There’s a misconception that tubular steel wheelchair frames are heavy, and aluminum frames are light. Not surprising, engineers make large bridges out of one, and soda cans out of the other. And while it’s true aluminum is lighter by volume as a metal, that property doesn’t tell us the whole story.

To make aluminum frames strong enough, builders often make the tubes larger and thicker than steel tubes. That extra material adds extra weight, and quickly an aluminum frame can weigh just as much or more than a tubular steel one.

How can you tell the difference? There’s a quick and easy visual test for material: tubular steel tubes are always cylindrical, and usually between 1″-1.5″ in diameter. Aluminum tubes can be many shapes (square, triangular, fluted, etc) and are usually larger in diameter than steel (1.5″+).

TUBULAR STEEL WHEELCHAIR FRAMES

Aluminum frames are generally stiffer than tubular steel, resulting in a harsher ride. When your body has physical limitations and you are racked with PAIN a smoother ride counts. Tubular steel frames move and absorb while going over uneven surface areas like cobblestones and brick pavers, you do not FEEL the road while in our chair.

We can’t take all the credit of building a wheelchair out of tubular steel. We got the idea from our friends that build High-End Mountain Bike frames. Mountain Bike frames are lightweight tubular steel which helps absorb the bumps from the rocky bike trails.

SMOOTHER RIDE WITH TUBULAR STEEL

TUBULAR STEEL FRAMES DO NOT BREAK

No frame material is more durable than tubular steel. It can ding, scratch, dent, even bend, and retain structural integrity. When well made and cared for, tubular steel will last a lifetime.

The same isn’t true for aluminum. Aluminum is more brittle, so it’s more susceptible to failure through fatigue or damage. A single dent in the wrong place could render an aluminum frame unsafe to ride in. And when aluminum fails, it fails catastrophically putting the riding into dangerous situations.

DRIVING YOUR FOLD & GO RIGHT TO THE AIRPLANE

Seeing is believing. A video of us driving at the airport:

1. Our chairs are approved to drive through TSA
2. Drive right down the gangway
3. Fold it up right outside the airplane
4. Remove the joystick and take on the plane with you