I think that most wheelchair users would agree with me that doing at-home cardio workouts can get a little boring. No matter how I try to change it up, every workout ends up feeling the same. My favorite way to get exercise is to push outside, but the Michigan weather does not cooperate as often as I would like. Recently I had the opportunity to try the Wheely-X, a new fitness option from South Korea-based Kangsters that aims to do for wheelchair users what Peloton did for bicycle riders.

With an elegant design and the option of Bluetooth sensors that track your every push and allow you to use your wheelchair like a controller for proprietary training software and videogames, the Wheely-X has the potential to be much more than a wheelchair treadmill. But $2,095 — the cost of the base unit — is a lot to pay for potential. I tested the Wheely-X out to see if it is worth it.

Kangsters currently offers three models, the Wheely-X Train, Wheely-X Data and Wheely-X Play, that share the same footprint but differ in terms of connectivity and interactivity. For $500 more, the Data adds a Bluetooth sensor that allows you to track your pushing in a free app. The Wheely-X Play lets users play three video games designed for the system but is currently only available for facilities. I tested the Wheely-X Data.

“Doing cardio as a quad can be really challenging, but the Wheely-X is among the best cardio machines I have used.”

The Wheely-X comes in a single large box and weighs just over 60 pounds. As a C6 quad, the size and weight kept me from unpacking and assembling it myself, but a lower quad or para should be able to handle the assembly process, assuming they can get the box where they want it and transfer to the floor. The ramps and rollers fit together cleanly and feel sturdy once assembled. The whole process took my aide about 20 minutes.

Once the hardware is assembled, you can download the Wheely-X app, available for both iOS and Android devices, and connect the battery powered sensors via Bluetooth. [Editor’s Note: The early version tested relied on two small Bluetooth transmitters. Kangsters has replaced those with the Wheely Hub, a Bluetooth box that they promise is more stable and reliable.] The Wheely-X has a small footprint, about 15 square feet, and is easy to fold up and store, making it an appealing option for people with limited space.

Using the Wheely-X is a straight-forward process. The ramps that are attached to the base have a manageable slope, making it easy to roll up backwards and into place on the rollers. Once on the rollers, the Wheely-X has safety locks that attach to the wheelchair much like tiedowns you would find in a vehicle. The hooks on the tiedowns were not big enough to latch onto the thicker parts of my wheelchair frame as instructed, but they were able to hook on to the part of the frame where the casters are attached. Tightening the locks requires you to pull on the attached rope, which could be tricky for users with limited hand function but should be doable. After the safety locks are in place, just unlock the brakes and start pushing.

I was skeptical about how it would feel to push my wheelchair on the Wheely-X, but it feels smooth and surprisingly resistance-free. As a quad who uses power assist wheels, I didn’t experience any unnecessary stress on my arms and shoulders while pushing. As a word of caution: It is important to wear the same gloves that you would wear when pushing your wheelchair for a workout. I wore a pair of gloves that were shorter than the ones I use to push outside and ended up with a nasty blister on my wrist.

The best feature of the Wheely-X that I tested is the app that pairs with the sensors and tracks workout data. The app keeps track of elapsed time, speed, distance traveled, RPMs, and calories burned. It also allows you to track each wheel individually so you can see how efficiently you are pushing. For users in rehab or those who want to refine their pushing, the feedback could be a boon.

The app stores the data from each workout so that progress can be tracked over time, and it also has several programs that can be used for different workouts. You can set interval training programs based on time or distance, plus there are sprint training, endurance training modes, and a free training mode to push at your own pace. The app also has a course training mode that takes you through a workout led by a trainer.

Unfortunately, the demo unit I received had a problem with one of the sensors that prevented me from trying the course training mode. There are many videos provided on the app that can take you through a variety of workouts as well. As of the time I am writing this, the text on the app is partially in English and partially in Korean, though the app is intuitive to use, and the language was not an issue for me.

The workouts I did during my time with the Wheely-X were very effective from a cardio point of view. Most of the time when I work out, it is difficult to elevate my heart rate much higher than 100 bpm. With the Wheely-X I could get my heart rate up to 115 to 120 bpm at times. Doing cardio as a quad can be really challenging, but the Wheely-X is among the best cardio machines I have used.

The Wheely-X is a solid option for all manual wheelchair users from beginners looking to build strength to athletes training to improve their speed and stamina. The Wheely-X would also be great for those who live in areas where the weather and terrain are not conducive to pushing a wheelchair outside year-round.

The cardio benefits of the Wheely-X are enough to consider purchasing one, but with the bare bones Train model listing at $2,095, the price is very high. If Kangsters can expand the games and interactive options (see sidebar on page TK), it would be more in line with something like Peloton, and the cost might be more justifiable. Right now, it is a quality piece of workout equipment with more features than are typically available, but it doesn’t yet offer the same experience as mainstream interactive fitness machines.

For more information, please visit wheely-x.com.

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