Mobility Scooter or Electric Wheelchair: What's Better?

Jan 14, 2020Dian Templeton0 comments

When looking for a new mobility aid it can be a pretty tough decision to choose one. There are just so many options when it comes to both wheelchairs and scooters! So deciding between one or the other can help you pinpoint what suits your needs best. What's better then, mobility scooter or electric wheelchair? Here we'll cover some info for you to help you in your decision and settle the debate once and for all…





So What’s Better?





It's a hard choice between the two, as they're both great mobility aids.




Well, both have their distinct advantages and disadvantages, differences between models notwithstanding. Really, this is a tricky question that may ultimately be answered by the most important thing of all; your needs. The best way to figure that out is to take a look and compare the two. So, let’s dive in and take a look shall we?





The Mobility Scooter





Scooters like the Aviator by one of the world's leading brands, Heartway, are designed for comfort and ease of use.




Mobility scooters are a great option for a mobility aid. But again, it all depends on your needs and what your typical day looks like. They are best suited for people who are semi-mobile, as some of them aren't as suited to inside the home unless looking at a portable, travel range scooter. We have a very wide range of scooters to choose from to suit your individual needs. They all have different advantages but in general a scooter you sit on and an electric wheelchair you sit in.





Bulky and Tough...





The Heartway Golf is a powerful scooter, ideal for use as a gold buggy.




Generally larger and tougher, these bad boys are designed to take you where you need to go. They are most suited to those who can walk short distances as they are harder to take with you on public transport, planes, in the car, or move about inside the house. In saying that, some models are well designed for portability. The smallest (The Heartway Easy Move) being only 18.5kg. So, don't let that be the deciding factor!





Traversing Difficult Terrain





The Heartway Vita X is a fantastic Heavy duty semi-all-terrain mobility scooter.




If you're traversing some difficult terrain on a regular basis, there's a whole range of scooters that are suited to do this. We stock a range of semi-all terrain scooters for this purpose. You can even use some of them as a golf buggy! Even better, they are designed with comfort in mind.





A Wide Range





The Heartway Brio 4 is designed with travel and portability in mind.




There are a wide range of scooters designed for different purposes:





  • Semi-All Terrain
  • Large Scooters
  • Mid Size Scooters
  • Portable Scooters




The Electric Wheelchair





Invented in 1953 by George Klein to assist injured Veterans after World War II, the electric wheelchair has been a reliable mobility aid for many years. They come in many shapes and sizes, with their own advantages and disadvantages. Let's take a more extensive look.





Turning Radius





Electric wheelchairs generally have a better turning radius.





Size





The Heartway P35 Chase is perfect for travel.




Electric wheelchairs can vary in size. We offer a range of smaller more portable electric wheelchairs. Even ones that fold down! So you won't have as much trouble getting about and accessing places designed for manual wheelchairs.





Comfort





For those who need more support and have trouble sitting upright on their own, a wheelchair is more suited as, while still incredibly comfortable, scooters are more designed to sit upright with less support. Again, though, if you aren't faced with these issues you may actually find a scooter more comfortable. It is absolutely all up to your individual needs.





So What is Better; Mobility Scooter or the Electric Wheelchair?





The answer to this question depends entirely on your needs.




The fact of the matter is, there is no real answer to this question. Your answer depends entirely on your individual needs and your personal preferences. The best way to figure out which is best for you is to contact our friendly team, and even come in for a demo so that we can find what suits you best. The answer may surprise and delight you.




More articles

What The Typical NDIS Process Looks Like
Jan 07, 2020
Applying for NDIS funding can be a daunting task. We've outlined the typical NDIS process for you to help you through it.
Can I Drink and Ride My Mobility Scooter?
Jan 16, 2020
Many of us enjoy the great Aussie past-time of going down to the local pub...