Are a Transport Chair & a Rollabout Chair the Same Thing?

Rollabout Chairs

• Rollabout chairs are designed to provide relief from the daily strains on muscles and joints. This type of chair is not a wheelchair or a walker; it is a tri-legged stool made to glide effortlessly from one side of the room to the other. It features a large padded seat on a tubular steel frame. This chair can be used to work, clean, cook and do many other hobbies or daily activities. It can hold up to 250 pounds and adjusts from 29 inches to 34.5 inches in height.

Transport Chairs

• Transport chairs feature four small wheels and can be found in various widths and weight capacities. These chairs do not feature two small and two large wheels like regular wheelchairs, but the frame is the same as a standard manual wheelchair. Transports chairs also come with a variety of features depending on the specific type of transport chair, such as leg rests or the ability to fold the chair for storage.

Types of Transport Chairs

• Transport chairs can be found in various styles depending on the manufacturer. There are three major categories of transport/companion chairs. The standard transport chair weighs 25 pounds or more with a weight capacity ranging between 250 pounds and 300 pounds. Most of these types of chairs feature a fold-down back for compact storage. The lightweight category transport chairs weigh under 22 pounds and can be as light as 16 pounds. The weight capacity is the same as that of the standard transport chair. The heavy-duty transport chairs have a weight capacity ranging between 300 and 400 pounds.

Cost

• Transport chairs are significantly more costly than a rollabout chairs. Rollabout chair prices range between $30 and $50, while transport chair prices range between $100 and $1,000, depending on the brand and features (as of 2011). Some transport chair manufactures also allow the buyer to design and build a custom chair to assure it will meet the needs of the consumer.