RGK Tiga Sub 4 – Manual Wheelchair

Wheelchair Description:
Manual, self-propel wheelchair with a lightweight frame (minus cushion) that weighs less than 4kg. Black backrest and seat cushion. Chrome frame, with the option to add coloured highlights on the castor forks. Spinergy wheels and Marathon tyres.

Source of Wheelchair:
Directly From RGK

Diagnosis:
Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) & Fibromyalgia

Personal Opinion:
I absolutely LOVE this chair – it has truly transformed my life in only a few months. With flexible and fragile joints, the lightweight frame has been fantastic. When now pushing my chair, I no longer sublux or dislocate my joints, nor do I tire as easily. I’ve already taken the Tiga Sub 4 all over my local (and very hilly) town and even onto canal tow paths. The chair performs well across a variety of terrains. Like most chairs, pushing on rocky or pebbly terrain does require a bit more effort, but the chair has never struggled or become stuck. Being able to access walks I used to love has been so beneficial for both my mental and physical health.

Overall, the chair feels so stable and incredibly well-balanced. It has a lovely balance point, which means that I can do wheelies and hop up curbs with confidence – I’ve not tipped over yet, even without an anti-tipper bar! The quality of the Tiga Sub 4 has made pushing so much easier, particularly in comparison to my previous folding wheelchair. I now feel that pushing takes less physical effort, the chair goes exactly where I direct it, and I can travel farther than I ever have. The frame of the wheelchair is stable and fixed, but the wheels come off easily with push buttons – even my fragile finger joints can cope with them! The chair is easy to transport and has fit in most cars that we’ve tried so far – including smaller hatchbacks. Taxi drivers have also been able to dismantle and store the chair much more easily than my previous folding one, which has meant transport has become even more accessible to me.

Finally, I cannot commend the customer service at RGK enough. They made the process of acquiring the chair so easy and enjoyable. A rep came out to me and listened to what I liked and disliked about my previous wheelchair, as well as what I wanted from a new one. He had brought some demo chairs for me to try, so it was great to see everything in the flesh. My rep clearly knew his stuff and took the time to take really detailed measurements of me in the demo chair, to ensure that the finished product would be made-to-measure to my body. It was lovely that he took the time to go through personalisation options as well. The chair came with the option to have various colour highlights if I wanted, different kinds of frame finish, and different colour wheel spokes.

Even with the pandemic, my rep took every possible precaution and constantly checked in with me to see if I felt comfortable, physically and emotionally – he really understood the experience of being disabled, as he was disabled and a wheelchair user himself. At the end of the free consultation, I felt so excited to be on the path to a chair that was truly mine. The rest of the process was smooth and efficient, and it only took 6 weeks in the end (despite the pandemic!) for me to have my chair. My rep did a follow-up call to check in after I received it, so I felt confident that we had the right fit and specification. I am now in love with my new chair, and I honestly cannot recommend RGK enough. They may be a little pricier than other brands, but the cost is definitely worth it to get a custom, made-to-measure chair that feels moulded to your body!