See what made these hot Kickstarter projects stand out from the pack:
February 2023
6. Biigloo – The Ultimate Aerogel Sleeping Bag
This extreme-weather sleeping bag keeps you warm with SPACE GEL
Here’s a rabbit hole you really don’t want to go down: Google “How many people have died on Everest?”
I went down that hole. And then I came out, weeping, and immediately backed the Biigloo aerogel sleeping bag.
Designed to keep you snug at extremes up to -40°C, this ultralight sleeping bag is also windproof and 10,000mm waterproof (though my tears of regret will probably freeze instantly).
What makes it so warm? 1mm of aerogel (the same material NASA uses to insulate spacesuits) and a layer of DuPont SORONA bio-fleece. Plus, the ultrafine nylon lining keeps out 90% of moisture so you stay dry, comfortable, and, well, alive.
5. Titanium Multi-function Pry Bar
This titanium multi-tool is the everyday carry every dude craves
With a magnetic “forever pen” and everything you’ve ever wanted in an EDC tool (they literally did the research), this little metal wunderkind tackles more dirty jobs than Mike Rowe.
CNC-machined from durable, corrosion-resistant titanium with handy storage for all your bits, it’s big enough to work — and small enough to fit in your pocket without neutering you when you sit down.
It pulls nails. It breaks windows. It opens boxes and bottles. It pries. It wrenches. It screws (and it also f***s, if you know what I mean.*)
*Please don’t sleep with this tool. Weirdly, that’s the same thing my girlfriend’s mom said about me.
4. Swift: The 120W Type-C 3rd Gen. GaN 12-in-1 Travel Adapter
This 12-in-1 Travel Adapter will charge 6 devices at the same time!
When I travel, I always bring my laptop, phone, tablet, AirPods, Steam deck, Switch, camera, and a mystery device I’m too polite to name. In the space that’s left, I pack a single T-shirt and one lonely pair of boxers.
What I always forget, though? Other countries don’t have American outlets, so my electronics might as well be bricks. I was so disconnected last time I traveled that my mom put out a missing person alert on me. (Sorry, Mom.)
Then I found Swift. This small but mighty travel adapter will keep your stuff charged in over 150 countries — without needing to lug around multiple bulky chargers or adapters.
Swift delivers high charging capability that can fully power up any Android or Apple device in <18 minutes. It’s reliable, it doesn’t overheat, and it can charge up to 6 devices at once. Who’s got two thumbs and is about to pack more clean undies? This guy.
3. Ringo – The Water Bottle That Magnetically Holds Your Phone
This water bottle has a built-in magnetic phone stand
Did you know that “text neck” has a scary clinical name… and that name is “kyphosis”? 😰
Now you know. And now you probably want to stop staring down at your phone so much.
Good news! You can fix your terrible posture AND stay hydrated with the Ringo water bottle. This double-wall stainless steel water bottle has a nifty MagSafe O-ring on top to keep your phone right where you need it, whether you’re at the gym, on a plane, cooking, or hunched in your chiropractor’s waiting room.
Your drink stays hot or cold for hours, and your phone stays secure even when the bottle is empty. O — and the ring doubles as a carry handle. Maybe we won’t all need spine surgery in our 50s after all?
2. Znie Lite: The Silent Sleep Device That Soothes The Brain
This silent sleep device lulls you to dreamland without apps or accessories
Sleep is my favorite thing in the world. (Sorry, pizza.)
But unlike pizza, which I keep nearby at all times, sleep is sometimes out of reach when my dumb monkey brain won’t shut up and let me snooze. So I’m trying the Znie Lite.
This silent bedside device generates Extremely Low Frequencies (ELF, you know, like Buddy) to coax your brain into calming down. Flip it to Sleep mode 30 minutes before bedtime for drowsifying 7.83Hz theta waves. Or take a break during the day with Calm mode, which generates 12Hz alpha waves.
Unlike other sleep products that affect your senses (and end up just unlocking new and equally unpleasant flavors of wakefulness), the Znie Lite needs no app, accessories, or attention. Just switch it on to switch your brain off.
1. SDS ULTRA PLUS – Mini Electric Drill Pen & Benchtop Press
Makers need this mini electric drill pen & press
I love putting holes in things. The problem is the holes aren’t usually intentional.
But when they ARE intentional, and I actually need to be precise, I reach for the SDS ULTRA PLUS.
This mini electric drill pen and benchtop press can hole-ify all sorts of thinner materials, from wood, plastic, and acrylic to aluminum, PCB, and even coins.
Feeling artsy? Craftsy? DIY-sy? Pick up the pen for portable punching power. When you need extra accuracy and stability, just pop your pen into the height-adjustable, multi-angle benchtop press.
Putting holes in things has never been easier. OK, *intentionally* putting holes in things has never been easier.
We all know lumbar spine support is critical. But here’s the problem: everybody’s lumbar lies in a different place. One-size-fits-all lumbar support chairs do not, in fact, fit all.
