Author: Ross Rubin

Categories
Apparel

Strapless Kewi bra aims to alleviate back pain via breast-lifting mechanism

The Premise. The only thing worse than a bra that doesn’t fit right would be underwear that rides up. Both are annoying. Sometimes annoyingly painful. While there may be men who can relate to the underwear scenario, one has to seriously doubt that any man could truly understand the bra scenario. Nevertheless, a male named Muyiwa Olumide has decided to try his hand at just such a challenge. He was inspired by a lady friend who apparently had a bad shopping night, and must have issued a double-dog dare in her extreme frustration.

The Product. The Kewi bra is aimed at gals who have at least a “D” cup or higher. These include many women who walk around with a great deal of back pain because of being, well, top-heavy. Kewi aims to bring them something that fits properly and is comfortable. And if it happens to look good too, well, that would be an added benefit. The strapless bra has a specialized device that lifts larger bosoms and therefore takes the pressure off of a woman’s shoulders, neck and back. It’s also designed in such a way as to retain a proportional outward shape, eliminating the issue of improper fit due to one breast being larger than the other.

The Pitch. The video for the $25,000 campaign would have been much better off had Olumide allowed a female to be the spokesperson for the product, possibly the same one who challenged him to make a bra that doesn’t hurt her back. She would have certainly had more experience and knowledge about the plight surrounding what fuller-figured gals need in a specialized undergarment. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how many women explain these particular facts of life is to a guy, he is just not going to get it because, well, as Olumide obviously puts it, he lacks the gender-specific mammary glands.

The Perks. There are six tiers from which backers may choose. The $100 early bird special includes a Kewi bra. It seems worth noting that for $1.000, a backer may also have their own photo-shoot, complete with pictures posted on the website. So if you happen to be an aspiring model with a large chest, or you know someone who is, there you go. Estimated delivery is anywhere from June 2014 – January 2015, depending on the backer’s choice of pledge.

The Potential. If what is generally available in your average store is any indicator of the sizes that most females wear, then the Kewi bra is aimed at a rather narrow niche market. Obviously, it’s difficult to tell if the product delivers from an online description, particularly one without testimonials, but if the two-plied cup can help bring relief to women’s sore backs, that would be huge win for the afflicted.

Categories
Kids/Babies Sports

Lightning Stick on holey quest to quicken batter swings

Lightening Stick cfcf6246370cfbb09182551cda5717a8_large[1]Just in time for the approach of spring training, the Lightning Stick training tool is anticipated to be a home run with little sluggers, sluggettes and their coaches. Brooklyn-rased, LA-based inventor Joe Magno uses seven videos to explain how the lightweight, polycarbonate material and overall design aims to help players with the development of fast twitch muscle fiber within their body. That feature, combined with a knocking knuckle grip and flat surface, all work together to promote palm up/palm down swings and teach the batter to get all the way through the ball quickly and keep their hands inside. For a pledge of $40, backers get one Lightning Stick, which is estimated to run about $59 once it goes mainstream. Expected delivery is April 2014.

Categories
Pets

Ginger Beds provides pricey pillows for your precious pup

ginger-beds-mult-beds-1_project-body[1]If you’re of the opinion that the dog beds presently on the market are too boring and ugly for your four-legged family member, Ginger Beds founders would agree. Not only does Ginger Beds offer some unique and colorful options than what can be found online, but the material used to make the bed stuffing is made of 2 liter recycled plastic bottles. The company has also partnered with various community organizations that benefit dogs and people. One such organization includes a non-profit that will handle part of the production process and uses the services of those with disabilities so that they can have meaningful employment and an improved quality of life.

But it will cost you. Ginger Beds come in 24, 36 and 48 inches wide and are made entirely in the USA. For a donation of $160, backers can get the 24 inch bed. Other sizes are available for larger donations. While there are dog beds available for considerably less, Ginger Beds seems to be more oriented toward giving back to the community than your average company. Estimated availability for shipping is May 2014.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories

Jakket keeps iPhone’s plug wound about town

Jakket d6666959fac436d9d8013c3505da314a_large[1]Long days, extended stays, and the entire family having matching adapter cords makes dealing with gadget cords a hassle. But it’s those very annoyances that ushered in the idea for Jakket. It’s designed for the Apple 5 watt adapter ~ iPhone 5/5s/5c, iPad Air, iPad mini and new generation iPods. Not only does the adapter come in multiple colors that can be assigned to each family member or gadget, but it also comes with an adjustable strap for keeping cords organized and gadgets docked. Competition might be a bit stiff for this campaign given the fact that there are campaigns on Backerjack with similar ideas (Tidy, Kero and Ark). For a pledge of at least $10, backers get one Jakket in their color choice with an expected delivery of June 2014. Jakket is made in the USA and offers free shipping within the US.

Categories
Kids/Babies Toys Travel

BoosterPalz provides backseat plush comfort for the wee ones

The Premise. Aahhh, yes, the togetherness and memories of family vacations.  And as any experienced road warrior parent knows, the best time to do a road trip with the kids is going to be early evening and into late at night whenever possible. This, of course, significantly reduces the frequency of questions like, “Are we there yet?’ And comments such as, “He’s touching me!” To which she responds, “Well, he keeps flinging his leg (or arm) over to my side!” When they finally fall asleep, it’s generally in the most uncomfortable (but funny) position imaginable.

