So, you’re ready to buy a portable table, but how will you decide which one is going to best fit your needs? It can be a very intimidating decision, especially when every brand has an appealing social media presence. This guide takes a deep dive into the differences and similarities of each. We’ll compare price, functionality, features, and durability so you can have confidence in your choice.
Thuli
Thuli tables are like the Cadillacs of portable tables and they come with a price tag to match. But the quality, features, and durability explain why this table is the most expensive portable table on the market. The Thuli Tour is a portable table handcrafted from oak or walnut wood. There are 4 different colors to choose from, or you can request a custom color for an additional cost. The Tour is outfitted with pelvic, thoracic, and cervical headpiece drops with adjustable tension levers. If you have a preferred side when performing side posture adjustments, you can customize which side you would like the cocking levers. This table can be upgraded to provide flexion-distraction and lateral flexion moving pieces. The Tour is designed for maximum comfort with its cushioned hand and headrests. It also has a holder for a face paper roll. Its travel features include a protective case and pull cart. Thuli’s are designed with durability in mind. They are perfect for the student who travels often or for the doctor who wants sleek tables in their practice. As mentioned before, this is the most expensive portable table with the price starting at $1550.00 and increasing with each additional feature. But the customizability and quality of design set this table far above the rest.
ChiroLux
The ChiroLux tables are one of the most popular brands among portable tables. They are extremely lightweight, weighing only 20lbs making this table ideal for travel. They have a sleek design with comfortable cushioning and an adjustable headpiece. For an additional cost, a lumbopelvic drop piece can be added to the table (the drop does add 7 lbs to the total weight). A popular feature is a lightweight backpack with rounded corners making travel compact and easy. The table is relatively easy to assemble, although the tension wires can cause confusion the first few times you unfold it. It comes with a support bar that runs down the center to prevent the table from folding in on itself when you’re moving it around a room. Although it is very sleek and lightweight, it may be too narrow and short for some patients. Instability is the biggest drawback with this table as it is not the sturdiest portable table. Some other features users don’t like include how noisy it is when in use and that the rubber feet tend to leave marks on the floor. Although it is not as customizable as a Thuli, it is about half the cost starting at $675. If you are planning to do lots of traveling, this table will fit your needs well!
LightLite
This brand features the lightest of all the portable tables. Their travel model weighs just under 20lbs. Their Sports and Innate models are slightly longer and wider and weigh closer to 30lbs. The Sports edition can support up to 650lbs dynamic resistance and 880lbs static load. Most other portable tables only come in black, but not LightLite. This brand gives you 12 fun colors to choose from! Users love the dense, comfortable cushions which provide enough support for effective adjusting. The table is very easily assembled and has only one tension cord on either side which prevents tangling. When compared to the AstraPort and ChiroLux tables, LightLite was found to be the most stable of the three. LightLites are built to endure student life and lots of travel. They are very compact when folded and come with a travel backpack that has a replacement warranty if damaged. However, many find the headpiece to be too wide and sometimes causes the patient’s face to get smashed into the wooden headrest. Also, the armrests are at an awkward angle causing some patients’ arms to go numb when lying prone after a few minutes. The carrier bag straps do rip easily and the zippers often break. The travel edition is slightly more unstable than the other two models. The locking mechanism which gives the table more support can become unstable over time and the upholstered corners tear easily. These tables are slightly more expensive than ChiroLux with the price starting at $800. If you are looking for a more stable yet still lightweight table, this one is for you.
Arena 180
The Arena 180 is the heaviest of all the portable tables, but it is also the cheapest. It comes equipped with lumbopelvic and thoracic drop pieces, a face paper holder and comfortable armrests. Many students chose this table based solely on the price, but before you buy it, consider that this table is not made for travel. It is very stable and is an ideal table for your home or to serve as a decent exam table in your chiropractic office. Although it has two drops with adjustable tension knobs, the drops often get stuck and are not always consistent. Also, the cocking levers stick out too far from the table such that they interfere with side posture adjustments. It does, however, feature dense cushioning that is supportive enough for anterior adjustments. Most other portable tables are too soft and require the additional purchase of an anterior board. This table is the most cost-effective with a price of only $375. So, if you don’t plan to move it often, this table is right for you.
Conclusion
As you have read, there are many options and features to consider when buying a portable chiropractic table. If money weren’t an issue, Thuli tables have the most features and best reviews. If you plan to travel a lot, ChiroLux or LightLite is the better option. And if you just want a basic table that stays in one place most of the time, Arena 180 is a perfect choice.
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