Earlier this week, Kickstarter announced that it’s —money that’s funded everything from failed expeditions to . While the range of projects varies widely, there is one unifying theme when it comes to the crowdfunding website—hope.
Kickstarter enables you to fund your dreams, even if all you have to start with is a vision, a camera, and some basic editing skills. This opportunity lends itself to scrappy outdoor upstarts who have turned their crazy ideas into viable products. Here are seven of our favorites.
Oru Kayak
Funded: December 19, 2012
Backers: 730
Goal: $80,000
Reached: $443,806
Anton Willis built more than 13 prototypes of this kayak before it went to market. The —the material used in mail carrying boxes—that folds like curved-line origami. The Oru weighs 26 pounds and can fit easily into a sedan. I’ve been testing one for four months, and I’m amazed at how sturdy this super lightweight rec kayak is. It’s also very easy to assemble—the whole process usually takes less than 10 minutes.
Bootlegger Modular Pack System
Funded: May 8, 2013
Backers: 961
Goal: $10,000
Reached: $145,667
The accommodates all your pack needs with a single suspension system. San Francisco-based Boreas Gear created a $200 package that includes an 18-liter ultralight pack, a 28-liter day pack, and a 30-liter dry bag, each of which fit on a single suspension system. This technology works thanks to an adjustable hip belt and a strap that lets you fine-tune the suspension.
PowerPot
Funded: May 4, 2012
Backers: 1,047
Goal: $50,000
Reached: $126,204
This 12-ounce titanium backpacking pot—developed by two former University of Utah students—can charge an iPhone as you cook your meal. The uses a thermoelectric generator to convert heat into electrical power that you harness through a USB port.
Kammok Thylacine
Funded: February 4, 2014
Backers: 555
Goal: $60,000
Reached: $118,545
The Kammok Thylacine can be . You choose how many synthetic or down-synthetic baffles you want to stuff into the sleeping bag’s seven chambers. Really cold out? Add a few extra layers around your body or feet. Not only can you customize the warmth of the bag, you can also ditch your other sleeping bags.
Fortified Bike Lights
Funded: October 24, 2014
Backers: 1,419
Goal: $24,000
Reached $177,266
The designers of the claim their products are invincible and nearly impossible to steal. The lights are built with strong, lightweight aluminum and they come with proprietary handle bar and seat post locking systems. The company will actually replace the lights if they are stolen or damaged. The Aviator and Afterburner both produce 150 lumens and run on a lithium ion battery that should run for several months.
Windcatcher
Funded: June 13, 2013
Backers 1,472
Goal: $50,000
Reached: $149,405
Even though you can’t pledge money to the Windcatcher any more, —the feces-next-to-mouth-valve shot at eight seconds is one of my favorite moments on Kickstarter. Portland-based Ryan Frayne created a revolutionary way to blow up an air mattress that looks like, well, magic. The pad can fully inflate in a few seconds without a valve or a pump.
Alpha Heart Rate Monitor
Funded: August 8, 2012
Backers: 1,366
Goal: $100,000
Reached: $321,314
The continuously tracks your heart rate—without a chest strap. It uses light beams and an electro-optical cell to determine your heart rate depending on how much blood is in your wrist. 