Rigid frame with a low Jay shell backrest, Jay EasyVisco seat cushion, quick-release Spinergy SPOX rear wheels, light up front castors, and no push handles. The frame comes in many colours; mine is bright turquoise.
Frame Benefits: The frame is super light, meaning that with the wheels off, the chair is very easy to lift – even for me, and I have dodgy shoulders. The low weight also makes self-propelling the chair really easy. I love the open frame design because it’s very minimalist and makes the frame sit easily on my car seats during transportation. As an active user, I’ve definitely put the rigid frame through its paces, but it has held up very well and is pretty robust.
Frame Drawbacks: The tubing of the frame is quite thick, which may not appeal aesthetically to some users. However, this is a minor flaw as everything else about the frame is great.
Wheels Benefits: The quick-release wheels are very useful; they pop off super easily, which helps with fitting the chair into a car. I have Spinergy SPOX wheels, which have 18 spokes made from carbon fibre. I have been told that carbon fibre spokes are much lighter than regular steel spokes but are also much stronger. They also create a very smooth ride, as the carbon fibre absorbs a lot of the impact from bumps in the ground, such as cobbles or uneven ground. I highly recommend them, as I don’t think I’ll ever go back to regular wheels. The difference is amazing, and they are much lighter, easy to self-propel, shock-absorbing, and look good too! I also use Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres, which seem to be very durable and good on a variety of terrains. They are also puncture-resistant, which is very helpful, and because they are air tyres, they are lighter than solid tyres. I opted to position the rear wheels quite far forward so that the centre of gravity is better balanced, making wheelies easier. A single anti-tipper is more than enough to stop me from tipping backwards if I go a bit too far with a wheelie. Additionally, if you prefer a more stable chair and are not interested in doing wheelies, then the wheels can be moved further back to create a much less tippy position.
Wheel Drawbacks: The only downside to the Spinergy wheels is that they are pretty expensive. The SPOX wheels are around £350 a pair, and the LX wheels (which have only 12 spokes and are even lighter) are about £550 a pair. These are significantly more expensive than standard wheels, but in my opinion, they are worth the investment if you can afford them.
Push Handle Drawbacks: I don’t have push handles because I usually self-propel. However, I wish I had ordered some, as there are times when I need a bit of help with propelling (on hills or rough ground), but I have no way for someone to assist me other than bending down and pushing the bar on the back of the chair. Unless you are a very strong, independent user, I would recommend getting push handles! Even if you choose fold-down or height-adjustable ones that can be folded away.
Seat Cushion Benefits: The Jay EasyVisco seat cushion is very comfortable and not too firm, which I like. However, it still provides good postural support and is contoured to position the hips properly and prevent you from sliding around the seat! It is made from a similar material to memory foam.
Seat Cushion Drawbacks: Sitting on it in the summer becomes very hot and sweaty because the cover is polyester.
Jay Shell Back Benefits: I LOVE my Jay hard shell back. It provides fantastic postural support to my lumbar spine, which is an area I am weak in. Although it’s not very tall, it offers excellent support for my lower back, so it doesn’t need to be taller. This is because the correct positioning of my lower back is enough to prevent me from slouching as a whole. It is also very comfortable and has massively reduced my back pain.
Jay Shell Back Drawbacks: Compared to a simple tension-adjustable back that can be folded down easily, the hard shell back is a bit tricky to remove. It does come off, but it’s not as simple as pulling a release string and folding it down. Luckily, because my back is quite low, I don’t actually remove it very often, as it fits in the car even with the back still attached. However, if you opt for a higher back, it could be more inconvenient if it is hard to remove when you want to put your chair in the car. For me, the comfort and postural support of the shell back outweigh its ease of removal.
Aluminium Mudguard Benefits: The mudguards are great – they have saved my clothes from getting wet and dirty in bad weather and also prevent them from getting caught in the wheels. They are also removable and adjustable.
Aluminium Mudguard Drawbacks: None that I can think of.
Overall Impression: The Quickie Helium is a fabulous high-end wheelchair, suitable for someone new to using a wheelchair who needs to figure out what works best for them. This chair is reasonably adaptable over time, with the footplate height, rear wheel position, and footplate height from the seat all being adjustable. You can also easily swap out your backrest for a different style, shape, or size. Another benefit is that it is highly aesthetically customisable, as you can order it in a range of different colours. This chair would not be suitable for someone on a budget, as prices range from £2500 to £4500, depending on the add-ons you need or want, such as Spinergy wheels and the postural backrest.
I went from a secondhand, folding chair to this Quickie Helium, and the difference it has made is amazing. It is very lightweight, making it easy to use and lift, and the rigid frame design makes it strong and durable. I now have much more independence, as I can lift it into my car myself, since the rigid frame and compact style are much easier to handle—because all I need to do is remove the wheels and the backrest (if needed), allowing them to sit on any spare seat in the car. It will also fit in the boot of larger estate cars and 4x4s. I love how robust this chair is compared to my old one, how much more comfortable it feels, and how easily I can self-propel and manoeuvre it. The 90-degree frame angle at the front makes it easy to fit into small spaces and provides a nice, compact turning circle – I can turn it 360 degrees on the spot. Highly recommend this chair if you are looking for a stylish, lightweight, active-user wheelchair.
