Bags for wheelchairs

[rhonhod]

My 12 year old DS will be using his wheelchair when we visit in June. Does anyone know where I can purchase a bag to put on the back of his chair? I have tried to talk to the wheelchair company we ordered the chair from about a bag and extender bars.( I'm 5 ft and DH is 6'3 and it is very hard on him to bend over and push DS.) When I seen the chair for the first time I told the guy I hated it and wanted to return it and he said I couldn't. (DH and DS went and picked the chair while I was at the doc.)

 

[BillSears]

Many people use just a standard backpack and hook the straps over the push bars. I tried that at first but I didn't like feeling the straps on my back and it distorted the back fabric. Then I started using various backpacks/bags etc that I modified to clip onto the chair. I have a Quickie 2 wheelchair and at the top of the fabric are 2 pieces of leather with a steel grommit in them. I slide 2 D snap hooks into the grommit and attach the 2 strap holders of the bag to the snap hooks. When the bad doesn't have a strap holder that will work for this I use round key rings to bridge the gap between the D snap hooks and the bag.

This arrangement allows me to easily remove the bag whenever I want to and doesn't have anything pressing into my back.

I can't find a good picture of me from behind, really who takes pictures of their backs, but here is a side view. You can see the clip on part of the bag to the chair.

Right now I'm using a soft sided lap top case as my "backpack". It is just the right width for me and works well. it's similar to this one.

http://www.ebags.com/jansport/super..._brief/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=76655

 

[Angelrider]

I use a laptop computer bag I purchased at Walmart

 

[Lachesis00]

We use a backpack too. I don't feel any different with or with out it (I have a cheapie chair at the moment, but am still waiting on my electric one... we're going into the third month--keeps telling me they are waiting on insurance). I am not so sure my current set up will work with the electric wheelchair.

 

[pugdog]

Google Advantage bag. They don't sell them direct anymore but there are several sites online that sell them. They are designed for use on the back of a wc. They have a couple of different ways to hang it and several types of pockets both inside and outside of the bigger bag.

 

[SueM in MN]

We've always just used a backpack for DD's wheelchair. She has a solid back on her chair so she can't really feel the backpack other than a small part of the strap. One advantage to using a backpack is that if you have to remove the bag (like to take it on the airplane), it is easy to sling over a shoulder.
I know some people who changed the straps around on a regular backpack so that they are smaller and just fit across the push handles.

There are a lot of different wheelchair bags online, but a lot depends on what you are looking for - one compartment or more than one. If you search for wheelchair +bag OR wheelchair +backpack, you can find a lot.

 

[Chuck S]

We use a standard large tote bag that is about the same width as the chair. We modified it by sewing loops of matching ribbon on the right and left side to hook over the chair push handles.

 

[rhonhod]

Thanks everyone for all your help. I do appreciate all the advice.

 

[shovan]

If you are going to be flying, you might not want to purchase anything with too many pockets. They already slow you down enough if you are in a WC, you don't want to make it any worse!

 

[slkant]

We used an Advantage Bag, the WH160 modeel.

http://www.advantagebag.com/advantagebag_005.htm

It worked very well. I use a power wheelchair, and we purchased two different kinds of straps. One set fit over the seat, while the other could be looped over a bar or the arm of the chair.

 

[KPeveler]

there are some pretty good choices on amazon.com too, not too expensive