Author: Julia Herrick

Categories
Furniture

For cardboard furniture, Flatgoods entices the fold and the beautiful

The Premise. The Eco Movement is all about living life in a sustainable way, including recycling anything and everything possible. it’s one thing to upcycle a water bottle, but one’s furniture poses a bit more of a challenge.

The Product. Flatgoods offers an array of furniture made out of durable cardboard. The company ships it flat and it is up to the buyer to assemble. One-upping Ikea, Flatgoods offers anything from side tables to sofas with the option to print custom designs on any piece. All Flatgoods furniture is 100% recyclable.

The Pitch. Flatgoods’ Kickstarter campaign gives a detailed list of all pieces available to purchase. The video gives a little back story on the creator, James Mikrut, as well as shows people standing and even bouncing on different Flatgoods products to demonstrate how stable they are. Mikrut hopes to raise $20,000 in his 31 day campaign. For more information, visit the Flatgoods Web site.

The Perks. Each Flatgoods reward tier offers backers a ton of options to choose from.  For $30, backers can pick one piece from an array of end tables, kids chairs and stools all shown in photographs at the bottom of the campaign. Tiers go all the way up to $150, which earns backers the choice between sofas, different sets of kids’ furniture or even a conference table with the custom design option. Current estimated delivery is set at May 2014.

The Potential. Flatgoods’ biggest claim to fame is that its products are 100% recyclable. That said, Flatgoods furniture would be difficult to reuse as furniture because it certainly isn’t as durable as wood and one spilled coffee would be deadly. Another problem is that Flatgoods furniture looks like it’s made out of cardboard. There are many other cardboard furniture companies, such as Chairigami, that uses more innovative design techniques so that their products look like actual furniture. Some of these companies got their funding from Kickstarter, like SITGREEN and Re-Ply. These two in particular focus on taking the moving box look out of their products. All in all, Flatgoods is on the right track and their products are great for kids, but wouldn’t necessarily blend into adult dining rooms or offices as the Kickstarter campaign suggests.

Categories
Aquatics

ElectraFin lightweight motor puts the putt-putt in your paddleboard

Water activities can be fun and serene, but sometimes too serene. ElectElectrafineraFIn offers a boost to your kayak, longboard or paddleboard. ElectraFin is a 14 lb detachable motor that fits onto any of your favorite smaller water vessels. Its sleek and easy design can be attached in under one minute and send you flying at warp speed (or 4-5 mph). ElectraFin runs on battery power for up to six hours and comes with a wireless remote to control its speed and position. ElectraFin is perfect for those aqua enthusiasts who are bored with their kayak, but can’t afford a motorboat. Those looking to buy ElectraFin can rush at the early price of $850, the less early-bird price of $950, or the regular price of $1,050 with an estimated delivery of July 2014. ElectraFin’s creators, Current Drives, are hoping to raise $15,000 with their Indiegogo campaign.

Categories
Pets

Scoopette provides extra protection, traction in picking up after pooches

ScoopetteHere’s the scoop: picking up dog poop is not the most charming thing about having a pooch. Scoopette manages to alleviate some of the discomfort that everyone experiences when picking up after a dog. It essentially looks like a small claw, and is designed to be an extension of your hand when picking up dog poo through a plastic bag. The Scoopette is made of colored plastic with an etching of a cute dog on the side and straps to fasten your hands to. Conveniently, the Scoopette also features a dispenser attachment that holds bags, much like P.U.P, a bag dispenser for dog leashes. Scoopette’s creators are hoping to raise $10,000 with their Indiegogo campaign. Backers can scoop up the Scoopette for $15 if they’re early enough, or for $20 as the regular price. with an estimated delivery of July 2014.

 

Categories
Chargers/Batteries Lighting

H2Only Battery recharges with liquid, pours on the light

The Premise. Batteries can die in the most inconvenient of times. During a power outage, car breakdown, or accident are the worst times to discover that your flashlight has run out of juice.

The Product. The H2Only Battery is a rechargeable battery that literally runs on juice, water or any other liquid. Currently, the H2Only Battery is being sold either as a flashlight or standard light. When it runs out, one simply needs to pour water or any other liquid over it and it will recharge again. Both the flashlight and light look like little more than regular LED flashlights or lights.with the exception of a ventilated exterior. If more power is needed, simply clip another battery onto the existing one. If less power is needed, take the extra battery away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u897H5Tf0ns

The Pitch. The H2Only Battery’s Indiegogo campaign features a refreshingly high-end video that shows the flashlight and light in action in various situations. The remainder of the campaign talks about when and where H2Only Battery would be helpful, the durability of the battery and which other products are will soon be manufactured with the H2Only Battery. The creators hope to raise $87,500 in order to fund the H2Only Battery. More information can be found on their Web site.

 The Perks. For only $29, the early bird gets one H2Only Battery flashlight. The standard price for both the flashlight and light costs backers $69. From there, reward tiers go all the way up to $5,000 with a heavy emphasis on donations that will fund philanthropic projects in Africa. Current availability is set at June 2014.

The Potential. The H2Only Battery is a truly cool concept that demonstrates how simple innovation can produce sustainable products. Unfortunately, H2Only Battery isn’t the first liquid rechargeable battery to the watering hole. The NoPoPo Water Battery looks like a AA battery, but can be recharged with water and several other liquids, but the H2Only team notes that its approach is patented and that the other product peters out after only two or three recharges.

