Frequently Asked Questions

Hannah and Yvonne Babb at CampAbility in the AdvenChair hiking wheelchair

The AdvenChair Team looks at trails at Smith Rock State Park

Have a question about the all-terrain wheelchair, the AdvenChair?

There’s a good chance you’ll find it answered below. If not, feel free to ask and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

  • We are now taking orders for our 2025 production run.

  • The AdvenChair 3.2 prototype is available for rent and demonstrations in Bend, Oregon. Contact us at info.advenchair@gmail.com if you would like to be alerted about Demo Days or would like to make other arrangements.

  • Yes, it is currently rentable in Bend, Oregon directly through AdvenChair and will soon be available at other locations in Central Oregon. GO HERE to see rates and request a rental.

  • The retail price is $11,950. The AdvenChair is a premium adventure wheelchair built to withstand rugged wilderness trails, yet converts to a standard wheelchair to navigate through tables and chairs in the restaurant at the end of the day. Built with durable high-end mountain bike components that can be easily repaired or replaced at any mountain bike shop, it is designed to give you years, even decades, of reliable use, with proper care and maintenance. GO HERE for more details and options as well as to purchase.

  • There are many organizations that can provide help to individuals, groups and facilities who would like to purchase an AdvenChair hiking wheelchair. We’ve compiled a list of some of those organizations that you may contact to request help in your purchase. See our page on Funding Opportunities.

  • The AdvenChair comes equipped with low-pressure 2.8” tires that handle packed snow and sand very well. However, the wheels can accommodate 3.5” tires if desired.

  • The weight without the front wheel is 55 lbs., and 63 lbs. with it attached. The frame width is 31", length is 48-1/2" in wheelchair mode and 74” in all-terrain mode, the height is 44-1/4" with the handlebars at the highest point. Folded up, with the wheels removed and handlebars lowered, the AdvenChair measures 31” x 24” x 44”. There is a minimum of 6-1/2” of clearance under the foot plate and the wheelbase is 28-1/2” (with 2.8” tires). The ground to seat height is 21”.

  • The AdvenChair can be pushed easily by one person on a generally flat or mildly hilly trail. For steep, rocky terrain with tight switchbacks, as many as five people may be needed. Important variables to consider are the weight of the rider, strength and number of the driver and pullers, the slope, trail width and surface, and the size and number of rocks and roots. The large wheels easily roll up and down curbs and over roots and rocks.

  • Individual needs will vary but the AdvenChair comes equipped with lap and chest straps, arm rests and hand grips. A headrest, alternative footrest are available options.

  • No. The AdvenChair relies entirely on human power.

  • The AdvenChair is designed for those with limited arm and upper body strength to be pushed and pulled by one or more people. If strong enough, a rider could propel it for short distances, such as maneuvering around tables, campfires, parking lots, and restrooms. It does not have hand rims so the rider will push on the 2.8” low-pressure tires. Also, the AdvenChair weighs 60 lbs. unloaded and would be very hard to push for any distance. Someone with good arm strength may want to check out an all-terrain handcycle.

  • The AdvenChair is a “2-in-1 Chair for Life” in that it easily converts from the three-wheeled all-terrain mode to wheelchair mode to help transfers and to be used indoors. The frame will accommodate different size seats, allowing a family to switch out the seat as a child grows, or enabling a camp, program or outfitter to fit different sized riders with one chair.

  • People with disabilities are allowed to use wheelchairs within wilderness areas. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 reaffirmed that nothing in the Wilderness Act should be construed as prohibiting the use a wheelchair, as long as it is not motorized and the individual has a disability that requires it. So if you happen to see tire tracks in a wilderness area, chances are it was an AdvenChair.

  • Absolutely! At 31” wide in wheelchair mode, the AdvenChair easily fits through doors, allowing access to restaurants, elevators, hotel rooms, and ADA restrooms.

  • The AdvenChair can easily be disassembled for transport from home to trailhead and back again. The front and rear wheels can be removed, the small caster wheels folded, and the handlebars shortened to fit into a vehicle. With the wheels removed and handlebars lowered the AdvenChair measures 31” x 24” x 44”.

  • The AdvenChair comes in one standard frame size but four seat sizes in the new fiberglass seating system: Small(12”), Medium(14”), Large (16"),and Extra Large(18")wide and will carry up to 250 lbs. Children can grow with an AdvenChair simply by graduating to a larger seat, rather than buying a whole new chair, greatly extending the investment.

  • The seat back is adjustable with ratchet straps from 45 to 120 degrees. The seat moves 5” fore and aft with a possible tilt adjustment of 0 to 16° in 4° increments. The footrest is adjustable to multiple lengths and angles to fit various sizes of riders.

  • The armrests adjust 2” vertically and the handgrips move 4” fore and aft.

  • An optional headrest is available.

  • The design uses mountain bike components, which are stronger, less expensive, and more readily available than wheelchair parts, including frame geometry, through-axles, disc brakes and tires. A mountain bike inner tire suspension system dampens shock.

  • Standard bike tools and parts, available at any bike store, are all that is necessary for maintenance and repair. If you’re not a “do-it-yourselfer,” you should be able to have most repairs handled at a local bike shop. They can also provide you with the appropriate cleaning products and tools, the same as would be used on a mountain bike.

  • No.

  • The AdvenChair has been to Machu Picchu in Peru and the Camino de Fatima in Portugal. It has tackled a variety of trails in wild places, including rough terrain in Smith Rock and Pilot Butte state parks in Oregon, Mt. Rainier, Glacier, Crater Lake, Saguaro, and Grand Canyon national parks, and other public lands in the western U.S. as well as sandy beaches in California and Oregon.

  • The Onward Project inspires, encourages and enables outdoor adventures for people of all abilities and the AdvenChair allows people with limited mobility to explore wild places and tell their own stories.