Performance
Folding powerchairs have revolutionised the market in recent years, offering a convenient, lightweight way of transporting your powered wheelchair with you. However, many of them have to compromise on performance and comfort in order to minimise weight, meaning a typical folding powerchair struggles with anything more adventurous than pavement use, and even then will deliver a bumpy ride.
The Sunrise Medical Quickie Q50 R Powerchair blows these expectations out of the water. It features powerful 200W motors, greater traction thanks to its 12" drive wheels, plus a great level of uphill stability thanks to its longer frame and rear anti-tips. The frame is made from durable oval tubing, minimising flex, and is backed up by a 2 year warranty. The Q50 R is capable of climbing kerbs of up to 5 cm, and offers a whopping range of up to 31 miles on a single charge - around triple what a typical folding powerchair can do.
All this combines to let your Q50 R access more places, such as paths in parks, which a typical folding powerchair will struggle with. Not only that, but your Q50 R will keep you in comfort, thanks to the dual suspension, tension-adjustable seating, and breathable upholstery. The 17" seat width accommodates people in more comfort compared to the narrow and tight seats found on some other models.
Transport
The Q50 R can be folded up in one smooth motion to a compact size, ideal for storage or fitting in the back of a car. It can be stood up when folded, or wheeled like a trolley. However, the Q50 R does weigh significantly more than a typical folding powerchairs, which these days vary between 15 - 28 kg. It has a total weight of 37.5 kg, or 32 kg with batteries removed - realistically this is more than an able-bodied person should lift by themselves. However, it is the perfect product for hoisting into the back of a car.
Style
Quickie's Q-series range are known for their style, with sleek black bodywork, striking accents and a minimalistic finish. The Q50 R is no exception to this, and is one of the best-looking folding chairs on the market. It is available with red, blue or green accents.
Our Verdict
The Q50 R is a niche product. Most people looking for folding powerchairs are after ones as lightweight as possible, so they can easily lift it into a car - in which case the eFoldi Powerchair or iGo Plus will be more suited. The Q50 R is also larger than your typical folding powerchair - the increased width offering additional comfort, while the longer chassis provides more stability. It does though remain compact compared to a traditional powerchair, and is more than capable of getting around indoor spaces.
If you are after a higher performing powerchair that can still fold - whether you have a hoist, only need to fold it for storage purposes, or will only occasionally transport it in a car - then the Q50 R is well worth a trial. For other products to consider, Invacare's Esprit Action is a folding powerchair with configurable seating, offering the highest levels of comfort in a transportable powered wheeelchair.
