Author: Julia Herrick

Categories
Food and Beverage

Food Cycler countertop composter avoids the sink, spares the stink

The Premise. Composting has become more and more popular as people realize how much food they waste. Many opt for traditional composting, taking all of their food and storing it in a container and then bringing it out to the garden to decompose naturally albeit very slowly. Others live in cities or towns where a green bin is provided to pick composting up, but there are few places that offer this service.

The Product. The compact Food Cycler offers the chance to compost food responsibly without having to wait for the results. This home composting tool is about the size of a wastebasket and is green and white. You simply put the food into the basket inside, close the lid and hit start. The food heats up and decomposes in three hours. At the end, the composted material comes out crispy and dry, perfect for using in the garden.

The Pitch. Food Cycler’s Indiegogo campaign features an all-too-cheery woman scraping would-be leftovers into the product’s pail. At the end, the composted food comes out, showing backers how well the product works. The rest of the campaign details tons of pictures of the Food Cycler as well as scads of environmental facts. The goal is set for $40,000 in the 31-day run on Indiegogo.

The Perks. In order to enjoy this home composting device, backers will have to donate $399 on Indiegogo. The only other reward tiers that Food Cycler offers are below $399 and don’t get backers the product. Current estimated availability is set for May 2014.

The Potential. Composting is definitely becoming a common trend among homeowners. The question is, are people willing to pay up to $400 to compost their food when they could potentially be doing it for free? While odors can be odious and composting the old-fashioned way takes a while, many are willing to spend their time instead of their money. If not, there are cheaper options on the market similar to the Food Cycler such as NatureMill products. These products are still expensive, but not quite as expensive as the Food Cycler, though they do take longer to break food down. All in all, the Food Cycler will ultimately need to figure out a way to lower its cost before having a chance on the market.

Categories
Accents Lifestyle

Dutchman ensures your wall-mounted tablet doesn’t go flying

DutchmanThe Dutchman has been around for a long time as a simple joint used in woodworking. Now, this versatile little peg has been revamped to create a product aimed at accommodating smart phones and tablets. The wood joint can be affixed to different bases, allowing it to transform for different uses. In addition to a device holder, it can also be used as a key hanger, organizer, bookshelf or sunglasses holder. For $20, backers get a pair of Dutchman to be delivered by June 2014. Dutchman hopes to raise $7,500 in its 33-day campaign.

Categories
Fashion

Vega Edge blends fashion and safety with stylish blinker

Vega EdgeWalking, cycling, and jogging at night are greatly improved by increased visibility. Vega Edge presents a wearable light for such occasions. The light offers different flashing modes and is made with leather and magnets so that it can clip onto the edge of any garment or bag and is far more discreet than other night-time visibility aids. Choices of light color, shape and leather are all customizations that Vega’s creators offer. Buyers of this light will even have the option to change the flashing pattern of the light if they wish. One early Vega Edge goes for $55 CAD with an estimated delivery date of August 2014. Vega hopes to raise $32,000 CAD in its 21-day Kickstarter campaign.

Categories
Travel

Forward Front Face Pillow Cushion lets you faceplant in comfort while traveling

Picture 1Leaning your head back on planes or in cars is apparently out of style. Flopping your slumbering head forward is now all the easier with the redundantly named Forward Front Face Pillow Cushion. Designed to hang from the seat in front of you or sit on a tray table, the pillow comes equipped with security straps, air holes and a fan so you can stay cool while avoiding smothering yourself. The cushion goes for $86, which is a lot compared to the similar Skyrest Travel Pillow at only $30, but it seems quite a bit more portable and versatile. The nap accessory hopes to raise $30,000 in its 33-day Kickstarter campaign.

Categories
Cycling Personal Transportation

Horizon all-terrain electric trike accommodates wide range of riders, high fun factor

editors-choiceThe Premise. Paraplegics, quadriplegics and other disabled people are less mobile than the rest of us not necessarily because of their disabilities, but because there aren’t enough creative modes of transportation made for them. Designers need to think outside of the box more to accommodate the needs of everyone.

The Product. The Horizon Electric Bike is an electrically powered all-terrain trike that has three different riding modes. Power either comes solely from electricity, from pedaling and electricity or from hand power and electricity. That being said, the bike comes with different customization options. The rider can choose between foot pedals, hand pedals or a foot tray and standard handles or tri-pin handles depending on hand mobility. Horizon’s three wheels makes balancing a non-issue. Also, the seat of the trike is reclined, making it a comfortable ride for anyone, and rises for easier mounting and dismounting. The handles can be removed for possible side entry if necessary.

The Pitch. The Horizon’s Kickstarter campaign features a heartwarming video with testimonials from people of various physical capabilities who love using the bike. One of the men, Chris, suffered from a broken neck at the age of 17 and loves using the Horizon bike because it allows him to enjoy cycling again. The video does a great job of showing how the bike can be enjoyed by people of all different physical states. Horizon hopes to raise $100,000 in its 30 day campaign.

