In a Nutshell:
The Boma 7 Off Road Wheelchair is an exceptional, rugged adventure chair that can tackle even the most challenging of terrains. This is not a casual or even moderate-use chair. It’s designed for adventurers who want to go where there are no roads.
Customization options
Ease of Use
Comfort
Performance
Overall Rating
4.6/5
Benefits
Drawbacks
Recommended For: This is not a casual or even moderate-use chair. It’s designed for adventurers who want to go where there are no roads.
Do you consider yourself to be an adventurer? Has your mobility issue kept you from getting out and enjoying the wilds as you once did? Have you been looking for a way to fix that?
In our recent roundup review of the best trail wheelchairs on the market today, the Boma 7 off road wheelchair placed a solid second in the best adaptive wheelchair for hiking category.
In the following sections, you’ll see why we ranked it highly. Even if you ultimately decide it’s not right for you, we think you’ll agree; by any reckoning, this chair is a wonder. Let’s see what it can do.
About the Makers of Boma All Terrain Wheelchair
More than twenty years ago, the Boma was envisioned by engineer Chris Swift, who developed tetraplegia after suffering a neurological illness.
Not one to be easily defeated or kept down, Swift began collaborating with long-time friend Jon Anders, and the two of them created the very first Boma. Not only did it help Swift regain his mobility, but in the years since its creation, it has helped thousands of others.
Initially manufactured by Molten Rock, Swift’s own company in England—until it sadly closed its doors in 2017—the Boma design has been acquired by Equal Adventure, an equally well-respected company in Scotland that promotes inclusive adventure, sport and active lifestyles with disabled people.
This is why you would find Equal Adventure Boma and Molten Rock Boma off-road wheelchairs sold by different distributors, but they are essentially the same product. The new manufacturer upgraded the chair, which they sell as the Boma 7.75.
However, since this chair is relatively new as of this writing, we’re focusing our review on the tried-and-tested Boma 7 by Molten Rock.
Key Features of the Boma 7 All Terrain Wheelchair
In many respects, the Boma 7 off road wheelchair is similar to the more expensive Outrider. It’s a highly customizable, go-anywhere adventure chair.
It’s four-wheeled and has the general appearance of a dune buggy. You can order your Boma 7 with two basic steering configurations: handlebar or joystick control.
The handlebar option offers easy, intuitive steering, and is best for people with light to moderate mobility issues. If you only have limited use of your arms, this one’s a non-starter.
The joystick-controlled variant is much closer to a traditional electric wheelchair, so if you’ve used one before, you’ll quickly adapt to this method of steering and control and master it.
Basic Specifications of the Boma Wheelchair
Regarding basic stats, there are only a few to list, because when you place your order, you can customize just about every other aspect of the chair. Here are the basics:
Its all-tires, paired with its dune-buggy-style design make it capable of navigating just about any terrain. You won’t have to worry about going around (most) rocks or fallen limbs, just power over them and keep going!
Adjustable and More Comfortable
The seat of the Boma 7 all terrain wheelchair is adjustable, allowing you to tweak its position for optimal comfort, and reasonably well padded. This isn’t the kind of chair you’ll want to take a siesta in, but that’s not what it’s designed for.
This action chair is designed to take you places few other wheelchairs can go. If you want a leisure chair, this one isn’t for you.
Given its low seat-to-ground height, this model might not be suitable for people with specific mobility issues, as transferring into a chair that sits that low may be challenging.
On the other hand, once you’re in it, you’ll find it reasonably comfortable, and you’ll probably be having so much fun riding around in it that you won’t mind or notice how low you are sitting.
Once you get your chair, you won’t find many adjustment options beyond the seat’s positioning. Still, you have virtually unlimited freedom to customize the chair at the point of sale to ensure that what gets delivered to your doorstep is precisely what you want.
Note: In the Boma wheelchair’s stock configuration, it only has a range of fifteen miles, which is relatively modest, especially for an adventure chair. You can, of course, order additional batteries to extend the range.
Storage, Customization Options, and Extras
As mentioned above, you can customize just about every aspect of the Boma 7, so before you contact the company, you’ll want to take careful measurements to know exactly what to ask for.
While you won’t find a definitive list of “extras” you can order with the Boma all-terrain wheelchair, again, it’s incredibly customizable, and the company takes requests, so if you want something, the best thing to do is ask.
Upgrade Options
Having said that, there are a few highly popular upgrades you should be aware of. These include:
Extremely Portable
The Boma off-road wheelchair is designed to be collapsible. Although it’s too large to fit in the trunk of a sedan, if you’ve got a roomy hatchback or a full-sized SUV, you can squeeze it into the available storage space. Granted, you won’t be able to fit much else, but you can squeeze it in.
Simple, Intuitive Controls
The Boma 7 can be ordered in two configurations: a Handlebar and a Joystick.
The handlebar configuration gives you the option to manually power the chair, in much the same way that lever-action chairs like the GRIT and the ORC, which will extend the range beyond what the batteries alone will give you, subject to the limits of your strength and stamina, of course.
Whichever option you order, you’ll find the controls simple, intuitive, and easy to master. Expect to spend five or ten minutes getting used to the chair’s handling, but beyond that, there’s no learning curve to speak of.
Pros & Cons of the Boma 7 Off-Road Wheelchair
Based on our review, the Boma is supremely capable, customizable, and well-designed, just like other Magic Mobility wheelchairs. Plus, it’s a chair with a fascinating history, designed by someone who intimately understands what it is and what it means to have a mobility issue.
The only thing we don’t outright love about it is the price, and even that is understandable. You don’t get a chair like this on the cheap, and the fact that you’ll have to import it from the UK only adds to its hefty price tag.
Unfortunately, the price of the chair will put it out of the reach of many people who would want one. On the other hand, this chair will last you a lifetime. If you can make full use of its capabilities, it’s worth saving diligently for (not to mention that even though it’s pricey, it’s still significantly cheaper than the Outrider)!
Final Thoughts on the Boma 7 Wheelchair
The Boma 7 off-road wheelchair is a rugged, capable, exceptionally designed adventure chair. Even better, it hails from the UK, which means that if you live in the US, you’re likely to be the only person you know or will likely meet who will have one. That, coupled with the extreme customization, will give you a unique creation for all intents and purposes.
That said, we have to judge this model as a niche product. The simple truth is that not everyone will want or need a chair with the capability that the Boma offers.
If you’re looking for something to put around your yard in, this is way more chairs than you’ll ever need. On the other hand, if you consider yourself an outdoors person and are looking for a chair that can go almost anywhere you dare to take it, this is an excellent choice, and we highly recommend it.
Recommended Reading
Outdoor Extreme Mobility Nomad All-Terrain Power Wheelchair Review
We reviewed the Nomad All Terrain Wheelchair, the pinnacle of rugged exploration gear.
Mountain Trike Wheelchair Reviews and Ratings
Read about the rugged versatility of the Mountain Trike Wheelchair in this comprehensive review.
REFERENCES & RESOURCES
- Equal Adventure Equipment, Official Brand Website.
- Molten Rock Boma 7 Brochure.
- My Bike: Michael Bonney’s Boma 7, Cycling UK.
- All Terrain Boma7 Wheelchair, Disabled Gear.
- All-Terrain Wheelchairs: Where The Wild Things Are, Able Magazine.
- Off Road Wheelchairs – Opening Up The Great Outdoors To Everyone!, Blue Badge Style.