I think most wheelchair users would agree with me that doing cardio at home can be a little boring. No matter how much you try to change it, every workout ends up feeling the same. My favorite way to exercise is to get outdoors, but the Michigan weather doesn’t cooperate as often as I’d like. I recently had the opportunity to try out the Wheely-X, a new fitness option from South Korea-based Kangsters, which aims to do for wheelchair users what Peloton did for cyclists.
With a sleek design and the option of Bluetooth sensors that track your every impulse and allow you to use your wheelchair as a controller for training software and proprietary video games, Wheely-X has the potential to be much more than a treadmill. wheelchair running. But $2,095 (the cost of the base unit) is a lot to pay for the potential. I tried the Wheely-X to see if it was worth it.
Kangsters currently offers three models, Wheely-X Train, Wheely-X Data and Wheely-X Play, which share the same footprint but differ in terms of connectivity and interactivity. For $500 more, the Data adds a Bluetooth sensor that lets you track your movements in a free app. Wheely-X Play allows users to play three video games designed for the system, but is currently only available for installs. I tried the Wheely-X data.
“Doing cardio with a quad can be a real challenge, but the Wheely-X is among the best cardio machines I’ve ever used.”
The Wheely-X comes in a single large box and weighs just over 60 pounds. As a C6 quad, the size and weight prevented me from unpacking and assembling it myself, but a lower or para quad should be able to handle the assembly process, assuming they can put the box where they want it and transfer it to the floor. The ramps and rollers fit perfectly and feel sturdy once assembled. The whole process took my assistant about 20 minutes.
Once the hardware is assembled, you can download the Wheely-X app, available for 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 and store, making it an attractive option for people with limited space.
Using Wheely-X is a simple process. The ramps attached to the base have a manageable slope, making them easy to roll back and place on the rollers. Once on the wheels, the Wheely-X has safety latches that attach to the wheelchair much like tie-downs you would find in a vehicle. The hooks on the tethers were not large enough to hook onto the thicker parts of my wheelchair frame as stated, but they were able to hook onto the part of the frame where the wheels are attached. Tightening the locks requires pulling on the attached rope, which could be difficult for users with limited manual functions, but should be doable. Once the locks are in place, simply unlock the brakes and start pushing.
I was hesitant about how it would feel to push my wheelchair in the Wheely-X, but it feels smooth and surprisingly free of resistance. As a quad that uses power assist wheels, I didn’t experience any unnecessary strain on my arms and shoulders while pushing. As a word of caution: It’s important to wear the same gloves you would use when pushing your wheelchair for exercise. I was wearing a pair of gloves shorter than the ones I use for pushing 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 tracks elapsed time, speed, distance traveled, RPM, and calories burned. It also allows you to track each wheel individually so you can see how efficiently you are pushing. For users in rehabilitation or those who want to perfect their pushing, the feedback could be of great help.
The app stores data for each workout so progress can be tracked over time and also has several programs that can be used for different workouts. You can set up interval training programs based on time or distance, plus there’s sprint training, resistance training modes, and a free training mode to push yourself at your own pace. The app also has an ongoing training mode that takes you through a trainer-led workout.
Unfortunately, the demo unit I received had an issue with one of the sensors that prevented me from trying the course training mode. There are many videos in the app that can also guide you through a variety of workouts. At the time I write this, the app’s text is partially in English and partially in Korean, although the app is intuitive to use and the language was not an issue for me.
Play video games using your wheelchair as a controller
The app that comes with the Bluetooth-connected versions of the Wheely-X makes it easy and fun to track your pushing progress, but the system’s three proprietary games allow for a deeper interactive experience. Unfortunately, for now the games are only available in the Play model for installations. Mike Franz did not have access to the games for his review, but I was able to watch three different users try each of the three games: Ant Journey, Wheelchair Racing, and Balance Racing.
Each game allows the Wheely-X user to control their character by pushing their chair. As simple as it may seem, watching users’ enthusiastic reactions to seeing their on-screen avatars responding to them pushing their chairs made me think that the developers might be on to something if they can expand and improve the current offerings.
In Ant Journey, you move an ant through a series of tiles, looking for hidden tiles that break and allow you to move on to the next level. In Wheelchair Racing, you line up on a track in a racing chair alongside other racers and race to the finish line, and Balance Racing tests your pushing as you try to keep a bike upright on a track.
It’s easy to imagine and a fun, quality workout competing with friends or strangers, but for now, multiplayer requires Wheely-X devices to be connected via local Wi-Fi. That means you would need multiple units in the same location, which is unlikely outside of a rehab or gym setting. The developers say that a game pack will be available to all owners in July 2024. Additionally, they are working to expand connectivity options and hope to one day be able to allow users to connect remotely.
—Ian Ruder
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The workouts I did during my time with the Wheely-X were very effective from a cardiovascular standpoint. Most of the time when I exercise, I find it difficult to raise my heart rate much above 100 bpm. With the Wheely-X, I could sometimes get my heart rate up to 115-120 bpm. Doing cardio on a quad can be a real challenge, but the Wheely-X is among the best cardio machines I’ve used.
The Wheely-X is a solid choice for all manual wheelchair users, from beginners looking to build strength to athletes training to improve their speed and endurance. The Wheely-X would also be ideal for those living in areas where the climate and terrain are not conducive to pushing a wheelchair outdoors year-round.
The cardiovascular benefits of the Wheely-X are enough to consider purchasing one, but with the base Train model listed at $2,095, the price is too high. If Kangsters can expand the games and interactive options (see sidebar on TK page), it would be more in line with something like Peloton and the cost could be more justifiable. Right now, it’s a quality workout machine with more features than are typically available, but it still doesn’t offer the same experience as conventional interactive fitness machines.
For more information please visit wheely-x.com.
