Categories
Fitness Wearables

Arcus is the one fitness ring to rule them all

The Premise. Many fitness-centric devices allow people to track their progress as they exercise. Most are worn on the wrist or arm and give information about time elapsed as well as distance travelled. For feedback on actual technique, most athletes resort to a coach.

The Product. Arcus is a motion analyzer that you wear as a ring. It provides feedback to you via its app about the activity or sport you are engaging in down to information on your tennis stroke or golf swing, for example. Other information provided by Arcus include stroke strength, speed, average accuracy, average time, distances travelled, impact, and the list goes on. There are no real limitations to the kinds of feedback or sport that Arcus is compatible with. This ring charges wirelessly and also comes with a magnetic sphere. The ring-wearer can roll this sphere around, allowing it to properly calibrate and gather information about the environment, making its data more reliable. In addition, wearing it on one’s finger instead of wrist provides more accurate motion information. As an added bonus, this smart little ring also allows lets the wearer control any Bluetooth Smart Ready device in the vicinity. The ring comes in many different colors, patterns and finishes and is also completely waterproof.

The Pitch. The Arcus video cuts right to the chase and explains how the ring works along with how many uses it has. For the remainder of the campaign, the Hungarian creators show examples of Arcus at work along with screenshots of the app. It also goes through the huge number of color options for the ring, testimonials, tech information, product comparisons and the prototyping process. The Kickstarter campaign has a huge $320,000 goal in its 35-day run. 

The Perks. Donation levels for one Arcus plus charger and app range from $149 – $230 based on color and finish. Higher tiers offer multi-packs at heavily discounted rates. Reward tiers climb up to $2,500 and all rings are expected to ship by February 2015. 

The Potential. We’ve seen a slew of smart jewelry on the market recently. The Ringly alerts wearers to calls and texts coming through to their phone. For fitness, the ever-popular FitBit tracks fitness performance with an app, similar to Arcus, along with sleep activity and food intake. The WonderRing tracks heart rate, temperature and sports performance and also allows the wearer to control surrounding electronics. While all of these wearables are certainly very cool, Arcus is the only one that actually provides feedback on technique. The fact that it can help an athlete improve upon their game is invaluable. In addition, its capabilities in working with Bluetooth Smart Ready devices make it especially unique. All in all, for the price and wide range of uses, it is clear that Arcus is the next big thing in smart wearable jewelry. 

Categories
Sports

PractiGOAL converts from part of soccer to solar blocker

PractiGOALSoccer is a great sport that is enjoyed by many all over the world. However, running around on a piping hot field can get pretty sweaty. The PractiGOAL is a typical soccer goal that converts easily into a shady spot for players and parents alike. This 65 lb heavyweight goal comes with seats to rest out of the sun. It is made out of aluminum and folds up for portability. One of these goal/shades will set backers back a whopping $400 for delivery in February 2015. PractiGOAL is looking to raise $35,000 in its 45-day run on Kickstarter.

Categories
Sports

Challenger tennis aid tracks speed and impact, makes players better with the ball

Every sport out there has become smart. With golfing aides and fitness rings, it’s now possible to examine every way a player can improve their game.

Enter Challenger, a tennis racket attachment that measures various aspects of a tennis player’s swing. This nifty little gadget attaches directly to the strings of a tennis racket. With Bluetooth, it communicates various metrics to the accompanying app. The Challenger is impact-resistant, weather-resistant and features a highly visible touchscreen display with four hours of battery life.

The app measures the speed of the swing, impact points on the racket and spin of each ball hit. It also keeps track of play time, types of swings, and how long the strings of the racket last until they need to be restrung. The app provides individualized profiles of players, gives tennis tips, and tracks progress over time.

Challenger offers lots of data that will certainly be helpful to tennis players looking to take their game to the next level. All it’s missing is a way for the app to interpret that data to provide feedback on how to improve, like the similar runScribe for runners. However, it’s feature of connecting the user with different players in their area is a nice plus. One can be had for $150 with delivery in January 2015. Challenger hopes to raise $75,000 in funding.