The H2Only Battery’s main claim to fame is that it is the only open type rechargeable battery out there. This means that it doesn’t need to be disassembled in order to recharge with water and that it can take advantage of oxygen as a catalyst. The H2Only Battery’s creators have big dreams for their product, including powering every house in the world with just water. Still, the H2Only Battery creators will have to start by coming out with some more versatile products than lights in order to compete with other water-fueled battery systems, especially if they plan on taking over the world.

Categories
Luggage and Bags Music Organization

GigBlade helps you carry that weight, keep your guitar by your side

GigBladeAny musician knows that certain instruments just do not travel well. Guitars and electric basses in particular can present a problem. They’re too heavy to carry in hand, but too awkwardly shaped to carry on one’s back. Introducing the GigBlade, a guitar/bass soft case that is designed to be carried low on one’s side, an area that has, as of yet, been untapped by the luggage industry. With a low center of gravity and hands-free design, GigBlade is the perfect solution for musicians constantly on the go. One GigBlade costs $125 on Kickstarter with an estimated delivery date of June 2014.

Categories
Tools

Easy Throw Shovel enables tackling a snow job with one finger

The Premise. Shoveling snow can be deadly. Literally. People die every year while shoveling snow because of how sneakily strenuous it can be.

The Product. The Easy Throw Shovel is a snow shovel that uses leverage from the weight of the snow to activate the throwing arm. The shaft of the shovel is made out of wood and the lifting arm is made of aluminum with two small wheels on the bottom that touch the ground. The two are connected by a durable strap. When the snow is ready to be thrown, one must simply push down on the handle to activate the lifting arm.  The lifting arm also acts as a stand, allowing the shovel to remain upright on its own.

The Pitch. The Easy Throw Shovel’s Kickstarter campaign tells of how an aching back and leverage are responsible for the product’s conception. A helpful diagram shows the different parts of the Easy Throw Shovel and what they’re made of. The video features the shovel in action, along with proving that the shovel can bear a huge load by showing how it can throw weights around with ease. With Kickstarter, Easy Throw Shovel’s creator hopes to raise $72,000. The campaign is currently on hiatus but creator Christopher Lloyd Bush hopes to relaunch soon.

The Perks. The lowest price for an Easy Throw Shovel is $65 CAD, known as the “get the ball rolling special”. Donation tiers go all the way up to $500, but each tier only offers one Easy Throw Shovel. Estimated delivery is currently June 2014 for the shovels themselves, which, unfortunately, puts the shovels smack out of season for backers.

The Potential. Alternatives to the snow problem exist, but can get rather pricey. Snow blowers cost over $100 and tend to break easily. The Easy Throw Shovel is a truly neat invention, proving, once again, that electronics can’t always solve the problems that simple machines can. The Easy Throw Shovel uses leverage and pivot points to do twice the work that a normal shovel does. This product definitely has a place in the market amongst tired suburbanites at risk for heart attack upon shoveling with a regular old shovel. Even better, the Easy Throw Shovel was invented in Canada, probably one of world’s most authoritative countries on snow.

Categories
Fitness

XBAR creates a portable gym, proves resistance is not futile

xbar2Gyms are big giant scams, but you didn’t hear it here. In addition, many at-home exercise solutions can be costly and not versatile enough for a full body workout. The XBAR is probably one of the smallest and most dynamic solutions to this problem. It consists of a bar (that looks nothing like an X), push up docks and a resistance band. By using the XBAR in different ways, it’s possible to work out your chest, shoulders, back, legs, biceps, triceps, abs, and glutes. XBAR is small and weighs less than 10 pounds, making it very portable and easy to use anywhere. Backers looking to get jacked up can donate $150 towards the $50,000 goal for this product with an estimated delivery date of June 2014.

Categories
Winter Sports

FATblades provides skis a snowboarder could love

FATbladesThe long and bloody battle of skiing versus snowboarding is over. FATblades provides a nice middle ground for those not wanting to get too involved in the conflict. For a new snow sport, FATblades combines the comfort of snowboarding boots with the ease of skis. FATblades look like shorter, stubby skis but use the same binding method as snowboard boots do; they look perfect for those thrill seekers who are tired of uncomfortable ski boots as well as the awkward two-feet-one-board problem. FATblades has already surpassed its goal of $10,000. One pair of FATblades costs $395 CAD and are estimated to be delivered by April 2014… just in time for spring.

Categories
Tools

E-Z Backscratcher makes relief easier when life’s an itch

EZBackscratcherQuid pro quo no more! The EZ Backscratcher was created for solo use. It is a curved piece of plastic that slightly resembles Little Bo Peep’s shepherd’s hook and makes it extremely easy to scratch those hard-to-reach places. The EZ Backscratcher is designed specifically for people with limited ranges of motion such as the elderly, injured or disabled. For $20, backers can scratch away at themselves unhindered. Upon reaching the $28,000 goal, EZ Backscratchers are estimated to be available by May 2014.

Categories
Organization Tech Accessories

Frack Pack parties with your laptop in the back, is all business in front

FrackPackLaptops can be very hard to use in those on-the-go moments when there is no place to sit down to use them. The Frack Pack that looks like a regular old backpack is a dual-use product, specifically designed to tote around your laptop but then also fold down to use as a portable work station. Those indifferent to nerdiness stigma can swing it around to the front, flip the compartment down and work on their laptop while standing up. In this way it is a bit like the (just barely) successful crowdfunded Trego for iPads that is sleeker and less expensive.  After donating at least $259, backers may expect to receive have a place in which to pack their frack in April 2014.