Written by Mike Price, OT
From hospitals and physical therapy clinics to retirement communities and handicap insignias, there is perhaps no more familiar and universal medical equipment image than that of the wheelchair. Wheelchairs can make life smoother and easier for a massively diverse field of people. They help people with injuries that limit their movement, people with physical or developmental handicaps that impede their ability to move freely, and people who have difficulty maintaining their balance for many reasons.
Of the many groups of people represented within the field of wheelchair users, one of the largest and most diverse are veterans. Military veterans are a unique and broad group of wheelchair users, due in large part to the diversity amongst veterans themselves, as veterans include people of all ages, genders, races, and backgrounds.
In fact, the commonplace use of wheelchairs amongst veterans has prompted the formation of non-profit organizations and groups such as Wheelchairs for Warriors that serve to support and assist wheelchair-bound veterans. Therefore, when it comes to veterans using wheelchairs, they may require them for several reasons, such as injuries caused in the line of duty, aging amongst older veterans, or many others.
Given the unique and numerous reasons why veterans might require a wheelchair, finding the best products may feel like a daunting task. With that in mind, we’ll break it down for you and outline the top five wheelchairs from our catalog that best suit veterans. These wheelchairs have been reviewed and ranked among the top five based on their utility, reliability, cost-effectiveness, and most importantly, the feedback of customers for each product.
 | 1) Karman Tranzit Go Foldable Lightweight Power Wheelchair by Karman Healthcare View Product |
Before we begin our top five list, let’s review a few of the important features to keep an eye out for in each of the wheelchairs. Depending on the veteran’s needs, these features may be crucial in a wheelchair.
Whether a wheelchair is manually operated or moved using electric power at the push of a control stick is crucial to recognize in a product. As we will see in the top five wheelchairs presented in this article, the majority of wheelchairs that are recommended for veterans are operated electrically. This makes them easier and safer to use because it significantly reduces the potential for injury or strain while using the wheelchair.
Some wheelchairs are specially designed to be lightweight and collapsible, thus allowing them to be transported more easily than traditional wheelchairs. Because many veterans maintain active lifestyles, having the ability to quickly and efficiently fold up and transport the wheelchair can be a great benefit.
As time goes on more and more wheelchairs are featuring ergonomic designs that promote airflow and offer leg, hip, and spine support. These ergonomic designs are particularly popular for patients who spend extended amounts of time in the wheelchair, as they can help prevent common discomforts associated with that level of use.
 | Power Elevated Wheelchair Vision Sport by Merits View Product |
Elevate your accessibility and enrich your life with the Vision Sport Elevated Power Wheelchair. This elevating wheelchair brings freedom, versatility, and stability combined into one amazing power wheelchair. The elevated seat helps you regain your freedom with eye-level conversations with friends and loved ones. Additionally, the elevated seat allows you to reach countertops, cabinets, high-top tables, shelves, and so much more.
Mid-wheel drives are the most maneuverable out of all the wheel set-ups in wheelchairs. This is due to the tight turning radius, which is great for small spaces and walkways. Another benefit to a mid-wheel drive is that it offers the most natural-feeling center of gravity. The Vision Sport Elevated Power Wheelchair showcases its exceptional design through its sturdy base. It can absorb 250 pounds on the footplate without tipping forward. This makes getting in and out of the chair much easier, knowing that the footplate is trustworthy to bear your weight on.
Not only can the seat elevate, but it can also recline. The seat back can stand at an erect 90 degrees or recline to a relaxed 135 degrees, and it can stop anywhere in between. This chair can come with many optional accessories, such as an oxygen tank holder, cane & crutch holder, walker holder, foldable rear basket, canopy and variety of color fenders, swing away joystick, and a height-adjustable armrest.
 | GRIT Freedom Chair View Product |
Taking the number four rank in our top five list is the GRIT Freedom Chair. This wheelchair earns its place among the top five in large part because of its dynamic portability. As we discussed in the introduction, wheelchairs with the ability to be folded up and transported are extremely popular for groups who often lead active lifestyles: such as veterans.
The Freedom Chair’s design enables it to be easily folded in just a matter of seconds, at which point it can be stored or transported. Engineered by brilliant minds at MIT, the GRIT Freedom Chair revolutionizes mobility with its groundbreaking lever propulsion system. This innovative design isn't just smart - it's a game-changer, offering nearly double the efficiency of traditional manual wheelchairs. Get ready to experience freedom like never before!