Categories
Aquatics

Aqua Elliptical helps you get in your cardio on the lake

Aqua EllipticaWater sports have grown past water skiing, wakeboarding and surfing. Now, people are exploring even more new ways, like paddleboarding, to get exercising while in a lake or ocean. The Aqua Elliptica offers one such way to enjoy cardio while out on the water. This product is basically a water-friendly elliptical machine, similar to one you’d find in the gym. One Aqua Elliptica costs backers $2,500 with an estimated delivery date of September 2014. This new water device hopes to raise $50,000 in a 33-day Kickstarter campaign.

Categories
Health and Wellness Wearables

iFocusBand strives to help athletes focus, avoid Gatorade spillage

ifocusbandIn the past decade, it has become trendy to espouse that, like any muscle, the brain needs to get a workout every once in a while to stay in shape. The iFocusBand is a piece of smart headgear that slips inside the band of any ball cap and measures brain waves to determine focus and awareness, which it then translates into audiovisual stimulus to help boost athletic performance. Smart headbands are beginning to pop up all over the crowdfunding scene, but the athletic angle may help iFocusBand stand out. iFocusBand will cost backers $295, and has its eyes on the prize for an October 2014 release date.

Categories
Video

LUUV steadies your camera for extreme sports capture

Screen shot 2014-03-20 at 12.26.18 AMCatching footage of extreme sports can be a challenge. The shaky camera work genre made popular by The Blair Witch Project is so over. LUUV makes it possible to catch great footage even when you’re in motion. This camera stabilizer separates the motion of your hand from the camera so that the camera stays still, even when you don’t. And unlike other stabilizers, there’s no need to apply a second hand or figure out the optimal weights. with its vase-like design. It is adaptable to work with either phones or compact digital cameras, especially the ubiquitous (in these circles) GoPro. LUUV’s German creators are looking for $299 for one of these nifty devices. They hope to feel the luuv and raise $50,000 in their 55-day run on Indiegogo.

Categories
Cycling

Bike Sunglass Holding Device is a glasses clip for a cycling trip

Sunglass holding  88023a77da60540c8775d9323a67c8af_large[1]Whether you are a triathlon addict or just someone who loves cycling for exercise, there are some days when sunglasses are beyond necessary, they are mandatory! There’s little that’s more challenging than trying to make your way through a competition, or even down the street when the sun is blazing right into your eyes. Bike Sunglass Holding Device gives you an easy and convenient place to dock your sunglasses until you need them. The easy to install item is also designed to be positioned for the least amount of aerodynamic drag. For $50, a backer gets a complete product with an expected delivery of August 2014.  If this seems interesting, you may also want to check out the Trigger Bell Campaign.

Categories
Cycling

Trigger Bell puts your ringer closer to your finger

TriggerBellThere’s nothing like a leisurely ride through the neighborhood on a gorgeous day — that is, until someone who isn’t watching where they are going steps out in front of you. Not the first bike bell to ring in its debut via Kickstarter, the Trigger Bell gives you quick access to your bell to warn distracted pedestrians to mind their steps. Bike handlebars must be between 22 and 36 millimeters. For £8, backers get the colored brass version, or for £13 your color choice to match your bike. Expected delivery is July 2014.

Categories
Cycling Furniture Organization

Shelfie turns your bike into a wallflower

Shelfie   0eda655a115ebcaba9e2dc03329897e2_large[1]Perhaps one of the best forms of exercise is riding a bike. For enthusiasts who shun the basement or garage as places to store their bikes, or space is simply limited, Shelfie offers a unit that lets your two-wheeled companion just conveniently hang around. Designed by a professional biker, the bike rack unit lets you hang your bike by the seat, which significantly reduces paint scratches and kinked wires. The units will be injection molded out of a high quality plastic in the US. For $125 a backer gets a complete product with an expected delivery of October 2014.

Categories
Sports Watches and Jewelry

Ear Protection Guards implores kids sports officials to stop fearing the earring

EarProtectionGuardOh the struggles of being a girl who wants to be involved in sports. Wearing jewelry can cause injury to both the girl wearing it and those around her if the sport involves any close contact. Since waiting until after softball season doesn’t always get taken into consideration when a girl wants to get her ears pierced, Ear Protection Guards provide that necessary protection. Although not explicitly guaranteed, the assumption is that the barrier will enable piercing through the no-jewelry rule that inspired them. If tape or a band-aid are unacceptable, it might be a good plan to check and be sure about ear guards. Nevertheless, for $20, backers get the product, but it’s not clearly indicated if that means one pair. Expected delivery is July 2014.