My walking is challenged (and deteriorating) and with that comes compromised, very poor mobility. I can no longer easily and comfortably get around under my own steam using things like Canadian crutches. Frankly, my capacity to easily and independently move around outside my home is very limited. I had reached the point where I needed something to get me mobile again. And the Freedom Chair DE08L Premium Lite Sport has done just that.
The Freedom Chair is a well designed and considered piece of equipment. It is packed with a number of positive features (check out the description on Portable Mobility’s website) but for me there are a few stand-outs:
• Its portability. The Freedom Chair is light and it does fold up into a quite compact unit – a real space-saver. But its very best feature is its ability to be easily split into two, lightweight parts which can be loaded into a vehicle. The Freedom Chair has taken my independence to another level; now I can travel. I strongly recommend watching the 48 second instructional video on how to split the chair – invaluable.
• Its manoeuvrability through narrow passages (the aisle in a small shop for example) and excellent turning circle (almost on a dime). With a bit of practise you can get yourself out of some pretty tight spots.
• Its simplicity to control. The chair required little time initially to get a feel for its operability. And I have no experience with a joy stick.
• Its ability to negotiate fairly ‘lumpy’ ground; you are not confined to smooth paths – a bonus when you live in regional Australia. The front castor wheels are surprisingly ‘sure-footed’.
• Its power. The chair deals with the steep, the rough and the gravelly comfortably. Also, the ability to add additional battery power is reassuring. My Freedom Chair has allowed me to once again enjoy the everyday things like getting into the garden, joining my husband and friends on a walk, doing a grocery shop, popping down to the post office or hanging out the washing. Yes, they’re enjoyable because until now those things were either difficult or impossible. Now I can return to the local primary school and spend time with the kids helping them with their reading. And I’m not exhausted and aching at the end of the day.
But the best thing about my Freedom Chair is that now I can enjoy travelling again. The chair comes with us ‘camper-vaning’. We are able to break the chair down into its two parts and easily put it into the back of our vehicle – we didn’t have to remove the fridge! It takes only a couple of minutes and re-assembling the chair is just as easy. Unfortunately, I can’t lift the parts into or out of our vehicle but my husband can, comfortably. And it doesn’t put any strain on his back.
I am enjoying rediscovering my independence with the Freedom Chair – it is a credit to its designer and manufacturer. Portable Mobility are a joy to deal with. Steve patiently answered my seemingly end-less questions. My Freedom Chair arrived quickly and I was able to negotiate the delayed delivery of an additional battery without any fuss.
Below is a picture showing how Amanda packs the Freedom Chair into the car:
Amanda Lawson
Goulburn. NSW.
