BREYDON’s wheelchair trials: Freedomtrax

Sunday 20 February 2022.

Compare with (other) outdoorsy chairs for ease of trekking.

1. Would like to try

Freedomtrax FT1: A pair of tank‐style treads powered by a battery and controlled with a joystick, the FT1 is an aftermarket device that mounts, when needed, below a typical wheelchair. It is limited to an 8‐mile (12·87 km) range and 5 km/h top speed. Daychairs with a wheeltrack of between 50 and 58 cm are accommodated… I think; the business uses the wrong terms on their (European) website. Manufacture is in Colorado, U.S.A. and headed by what sounds like a husband‐and‐wife team, who call the FT1 an “all terrain platform”. With the battery, said platform weighs 34·5 kg, its dimensions being 120 ( L) × 60 (W) × 23 (H) in centimetres. While the range is insufficient for my usual patterns of travel and it denies the occupant a means of self‐propulsion, riding on caterpillar treads is an interesting idea. It could be perfect for would‐be powerchair‐pilots who cannot afford full‐time bulk.
Freedomtrax FT2: the same platform with a rudimentary frame and seat built on.