Author: Ross Rubin

Categories
Health and Wellness

Headoc offers alternative treatment for headaches, migraines, mood

The pain from a headache, and especially a migraine, can make it impossible to function. The frustration of having one’s day interrupted brings additional stress and sometimes anxiety. Headoc was created to bring some relief during these times.

The gadget includes three types of therapy, one of which is Red Light Phototherapy. This option is touted as being able to heal wounds faster and accelerate skin regeneration. The second is negative ions, which purportedly improve physical and mental health by relieving headaches, as well as influencing mood and improving memory. Thirdly, vibration-massage therapy brings pain relief and reduces muscle contraction, reducing stress, fatigue and anxiety.

Headoc works on an internal battery and can be charged with a USB charger or external charger. It seems like a potentially effective alternative way to deal with headaches, migraines and mood issues. Other interesting options that backers might like to check out are the Sleep Sensei and the Body Echo.  Where fevers come in, IDo and iTherm might also help.

This campaign seeks to raise $10,000 by March 10. Early bird backers get 100 Headocs for $50, with an expected delivery in July of this year.

Categories
Cooking

Bakebare lets you handle what’s hot as though it’s not

It seems like the oven mitt always finds a place to hide when it comes time to pull that delectable dish or desert out of the oven. Bakebare offers a whole new line of baking dishes and pans that can be handled without an oven mitt—straight out of the oven.

Cookies, cakes and other delights get placed on the cookie sheet or in the baking pan as usual, and then when they are finished baking, there is a designated area that remains cool to touch. The reason the designated area is touted as being able to stay cool, in a nutshell, is due to the use of a natural honeycomb porous geometry feature and thermal protective coating that work together to dissipate the heat. This keeps the designated area at roughly 99 degrees Fahrenheit. Seems like an interesting product worth checking into further.

This campaign seeks to raise $60,000 by March 10. Early bird backers get one product for $29 with an expected delivery in July of this year.

Categories
Food and Beverage

Snackadium: build it on your dining room table, and they will come

There’s something about having a house full of people who love football, food and fun that makes watching a game on that big screen TV the perfect day. Especially when the food is arranged on the table to look like a Snackadium. It adds a perfect pizzazz to the party atmosphere when the snacks are arranged in the shape of a stadium.

The unique food storage container comes with eleven pieces that make up the field, grandstands, and end zone. It’s touted as being customizable, easy to assemble, clean, and microwavable, but it’s not clearly stated if it’s safe for dishwashers. Even so, it might actually be worth the inconvenience of washing this item by hand just because of how clever it looks and the ooohs and aaahs it will inspire from guests. Super Bowl-loving backers might also like to check out the Bottleloft, the Kickoff Kaddy, the GrillOven, and the Rotissa-Fry.

This campaign seeks to raise $250,000 by March 8. Backers can get one product for $100, with an expected delivery in August of this year.

Categories
Podcasts

The Backerjack Podcast, Episode 6, with Ross Rubin and Steve Sande

As Steve has gotten things underway with Apple World Today and Ross sought to make himself a bit more memorable by introducing himself twice, your two favorite crowdfunding connoisseurs discussed products to keep you safe, in shape, and sanitary in Episode 6 of The Backerjack Podcast.  Among the recent ones that have caught our attention:

  • CarVi, which provides safety features similar to those in advanced luxury cars in a small windshield-mounted, connected device.
  • the LED PLAYBULB for turning your backyard into  a garden of earthly light .
  • The One, a fitness wearable guaranteed not to give you powers like The Matrix’ Neo.
  • the fun (or scary) BrushyBall coaching robotic head with glowing teeth that teaches kids how to brush their teeth.

All the campaigns and preorder pages are still active so check out our thoughts before signing up to back them. Subscribe via iTunes or RSS, download the podcast by saving this link, or listen to it with the player below:

Want to keep hearing smart takes on the latest crowdfundied products? Please spread the word via Twitter and Facebook using the links below and review the podcast on iTunes,. Also, whether you’re a Stitcher user or Zune holdout, let us know in the comments.

Categories
Health and Wellness

Reach For Me does more than just alleviate your itch

One of the most annoying things is an itch on one’s back that is perfectly positioned to be completely unreachable.

Reach For Me offers an option that functions as more than just a back scratcher or shower brush. It has multiple attachments that also allow it to be used as a cream and sunblock applicator, exfoliating pad, massager, mirror, foot file, hair remover and fake tan applicator.

Since it folds up, it stores well and travels well, and the telescopic feature allows it to extend to the ideal length to suit one’s needs. This seems like a useful product worth checking into further, especially for those who do a lot of traveling. Jet setting backers might also want to check out NeXstep, Toiletries Bathroom Travel Case, PentaBox, and Flip Clip.

