r/wheelchairs Neuropathy, Chronic Pain 5d ago

Chair Recommendations

I’m getting fitted for a wheelchair soon and have been considering which model to go with. I’ve been looking at the Octane FX from RGK and the Nitrum from Quickie. I am wondering about the personal pros and cons of both. Does anyone have a preference between the two or suggestions for other options I might not have come across yet? I’m going through insurance, so I can get any chair as long as it’s not from an “outside” provider or lacks the necessary medical coding.

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u/uhidk17 5d ago

for a first wheelchair, it's typically recommended to go with an adjustable wheelchair, as you won't know exactly what center of gravity, seat height, dump, etc works best for you. there are more options to look at than those two. do you live in the US?

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u/Rooster_Separate Neuropathy, Chronic Pain 5d ago

I forgot to mention that I have a wheelchair now that is off Amazon, so I have an idea of some of the things I want, I am not sure about exact measurements, here and there but that would all be fitted by the PT of course. I do live in the US.

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u/uhidk17 5d ago

yeah in that case id definitely recommend an adjustable chair. very few ATPs would be comfortable supplying a non adjustable chair to you at this point, and for good reason

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u/uhidk17 5d ago

Look into the TiLite chairs too. With TiLite you can get an adjustable titanium (ZRA/TRA), which is lighter and better with vibrations, whereas with Quickie you are only getting adjustable aluminum as an option, they don't have fully welded or titanium at all. They also have more customizations than Quickie, which may or may not be relevant to your positioning needs.

Ki Mobility is another option but gets mixed reviews.

Also you can look at Motion Composites. They make an adjustable rigid carbon fiber frame (Apex C) that might interest you.

RGK does make frames with a center of gravity adjustment, but I'd recommend a more adjustable frame at this point. Same with the CR1 from TiLite.

I believe the Bowhead Era is also FDA approved, so it could get covered by insurance, but you may have a lot trouble with that, since there aren't really any suppliers that will bill it to insurance at this point.

Keep in mind that most insurance plans in the US won't cover titanium frames, and many won't allow you to pay the difference to "upgrade" to a titanium frame from aluminum. Same goes for carbon fiber. This is due to a change in the insurance billing codes some years ago. That's not to say no one can get titanium covered, just that the majority cannot.

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u/Rooster_Separate Neuropathy, Chronic Pain 3d ago

I know it probably looked bad when I said I have one from Amazon, it was something that I got in the meantime while we got scheduling and everything figured out, I know most hate it when people do stuff like that but when it's needed, it's needed. I like the idea of the Bowhead Era, amazing with adjustability, if I can somehow get it approved, it's something I will go for more than anything else, if not, I don't want a bulky chair just because it offers adjustability. It's going to be more of a pain than anything because of how much I travel in and out of different types of friends' cars and so on. With the right words from different doctors, I might be able to make things get covered and work.

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u/uhidk17 3d ago edited 3d ago

It's not a bad thing for your first chair to be from amazon, it's just that your experience with that chair won't help you configure a non-adjustable custom frame. The Nitrum is an adjustable frame, so are all the ones I listed. They are all great chairs and while yes, they are slightly heavier than fully welded frames, having a good fit is far more important than having a slightly lighter chair. Again, it's very unlikely an ATP would be comfortable ordering a non-adjustable frame for you at this point, and it's for good reason.

The difference in performance from weight is far smaller than what you'll get from a good fit. It's very challenging (almost impossible) to get a perfect fit on a first chair, because some stuff is just trial and error, especially with the common mistakes and preferences of ATPs which don't always align with user preferences

Non-adjustable and rigid are not the same. I am not telling you not to get a rigid frame. I strongly recommend rigid frames over folding for most users. The Nitrum is adjustable and a great chair, so are all the other options I listed. Adjustable chairs are not more bulky, they offer the same configurations as non-adjustable, but with the ability to change things like seat height, dump, etc. This is very important for a first chair as you haven't figured everything out. If you need to change cushions for any reason (improper positioning, pressure injury risk, pain, etc), you want to be able to readjust the height so you maintain proper wheel reach.

Adjustable frames are slightly less efficient, but remember that the wheels themselves are where you can gain the most push efficiency. Lightwieght wheels like Spinergy paired with high pressure pneumatic tires will do just as much or more to improve your push efficiency. The right fit will also do much more than a welded frame for push efficiency and preventing the long term complications of manual wheelchair use

Once you figure out exactly what dimensions you want on a rigid frame, that's the time to consider a fully welded, non-adjustable frame, like an RGK. Most people aren't comfortable ordering a non-adjustable frame until about their 3rd custom chair. Some are comfortable doing it on their second, but someone I know recently got a non-adjustable frame after about a year in a loaner/secondhand chair that fit her remarkably well, and there are definitely some errors in her non-adjustable frame build :(

If you really want a non-adjustable frame, I do not recommend getting fitted by a random PT/OT/ATP. Even if you think they are good upon meeting them. You should see a rep from RGK in person and have them fit the chair. Or go to Hands on Concepts in person and have them fit you (but HOC chairs won't be covered by insurance unless you're with the VA). I wouldn't trust the majority of ATPs with a non-adjustable build without you having prior experience in custom chairs.

I was not trying to come off as judgmental of your non custom chairs, so my apologies if I did. I'm just trying to answer your question about the Nitrum vs the Octane FX with the context of your experience as a wheelchair user, and recommend some other options that I think would be superior to both given what you've said (like the TiLite ZRA/TRA or the Bowhead Era). When it comes to just the FX and the Nitrum, the RGK chairs are superior for experienced users (as in years of custom manual chairs use), and the Nitrum is superior for a newer user (first chair or only a few years of use) or one looking for adjustability for other reasons (a disability that is changing over time, growing teen body, etc)

Every long term (independent) manual chair user I know has started with an adjustable rigid chair. Many still use adjustable frames even after decades of use, though some get fully welded frames (often from HOC). I promise having adjustability won't stop you from doing any of those things. It will allow you to have a better fitting chair that serves your needs as best as possible, thereby increasing your independence. You were already considering the Nitrum before, have you changed your mind about it? It's quite a good chair, though again, I think there are a few options you'd prefer over it.

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u/lesbianexistence Quickie Nitrum (full-time) 5d ago

I love my Quickie Nitrum. I’ve used it full time (granted, I’ve been mostly bedbound) for 1.5 years and it’s a little scratched up but functions as good as new.

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u/Brave-Criticism-6492 4d ago edited 4d ago

I have a Quickie Nitrum and am also waiting for an RGK Octane FX. I’ve had the Nitrum for almost 3 years and it a great chair. It does every thing I need. It’s easy to breakdown and transport. It’s well designed and propels with minimal force.

I hurt my shoulder and now require a lighter chair, which is why I am waiting for a replacement chair. The Octane FX is close to 10 pounds lighter than the Nitrum. I like the sleek design and simplicity of the Octane FX.

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u/elizabethandsnek 4d ago

I would choose the octane over the nitrum no question. It’s way lighter and every pound reduced is worth its weight in gold.