6 replies to this topic

[twisted_ophelia]

Hey guys,

So I'm starting to shop around for a second backup chair and want to drop down to a 13" seat width. I borrowed a 13 x 16 chair today at Variety Village (they have an army of basketball chairs, lol) and the thing fit like a glove. I am in a 14" chair and am small enough that I still have plenty of room on either side of me. My hips are like 12.5" inches. I'd like a really narrow chair and the 13" chair today didn't leave any red marks, etc., and gave me just the right amount of squeeze. Does anyone know of any med websites that sell 13" chairs ie. like Sportaid? I don't have the money to go through an offline dealer and pay full price like I did with my Quickie Ti and the Assistive Devices Program here in Ontario won't fund a second chair so I'd be paying out of pocket. I was hoping to go through Sportaid since their prices are great but the smallest they do are 14" chairs. They do have Youth chairs but the length only goes up to 15" and I need a 16". Ideas on where to find one online? I'm also hoping to maybe track down a demo chair that is my size and for sale or get a used one as long as it has zero camber. Also, does anyone else use a 13" chair? Experiences with one?

Thanks!

[AndrewB]

Yes mimi Mcskinny I think when you get down below 14" there all custom order.. I THINK.. i'm not for certain.

[graphic]

I sat in a Top End Terminator (Invacare) when I visited the Mobility Roadshow last month. I usually use a 14"chair but the demo model felt snug so I asked the rep to measure it. The seat width was 13" but I'm not sure of the depth sorry. The Terminator is available with a 12" seat width upwards. It might be worth you getting in touch with Invacare to see if they'd be willing to sell the demo model as I can't imagine that many people wanting to demo a 13" chair. It was painted in metallic turquoise, looked really smart and the upholstery was very comfy.

[jules]

I'm in a 13" chair, I have always had mine custom built so can't really help I'm afraid, I also had some problems getting a cushion, if you have this problem mine is a Varilite Zoid.

[twisted_ophelia]

I'm thinking of calling around to various dealers to see if they have any 13" demos for sale. The problem is the length. I'm pretty tall and the chair needs to be 16" length-wise which is tough to find on a demo or used chair, plus my zero camber thing. Can camber be changed on a chair? I don't think so, right? If I can't find a used one, for my next chair that is paid for by the government (though I'll have to wait five long years for that one!), I will definitely do a 13" chair. I thought I'd be as snug as I want to be in a 14" and never thought at 13" would fit but I was totally wrong.

[HiltonP]

I've been using a 12" wide SOPUR for the past twenty years. Custom built though. It's the one real benefit of being skinny, having a chair which can slip through the narrowest of gaps!

Might be worth looking into their kids (paediatric) chairs. Their standard sizes might work for you, although you might need to double check heights, depths, etc.

[twisted_ophelia]

HiltonP, on Jul 1 2009, 03:53 AM, said:

I've been using a 12" wide SOPUR for the past twenty years. Custom built though. It's the one real benefit of being skinny, having a chair which can slip through the narrowest of gaps!

Might be worth looking into their kids (paediatric) chairs. Their standard sizes might work for you, although you might need to double check heights, depths, etc.

I already checked out the pediatric chairs and the lengths dont work. As for having something custom done, I was thinking that I wanted Tom Hernon from Back2Sports to build me a chair this year anyway and I'm sure he would have problem making a 13" chair for me. I can't afford a brand new custom chair from Colours, Ti Lite, etc., right now and the government just paid for a new chair for me in March so I've got a while before they will pay for another. I'm already really narrow and fit pretty much anywhere, especially without the knobby tires on my chair but the idea of fitting into the smallest of gaps WITH my knobby tires on is really appealing to me.