Merits Vision Sport Power Chair Review
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When you use a wheelchair most of the time, you need something versatile. The Merits Vision sports power chair is perfect for everyday use as it’ll tackle pretty much any terrain. What’s more, when you have to go indoors, this wheelchair has a compact design and a small turning radius that won’t see you stuck in a confined space. Here’s our detailed review.
Merits Vision Sport Power Chair Specs
Comfort
Where comfort is concerned, the Vision Sport has a lot to offer. If you spend long hours in your power chair then you need to know that you’re going to feel comfortable and supported at all times.
Seat
The Vision Sport is fitted with a super comfortable captain’s seat. This is certainly no standard seat and comes with a range of features that allow you to get into a position that feels right for you.
For starters, the seat can be moved forwards and backward. It also has a swivel feature which can often make it easier to get in and out of the chair or to turn when stationary should you need to.
Moreover, the seat on the Vision Sport is extremely luxurious with a good amount of padding. However, if you have slightly greater needs, perhaps if you suffer from pressure sores and need additional cushioning, it is possible to add a gel cushion for an additional cost.
But what makes the seat stand out from the crowd is the optional seat lift function. This is great if you need to reach heights that you wouldn’t normally be able to in a wheelchair. When elevated, the speed of the chair is reduced for safety so you’ll never need to worry.
Arm/Head/Foot Rests
The arm rests, headrest, and foot plate on the Vision Sport are all adjustable meaning you can further personalize the chair to suit your needs.
The headrest is height adjustable while the footplate can be flipped up when not in use. But it’s the armrests that are worth getting excited about. Not only do they flip out of the way but you can also adjust the height and angle allowing you more room in the already spacious 18” x 22” seat.
Weight Capacity
Like many other power wheelchairs, the Vision Sport can handle up to 300lbs. This is more than enough to comfortably support most average adults. What’s more, the footplate can take up to 250lbs without any risk of the chair tipping which is an excellent safety feature.
Controls & Operation
Easy operation of your wheelchair is a must in any case but if you’re going to be spending a lot of time in yours then it’s even more important.
The Visions Sport benefits from a LiNX controller that is super easy to get to grips with and features a flexible joystick and simple speed set controls. This controller can be fitted either on the left or right-hand side according to your dexterity and you also have the option to have it fixed or swing away.
Portability
The Vision Sport is not a power chair that is designed for travel, therefore it may not come as a surprise that this wheelchair does not fold away. That said, the backrest does fold all the way forward so this does make it a little easier to get the wheelchair into a vehicle.
Also keep in mind that, owing to the overall design of the Vision Sport, this is a heavy piece of equipment that weighs 184lbs.
Maneuverability
One of the brilliant things about the Vision Sport is that it is created to be used in a variety of situations. If you’re looking for a great all-round wheelchair that will handle indoor use as well as it does outdoor use then the features will certainly catch your attention.
Size
The Vision Sport is far from being the most compact power chair, but it is considerably smaller than some options out there. Measuring 24 inches by 34 inches, it’s certainly smaller than the Golden Compass that we reviewed here. This makes it more suitable for enclosed spaces such as elevators as well as narrow corridors.
Turning Radius
As well as having a generously compact design for a power chair, the Vision Sport also has a breathtakingly small turning radius, with a turning radius of just 20 inches. If you’re having to navigate tight spots around the home, this is an essential feature.
Wheels
One of the best things about the Vision Sport is its stability and much of that is thanks to the six wheel design. There are two 10 inch pneumatic mid wheels which provide great stability and a good degree of shock absorbency.
You then have two caster 6-inch caster wheels at the front and a further two at the rear. These won’t ever go flat and make maneuvering the Vision Sport smooth and hassle-free.
Drive System
The Vision Sport uses a mid-wheel drive system which is why it has that six-wheel design. This system is how the wheelchair gets its extremely compact turning radius but it also makes for a much more stable ride. If you’re looking for a versatile power chair that can be used both indoors and outdoors, a mid-wheel drive is something we’d absolutely recommend.