Instead of shelling out on a fancy new ergonomic chair whose name rhymes with Sherman Spiller, just snag yourself the Lifted Lumbar seat cushion.
This doctor-developed back cushion is fully adjustable — so it’ll suit your seat whether you’re tall and lean or short and sweet. Tweak the straps to bring your spine to a neutral, pain-free position, and enjoy gentle tension relief from the two trigger point knobs near the top.
The best part? You can take Lifted Lumbar with you for backup (😉) wherever you park your tush.
January 2023
6. Microblade Pill XL
This tiny microblade gadget helps you open packages, cut plastic, and more
“It’s so small” said my girlfriend when I pulled this out of my pants.
“It’s not the size that matters”, I replied.
Then I showed her what it could do and she was AMAZED.
The Microblade Pill XL is a tiny microblade cutting gadget that is useful in many situations. Need to open a box? Cut plastic? Remove product tags? Now you have a solution in a tiny pill-shaped gadget.
The Pill XL has a double-edged tip that allows you multiple options for cutting. But don’t worry- it’s sharp but safe to touch at the same time.
Its tiny size means you can take it with you everywhere. Put one on a keychain, in your backpack, keep one in your vehicle, or just carry it in your pocket. And if you keep it in your pocket don’t worry- it’s small enough that it shouldn’t be confused for something else.
5. SENSE3
I swear, if Apple comes out with ONE MORE proprietary charger…
I’m gonna buy the SENSE3 wireless charging pad and just be done with cords forever.
This wireless charging pad for all Apple and Qi devices (yep, including Apple Watch) works for up to 3 devices at 25W output max, with a juicy 10,000 mAh. No need to precisely place your gadgets — just plop ‘em on the pad for power on the go.
SENSE3’s high-tech Foreign Object Detection (FOD) safely deactivates charging when foreign metal objects are placed on it. AND the whole pad weighs just 0.5 pounds. Excuse me while I throw all these stupid cords in the trash.
4. Magsafe Call Recorder
Supercharge your productivity with this minimalist, MagSafe, call-recording phone case
As a society, we’ve very maturely accepted that our lives revolve around phones. So I love to see products that make our phones better — like the FoCase productivity phone case.
This tiny MagSafe call recorder records your calls for posterity with a single click (hello, Library of Congress? I’d like to make a deposit). The dual-input system with a piezoelectric sensor and MEMS microphones delivers crystal-clear call recordings, without app subscriptions or fees.
Along with a handy card holder, FoCase also includes a 2.13-inch ink screen. Use the built-in Pomodoro timer to keep yourself on task, or display personal mottoes like “My phone case is better than yours.” There’s even an invisible stand for when the weight of your superiority grows too heavy to bear.
3. The Ultimate Adventure Shorts
These are the ultimate adventure shorts. Go anywhere in comfort.
The less often I have to change my shorts, the better. So Aquanautia is perfect for me.
I’ve been known to start my day with a hike, then go for a swim, then grab lunch at a nice restaurant, then walk the beach, then go scuba diving, then go out on the town.
No, seriously. I really do all that. Well, maybe not ALL of those things. But if I did and never wanted to change shorts, Aquanautia would be my go-to for looking stylish and staying comfortable all day.
These shorts repel liquids, so no stains. They have large, waterproof pockets. The metal hardware is premium quality. They quick-dry in 10 minutes. You can customize the fit. And they have theft-proof features as well. Plus, they are made from ocean bound plastic. I mean, what’s not to like here?
So when you’re on your next adventure, bring Aquanautia if you want to pack less, do less laundry, and have to worry less about.
2. HooKee
This hydraulic-powered smart portable gym unlocks 100+ exercises with safe resistance
If you’ve been here for a while, you know I’ll do literally anything to avoid working out. Which is why I truly take it personally when I come across a cutting-edge fitness product like the HooKee smart portable gym.
The HooKee offers up to 100 pounds of constant resistance in 10-pound increments, all packed into a dignified device no larger than a pair of shapely android legs. Its patented HydroFlex technology uses water instead of weights to generate smooth, safe resistance.
Inside the partner app, you’ll find 100+ full-body workouts with real-time tracking for devastatingly effective at-home bodybuilding.
Plus, you can put in 10,000+ reps per battery charge (that’s months of training for most people. Years for me). Wanna play HooKee?
1. Lifted Lumbar
This adjustable lumbar cushion fixes your posture and relieves pain
We all know lumbar spine support is critical. But here’s the problem: everybody’s lumbar lies in a different place. One-size-fits-all lumbar support chairs do not, in fact, fit all.
Instead of shelling out on a fancy new ergonomic chair whose name rhymes with Sherman Spiller, just snag yourself the Lifted Lumbar seat cushion.
This doctor-developed back cushion is fully adjustable — so it’ll suit your seat whether you’re tall and lean or short and sweet. Tweak the straps to bring your spine to a neutral, pain-free position, and enjoy gentle tension relief from the two trigger point knobs near the top.
The best part? You can take Lifted Lumbar with you for backup (😉) wherever you park your tush.
