Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)KI have owned this chair for two weeks now, and have really been enjoying it. The ergonomic seat is the most comfortable I have ever sat in, the large back wheels make the ride very smooth, and the weight is unbeatable. The 16 inch version weighs about 17 lbs, less than the 18lbs advertised. I am a very short person, and this chair fits me like a glove. I am not sure how it would do with a taller user. The upholstery looks very nice, and has a nice thin pad. The chair feels remarkably sturdy, and it is clearly well made. The double cross braces make the entire chair feel more reliable than cheaper chairs, such as the drive travel and transport chairs. I bought a lumbar support for this chair, but unless you have severe spine problems like me, I doubt it would be necessary. I love the low profile and stylish look of this chair. I took it to a rave this weekend and only got compliments. This is a great little chair.
That said there are a few things that are slightly problematic. The footrests are very difficult to adjust the height of, and only have two options. While the top option works great for me, it might not fit a taller rider. The foot rests are also stiff to swing up, so you need to bend over to open them with your hands when you exit the chair. Secondly, the chair has a rather forward center of gravity, so, despite the large 6 in front casters, the chair does not like to roll over bumps higher than a half inch without being tipped by the assistant, which is also a bit difficult for the aforementioned center of gravity. The back wheels, however, will roll over almost anything, so you can always have your assistant go backwards over bumps. I had been planning to install frog leg suspension onto the front legs to solve this problem, but according to karman, because of the weight saving way the bearings of the casters are manufactured, frog legs are incompatible. I might buy them anyway and see if I can Jerry rig something to make it work. One other disappointment is that the optional carrying bag that some sites advertise is not available in the USA, and drive's transport chair bag does not fit very well, as the chair folds up a bit wider than most transport chairs, due to it's double cross braces, padded seat, and large rear wheels. However, with a little effort I believe this problem can be solved. The final and probably most important problem with this chair is that it does not have a DME code, and therefore is not covered by any American insurance. The model is fairly new so that may change in the future.
There are a few other chairs on the market that are similar to this chair, but none have all of the good attributes that this chair has. Nonetheless, I will list the competitors, and the most basic differences that lead me to choose the Karman, a choice that I wholeheartedly stand by. First there is the other ergonomic transport chair that karman produces. It is very similar, but weighs about 8 pounds more (with riggings), and does not fold up as small. Price is comparable. Second is Troy Technologies pioneering travel chair. This chair is more expensive, has smaller weeks, and less back support, but is more customizable, and folds up into a tiny package. The only other chairs that are similar in weight and function to the Ergo lite are by Drive medical. The drive super light, fly- light, travelite, and expedition. These chairs are significantly less expensive, but all suffer from "you get what you pay for" syndrome. They are quite uncomfortable, and don't last very long. However, if you are strapped for cash, they are a good option.
Overall, the karman ergo lite is a great compromise, and a very well put together product. I see many years of good use in the future.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Karman S-2501 ErgoLite - Super Light Weight 18" x 17" Transporter / Wheelchair
No comments:
Post a Comment