We’ve all had that awful moment when our phone dies and we’re stuck without a way to charge it. With Buckle Charger, the answer lies just above your crotch. This portable charger lives right on a belt buckle and can charge any Android phone, iPhone or Bluetooth headset. It’s subtlety, convenience and portability make this product extremely appealing, much like the Carbon Watch. One Buckle Charger costs buckled backers $49 at an early price or $59 regularly with choice of leather color and three connectors. This product needs to raise $100,000 with its hilarious 40-day Indiegogo campaign.
Category: Apparel
Whether one wants to run like the wind, ride the waves like a fish or just play in the sand with the kids, Zem Shoes has your feet covered for these and other feats. The Zone of Endless Motion athletic shoes include multiple options to suit ll kinds of moods — fitness, wellness, water sports, fashion or just an active lifestyle are all complimented by comfort and flexibility. For $39, backers get one pair of ZEM Shoes with an expected delivery of July 2014.
Earbuds are constantly getting tangled and bunched up in the wrong way which can cause them to break or get lost. The iLanyard keeps your earbuds in place while you’re wearing them. It attaches to both wires on either side and loops around the back of your neck, much like a lanyard for glasses. Other earbud solutions, like the Snap and Nunchuk, get the job done well, but cannot be used while actually listening to music or talking on the phone. One of these goes for $8 on Kickstarter with an estimated delivery date of July 2014. The iLanyard needs to raise $8,000 in a 20-day campaign.
Athletes who enjoy running or cycling outside constantly face the problem of where to put their keys while exercising. They either run the risk of being uncomfortable or of putting their keys in an unsafe place. KeyClip is a small magnetic pouch that holds your key securely while you jog. It then clips directly to your clothing for safekeeping. The strong magnet ensures it will stay put, much like the Nunchuk clip. One of these clips goes for a $20 pledge with an estimated delivery date of October 2014. KeyClip hopes to raise $15,000 in a 45-day stint on Kickstarter.
If you’re one of many who is textile-challenged, tailoring your own clothes has just become an option. ZipSeam appears to be made of a plastic material and consists of two pieces that allow you to reduce the size of an article of a shirt that is too big. One piece has a thin slit into which you push the excess material using a credit or debit card, and the other thinner piece locks it into place. If you happen to be a person who is particularly petite or who has lost weight and finding clothes in the right size is a challenge, this may be an option that you find useful. For $8, backers get one complete product and an expected delivery of June 2014.
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While weight training is one of the best ways to tone and gain muscle, it can sometimes mean enduring some bruising. For those who want the gain but prefer to avoid that type of pain, WilkWear offers a solution. This particular workout shirt has a padded collarbone area and is made of polyester and spandex to keep padding in place and your body comfortable during your routine. For $40, backers get one WilkWear with an expected delivery of May 2014. This offer is $10 off the anticipated retail price.
The Premise. Runners, cyclists, hikers and other athletes require lots of hydration during their workouts. Unfortunately, water bottles and backpacks can be cumbersome to carry and difficult to access when needed.
The Product. The Hydras is a portable water system perfect for athletes. This product offers shirts with four water bladders and tubes sewn in. The bladders are located at the shoulders and lower back, which are supposed to be the areas least prone to sweating. With perfect balance, the water evens itself out in each pouch for maximum comfort. The main tube comes over the should to make it accessible for drinking. Currently, Hydras comes in short sleeve, long sleeve and sleeveless wear.
The Pitch. Hydras’ main campaign video offers testimonials from wearers of this product with little other detail of its conception or design. The prototyping process fills the rest of the campaign. However, there are no pictures of the different shirts available with this product; that would be helpful for interested backers to see. There is also no mention of whether or not the shirts are machine-washable. This cooling system hopes to raise a staggering $115,000 in its 30-day Kickstarter campaign.
The Perks. Only backers with $150 will receive this hydrating shirt from the campaign. Lower tiers offer just the water bladders and tubes without a shirt or simply the chance to order the product before its official market release. Reward tiers go up to $10,000 with estimated delivery dates of November 2014.
The Potential. The Hydras shirts claim to offer more benefits than simply holding a water bottle or even using a CamelBak. The price seems a bit high, however, for one shirt, whether or not it holds water. Also, it seems likely that the water, while balanced in the shirt, may drag the fabric of the shirt down the back uncomfortably. Water temperature is also something to worry about because the water would most likely heat up during a workout. Still, the Hydras’ main benefit of evenly distributing the weight of the water across the back is essential for many athletes and the product may well appeal to fitness enthusiasts in need of a quick drink.
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If you’re the type who likes to set the trends, or in this case, reset them, Bast Shoes will be an item that you can appreciate. The natural birch tree shoes are woven by hand from fallen trees found in Siberia. The style was apparently common many centuries ago when weaving stuff by hand was the norm. For $25, backers get a pair of “step-ins” with an expected delivery of August 2014.
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So you’re running behind for an important meeting and walking at a pretty brisk pace. You notice that one of your shoes feels loose and look down. That stupid shoe lace has come untied again! Innie offers the opportunity to get those laces under control. The small plastic clip that looks a bit like a colorful razor blade attaches to your shoe’s laces from the inside. Since it sits between the tongue and inside of your shoe, you remain comfortable and it remains invisible. A few similar ideas include Wudzs Snap On, Zipped, and Hickies. If you’re opposed to double knotting your shoes and hate tying too, this could work well for you. For $10 AUD, a backer gets two packs of Innies and an expected delivery of July 2014.
Ever ride around on a bike in a cute skirt only to end up flashing the world when a gust of wind blows your honor away? Try KATCH, a magnet that keeps your skirt in place when on the go. The metal cuff can be worn as a bracelet or honor-preserver by weighing short skirts or dresses down so nothing is revealed. This clever product may be just the thing for pedal-pumping women unwilling to compromise style for functionality. KATCH comes in different styles and colors and one goes for only $10 with an estimated delivery date of May 2014. KATCH hopes to catch $5,000 from backers in their 30-day run on Kickstarter.