Tag: sports

Categories
Tech Accessories

iLoop water-resistant phone mount can go anywhere moist

Finding that perfect smartphone holder in a crowded market place of phone mounts can seem daunting. iLoop may be the most ideal for those who like to use their smartphone as a part of their workout, cooking routine, or office life. The donut-shaped product stands the phone up right and is made of silicone so it is durable and moisture resistant while also providing protection for one’s smartphone. It’s compatible with most models on the market, and works in both portrait and landscape mode. So when taking one of those group photos, even the phone owner can be in the picture. The holder presently comes in black, white, blue and pink, but others colors will be available is this campaign does well.

Most conventional mounts on the market are made from metal or plastic. If a spill comes along, they may provide some protection against an overturned coffee, say, but the iLoop was specifically designed for that purpose, which is pretty useful. Backers may also want to check out the Linkmount, LUUV and Squido campaigns. This campaign seeks to raise $10,000. Early bird backers get one iLoop for $10 with an expected delivery of February 2015.

Categories
Sports

Court Grabbers keep players from slip slidin’ away

There’s little that’s more annoying on a basketball court than when a tight score is making the game “up for grabs” and a dirty court is making getting traction a near impossibility. Anxious players lick their hands, rub the bottom of their shoes, and hope they don’t get sick later.

Court Grabbers restore traction to shoes in a quick, easy and safe way. Before the game or practice begins, the player laces the base strip onto their shoe once, applies traction gel to the traction pad, and slides it onto the base strip. It clicks in place and stays secure throughout the game or practice. Then whenever traction is needed, the player wipes the bottom of their shoe across the traction pad on the top of their other shoe, and dust, dirt and traction is restored to shoes. This means players have traction available at all times when on the court. When the traction pad gets dirty, just toss into the washer and dryer. It’s not clearly indicated how frequently the product should be washed for optimum game traction results. The product has been declared “permitted for play” by NCAA and NFHS, and is presently being used by players in 42 states and 11 countries.

This product’s appeal will be pretty much limited to its niche market of basketball enthusiasts, aspiring professionals and pro ball players. Backers looking for an easy way to tote all their sports gear might want to check out the Zondo Firefly Backpack campaign, and those looking for a way to monitor and improve their game might want to check out the LUUV campaign. For $15, backers get one product with an expected delivery of February 2015, if the campaign can raise $20,000.

Categories
Winter Sports

Lumbos lets your feet rotate freely as you snowboard

For those who don’t ski or snowboard, the very thought of having your feet clamped onto boards while you careen down a slippery mountain may seem crazy. For those who do it, it’s an awesome time. Still, not being able to move your feet freely doesn’t always feel that safe.

Lumbos is a clamping system that lets your feet rotate in its bindings on any kind of boarding, including snowboards, wakeboard and kiteboards. With this kind of freedom, you’ll be able to have greater range of motion on the slopes or water. This feature is especially nice for those who ride the ski lift. With Lumbos, that awkward twisting of the ankle is gone on the lift.

While this product may be convenient when getting from place to place, for the actual sport it may interfere with coordination. Especially with snowboard where your locked legs are what steers the board. Lumbos would do well to consider a locking option on their product so that legs can swing free on the lift, but remain secure on the slopes. One pair will cost backers $175 with estimated delivery in April 2015. Lumbos is hoping to raise $15,504 with Kickstarter’s help.

Categories
Aquatics

Wake Wing offers a widebody alternative to parasailing

Athletes and other active types are always looking for new ways to up the ante. Extreme sports are the way to go, but once you’ve tried them all, they can get boring. That’s where Wake Wing comes in. It’s a new kind of water sport. Similar to wakeboarding or waterskiing, you’re dragged behind a boat attached by a rope. To set up, stand on the board before starting the boat. Once you get going, presumably you’ll be lifted up into the air, compliments of the ground effect; the same effect that allows airplanes to fly. The campaign claims the product will lift you up four to six feet into the air, though there’s no photographs or footage to substantiate this claim.

If this product actually works, it looks like a cool and fun way to enjoy the water. On Backerjack, we’ve seen all kinds of extreme sports devices like the WingBoard, a board that is similarly dragged, but behind an airplane (!) instead of a boat. Wake Wing lets you float in the air without the threat of death. The campaign is seeking to raise $4,000 on Kickstarter and does not offer the actual product at this time.

Categories
Sports

Fan-Hand takes on the sticky with mini-dry erase boards

Here’s an item for sports enthusiasts who want more than just to be seen. They want to have their words seen too. Fan-Hand is a dry erase board that has a Velcro strip attached so that the user can wear it on their hand and hold their message high for all to see. There are also slots for dry erase markers so that the message can be changed during commercial breaks. So comments like, “The umpire is blind,” or “My grandma can throw a football better than you,” can be adequately displayed. Of course, this could also be used at rock concerts by surly fans: “You messed up the third chord in the second line of your song and we all heard it.” Or maybe college students in a large lecture hall: “Hey Prof, your delivery is dry, dull and dusty. Please do us all a favor and step down.” This campaign seeks to raise $27,000 by December 13, 2014. Early bird backers get one 8×10 size Fan-Hand for $20 with an expected delivery of January 2015.

