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Are you looking for the best wheelchair covers for travel to protect your travel wheelchair?
Then you want to check our amazing buying guide to find the right fit for you!
We’ve narrowed your options to just a handful that tick off all the right boxes.
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Table of Contents
The Best Wheelchair covers for Travel: A Quick Buying Guide
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all those chair covers on the market. So, let’s talk more about the features you should look for when getting chair covers.
1. Durability
The most important thing about a chair cover is its durability. If it’s flimsy, thin, or tears easily, it won’t do a good job protecting your travel wheelchair.
You should look for something made of thick, high-quality material that provides adequate cushioning during transport to prevent chipping, scratching, or bending.
2. Portability
The best chair covers are light, portable, and easy to store away when you don’t need them. They also don’t take up much space when folded.
Moreover, look for wheelchair covers/bags with convenient shoulder straps and sturdy handles that make transport easy.
3. Waterproof
You want your wheelchair cover/bag to be waterproofed. Tons of things can go wrong during transport, and something might get splashed over your wheelchair.
Why Do You Need a Wheelchair Cover?
At first, getting a chair cover/bag for travelling might seem unnecessary because it’s something you might rarely use.
But even if you’re not planning on traveling by plane/car soon, it’s still an excellent idea to have a mobility travel bag for emergencies and a wheelchair carrier.
Power chairs and manual wheelchairs are expensive to replace, and you don’t want your chair to get scratched or bent. Even short trips by car/plane can do severe damage to the frame.
Moreover, leaving your chair uncovered means it accumulates dust, dirt, and bacteria. In this way, you increase your chances of exposure to viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
Also, think about how many people are going to handle your chair during your trip. It’s far easier to wash the cover than disinfect the chair.
How Does a Cover Protect Wheelchairs During Travel?
Wheelchair covers/bags are designed to cushion your chair so that it arrives without scratches or chipped parts. It also ensures that removable parts don’t get loose or lost during transportation.
Most chair covers are also made of waterproof fabric so you don’t have to worry about your chair getting wet or moist when it’s raining.
Moreover, they protect your chair from UV rays that might damage the seat or the tires. Not to mention that if you leave your chair in the sun, it’s going to get hot pretty quickly.
Top 3 Best Wheelchair Covers For Travel
Renting a chair might not be possible when traveling, or you might not be comfortable using a borrowed one.
Naturally, you start worrying about how you will travel with a wheelchair during the trip and if you need travel insurance plans if something goes wrong.
We all know how airlines and public transportation systems handle baggage and wheelchairs aren’t something that you can afford to get lost or damaged.
But having a chair bag/cover might make all the difference and allow you to transport your chair in one piece to your destination.
Let’s look at our top 3 picks in detail.
The Best 3 Wheelchair Covers for Travel
Since there’s a wide variety of wheelchairs, there’s no universal size for covers. So, consider the cover’s dimensions well before you purchase.
Otherwise, you risk getting a cover that’s too small for your chair or one that’s too big and provides little cushioning.
Now, let’s see our top three picks and what makes them stand among all other models and brands.
1. Vive Rollator Travel Bag – for Folding Walker, Compact Wheelchair Transport Chair
Do you travel by plane often? Then Viva has you covered with their travel bag, which is suitable for most folding walkers, transport chairs, and rollators.
Since this travel tote is TSA-approved, it’s one of the best wheelchair covers for air travel. You can forget worrying about the screening process at the airport.
Let’s check the pros and cons, then we’ll talk a bit more about why I like it so much.
Benefits
- dual-zippered cover
- affordable price
- sturdy handles
- extra storage space
- waterproof
- lightweight
Cons
- too large for some models
- some complaints that it’s shorter than other models
Thoughts & Recommendations
The Viva Travel Bag is made of lightweight, waterproof material to withstand frequent trips without breaking apart and provide adequate cushioning.
No matter how much turbulence you experience in the plane, you can be confident that your chair will remain in one piece and won’t get dusty or wet.
Another reason why we like this travel bag so much is the adjustable padded shoulder strap with a quick-release buckle so that you carry it without any discomfort.
