The Karman LT 980 Ultralight K4 wheelchair is an excellent choice for those looking for an affordable and lightweight option. This chair weighs only 24 lbs. and has a weight capacity of 250 lbs. It also comes in frame color of silver or black and uses flame retardant nylon upholstery. The height-adjustable footplates, easy-grip push-rims, and push-to-lock wheel brakes make it easy to use for anyone.
Karman LT 980 K4 Wheelchair
Price: $540.00
Type: Manual
Wheelchair weight: 24 lbs.
Weight capacity: 250 lbs.
Frame material: Aluminum
What we like: Super lightweight wheelchair that uses swing away footrests for easy access of the chair. Great price for a lightweight manual wheelchair.
What we don’t: No hand brakes for caregivers and seatbelt could be an issue according to some reviews.
Our Score: 
(4.6 / 5)
Karman LT 980 K4 Wheelchair Overview
The Karman LT 980 K Wheelchair is an excellent one for those looking for an ultralight wheelchair that doesn’t sacrifice quality or features. The Karman LT 980 K only weighs 24 lbs. but has a weight capacity of 250 lbs. It also has a seat width of 18″ and a seat depth of 16″.
The front wheels are only six inches, but the rear wheels are a full 22″. This wheelchair uses flame retardant nylon upholstery that is both comfortable and durable.
The Karman LT 980 K also features push-to-lock wheel brakes, height adjustable footplates, easy-grip push-rims, and comes in either a silver or black frame.
All these features make the Karman LT 980 K an excellent choice for those looking for a high-quality ultralight wheelchair.
weight capacity and Weight
The Karman LT 980 K04 wheelchair weighs only 24lbs but has a weight capacity of 250lbs. This makes it perfect for those looking for a lightweight chair that can still accommodate a larger person. Also, for those who like to travel or take their wheelchair wherever they go, this is a great option to consider.
Compact foldable design
he Karman LT980 K-Series wheelchair has a compact, foldable design. When fully folded, it’s just 29″ x 13″. That makes it easy to transport and store, especially if you don’t have a lot of space.
We love how this wheelchair can fold two ways making it very compact. Because of this, the K4 wheelchair is a top choice for those looking for a cost-effective manual travel wheelchair.
Golden Lite Specifications
| Invacare 9000 XT | Product Specs |
|---|---|
| Wheelchair weight | 24 lbs. |
| Weight capacity | 250 lbs. |
| Seat depth | 16″ |
| Seat width | 18″ |
| Seat-to-floor height | 18″ – 19″ |
| Overall height | 37″ – 38″ |
| Overall length | 28″ |
| Overall width | 26″ |
| Armrest | Desk length |
| Rear wheel size | 22″ |
| Front wheel size | 6″ |
| Upholstery type | .Nylon |
| Upholstery color | Black |
| Footrests | Elevating, swing away |
Travel Capabilities
The Karman LT980 K-Series wheelchair is a great choice for travel. It’s lightweight at just 24 lbs., and it has a really easy foldable design. The Karman LT980 K-Series wheelchair also comes with a handy carrying bag, so you can easily take it with you on the go.
Cost
The price for this wheelchair starts at $540.00 at the time of this writing. This is very competitive for such a lightweight wheelchair. While there are some other chairs in its class at this price, this is a very good buy at the current price point from our research.
What we like
- Extreme lightweight of this wheelchair makes transport very easy.
- The foot rests swing out allowing for much easier entry and exit of the wheelchair.
- The ability to fold tight for easy storage and transport.
- Easy grip push rails make self propelling this chair much easier.
What we Don’t
- No hand brakes for caregivers make stopping not as easy when pushing a loved one or patient.
- Non-removable armrest making sitting under low tables impossible.
Manual Info
Karman LT 980 Ultralight K4 wheelchair
Comparison Table
| Manual wheelchair | Price | Weight capacity | Wheelchair weight | Seat width | Armrest | Footrest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karman Ultralightweight Compact Wheelchair | $815.00 | 250 lbs. | 28 lbs. | .16″ – 18″ | Fixed | Swingaway |
| Karman S-125 Ergonomic Wheelchair | $860.00 | 250 lbs. | 25 lbs. | 16″, 18″ | Flip Back | Elevating, Swingaway |
| Karman Ergo Flight Wheelchair | $870.00 | 220 lbs. | 19.8 lbs. with wheels | 16″, 18″ | Desk length | Swingaway |
| Featherweight 13.5 lbs. wheelchair | $549.00 | $250.00 | 19 lbs. with wheels (13.5 lbs. without) | 18″ | Full length | Swingaway |
Comparable wheelchairs in its class
When looking at the comparable wheelchairs that are in the Karman LT 980 lightweight class you can see Karman has many different models with similar weight capacities and wheelchair weights. For example the Karman Ultralightweight compact wheelchair has a weight under 30 lbs. with a weight capacity of 250 lbs. While the LT 980 still comes in lighter with the same weight capacity and more favorable price. Regardless either one would make for an excellent lightweight travel wheelchair.
In-fact the Karman models here are all under 30 lbs. making them all very easy to travel with and all have very comparable weight limits. The Featherweight wheelchair comes in at 19 lbs. with the wheels and still has a weight capacity of 250 lbs. it also has a very comparable price point as the Kamran LT 980 making it a very close call. However our in-depth review shows the Featherweight chair a better buy but not by much. You can read the full Featherweight review and compare for yourself.
Bottom line
For those looking for a highly lightweight manual wheelchair that has an easy and efficient way of folding tight, allowing for easy storage and transportation, the Karman LT 980 K-Series is one of the better options. It’s also very comfortable thanks to its ergonomic design. In addition, it has several features that make it easier to live with daily, including adjustable footplates and easy-grip push rims.