The Perks. One Horizon trike goes for $7,950 with an estimated delivery date of December 2014. Each trike is completely customizable, giving backers the choice of which handles and pedals they’d like to use as well as options for engraving.

The Potential. The Horizon Electric Bike is cool for a number of reasons. Its creators really thought about accessibility in the bike from the custom pedals and handles to the built-in ease of entry and exit. The bike also comes with a decent amount of power and speed behind it. Best of all, it’s accessible for the physically disabled, but can also be used by everyone. There is truly nothing else out there quite like it. The price tag may be a bit high, but the versatility the Horizon offers can’t be ignored.

Categories
Tools

Mini Sleek offers portable hair straightening, heat-resistant case for hotheads

For lots of ladies on the go, hair can be aMini Sleek bear to maintain. Mini Sleek offers portable hair care as a wireless straightening iron. The battery plugs into the wall and, when done, offers 30-45 minutes of life while heating up to 375 degrees. This hair tool is compact enough to fit in a purse and comes with a heat resistant box cover so that waiting for the straightener to cool down isn’t an issue. One Mini Sleek goes for $85 on Indiegogo. The creator hopes to raise $50,000 in her 60 day campaign.

Categories
Tablet Accessories

LapTape is a knee bungee to suspend your tablet (or ultralight laptop)

LapTapeMore and more accessories for tablets seem to come out everyday, each one fancier than the last. LapTape is a strap that holds a tablet when the user is sitting down with their knees up. The strap loops around the front of the knees and then holds the tablet’s bottom corners. While a different approach from many products that are designed to prop up a tablet on a flat surface, LapTape is so basic that asking early-birds for £13 and regular backers for £15 seems like a lot of money. In any case, those looking to give their iPads a suspended sentence can help the product’s creator raise £10,000 in his 30-day Kickstarter campaign with an estimated delivery date of July 2014.

Categories
Luggage and Bags

Bag-Straps gets a handle on carrying awkward big bags

Picture 1Large cumbersome paper bags for charcoal or pet food make life a whole lot harder. Schlepping them around with no handles is definitely a two-handed affair. Clever Bag-Straps allow people with pets or grills to carry and store these bags much more effectively. A plastic handle attached to a Velcro strap makes sealing these large paper bags finally possible. One of these straps goes for $15 at the early-bird price or $20 at the regular price with an estimated delivery date of September 2014. Bag-Straps hopes to raise $40,000 in its 35 day Kickstarter campaign. The Web site offers more photos, instructions and contact information.

Categories
Music

LineShark lets musicians jack in to their smartphones nearly anywhere

LineSharkMusicians looking to create music outside of the studio now only need their mobile phone and the LineShark. This portable audio interface works with both Android and iOS products and provides a way for any musician to plug any instrument into it to begin creating effects or simply recording unique sounds. Somewhat similar to the MixerFace, the LineShark is designed to be in the center of the action and enhance your musical performance without hindering it. One LineShark goes for $100 at a special early-bird price with an estimated delivery date of July 2014. In its 45-day Kickstarter campaign, LineShark is looking to raise $60,000.

Categories
Aquatics Sports

Steertube mixes the safety of tubing with the thrill of waterskiing

The Premise. Water tubing on the high seas or in a lake is one of the most popular activities to partake in during the summer. The only problem is that tubers can’t control where they go and are at the mercy of the person driving the boat. Most people prefer water skiing, because they have much more control over their movements.

The Product. Steertube combines the best of tubing and water skiing for those who prefer a not-so-lazy river. The user sits in the tube, but has the control to steer anywhere they want to go. A t-shaped handle attaches to the line between the tube and boat. The line is attached to a steel bar across the front of the tube. When steered, the line moves along the bar, and tilts small rudders underneath to the tube to change its direction.

The Pitch. Steertube’s Kickstarter campaign provides video testimonials of people using the product. As they bounce around in the water, people can be heard saying how cool they think the tube is. Their Web site offers a ton more videos of the Steertube on the water, being pulled by a variety of different boats. This water accessory’s creators hope to raise a somewhat ambitious $125,000 in their 39-day Kickstarter campaign.

The Perks. For $499, backers can cut through the water at warp speed. Each Steertube comes with its own custom tow rope. The campaign only has nine reward tiers and the last five all go for $499 with an estimated delivery date of June 2014.

The Potential. There are so many different kinds of water tubes out there and some offer steering capabilities, but none quite like this. The Bat X-Ray Tube needs the rider to lean their whole body to the right or left in order to steer. Others use handles that are attached to the tube for steering which doesn’t allow for the range of motion needed to do tricks in the water. The only thing that remains unclear is if riders can also lay on their stomachs, or if they are stuck on their backs in the Steertube. Holding onto the tow line may be more difficult while lying prone. All in all, however, the Steertube appears to be the most versatile towable water tube out there and will land in the water just in time for summer.