You’ve also got sturdy handles with a padded wrap to hold the handles together and dual zippers to easily open/close the bag.
The zippers also give you quick access if you need to retrieve something from the bag, and their tasselled design ensures a comfortable grip.
Customers also note that the Viva transport bag/cover has large exterior pockets for extra storage space and convenience. You can use them to store your detachable wheelchair parts.
Moreover, you don’t have to worry about storing this protective cover because it folds down and doesn’t take up much space.
The Viva product dimensions are 35” by 26” by 9.5”, so make sure that you measure your wheelchair well before you order.
Some users note that the bag is too large for their wheelchair and that there’s too much space to cushion the chair.
However, you get a 60-day money-back guarantee so that you can get try this chair cover for travel and see if it works for you.
2. NOVA Medical Products Extra-Large Carry & Travel Bag for Rollator
If you need trip protection for rollator walkers, foldable wheelchairs, or travel chairs, you can’t go wrong with Nova Medical Products and their extra-large travel bag.
Benefits
- weighs one pound
- easy to clean
- dual zippers
- vinyl upholstery
- waterproof
- adjustable strap
Cons
- no tie-downs
- not enough cushion for some users
- not suitable for chairs with fixed backs
Thoughts & Recommendations
Since it’s made of vinyl, this mobility cover is durable, light, and waterproof. These features make it suitable for air travel, especially gate-checking and wheelchair storage.
Moreover, this travel bag has an adjustable carrying strap for comfort and convenience. Users also like removing the strap and carrying the bag by its handles.
We also like this wheelchair cover for travel because you can clean it quickly with a damp cloth when it gets dirty. It also folds down to an easy-to-store size of 9″W x 11″L and 2.5″ D.
Furthermore, the dual zippers with key rings make it easy to open/close the bag and get to your chair when you need it.
Unfortunately, you have to remove the walker’s handles before you place the chair in the bag, and it’s not suitable for transporting chairs with fixed backs.
Otherwise, Nova mobility covers fit all walkers, folding chairs, and transport wheelchairs, except for the Nova Mighty Mack Rollator. Bag measures 35″W x 26.5″ x 9″D.
However, customers have noted that this travel bag doesn’t cushion their chair enough and that there are no tie-downs for the removable parts and wheels.
Some also note that the product description and measurements are incorrect.
3. Mobility Power Chair Transport Cover
Since Mobility Power is one of the leaders in the wheelchair market, we can’t miss them when discussing the best chair covers for travel.
Their option is pricier than the others on this list, but it has a few excellent features that have you covered, no matter if you’re going on a road trip or flying to the other part of the world.
Benefits
- works with power wheelchairs
- Velcro slits designed to work with ramps
- tie-downs help secure it, regardless of how you’re traveling
- suitable for all wheelchairs
Cons
- expensive
- not durable enough for constant daily use
Thoughts & Recommendations
For starters, Mobility Power’s product is made of strong material, so you don’t have to worry about replacing the bag after a few trips. Your wheelchair also will be in perfect condition upon arrival.
However, some users complain that it’s not durable enough for everyday use, as it tore after about 4-6 months.
Users also like the tie-down straps that give it a sense of security, especially when travelling by truck.
It’s also designed to fit power wheelchairs rather than smaller transport chairs.
The price is steeper than other models, but it’s well worth it for protecting even more expensive mobility aids.
Conclusion
Having a chair cover for travel can make planning trips much easier because you don’t have to worry about safely transporting your chair.
While wheelchair covers ensure your chair gets there in one piece, most specialists recommend removing any fragile attachments that can get lost, such as armrests, side guards, seat cushions, etc.
Moreover, you should note how the flight attendants should handle your chair, especially if you have a power wheelchair.
Our Choice
Among the wheelchair covers we reviewed for you, one stands among the crowd. We’re talking about Vive and their outstanding Rollator Travel Bag/Cover.
It’s our choice because it’s large and suitable for most chair models/ brands. It’s also made of high-quality material and weighs only 2.7 pounds.
More importantly, Vive’s cover is TSA-approved, making travelling by plane much easier when you have a wheelchair to transport. It’s also affordable and has plenty of extra storage space available.