The Product. So in an effort to make everyone more comfortable, BoosterPalz presents travel pillows for the kids. Your choice of Spotz the Dog, Alli the Cat, or KoKo the Monkey is sure to keep the necks of your little tigers and tigresses from getting cricks in them, while also providing cushioning for their heads when you hit those speed bumps on highway changes. They’ll be kept fast asleep and you will be able to maintain your travel sanity within your vehicle’s walls. The magnetic paws of BoosterPalz allows kids to retain their do-it-myself independence if they choose to attach it to a seat. A convenient front pocket is the perfect storage place for toys, games and snacks, which begs the question: but is it washable? Unfortunately, this excellent question is not clearly answered, but one would hope that the creators of the product considered this since it was their kids who inspired the product.

The Pitch. The video for the $15,000 campaign is rather lengthy in its detail about the pillows, and appears to be something of a family affair, complete with pictures of the kids and a little voiceover input from them here and there. Nevertheless, it clearly explains the product. It’s actually quite amazing how much they were able to find to say about travel pillows for kids. The travel buddies also come in multiple colors, depending on which snuggle critter your child chooses.

The Perks. There are 17 tiers from which backers may choose. The $40 early bird special offers backers their choice of BoosterPal, a water bottle, and includes shipping anywhere in the US. Higher tiers offer more travel critters. Estimated delivery is May 2014.

The Potential. BoosterPalz will most likely be the most beneficial for kids who have outgrown their first car seat and may even appeal to tweens and younger teenagers, depending on their maturity level. There are multiple types of travel pillows for kids available for purchase, though the design and storage pocket set the BoosterPalz apart.

Categories
Kids/Babies Toys

Wonki Wands lets kids make monster-sized bubbles

Wonki Wands 2 d058ac7f7bad67b52054746db74bfb74_large[1]It’s funny how taking something old, tweaking it, repackaging it, and remarketing it makes it new. Even in an age of videogames and handheld gadgets, those little jars filled with soap that have those dinky wands for making midget-sized bubbles fascinate. How big can you make it before you break it? For those looking to step up their bubble’s bigness, Wonki Wands boasts of being able to make bubbles up to 40 feet in length. And the wands come in purple, pink, green, sparkle, blue, and copper-black for added affect. For a pledge of at least $24, backers get their choice of wand color and 16 ounces of bubble stuff. The expected delivery date is April 2012, and shipping is free within the US.

Categories
Cooking Food and Beverage

Uten-sil raises silverware to a (slightly) higher level

Uten_sil 52a63e8206d9c92f76d6ef886259fe38_large[1]Why should smartphones have all the fun? The fork and knife finally have their own dock. For those who want someplace to lay their eating utensils during mealtime that doesn’t involve a napkin, the edge of their plate, or just on the table, Uten-sil Fork & Knife Rest might just make your day. The high-grade plastic and silicone wedge raises utensils slightly above the table’s surface so that there is less mess, potentially also keeping silverware free of tabletop germs. Prehaps the bigger benefit is keeping the tablecloth a little cleaner, assuming, o fcourse, that the utensils don’t get too covered in dropping substnaces such as sauces. For a pledge of at least $10, backers will get a two-pack of Uten-sil in their choice of black or white and an expected delivery of July 2014. Other colors and amounts are available for a higher donation, and it does appear to be a one-of-a-kind idea.

Categories
Chargers/Batteries

The Fig portable battery provides accurate battery boost capacity

FigChargerOur mobile devices have precise battery meters, but the portable chargers for them may have at best a couple of LEDs.  The Fig Battery Back takes the guessing game out of determining if your charger has enough power to restore you to Candy Crush saga heaven (or maybe hell). The Fig has two USB ports, making it able to charge both smartphones and tablets . The Fig also has the capability to recharge via solar power. Units are available in 6000 mAh and 10,400 mAh. For $59, a backer gets one 6000 mAh Fig unit with an expected delivery date of April 2014.

Categories
Cooking

Bottle Opener Board helps you slice, opens soda for ice

For those who like to enjoy a beer along with their cooking preparations, Bottle Opener Board (BOB for short) is likely to be your best buddy forever in the kitchen or at the grill. The Bamboo cutting board sports a bottle opener at the end of its handle (or in the corner for the travel size version) so that when you’re on a roll with that knife and somebody wants a drink, you just slide BOB over so your guests can pop their top. Now, if you’re going on a picnic or doing some camping, BOB might be just the thing. However, you might be just as well served by putting a bottle opener on your key ring or making certain to bring along your Swiss Army Knife — unless you’re going to be with an uptight group of stuffy accountants or attorneys and you want an effective conversation starter. For a pledge of at least $9, a backer gets a travel-size BOB (more like Newhart), or for at least $20, a standard-sized BOB (smaller than Saget). Either option has an expected delivery date of June 2014.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories Video

GoPhone weds GoPro to iPhone in protective case of extreme capture

Go Phone iPhone case ba0e3633e1e631062b06ffb49df0ea9b_large[1]If you are a sports enthusiast with aspirations of going pro or someday engaging in the Olympics, you may find the GoPhone iPhone case to be a useful tool for sharpening your game. The iPhone case is intended to be compatible with an iPhone 5 and 5s. The case doubles as a handle and monitor for a GoPro camera. The GoPro app allows the user to have a monitor for their device through the iPhone screen via its wireless technology. The GoPhone case then allows the user to connect the two so that it becomes an all-in-one portable camera kit. Depending on what a person is trying to accomplish and their creativity level, it’s possible that just using an iPhone mount would work just as well as the GoPhone iPhone case. For a pledge of $40, backers get a complete product with an estimated delivery date of September 2014.