Gear Patrol

Sometimes it’s not about what side of the issue you’re on, but rather remembering the importance of humanity. In a recent cross-country motorcycle trek, the father and son team of Kurt and Nick Gerber of Chicago-based Gerber & Scarpelli Photography interviewed the honorable veterans of our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for their feature-length documentary, Operation Route 66. The result: a moving journey.

The Alpaca Guitar more like “I’ll pack a…” than the animal, but we’ll assume that’s what they were going for. The Kickstarter project is all about turning everyone’s favorite campfire fun into a nigh unbreakable, waterproof piece of hiking gear.

Founded on the basic ingredients of love and salmonella, culinary amateurism can be downright frightening. Yet hot sauce producer Adoboloco ($8+) has managed to pull it off, thriving without a Kraft-sized bankroll. This Hawaiian family unit has turned cuisine curiosity, which started as a simple family garden project and a love of spiciness, into a…

If the world really does end on the 21st, this app will be useless. But if Zero Hour doesn’t hit, 1 Second Everyday could be a life changer. Using your iPhone camera, this personal hobby turned TED Talk turned funded Kickstarter project chronicles your life one second at a time. Its creation story is blessedly…

The plastic pitcher currently filtering water in your fridge is a far greener way to stay hydrated than pounding down bottles, but it stills leaves plenty to be desired — both in terms of form and function. Its tupperware aesthetic isn’t exactly ready for the bright lights of the dinner table, and if you fill…

Solar-powered airplanes are nothing especially new (particularly in this age of instant tech turnaround), but one that has the capacity to skim the heavens while carrying two people has never been done… until now. The Sunseeker Duo aims to be the very first date-worthy solar airplane, but first they need to raise some funding via…

When was the last time you thought about your water bottle? When it leaked? When your water started tasting funky? Well, the Square by CleanBottle may be the first bottle you not only think about, but covet. Developed by a Red Dot award-winning designer and a team of former Apple engineers, the SQUARE is a…

Copenhagen, like many congested metropolitan areas, has a strong bike traffic presence. It’s also a pretty dark place come winter. Add a few Danish problem solvers from Copenhagen Parts and the result is the Magnetic Bike Light — a simplistic, functionally driven version of your everyday bike torch. Each LED light attaches to the bike…

Starting a line of quality goods is no small feat. The design, the materials, the manufacturing — not to mention the seemingly prohibitive costs. It can get overwhelming in a hurry. Thanks to Kickstarter though, not only are we seeing an influx of products (hits and the occasional masses) with zealous founders behind them, but…

Virtual Reality (VR) gaming headsets have long sported a gimmicky “TRON” feel, but the Oculus Rift Virtual Reality Headset bucks that trend. It’s a head mounted display that actually works well in gameplay, and it’s receiving a lot of attention from big names in gaming. Oh, and it’s already raised six times its $250,000 pledge…

And so the Kickstarter surge in craftsmanship continues. The latest proof: the 1Q ($119). Wrapped in a 3″ wood cube, the 1Q is an astonishingly efficient Bluetooth sound system with a hand-crafted cabinet that produces natural sound in a surprisingly wide 80Hz-20kHz frequency range. Its creator, David Laituri, is actually the man behind Vers Audio….

People have filmed some insane stuff since the GoPro first came out. The indestructible camera that could can be used in seemingly limitless ways, which means a seemingly limitless collection of cases and accessories. Kind of difficult to shoot that video you planned of yourself parasailing into a gorge while on a flame-engulfed surfboard with…

You diligently work to look your best each morning before heading to the office, only to arrive at your desk half an hour later, sweat soaked and dying of heat stroke. Such is the conundrum of the summer commute. This greek tragedy may soon come to an end thanks to Ministry of Supply. The fashion…

Most of us need another kitchen appliance like Lebron needs to reconsider leaving Cleveland. The Nomiku, a KickStarter project, is an effort to bring pro-grade sous vide to the home kitchen, without incorporating an industrial-size immersion circulator. Sized to fit in a drawer and priced (~$300) to fit the amateur’s budget, the Nomiku is a…

If you could roll all of RoboCop’s awesome features — immense protection, smarts, reliability, durability, prime directives — into an iPhone case, what you’d end up with is the TAKTIK ($75+). Designed by Chicago industrial designer Scott Wilson + Minimal, of LUNATIK Strap fame, the TAKTIK follows in its predecessors roots through a Kickstarter project…

