weren’t providing me with enough support, with a Matrix, Flo-Tech Lite seat cushion and a high contour J3 backrest. These alterations instantly made a huge difference to my overall comfort and stability, particularly when going off-road!

As with many Quickie Wheelchairs, this rigid frame is really easy to adjust and has a very sleek design. Modern Carbotecture and hydroforming make it very strong, sturdy and a lot lighter than other rigid wheelchairs on the market. The frame is relatively easy to lift/transport despite the fact it doesn’t fold, although I have to remove both the wheels, fold the backrest and lower the handlebars to fit the frame in my car. If you had a more spacious car it would be a lot easier to leave the frame as one piece, but it doesn’t take very long to make the chair smaller so I wouldn’t let this factor put you off.

The adjustable handlebars allow my carers to push the wheelchair without hurting their back, whilst also giving me the option to fold them down when self-propelling. I recently decided to replace the standard Carbotecture with Frogs Legs Suspension Forks, so I can comfortably sit in my wheelchair for prolonged periods, regardless of uneven surfaces. They also greatly reduce vibrations that naturally radiate through a frame when going over anything but a super smooth surface!

Overall, I would recommend this wheelchair to anyone who needs the support a rigid frame offers and has the ability or assistance to safely transport it. It’s not the best wheelchair to use on uneven surfaces, but it is fantastic for people with ever-changing needs, as you can easily change the height/angle of various parts with just an allen key. You can even modify the chair by switching the backrest, seat cushions, footplates etc, as opposed to replacing the whole frame!