Incline
Most wheelchair ramps are no steeper than five degrees. That means that your wheelchair must be able to handle at least this angle. The Vision Sport has a maximum gradient of 6 degrees, so it’ll easily handle standard ramps as well as slightly steeper inclines.
Ground Clearance
If there is one thing that really lets the Vision Sport down, it’s the low ground clearance. At just two inches, we would have expected to have seen something a little more generous on a chair that claims to be able to handle a range of terrain types.
While it does have a lot of other features that successfully back up this claim, the low ground clearance means that some areas will be a no go as the chair base will be too close to the ground and could hit obstructions.
Suspension
Where the Vision Sport really does live up to its promise of being an all-terrain chair is with the suspension. The chair is fitted with both front and rear suspension which means that, even when you hit a bump in the road, the shock won’t be sent through your body. If you suffer from painful joints or backache then this is excellent news and you’re sure to have a smooth ride.
Driving Range
The Vision Sport runs on 2 powerful gel batteries, which can be charged using the side port on your chair. Once fully charged, these batteries will give you a driving range of up to 18 miles. This is great if you’re going on a day out or have a busy lifestyle that relies on a wheelchair that won’t let you down.
The other great thing about the Vision Sport in terms of how it moves is the maximum speed of 5 miles per hour. This is slightly faster than walking pace so if you need to be somewhere in a hurry, this can be a handy feature.
Safety Features
To alert others of your presence, the Vision Sport is fitted with a horn. However, there are no LED lights to visually alert others, which is something that we think could be improved upon.
That said, we love the fact that the footplate can take up to 250lbs in weight without any risk of tipping. If you need to put pressure on this part of the power chair then you can do so safely in the knowledge that there won’t be any accidents.
Another great safety feature of the Vision Sport are the electromagnetic brakes which allow for smoother stopping. What’s more, the intelligent brake system ensures that there will be no accidental movement when you stop the chair.
What We Like
The Vision Sport is a wheelchair that is optimized for indoor and outdoor use. It’ll operate well over a variety of terrains thanks to features like front and rear suspension, mid-wheel drive, ultimate stability, and a low center of gravity.
If you need a wheelchair that will go the distance then there’s nothing we like more than the Vision Sport as it boasts a massive 18-mile range on a single charge.
Using the Vision Sport in tight spaces is super simple thanks to a compact turning radius. What’s more, the overall design of the wheelchair ensures that you’ll be able to freely move about indoors.
We love the comfortable and stylish design of the Vision Sport. it certainly has the sporty look you would imagine from the name and with a sturdy, well-padded captain’s seat, you’ll always travel with a luxurious feel. What’s more, there are so many adjustments you can make to the seat that it’s total personalized comfort.
Another thing that really stands out about the Vision Sport is how user-friendly it is. The controls are seriously easy to use and when you’re not using them, there is the option to have a swing-away joystick so you can get on with other tasks.
What We Didn’t Like
There isn’t much about the Vision Sport that we have to complain about. However, there is one thing that lets it down and that’s how difficult it is to transport.
If you want a wheelchair that you’ll be able to fold down and take wherever you go then this might not be the right model for you. This hefty power chair does feature a folding backrest but this still doesn’t make it compact enough to get into the trunk of the car.
The other thing that we felt needed improvement with the Vision Sport was the low ground clearance. For a power chair that is supposed to be able to handle all terrain types, this could stand to be a little bigger and this would improve maneuverability.
Round-Up Review
The Vision Sport is a robust, durable, and reliable wheelchair that’s perfect for people who need versatility. This power chair will just as easily see you from A to B over any type of terrain as it will make your way around the home, office, mall, or any other indoor space. It does this thanks to a tight turning radius and several outdoor features such as front and rear suspension and brilliant stability.
We would recommend this as a power chair for people who need something that they can use every day without having to worry about power. With 18 miles per charge, you can go about your day-to-day business without having to stop.
That said, there may be some situations where the Vision Sport isn’t as useful. For example, it doesn’t excel as a travel wheelchair in which case you would need something that either folds to a compact size or can be easily dismantled.
Overall, the Vision Sport lives up to its promises and has all of the features we would expect from a good quality power chair.
