Hiking and camping can be some of the best spent vacation time. And if it’s possible to do it economically, maybe even with a motorcycle or other fuel efficient vehicle, that can make it so much the better. The Motorcycle Teardrop Camper is probably the closest thing to a Vespa you can live in. The goal of this project’s creator is for a small, 400-pound camper to be able to be hitched to a motorcycle or economy vehicle such as a hybrid for some grand adventures in the great outdoors, but it’s still pretty early in the game. Backers will get a production credit on this product when it becomes available if they are willing to contribute at least $1,000.
Category: Camping
Late spring, summer time and picnics seem to go together like hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and apple pie. The frustration lies in those days when the wind is roaring like a lion rather than behaving like a lamb, and paper plates and plastic ware blow all over the place. SmartStrap offers a solution to those wildly windy meals whether it be a picnic or camping trip. The elastic band and Nexus ITW buckle with an adjustment device holds the tablecloth in place so wind or curious little hands can’t run away with forks, spoons and meals. For $18, backers get a SmartStrap in multiple color options and an expected delivery of June 2014.
When the carabiner made the jump from mountain climbing tool to everyday accessory, it seemed like the garment clip industry had pretty much reached its zenith. Now comes the Qlipter, a small and mighty device that looks like a standard carabiner but is capable of so much more. Made out of aircraft-grade aluminum, the Qlipter has a rotating hook built into its design, meaning that anything clipped can be hung and allowed to swivel freely. The clip is also magnetized to help keep it securely shut for towing or hauling smaller items onto larger ones. Backers can get a Qlipter of their very own to hang onto for $20, delivered in August.
Campers or hikers look for products with various uses to lighten their loads when they’re enjoying the great outdoors. The WorkingStick is more than just a walking aid, it’s a phone-holder, picture-taker, and quad-pod for holding your various camping accoutrements. The stick folds out into a teepee shape, has a screw for digital cameras and a slot to hold phones. Each stick has extender capabilities and can reach up to 60”. Early-bird-watchers will receive the WorkingStick for $55 or for a regular price of $59 with an estimated delivery date of June 2014. WalkingStick has a low $2,000 goal in its 29-day Kickstarter campaign.
Backpackers who survive, well, out of their backpacks live their lives portably, so any convenience offered to them is quite welcome. Cover-U offers one such convenience as a backpack with sun protection. A large, adjustable canopy hangs over the heads of these dual-pack wearers, cutting out the need for hats or umbrellas. This high-quality bag features many pockets, back support, and different designs for kids and adults. While slightly funny looking, this pack is perfect for young students or backpackers who roam the countryside of cute European towns. For $250, backers and backpackers can be covered by May 2015. Cover-U needs to raise $85,000 on Kickstarter in a 31-day campaign in order to cover you.
Too much sun on the beach can have some seriously harmful consequences and beach umbrellas aren’t always the best option for avoiding burns. Neso Tents offer an easy solution to this problem. These portable shelters are stakeless and lightweight making assembly quick and easy. They use sandbags for weight and come in a ton of different hues. Early-birds can avoid over-sunning themselves for $49 with an estimated delivery date of June 2014. These tents, while well designed, still run very high in terms of pricing compared to similar products on the market. Neso hopes to raise $12,000 in its 45-day Kickstarter campaign.
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Aaah yes! The beauty and peace and quiet of the great outdoors. Nothing like a good hike on a gorgeous, sunny day. And for those times when you find you need to go off the beaten path to take care of a bit of business, The Deuce of Spades lets you pair up with any tree in the forest. The 0.6 ounce aluminum latrine digger is much lighter than other trowels, and is touted as able to break most types of soil with ease. But it doesn’t have sharp edges, so hard ground may render it ineffective. For $14, backers can choose from shiny red, yellow, green or blue- and an expected delivery of May 2014.
Camping or picnicking can be messy activities, especially when it comes to food. Both are made a lot easier with the Anywhere Fridge-Freezer-Warmer. As a portable three-in-one food storage product, the Anywhere Fridge-Freezer-Warmer can recharge in the car and is also solar powered. It travels well and looks like a suitcase, complete with a handle and wheels on the bottom. Prices for the Fridge range from $199 for the small version to $499 for the large version, a significant discount over the Solar Cooler, with an estimated delivery date of August 2014. The Anywhere-Fridge is looking to raise $125,000 on Indiegogo in a 60-day campaign.
Traveling with little kids can be a challenge, and it’s even more difficult if they are potty training. The toilets that kids use when they’re learning to “go” are not travel-friendly. One, they’re bulky, and two…gross? So Leila designed a portable travel potty to help kids go, even when they family is away from home. Her design gave encompasses a multi-use, collapsible, portable potty that can be easily stowed in a diaper bag or purse. You do have to have use a plastic bag with the product, so you’ll need to keep those on hand as well. The clever design is as biodegradable as its intended contents and a set is available to backers for $25.
The Premise. Family outings into the great wilderness always require a few items. Food, drinks, towels for the beach, camping gear for the woods and chairs are all essential for a trip into the great outdoors. All of this gear can be tedious for the lazy everyday average Joe to carry back and forth from the car.
The Product. The Gypsy Mule Wagon consists of one or two folding chairs that transform into a heavy-duty wagon. The chairs that recline and have adjustable heights look like something perfect for the beach. The striped fabric comes in different colors as does the metal frame. The wheels and handle attachments must be assembled to the chair in order to transform it into a wagon. Additional accessories include backpack straps to carry the chairs with and cargo netting to make transferring items easier.
The Pitch. The Gypsy Mule Wagon’s Kickstarter campaign begins with a rambling video of company president Robert Tyson putting the wagon together and showing how it’s just as easy as 1-2-3… 4-5-6-7-8 and all the way to 20 because that’s how many steps it takes to put the thing together. The campaign also shows how the Gypsy Mule Wagon is made, what it is made out of and the difference between the Single- and Dual-Chair wagons. Rob and the folks at Gypsy Ventures Inc. hope to raise $130,000 in order to shlep their wagons into the production process. More instructions for assembly, different fabric choices and other information can be found at the company’s Web site.
The Perks. You’ll have to pay a significant duty to have your beach chairs do double-duty. Contributions of $325 or more earn a Single-Chair Gypsy Mule Wagon with limited choices of color and fabric choices. Backers willing to fork over $650 or more get a Dual-Chair Gypsy Mule Wagon. Higher donations earn more freedom with design and fabric choices for the wagons. Estimated availability is currently set at August 2014, giving the creators plenty of time to deliver after the campaign ends in March.
The Potential. Any product that means having to lug things around less is always welcome on the market. People love the idea of saving time and making their lives easier. In that sense, Gypsy Mule Wagons are on the right track. The beach may be difficult for the wagon’s wheels to plod through, but the Gypsy Mule Wagons are perfect for camping trips or picnics at the park. The clunky detachable wheels and other accessories make the wagons not as portable and compact as promised, however. A host of beach carts can help carry gear even when you’re sitting in other chairs. And while it holds only a fraction of the Gypsy Mule Wagon, the Beach Chair Portable Folding Cart presents an alternative featuring wheels that don’t detach, which might make assembly and storage easier. All in all, the Gypsy Mule Wagons are a convenient, albeit expensive, option for the lazy and burdened lover of the outdoors.