Walkbot – Backerjack

Go and stow quickly with the Elos mini-longboard

Early in the morning or directly after work are not the times one wants to walk to the bus or the train to get to work or back home. That’s why last mile solutions are so attractive: They offer a way to cut down what can be a 15 to 20 minute or more journey to something a lot more manageable.

Looking a bit like a giant guitar pick on wheels, the Elos is a tool for those last miles that offers a familiar, longboard-esque build in a much more compact frame. A few thoughtful design decisions allows users retain control without worrying about its durability. Its wide deck allows riders to easily access lots of angles when steering, while metal protection both at its front and its nose gives it the strength to last through high-speed rides. After some feet-on time with it in Elos’ backyard in Silicon Valley, we think even the balance-challenged may have a shot with it.

Hang out atop the Walkbot and float your way to work

That dreaded morning walk to the bus or train and unwelcome trudge through sidewalk foot traffic isn’t a big enough annoyance to warrant purchasing a car for. Biking helps by avoiding crowds and cutting down on commuting time, but adds an element of unease as the danger of theft is always around the corner. In comparison to, the Walkbot offers a lightweight alternative to tackle these commuting grievances.

The Walkbot is essentially a square platform on wheels, a bathroom scale-like design that’s immediately easy to understand. While the Walkbot itself only weighs seven pounds, it can support a person weighing up to 220 pounds and reach a top speed of about 7.5mph. Its claim as the lightest vehicle in the world has to be taken with a grain of sale, along with its claims of portability: Its large shape makes it awkward to find a suitable bag it fits neatly in. $249 gets backers their very own Walkbot platform by August 2016. Its flexible Indiegogo campaign is looking for $50,000 by July 1st, 2016.

The Walkbot campaign video makes it abundantly clear that the device only really works on completely smooth surfaces, leaving a majority of a city inaccessible to it. This crucial limitation doesn’t bode well for its ride-anywhere ambitions, especially when other, non-electric alternatives like the Zar and Pigeon can get people through those last miles in a far more practical way.