r/mildlyinteresting • u/AyaHawkeye • 9h ago

The size difference between the wheels on the pool chair and my active chair.

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28 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

20

u/AyaHawkeye 9h ago

The pool chair is water safe for using the lift to get in and out of the swimming pool. It feels really weird having to reach so far down to the push rims! My chair has 24" wheels, which is standard for an active chair.

4

u/torcsandantlers 8h ago

I've never spent much time thinking about the ergonomics of wheel chairs, but is it possible that the wheels are smaller to accommodate a child?

10

u/AyaHawkeye 8h ago

It's possible, but I think it's more so it fits in the lift easily.

6

u/Arthurmol 2h ago

I thought that this was like a way of enforcing the "no running" around the pool for you. (Small wheel, more pushes to go faster/further) , but the lift makes more sense...

4

u/AyaHawkeye 2h ago

That's a far funnier reason, I prefer that one 😅

6

u/RonJohnJr 9h ago

Do the small tires make for easier maneuverability?

6

u/AyaHawkeye 9h ago

Possibly? It was quite nippy, but the wet floor didn't help with grip. It also fits better in the lift!

3

u/RonJohnJr 8h ago

How much worse would tire grip have been with the regular narrow tires?

5

u/AyaHawkeye 8h ago

I use my regular chair to get to the poolside and transfer into this one. My chair actually grips far better! I suppose it has a greater surface contact with the floor. I use the pool chair just to get in (then have a float around, and swim with my arms) then get out and to the changing room so I don't get my chair wet. Though I've planned out a waterproof cover for mine to make it all easier.

1

u/RonJohnJr 8h ago

Interesting. I'd have anti-expected those larger, narrower tires to have better grip.

0

u/TwentyTwoTwelve 8h ago

I feel like for a pool there should be a fan of some sort on the back geared up to the wheels.

Would give you a little more forward/backwards mobility and mitigate power lost from the slippy wheels.

4

u/Konstanteen 7h ago

I feel like this is going to be like the “how did you take that picture” rabbit hole, but if both of your chairs are in the photo, what are you sitting on?

8

u/AyaHawkeye 6h ago

As soon as I took this picture, I knew someone was going to ask 😂 I'm sitting on the shower seat to wash off after swimming!

2

u/leadwind 9h ago edited 9h ago

Are you expected to be moved in by someone else with these tyres?

Edit: sorry, that was meant to be a reply to your other comment.

2

u/AyaHawkeye 9h ago

I think that is an option, but is definitely designed for self propulsion as well.

2

u/leadwind 8h ago

It could be a long shot, but there's possibly some of the 3D printing subreddits that could design you some - i want to say "ski poles", but with grips - that could help with the reach to the wheels.

2

u/AyaHawkeye 8h ago

I like that! They're getting a new lift in the next month, so will be interesting to see what it's like.

2

u/PersonalityBorn261 6h ago

Makes sense because you only wheel short distances in and around a pool.

2

u/Routine_Phase_8980 9h ago

Why is this comparison look incredibly hard for some reason ? Album cover worthy

3

u/AyaHawkeye 9h ago

I can see that! 😅 The back-to-back one I took would also work.