My review of the Trekinetic wheelchair – skip if it’s not relevant to you!
🔊 Voice included – click to listen!

I remember the day I first saw the Trekinetic online. Sleek, electric, and those big off-road wheels – it looked like freedom wrapped in a cool, futuristic design. It seemed like a life-changer. After months of research, I thought it was the one. Compact enough to fit in a car, tough enough for dirt trails, and electric! Working with Ed from the company made the whole process smooth and easy.

When the chair arrived, it seemed exactly what I needed – or very close to it. Whenever I had a question or encountered an issue, Ed was there, usually responding within a day. That kind of support truly makes a difference – especially if you’re traveling and need quick assistance to solve a problem.

Then came Manhattan. For weeks, I roamed the city nonstop, speeding over sidewalks, rolling into parks, and roughing it on cobblestones. Every day, at least one person would stop me. “Wow, that’s incredible. My dad/mom/sister could really use something like that.” Socializing with curious strangers in Central Park became part of the experience with this wheelchair. It felt good – sharing something that made my life better.

The design of the Trekinetic is unique. Its three-wheel configuration is not only innovative but also makes it incredibly stable on rough terrain. The lightweight construction – thanks to its carbon fiber frame – means it’s portable enough to transport but still strong enough to handle daily use and the endless shakiness of airplane travel and subway rides. I’m really impressed with how it has survived the last three months of rough, constant travel around the United States. The rear shock absorber is another standout feature, smoothing out bumps and uneven surfaces, which adds a lot of comfort to the ride.

The joystick 🕹️ control is intuitive and makes navigating easy on flat surfaces, but it does take some finesse on inclines or uneven terrain if you need to stay perfectly straight. Lisbon, for example, was a challenge. The steep streets are tricky – if the incline is too steep, the chair will start beeping, and you’ll need someone behind you to push.

🚨Here’s my biggest issue with this chair: starting from a standstill on an incline can cause it to veer slightly to one side due to the independent engines. Getting straight momentum often requires reversing, readjusting, and trying again. On narrow ramps – like those leading into buses or shops – this can be especially frustrating without someone to assist. You move the joystick forward to go straight, but it won’t go perfectly straight. It might tilt a little left or right, requiring you to go back and forth until you make it right. Staying calm and learning how to control the joystick helps over time, but it’s still an issue.

Then there’s the battery🔋. The lithium-ion battery offers a solid range and is reliable even for long trips. Whether rolling through parks, dirt roads, or city streets, I never worry about running out of power mid-journey. We’d leave the apartment every day around 11 a.m. and roll until midnight, coming back with around 10% battery left 🫡.

And sand? If it’s dense and packed, I’m fine. But loose, soft sand – the kind you sink into – stops the chair instantly. Rough terrain, though, is manageable with a bit of help. With my friend Iza behind me – to give a push, I can handle almost anything.

Then there’s the disassembly. The Trekinetic fits into a car, but only after some work. The wheels need to be unplugged and slid out, and the rear wheel has to be tucked back into the body of the chair. This part – tucking the rear wheel – took us time to get right and was frustrating at first. It requires balance and coordination, so don’t expect to get it right on the first try. I do think this feature could be improved in future designs. My friend Iza and I have the whole disassembly process down to about four minutes now. The frame goes into the trunk, and the two wheels are placed on the back seats. When we’ve rented larger cars with big boots, everything slides in neatly. It’s not something I can manage alone because of my balance and hand strength, but with Iza’s help, it’s straightforward

Even with the quirks, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. This chair has taken me places I didn’t think I’d go again – beaches, trails, city streets. It’s a part of my life now. If you’re considering it and would like my help with an introduction to the company, feel free to send me an email, and I’ll connect you. This isn’t just a wheelchair – it’s freedom, a real life-changer 😄