Edzz
4:32pm, August 16, 2003
[Edit]
[Delete] | (From March 28th, 2003)
Hi,
I got a chance to test drive/test sit lol the iGlide chair today.
Here's my observations, in realtion to my dis & based on my own opinion.
Background on me: I'm a C5,6 quad, incomplete to weak C6 on my right side. (And yes, I TRY HARD. lol) I'm pretty tall, which is a factor with the iGlide.
The chair frame resembles that old E&J sports model (I forget the name, sorry. "Avenger" maybe?) and has a fold down backrest very similiar to my Quickie GPV. Frame is mandrel bent aluminum, it appeared to be slightly thicker than my Quickie frame stock. Backrest is adjustable from 110* down to 90*. There are no push handles available for the backrest. Max backrest height (it's adjustable) is 16 inches. It's padded, similiar to the GPV. Wheelbase is adjustable about 3 inches front to back at the rear wheels. Rear wheels are 24 inch pneumatics, no other options. Max sling size is 18x18 inches. "Tall" (longer) frame sizes are not available. The sling is solid, which I honestly didn't like how it felt beneath me. Frame color is silver only but a nice silver. Front frame "rake" is very steep like a sports chair and is great for manuvering tight areas. Brakes are push-to-lock style and are padded (a nice touch but I'd be leery how long that rubber padding lasts). Options include armrests and nylon side skirts. The chair felt very solid, compared to my 7 year old 1 million mile GPV.
It moved effortlessly. Smooth operation, ran silent. It's very touchy and requires some practice to move it straight, lol, which is a nice way of saying be prepared to be touching up your woodwork and walls. You will need lots of practice on this, much like using a conventional powerchair.
Drawbacks I saw:
The thing or feeling I got from this chair... to sum it up ... is that it was rushed to market. There's very little options, one frame color, one frame lenght (but different widths), no chest restraint belt, no push handle option, etc. "If the project takes off, I'm sure other options will become available." is what was said.
The sales rep was an OT, which kinda threw me. I expected a PT. She knew her product very well but not a lot about chairs in general.
Service is to be handled by a local vendor they'll choose for you, something I didn't like.
The battery pack slips into a reciever under the solid sling. At 7 lbs, it's not easy reaching around to get to it. For all but the strongest quads, it's probably impossibe to change a battery while seated in it. Unless you just tried harder, lol. There are indicator lights on it, but it's under the chair so you have no idea how charged it is. Max battery life is 7 miles (no doubt on marble floors, lol) cuz the rep said "it'll wear down much faster on rough surfaces. But we sell extra battery packs (not that you could change one w/o becoming a contortionist .)"
One front wheel had major "flutter". It was a 6 inch pneumatic tire, which never should flutter. The wheel was clearly off the floor. Air pressure was OK in both, I checked. Sales rep claimed there was no vertical front caster adjustment. Was that true? Was the frame bent or welded poorly? I can't say. For whatever reason, it didn't sit well with me. I'd expect a demo to be in perfect working order.
Next, the backrest. It wasn't tall enough for me and like every other padded nylon cloth back, offered little comfort and no side stability. That's my own opinion, due to my height and personal likes.
The frame has no "EZ Lock" bracket designed for it yet. Yes you can fabricate one, but that's an expense. There is no chest restraint belt available (tho you could mod one to fit). Chair has no crash testing done, either. "We do not recommend you drive from this chair." is what I was told.
Rear wheel caster is set at 1*, no adjustment.
The chair is 49 pounds, not exactly a lightweight.
Although the front footrest has a nice V in it to make it easy to get in tight areas, the frame balloons out and the front wheels are close to the same width as the rears. Kinda defeats the purpose of the V frame up front.
The armrest, lol, MUST be ordered when the chair is new, otherwise the frame needs mods (holes drilled) to retrofit them later. This I thought was dumb. Why not just drill every frame ahead of time?
I know, picky... picky...
Any questions, ask away.
Ed :O)
Edited 11:46am, August 16 by Edzz, author. |
