Power base
The Permobil F5 Corpus Powerchair base offers the best outdoor performance of Permobil's range. It is slightly larger than the F3 base, but remains more than capable of getting around indoor spaces.
The fully independent ComfortRide Pro suspension absorbs jolts from terrain and obstacles with minimum translation to the user. We've tried it out, and there really isn't a better ride from a front-wheel drive powerchair - the ride quality is exceptional. With a range of up to 20 miles your F5 can get you where you want to be, and boasts a top speed of 7.5 mph as standard. If off-roading is your thing, this Swedish-made powerchair is the obvious choice - the optional chunky snow/mud tyres can deal with Scandinavian winters, so have no issues with the relatively mild climate of southern England.
Front-wheel drive is Permobil's preferred drive wheel arrangement due to its ideal blend of manoeuvrability for indoor use, and excellent handling outdoors. Front-wheel drive powerchairs don't run the risk of grounding on slopes that mid-wheel drive ones do, and with their large drive wheels at the front have exceptional obstacle-climbing abilities. It also allows the best accessibility to your environment, with no castor wheels sticking out the front to get between you and your objective - whether that be a kitchen work-surface, bathroom sink or a desk.
Seating
The Corpus seating system is fully configurable to meet your comfort, support and function requirements. The seat will be set up to your exact size, with a vast array of cushions and backrests (including third-party ones) available to provide the ultimate comfort for you. Roho air cushions and backrests are a popular upgrade for those that require higher levels of pressure relief, and positioning accessories such as headrests, lateral supports, hip guides and more can be fitted. The end result is a seat tailor-made precisely for you, and which can be adjusted going forward to account for any changes in your needs.
The Corpus seating system offers a choice of powered seating options above and beyond what is found on equivalent models. The power seating functions are completely customisable, with three memory positions available as standard for optimal pressure relief and relaxation. The power recline goes back to a full 180° - most powerchairs of this level don't recline anywhere close to flat, and even those with "lie-flat" recline tend to go to around 175° at most. Bio-mechanical anti-shear and a close pivot point reduces friction and ensures your positioning accessories (such as the headrest) support you consistently all the way back. The power tilt is an impressive 50° for optimum pressure relief - when tilt, recline and power elevating leg rests are combined they are an ideal treatment for oedema, raising your legs above the heart.
The Active Height seat riser lets you remain active whilst elevated up to 14 inches - the highest seat riser available (the F3 only goes to 12 inches). You can drive at 3.2 mph whilst fully elevated - and with full suspension - ensuring you never sacrifice comfort for function. The riser lets you meet people eye to eye, reducing the need to look up all the time. It also includes 3.5 inches of rearward shift when elevating, reducing the footprint of the chair, and helping you get closer to tasks.
Active Reach is a feature unique to Permobil chairs - it's not found on seating systems from other manufacturers such as Invacare or Sunrise Medical. A combination of anterior (forward) tilt and the seat riser, it gives you the ultimate advantage in accessing your environment, putting the world within your reach. With this, you can reach beyond obstructions, into high cabinets, or even just be assisted with forward transfers. The F5 features up to 45° of anterior tilt - the highest level of this from any Permobil chair; the F3 is limited to 30°, and the mid-wheel drive chairs to just 20°.
Controls
Permobil chairs offer a level of customisation via programming above and beyond their competitors. The highly configurable R-Net system comes as standard, and the high-definition LCD joystick is our recommendation - letting you memorise your favourite seating positions and standing motions. Every aspect of your drive, seating, and positioning can be individually programmed to match your requirements, and we will spend the time with you to get things spot-on.
If your control needs extend beyond a standard joystick, there are plenty of options available - whether that be a simple switch box for easy access to seat functions, alternate joysticks or special controls such as chin or head controls. Your F5 can be further expanded with Bluetooth or Infrared to master your environment - such as remote doors, dimming lights, or changing the channel on your TV.
Appearance
Permobil are known for setting the standard for sleek, modern and minimalist powerchairs - which is why their style is often copied by their competitors! With a sleek, clean look, the cabling is cleverly hidden to retain a neat appearance. A range of 13 shroud colours (plus several hydrographics) are available to complement the bodywork, whatever your style.
Our Verdict
The F5 is the most impressive front-wheel drive powerchair around. It features outstanding drive, style, comfort and positioning.
We cannot recommend the Corpus system highly enough - its versatility allows it to always provide you with the comfort and fit you require both now and should your needs change going forward. It features high-end seating functions like true lie-flat recline, and driving whilst elevated - and also the unique ActiveReach forward tilt, not found on other chairs. The F5 has the highest level of ActiveReach of any chair, to the extent it can reach a position halfway to standing.
We do always recommend trying out more than one powerchair before making a decision, and would suggest Quantum's 4Front as worth testing against the F5. If your focus is on all-terrain driving, and you won't be using your chair indoors so much, then Meyra's Optimus2 offers better off-road performance, but doesn't have nearly the same sophistication to its seating.