Which is the best lightweight wheelchair for you? It comes down to who pushes the chair, how much the rider weighs, and what you will lift into the car.
Pick the Karman S-ATX if you push yourself every day and want a chair you can set up to fit your body. Pick the Karman Flexx if you want the lowest price of the three and a wide range of seat sizes. Pick the Karman KM-8520X if the rider weighs more than 286 lb or needs a seat 20 or 22 inches wide.
This guide compares three lightweight manual wheelchairs from Karman Healthcare that Independent Living Direct carries. Every spec below comes from Karman's own product pages or its dealer spec file. Prices are our prices on 2026-10-02 and can change.
| Model | Weight | Capacity | Seat width | Fold | Price on 2026-10-02 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karman S-ATX | 15.4 lb frame; 26 to 30 lb with standard options | 275 lb | 14, 16 or 18 inches | Folding frame, 14 inches wide folded | $2,040 |
| Karman Flexx | 28.5 lb without footrests | 286 lb | 16, 18 or 20 inches | Folds to 15 inches wide, folding backrest | $1,210 to $1,425 |
| Karman KM-8520X | 35 lb without footrests | 352 lb | 20 or 22 inches | Folding backrest; folded width not listed | $1,980 to $2,100 |
One warning before you compare weights. Karman does not weigh these three chairs the same way. The S-ATX figure of 15.4 lb is the bare frame. The Flexx and KM-8520X figures leave off the footrests. Before you buy any chair, ask what it weighs with wheels and footrests on, since that is the weight you lift.
The S-ATX is an active wheelchair. That means it is built for people who push the wheels themselves, not for being pushed. Karman lists the frame at 15.4 lb. With its standard options it weighs 26 to 30 lb, and that is closer to what you will lift into a car. It carries up to 275 lb.
Karman offers seat widths of 14, 16 and 18 inches, with a seat depth of 16 or 18 inches. Front seat height adjusts from 17 to 20 inches. It rolls on 24 inch rear wheels. The frame folds to 14 inches wide, a little narrower than the Flexx.
The tradeoffs are real. It costs more than the Flexx, and its capacity is lower than the other two chairs. An active chair also needs someone to take the time to set it up for the rider: seat height, back angle and balance point all change how it pushes. Open, it is 21 to 25 inches wide depending on the seat, so measure your narrowest doorway first.
Who should skip it: riders over 275 lb, and anyone who will almost always be pushed by someone else. Much of what you pay for here helps the person pushing from the seat.
The S-ATX costs $2,040 in every size and color (price on 2026-10-02). See the Karman S-ATX.
Karman sells the Flexx as an ultra lightweight, adjustable manual wheelchair. It weighs 28.5 lb without footrests and carries up to 286 lb. You can push it yourself on its 24 inch rear wheels, and it works for a helper pushing too.
It comes in 16, 18 and 20 inch seat widths. The Flexx Tall version has a 20 inch seat depth for taller riders. Seat height adjusts from 16 to 21 inches, so both shorter and taller riders can find a fit. Karman lists quick release rear wheels and a folding backrest, and the chair folds to 15 inches wide.
The tradeoffs: it is not much lighter to lift than the S-ATX with its standard options, since the Flexx figure leaves off the footrests. It is also long. Karman lists the overall length at 43 inches, against 36 inches for the S-ATX, which matters in a small car trunk or a tight bathroom. Open, it is 23 to 27 inches wide.
Who should skip it: riders over 286 lb, anyone who needs a seat wider than 20 inches, and anyone with very little room to turn a long chair.
The Flexx costs $1,210 with a 16 or 18 inch seat and $1,425 for the 20 inch seat or the Tall version (price on 2026-10-02). See the Karman Flexx.
The KM-8520X is a bariatric chair, which means it is built for heavier riders. Karman rates it for up to 352 lb and calls it the lightest weight bariatric wheelchair on the market. It weighs 35 lb without footrests.
Seat widths are 20 and 22 inches. Karman's site lists an 18 inch seat depth and a 20 inch seat height. It has 24 inch rear wheels with quick release axles. Karman also lists flip back armrests, a folding backrest, a seat belt and anti tippers as standard.
The tradeoffs: it is the heaviest of the three to lift, even before the footrests go on. It is also wide. Open, Karman lists it at 30 inches, so measure your doorways and hallways before you order. Karman does not list a folded width. Our wide wheelchair guide shows how to measure seat width and door width.
Who should skip it: riders under 286 lb who fit a seat 20 inches wide or less. The Flexx carries that much, weighs less and costs less.
The KM-8520X costs $1,980 with the 20 inch seat and $2,100 with the 22 inch seat (price on 2026-10-02). See the Karman KM-8520X.
Start with weight capacity. Add the rider's weight to anything carried on the chair, like a bag, and pick a chair rated above that total.
Next, decide who pushes. If the rider pushes every day, the S-ATX and the Flexx give you more ways to adjust the fit. If a family member pushes nearly all the time, ask about a transport chair instead. Transport chairs usually have small rear wheels and are built to be pushed by a helper. You can compare them in our wheelchair collection.
Then check the weight you will really lift. Ask for the weight with wheels and footrests on, and try lifting a bag of that weight before you plan to load the chair alone. Last, measure your doorways against the open width: 21 to 25 inches for the S-ATX, 23 to 27 inches for the Flexx, and 30 inches for the KM-8520X.
If walking short distances is the hard part, a scooter may fit better. Our mobility scooter buying guide and lightweight mobility scooter guide compare the folding models we carry.
There is no single standard in the sources for this guide. Karman sells the Flexx as an ultra lightweight chair and the KM-8520X as a lightweight heavy duty chair. Compare the listed weights, and ask how each one was measured.
It depends on who pushes the chair and how much the rider weighs. For a senior who pushes alone, the Flexx has a seat height range of 16 to 21 inches and the lowest price here. For a heavier rider, the KM-8520X carries up to 352 lb. If a caregiver will push nearly all the time, a transport chair may fit better.
That depends on your strength and the chair's real weight. The S-ATX weighs 26 to 30 lb with standard options, and the KM-8520X weighs 35 lb before footrests. Taking off quick release rear wheels makes each lift lighter.
The S-ATX folds to 14 inches wide and the Flexx folds to 15 inches wide, according to Karman. The KM-8520X has a folding backrest, but Karman does not list a folded width.
Measure the rider's hips while seated, then pick a seat a little wider. A seat that is too narrow rubs, and one that is too wide puts the wheels out of easy reach. If you are not sure, ask a seating professional before you order.
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