This campaign seeks to raise €40,000 (~$45,400 USD) by March 6. For €30 (~$34 USD), backers get one product with an expected delivery in April of this year.

Categories
Camping

Back to the Backers: Campfire in a Can comes roaring back to life

For those who thought that Campfire in a Can was a great idea the first time around and were disappointed when that campaign goal wasn’t met, the heat is on this time. The results are looking good.

Campfire in a Can allows the user to be able to start a cooking fire outdoors without having to rely on finding wood. While wood is an option, the product also works with charcoal and propane. The really nice thing here is that it’s all contained in one canister so that it transports easily to one’s favorite campsite or picnic area. Even in times of burning bans outside, Campfire in a Can can still be used because the design is classified as a contained fire.

Great product? Or potential lawsuit? Campfire in a Can is designed with safety in mind and the perfect addition to any campsite. This campaign seeks to raise $48,000 by March 6. For $144, backers get one product (including propane-burning capability) with an expected delivery in June of this year.

Categories
Winter Sports

Folding Sled blends winter fun and convenience

Some people’s idea of the perfect winter day is sipping on a cup of hot chocolate near the fireplace while watching the snow fall outside. For other people, going out and playing in it is the only way to go, especially when there’s a sled available. Folding Sled blends a fun winter activity with an easy way to store this seasonal item.

Since it’s lightweight, it works well for racers. But Folding Sled is also large enough that a parent and child can use it together. Assembly is touted as being uncomplicated, and when the product is not in use, the polyethylene seat allows it to fold together and store easily. This will also allow for many sleds to be packed in the family car or SUV for a sledding getaway.

Folding Sled seems like a very convenient product that may be worth exploring further. Snow-loving backers might also be interested in AXS Snoogee Board, SCIRT,  Neck Warmer, Hoogle, and MittGrips.This campaign seeks to raise £30,000 (~$46,000) by March 5. Early bird backers get one product for £170 (~$260 USD) with an expected delivery in November of this year.

Categories
Music Watches and Jewelry

EarAngels earplugs hang from earrings, offer peace in style

People who enjoy a life filled with adventure often spend time in some noisy environments. While activities such as racecar-driving, plane-flying and performing concerts can be fun adventures, they can also damage a person’s hearing. EarAngels was created for people who like to walk on the wild side of life.

What sets these earplugs apart? They attach to jewelry—and they are touted as fitting any type of earring. The high-fidelity ear protector allows her to hear even a concert with the proper highs and lows—it’s just quieter so that hearing doesn’t get damaged. The product and its packaging are reusable, and the washable earplugs can be stored right in the package. EarAngels don’t have a noise reduction rating yet, but the point of this campaign is to raise funds to discover that, and get the proper legal paperwork to prove it.

EarAngles seems like it may offer some worthwhile convenience for earring-wearers. This campaign seeks to raise $5,800 by March 4. Early bird backers get one pair for $5 with an expected delivery in March of this year.

Categories
Sports

Perfect Snap may help quarterbacks initiate the winning touchdown

Many young football players dream of getting the attention of just the right scout and getting picked up for a pro contract. It’s one thing to dream, it’s another thing to do the hard work to make that dream happen. Perfect Snap was invented to help guys strengthen the skills that they need to be a more effective quarterback.

One of several nice features of this product is that it eliminates the need for someone to take on the center position since the product is designed to provide a simulated center-quarterback exchange. This increases the quarterback’s confidence, sense of timing, and strengthens his hands. The device is touted as being weather resistant and is made primarily with PVC piping, wood, screws and elastic cording. It allows coaches to be able to watch the exchange and effectively evaluate technique so that they can offer helpful tips and pointers. This seems like a good training tool worth checking into further.

This campaign seeks to raise $15,000 by March 4. Backers won’t receive an actual product, but for $10, a video and the story of how the product idea occurred is offered. The expected delivery is in August of this year.

Categories
Health and Wellness

Fever Reliever lets you wrap your head and keep some cool

A migraine headache or a fever can be pretty debilitating. And if one’s child has a severe fever, it can be scary and challenging trying to get them cooled down.

Fever Reliever is a cooling head wrap that easily holds ice packs on one’s head so that they don’t fall off. The opening in the back of the gadget allows the user to slide cold packs into the front and back of the headband, and then secure the wrap on the head. It fastens via Velcro connectors, which are positioned toward the side of the head. The product can be used for either children or adults. A high fever means that staying hydrated is also very important, so backers might want to check out Square Bottle and Cirkul.

This campaign seeks to raise $16,000 by March 4. For $15, backers get one product with an expected delivery in April of this year.