Drive Medical Manual Wheelchair
Image: Amazon.com

 If you want a dependable, comfortable, and practical wheelchair, the Drive Medical Blue Streak Lightweight Manual Wheelchair might be on your shortlist. The wheelchair has a 4.5-star rating and is known for its sturdy, easy handling capabilities; it offers great value for money. But does it merit all the hype? Let’s get into this more deeply.

Product Overview

Drive Medical Manual Wheelchair
Image: Amazon.com
Drive Medical Manual Wheelchair
Image: Amazon.com

Specifications

The Drive Medical BLS18FBD-ELR Blue Streak Lightweight Wheelchair meets users’ needs for an easy-to-maneuver, durable, comfortable mobility aid that is both functional and resilient. Whether for regular use or occasional outings, it performs reliably while supporting customized needs within your budget.

Key Features

Comfortable & Padded Seat:
The 18″ wide padded seat is made from nylon and is comfortable for prolonged use and easily cleaned.

Detachable Desk Arms:
The swing-back armrests make it easier for those using recliners or wheeled chairs to move themselves on and off their wheelchair, especially when moving to bed or chair.

Swing-Away Elevating Leg Rests:
The elevating leg rests are designed to decrease swelling in the legs and provide comfort for use. The leg rests can also be conveniently removed if your needs require them to be taken off, but a calf strap is included with its support in mind.

Compact & Easy to Store:
With its closed width of just 12.5 inches when folded, storage or transportation in the trunk of a compact car has never been more convenient.

Assembly & Setup: When the wheelchair arrives, it must be assembled almost completely. Only the leg rests are not attached to it; which can be done easily without tools.

It is ideal for seniors, those recovering from surgery, or anyone who needs a reliable and easy-to-use mobility aid.

What Customers Love

The Positives

Strong and well-built
Many individuals say it feels secure and trustworthy.

Simple to assemble and fold away.
The wheelchair comes mostly assembled, and customers found attaching the leg rests a quick job. It folds up for storage or transport with ease.

Comfortable seat and leg rests.
A padded seat and leg rests provide increased comfort, allowing you to sit in one position for prolonged periods.

Smooth steering:
Many reviewers mention that it rolls effortlessly, and although it’s a bit heavy, once going, it gets easier the longer it is in motion.

Extraordinary Service
After a customer who ordered a wheelchair found one of the leg rests missing, Drive Medical shipped a replacement in three days. Others reported that when problems came up, they received speedy responses and helpful support.

Areas of Improvement

Heavy for some users:
A few customers mentioned that lifting the wheelchair in and out of a car can be challenging due to its weight.

Limited seat space:
Some users found that 18-inch seats were narrow, particularly for people with wider hips. If you need more space, please switch to a 20-inch model.

Problems with leg rest adjustment:
several users had problems adjusting the rising legs. They often could not get them to lock into place and sometimes just would not.

Durability:
not all users found the wheelchair durable. Some had trouble with plastic parts wearing out over time–including the armrest catch and footrest.

Pros

  • Sturdy Build & Reliability: The majority of customers consider this a robust and well-made wheelchair. It can work well on a whole range of surfaces, sidewalks and even indoor flooring.
  • The Comfortable Seat & Leg Support The padded nylon seat and elevating leg rests make for an enveloping comfort.  Some users very much appreciate the support of the padded calf.
  • Stores & Very Convenient to Transport: It is a pleasure to fold up your chair making it convenient for storage and transport
  • A great value for money: A number of consumers were surprised to find that this wheelchair was good and yet far better priced than they’d expected.
  • Responsive Customer Service: Drive Medical has been most responsive indeed, they say, particularly in replacing defective or missing parts quickly.

Cons

  • Heavy For Some Users: Although considered light by today’s standards, a few users felt that the wheelchair was heavy when lifting them in or out of cars, for example.
  • Leg Rest Adjustments Could Be Better:  Leg rest locks are different from what is advertised. Some users found the leg rests hard to adjust. This is due to a random locking mechanism
  • Seat Size Limitations: A few customers with broader hips found the 16-inch seat a bit tight. They recommended going for an 18- or 20-inch model.
  • Minor Quality Issues: A few reports mentioned minor issues such as stickers that peel off, bolts coming loose immediately upon delivery, and the possibility that plastic armrest components will wear down with time.
  • Durability Concerns for Over-Heavy Use: Although most feedback has been positive regarding durability, some users have seen parts break or become non-functional as soon as a month after paying.

Final Thoughts

Is It Right for You? The Drive Medical Blue Streak Light Weight Wheel Chair is a good choice if you want to feel comfortable, strong, and stable on wheels. It’s perfect for short-term recovery, outing now and then, or everyday use, provided the seat width and weight agree with your needs.
While some small reservations—such as weight and leg rest adjustments are different from what was claimed on the website–the smooth ride, easy folding up, and excellent customer service make it quite a competitor in its price range. If you want an affordable manual wheelchair that delivers quality and comfort, this one is worth considering.

4.5
Overall Score

Would you buy this wheelchair? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Learn more…

Richard Mendez
Senior Writer

Passionate writer with expertise in senior care aids, committed to enhancing the lives of the elderly through informative content.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *