pouch – Backerjack

Securing a bike is a necessary evil, lest it is left prey to unscrupulous types who can and most likely will take it. Unfortunately, most common locking mechanisms, like U-locks, cable locks, or chains, can be heavy and as a result extremely unwieldy and impractical.

The Mighty Click combines the positive aspects of these common locks into a wearable construction that sits comfortably on a rider’s waist. A thick, metal chain is sheathed by a reflector-laden cover to protect your bike from scuffs while it is locked, and can be adjusted with a adjustable belt and clip while worn. In addition, a small zippered pouch can tuck away a few dollars, a set of keys, or whatever else a rider may need for the trip.

Other attempts at bike lock convenience have focused on other parts of the bike for security, but wearing around the waist echoes what riders basically already do which lowers the the bar for comfort. The two versions, with or without a padlock, weigh in at 3.25 pounds, and go for $29 and $25, respectively. The $1,200 campaign is looking to ship the product by February 2015.

The Premise. Children or recovering medical patients tend to stick with smoother foods, like purees and sauces. The only problem with eating these is that they can be really messy and are definitely not portable. Food manufacturers offer foods that come in these pouches, but are always disposable. This can result in a solution that’s less ecologically friendly and offers less choice.

The Product. The Sili Squeeze is a silicone food pouch designed for smoother foods. The removable lid makes it easy to wash the pouch and dispense food into it. The spout has a cover on it to prevent messes. This product comes in several different colors and one other variation called the Sili Squeeze with Eeze which is a more free-flowing version.

The Pitch. For a relatively wet product, the campaign video is a little dry, but does go into some cool details about how the Sili Squeeze is (accidentally) great for medical patients and special needs children. The campaign also shows prototypes and pictures of some adorable kids using the products. Sili Squeeze is aiming to raise $25,000 in a 30-day Kickstarter campaign.

The Perks. The 2 oz. Sili Squeeze goes for an early price of $15. A 4 oz. version costs $19 and a 6 oz. only $20. Other tiers offer different combination packs of these pouches with an estimated delivery date of July 2014. Reward tiers go up to $100.

The Potential. The pouch is perhaps the least appreciated food receptacle. As mentioned in the campaign video, food manufacturers offer disposable pouches, but these can be quite expensive. Similar products, like the Squooshi Reusable Food Pouch offer food pouches in the same way, but are geared only towards children and customer reviews show that they’re hard to clean. The Sili Squeeze offers a unique and portable way to eat pureed foods over and over again. Its added benefit of accessibility to toddlers, hospital patients and special needs children makes it all the more versatile.