Good design has always blurred the lines between form and function, but in the case of writing utensils, it’s the latter that we default to. Now, add the new Solid Titanium Pen + Stylus (the latest Kickstarter hero project) to the mix and the line is blurred yet again. Made from TA4 titanium the entire…

Sound principles don’t always create success, but they certainly don’t hurt. The Bosavi Headlamp ($80) is a multi-purpose light backed by the fundamental axiom of usefulness, something too often taken for granted. While flexible-use lights abound, the Bosavi provides a quality of design and ingenuity that sets it apart. Environmental friendliness and quality hands-on manufacturing…

Bicycle enthusiasts the world over are unanimous on the subject. Apart from a sturdy helmet, the best tool against road rash is not more protection, it’s prevention. Many accidents involving cyclists occur due to lack of visibility, and this problem only gets worse as the sun goes down. Luckily, Brooklyn-based

As any seasoned backpacker will tell you, charging electronics while far from electrical sources is not yet a perfected task. With solar technology getting more efficient, and external batteries getting more powerful, the solutions are growing. However, the options are still bulky and heavy – the biggest adversaries for outdoorspeople. Enter the PowerPot, the most…

Spurcycle GripRings ($20+) are the best thing to happen to handlebars since sparkle streamers. The 17mm pliable silicone rings slip on individually, fit snuggly on grips of all sizes, and include locking end plugs to ensure a slip-free hold. Currently the company has started a project on Kickstarter to ramp up production so that 12…

We all know photography gear can quickly become overwhelming. Lenses, bags, cameras, straps, cords, –- it eventually gets out of hand. Thankfully, Camera Clip by Peak Design ($80), is a cool and easy alternative to the traditional neck strap. Simply screw the quick-release plate to your camera’s tripod mount, attach the die cast aluminum main…

23 posts in, we’re long overdue on giving our Project Kickstarter series an official kick off. Since publishing our first article on a Kickstarter project, back in the summer of 2010, we’ve watched in awe as the site quickly matured into a powerful platform, capable of transforming the dreams of passionate creators into legitimate products…

Poitín is essentially the traditional Irish equivalent to moonshine and holds a reputation for being one of the strongest spirits in the world, thanks to its 60%-95% ABV. Its Gaelic name references the small copper pots used in its distillation and the booze is commonly found throughout homes on the Emerald Isle. Poitín is in…

Twine looks like the aftermath of a booze-fueled sleepover in Vegas between a pack of Post-its and a bar of soap. Its inanimate and rather blunt form-factor, though, hides the Twine’s ambitious purpose. The device was devised by two MIT Media Lab grads, who wanted to create an easy way to bring various household objects…

Compared to standard drip methods, the French Press (or cafetiére as it’s known in the rest of the world) does an excellent job of brewing a great tasting cup of coffee. But it isn’t perfect. In fact, many java-elitest feel the process results in overextraction and dislike that used grounds often wind up thwarting the…

The Real Story Behind Apple’s Think Different Campaign Forbes Food Republic Coffee Power Rankings Food Republic 7 Things Highly Productive People Do Inc Invasion of the $10 Wardrobe, Profile with Tadashi Yanai GQ Count Us In: Find My Smart Kar Kickstarter How to Lead a Creative Life: Martin Scorsese Fast Company

The Cam Crate is the latest Kickstarter project to catch our eye, mainly because it’s dedicated to protecting something near and dear to our gear-loving hearts. Designer Matthew Geyster was inspired to create a waterproof, mudproof, crushproof, and shockproof case for his DSLR after his fear of damaging his camera caused him to miss more…

We credit the Rams’-like looks of the new hidden radio & Bluetooth Speaker on Kickstarter for catching our eye this morning — despite our luke warm feelings about most Bluetooth audio. The monolithic can avoids spoiling its clean lines with external buttons by incorporating a simple but effective twist top design. The first twist turns…

Companies like Logitech have done a decent job of providing consumers with an easy to use solution for controlling most IR-based home theater components — but if you like to take things literally, they still don’t deserve the title of “universal” remote. Commanding Bluetooth based devices like the PS3 for instance requires buying a separate…

A hand-turned pen on Kickstarter? Yup. The creation of Bart Creasman and Chris Baltz, who met while at Davidson college, Baltz Fine Writing Instruments is born from a passion of traditional woodworking and avant-garde men’s accessories. Their Kickstarter project aims to bring their first pen, the Exemplar, to fruition by funding the cost of procurement…