Joining its impressive portability, the Freedom Chair also offers customers a wide range of optional features. These include options such as anti-tip bars and extra axles, steering pegs, and lever wraps, among many others. These options allow customers to design the wheelchair to their exact needs.
 | Liberator Electric Power Wheelchair with optional overhead Companion Solar Panel from Solar Mobility | Made in the USA! View Product |
Perhaps one of the most unique wheelchairs in our top five: the Liberator Solar Power-Assisted Wheelchair from Solar Mobility claims the number three position. As its name implies, the Liberator Solar Power wheelchair uses a solar panel canopy that harnesses the sun’s energy to constantly charge the wheelchair’s battery. This consistent charging means that the Liberator wheelchair has one of the longest battery run times of any powered wheelchair on the market.
Beyond the obvious benefit of supplying power to the wheelchair, the solar panel canopy also provides the wheelchair user protection from the elements, as it is held as a canopy above the chair that offers shelter from poor weather.
Another benefit of the Liberator chair is its active seat ventilation. This innovative technology provides consistent air circulation through the seat, which helps to prevent moisture buildup and reduces the risk of developing sores from extended periods of sitting. Given the Liberator’s long battery life, this is particularly important, as people can spend more time in the wheelchair than they can with other products.
 | LiteRider Envy - Compact Power Wheelchair by Golden Technologies View Product |
Claiming the number two rank in our top five list is the LiteRider Envy Power Mobility Chair by Golden Technologies. This wheelchair earns its place thanks in large part to its ability to provide high-quality features at a lower price than most of its competition. This makes it distinctly the most cost-effective wheelchair in the top five.
The LiteRider Envy is a rear-wheel drive wheelchair that features a vinyl-covered seat that is designed for comfort and breathability. Its 22 amp battery is capable of traveling up to 15.5 miles between charges: a respectable range that is competitive with many other wheelchairs.
One unique feature of the LiteRider is its portability. Where many portable wheelchairs can be folded up, the LiteRider is designed to be broken down into four easy-to-carry pieces. This four-piece arrangement means that the wheelchair can maintain a dense, heavy weight when assembled, which provides stability. However, when broken down, the heaviest piece is just 35 pounds! This makes the LiteRider easily portable while remaining sturdy when fully assembled.
 | Karman Tranzit Go Foldable Lightweight Power Wheelchair by Karman Healthcare View Product |
Earning the title of number one in our list of wheelchairs for veterans is the Tranzit Go Foldable Lightweight Power Wheelchair by Karman Healthcare. It earns this title because it combines the benefits of almost every other product in our top five into one chair!
One of the most frequently praised features of the Karman Tranzit is its lightweight design. With the batteries included, the wheelchair weighs just 51 pounds: significantly less than most other wheelchairs on the market. Joining this, the wheelchair’s frame is quickly and easily folded for quick and efficient transport.
The wheelchair is fully padded and designed to provide maximum support and stability to the patient. Additionally, the Tranzit’s design allows it to operate both indoors and outdoors easily. This supportive and adaptable design is another of the wheelchair’s popular features!
The power wheelchairs in our list were ranked with significant consideration given to the customer feedback on each product. When it comes to the Karman Tranzit, there was an overwhelmingly large amount of positive feedback from customers with almost no negative notes at all.
With its features and its ratings by customers all considered, the Tranzit Go Foldable Lightweight Wheelchair by Karman Healthcare clearly earns its place as the number one wheelchair for veterans available from our catalog through its ability to accommodate an active veteran lifestyle through its portability, comfort, and innovative design.
For more information about the wheelchairs featured in this top five article or to browse other articles, be sure to visit us at Caregiver University! And for even more caregiver and educational resources, check out our continuing education courses on RehabMart Academy!
Co-Founder of Rehabmart and an Occupational Therapist since 1993. Mike has spent his professional career working in multiple areas of Occupational Therapy, including pediatrics, geriatrics, hand therapy, ergonomics and inpatient / outpatient rehabilitation. Mike enjoys writing articles that help people solve complex therapeutic problems and make better product choices.