Categories
Sports

LoadUp Pro gets physical to produce tight baseball bat swings

All sports demand tight, consistent form, which takes a whole lot of time and practice to properly master. A big problem when learning these techniques is that it’s hard to know when you’re not doing it right. This means leading some down the wrong path and forcing them to correct themselves when someone clues them in on their mistakes.

The folks at LoadUp Pro think that time would be better spent learning correctly from the get go. They’ve built their batting aid to teach players how to correctly load up power and swing while still keeping balance. The Pro does this with two bars that work in tandem to create physical cues to teach, improve, or refine form, eventually leading to improved muscle memory and an overall better swing. The company’s approach is novel as it shies away from a sensor-centric design like the Zepp which forces players to analyze their swing after the fact. In contrast, the LoadUp Pro offers instant feedback the same way the Jump Shot Pro does for basketball — an invaluable trait in the sports world. The LoadUp Pro can be had for $75 with an estimated delivery date of January 2015. The campaign is looking to raise $5,000 for success.

Categories
Safety

ST Impact Ball checks playing surfaces for head injury potential

Risk of injury from sports or play is a part of being a child. That’s way protective gear is required for many popular sports. But what if there were a way for the owners of sports facilities and playgrounds and even parents to measure the risk of head injury in the event of a fall? ST Impact Ball is a unique gadget that measures a combination of factors, including location, surface type, surface depth, fall height, drop angle, and maximum g-forces at impact. This allows facility owners to make certain that they are offering a safe environment and can give parents peace of mind. ST Impact Ball is much like the Jolt Sensor we’ve recently seen on Backerjack. Jolt Sensor sits on a players head and measure impact as it comes, unlike ST which measures possible impact dangers. Presently, it appears that the lower levels of this campaign provide a product that only works for a limited time (1-3 weeks, depending on selected level). Lifetime updates and software are apparently their own separate level. This campaign seeks to raise $45,000 by November 20, 2014.  For $200, backers get access to the ball for a week. Expected delivery is February 2015.

Categories
Sports

Alligator Arms gets players ready to catch the winning touchdown

Football is a game in which a variety of skills are not only required, but players are trained to a level where they’re practically second nature. In particular, there are a few aspects of pass receiving that are absolutely vital to get down. One of the most important skills is to avoid catching the ball with the body by extending the arms as far as possible. Although it sounds simple, the level of efficacy expected requires a lot time, discipline, and occasionally something to help nudge you down the right path. Alligator Arms aims to help budding pass receivers nurture solid fundamentals, compelling them to always extend their arms when engaging in the process of catching the pass. The product comes in the form of a belt worn around the waist that attaches to a user’s wrists with cords. It’s a simple, low-tech aid similar to the Shoot Natural Glove that, with enough use, seems like it can breed positive habits. Since the product was conceived at a fitness seminar, there must be some truth to the claim, although more analysis use would be necessary to see if it actually works over the long run. In the meantime, one Alligator Arms is going for $100 with an estimated delivery date of December 2014. The campaign is looking for $10,000 to help players everywhere.

Categories
Fitness

Hamtoner pulls the strings when it comes to strengthening glutes, calves and the lower back

Getting used to the pounding heat of the sun and cold pouring rain is all a part of track and field. That’s why the best place for outdoor sports enthusiasts to train is outside. Hamtoner is another tool that sports lovers can use to help strengthen their lower body so they have what it takes to not just cross the finish line, but win the prize, too. Auger screws allow the unit to be anchored to the ground right next to the playing field so that strengthening buttocks, calves and lower back can be just as much a part of the training routine as other important aspects of building up the body for those winning moments. The unit is lightweight enough to be taken on the road for keeping up with workouts during travel, but it seems that the Auger screws may create a challenge for getting Hamtoner unanchored and packed into one’s vehicle. This campaign seeks to raise $4,750 by November 16, 2014. For $375, backers get one product with an expected delivery of December 2014.

Categories
Nutrition/Hydration

Intlishake bottle lets you mix it up with a secret stash

The common quandry among healthy lifestyle enthusiasts about where to stash stuff while exercising is addressed again, this time with Intlishake. Remaining hydrated is important while working out, so why not create a water bottle that holds more than just water? This unique item has two dry storage compartments that are big enough to hold a mobile phone, small wallet, keys, and other small necessities that people often feel they need to take with them when they go to the gym or wherever their favorite exercise location happens to be. For those who like exercising at night, or perhaps before the sun is up, Aqualight can provided added safety, just like the Empowerment Bottle can.  Prefer flavored water? LiveWell Water Filter makes water cleaner and tastier. This campaign seeks to raise $20,000 by November 13, 2014. For $18, backers get one product with an expected delivery of April 2015.