RGK Launches in the U.S. With a Wheelchair That Weighs Less Than 9 Pounds


Woman in manual wheelchair wearing black dress playing with two young girls on patio.

U.S. wheelchair users now have access to some of the United Kingdom’s most innovative custom-fit manual chairs and accessories, thanks to a partnership between UK-based wheelchair manufacturer RGK and Sunrise Medical North America.

The flagship product of RGK’s U.S. lineup is the Octane Sub4, a rigid titanium wheelchair, custom-fit to every user and guaranteed to weigh less than 8.8 pounds. To achieve this low weight, nearly every part of the Sub4 frame is fixed — no adjustments — and they’ve saved weight on a component-by-component basis. Side guard and wheel lock mounts are titanium and welded to the frame. RGK partnered with Spinergy to make a number of exclusive components, like sideguards, footplates and front caster wheels, out of “cast carbon fiber,” an advanced manufacturing technique that they say creates a more impact-resistant material.

sideview of Octane sub 4 with Spinergy carbon wheels.
The Octane Sub 4 takes minimalism to a whole new level.

In addition, every Sub4 is made to measure, from ergonomic seating length to frame taper to front caster position, all based on the user’s needs. With their “Genius Program,” an RGK design expert works with the user’s seating team, whether ATP or clinicians, to ensure the chair is optimized for the individual. “If it’s not done properly, we’ll build you another chair. Period,” says Jim Black, RGK’s director of strategic accounts and business development, and a wheelchair user himself.

RGK also offers the Octane FX, a titanium chair that performs like a rigid frame, but with a unique folding mechanism. The footplate and casters fold under the seat pan, shrinking the frame dimensions enough that it can fit into an airline overhead luggage bin. Even with the folding mechanism, the listed frame weight is only 12 pounds.

RGK Octane FX without wheels and with front frame folded under.
The Octane FX’s unique folding mechanism is designed with travel in mind.

“I don’t compromise with my manual mobility, [so] why would I expect others to? Good is not good enough. We are committed to making a better product than we are obligated to for the well-being of our customers,” says Josh Anderson, a manual wheelchair user and vice president of business development at Sunrise Medical North America.

Large front caster wheel attached to chrome wheelchair frame.
The FrontWheel attaches at the front of the frame and works with most rigid footplates.

The FrontWheel is an off-road wheel attachment similar to the FreeWheel but with a few unique features. Thanks to two minimalistic frame mounts, the FrontWheel attaches only at the front of the footplate, making it compatible with a wider variety of footplates. This also eliminates the need for spreading the feet apart to accommodate the attachment mechanism, like with the FreeWheel. Another feature of the FrontWheel is the casters stay off the ground when backing up.

Lastly, RGK offers an array of sports wheelchairs, from elite-level basketball, tennis and rugby chairs to adjustable beginner and program-ready sports chairs.

To learn more about all of RGK’s U.S. offerings, including pricing, specifications and insurance coverage, visit the Sunrise Medical website.


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Debbie
Debbie
1 year ago

What weight of a person can use this?

Mike Ochoa
Mike Ochoa
1 year ago

I like more information on the chair

howard
1 year ago
Reply to  Mike Ochoa

DO THEY MAKE POWER CHAIRS

June Bravo
June Bravo
1 year ago

How much is this

Chris Jordan
Chris Jordan
1 year ago
Reply to  June Bravo

I saw 2 prices at the site: $5495. and $7995. Odd! Can’t be right! I was looking for price and current availability.

Mike Hill
Mike Hill
1 year ago

I’d love to have a chair. Lightweight would make a huge difference.

Brian B
Brian B
1 year ago

I love the idea of some competition to the freewheel, but the design of the frontwheel looks very clunky and over-engineered to me.