We recently were “pitched” on a new product to write about – the new “Custom Beer Pong Table.” It probably shouldn’t surprise us that a company actually makes a table – actually a line of tables – to play “Beer Pong,” but we have to file this one under a (Mis)Shift!
Kinetic(Mis)Shift are products that we think deserve to be called out for missing the mark in health related products.
Perhaps there should be a Kickstopped instead of a Kickstarter – case in point is the Golf Board, a project that is looking to create a standup electric golf cart. This is one we wanted to like, but found it to be a little misguided. With a few days to go it isn’t clear if the designers will get the funding, so apparently we’re not alone in thinking that maybe walking nine holes isn’t such a problem!
Can this be a good idea? In 2009 Minneapolis Pedal Pubs rolled out with an interesting premise- it is a rolling bar where each person is required to pedal. The driver of said vehicle isn’t actually drinking but everyone else on board might be partaking in a brew.
Already this sounds like a BAD IDEA! But the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported last week that two were taken to a hospital after the vehicle crashed – should we be the least bit surprised?
The most shocking part is that the police say alcohol was a factor. We say, “this time.”
[Via: StarTribune: 2 taken to hospital after pedal pub tips over in downtown Minneapolis]
httpv://youtu.be/2V7X9lroi_k
If you can’t swing like Tiger Woods why not add some rocket fuel to the golf club? That’s sort of the idea of Rocketry Golf. We’re sure this will be popular with grounds keepers and clubs around the country.
Sometimes we see things and wonder if there is really a need. In the case of the Invisible Bike, which was designed by creator Jimmy Kuehnie, we almost didn’t see it. While not technically invisible, the bike is made of transparent “bullet proof glass.” Only the chains, bearings, and wheels can actually be seen.
We like the idea of concept bikes as much as anyone else, but we think there remains a problem that most drivers have a hard enough time seeing us on bikes. Why should we give them any help?
We’ve seen (and even used) those “total gym” sliding exercise machines and remain dubious about the claims the manufacturers tend to make. At the same time we’ve begun to question how much of a workout the cardio trampolines really provide. But then this week we found a new trend in horizontal machines that utilize a trampoline as well. These are marketed under various names but use the same basic concept.
Perhaps there is some fitness benefit, but these cardio/pilates exercise machines cost anywhere from $800 to $1,300! That’s a considerable amount of money to slide back and forth on one’s back and kick off a trampoline. It reminds us of the disclaimer “actual results may vary.”
Kinetic(Mis)Shift are products that we think deserve to be called out for missing the mark in health related products.
How low can you go in designing a bike rack? How about two pieces of wood? Seriously, that’s what Etsy crafter Fluoshop has introduced and is actually offering for sale as the Bike Hook? We like minimalist design as much as anyone but doesn’t even even appear that Floushop took the time to paint the pieces of wood it is selling as a bike rack!
The “kit” requires a stable wall for installation, and it includes dowels that according to the maker “can be used in some but not all walls.” OK, we can accept that shortcoming, but these dowels and pegs – which “need to be seated straight and firmly into the wall” – cost around $87, plus shipping. Likewise these are reportedly designed for use with lightweight bikes, and may not work with heavier bikes.
Frankly, a trip to Home Depot and about $10 could get the same results. Maybe some hipsters have an extra $90 to blow on this imported German-made bike rack, but for everyone else this is a serious (Mis)Shift.
Kinetic(Mis)Shift are products that we think deserve to be called out for missing the mark in health related products.
As soon as we heard about the OfficeGym – a standard desk chair with a few springs added to make it appear to be a piece of exercise equipment – we immediately thought, “we’ve heard that line before.” The concept is actually a good one, create something that encourages people to work out and get some exercise.
The problem is that this one – like most exercise chairs – is that it still offers just a limited number of exercises. While this one is better than such past (Mis)Shifts as the GymyGym exercise chair, it actually could encourage users to do just enough to make them feel like they’re working out. Plus, we can’t imagine that the chair is actually comfortable for the time spent actually working when compared to other high-end office chairs.
We don’t expect anyone to work up a real sweat in the office, and probably just taking a walk at lunch might be closer to actual exercise.
Kinetic(Mis)Shift are products that we think deserve to be called out for missing the mark in health related products.
httpv://youtu.be/yiiI-q-bbE0
The video above pretty much sums up why we think the Laufradeln is one to laugh at, expect that it looks like something that could cause serious bodily harm.
And even if the “rider” doesn’t somehow break his/her neck we don’t know if we see the fitness benefits of coaster bike.
Kinetic(Mis)Shift are products that we think deserve to be called out for their utter lack of fitness benefits
httpv://youtu.be/D_K0xz5t_IY
There is the old saying “sink or swim,” but frankly the Aqua-Xtracycle is all wet. Seeing it in action sort of evokes a greener version of the jetskis from Waterworld. In the future if the world is covered by water we probably will let our bike sink and we’ll grab things like tomato plants or just bags of dirt since it seems to be worth more than gold in the post-apocalyptic wet lands.
Now the concept itself isn’t bad. You need to cross water, here is a way to do it. But this doesn’t really seem all that safe, or efficient. It is one of those novelty things that just is looking for a solution where a problem doesn’t really exist. During World War II there were systems designed for floating a Jeep as well – but they proved just as impractical. Our bigger concern is that if this isn’t used correctly it could result in a bike at the bottom of a lake – and we just hope it doesn’t take a rider with it.
This one just gives us a sinking feeling.
Kinetic(Mis)Shift are products that we think deserve to be called out for their utter lack of fitness benefits
What is up with people trying to fly over water? And we don’t mean in a plane. One of the first Kinetic(Mis)Shifts was the Jetlev flyer, which used a long hose and a stream of water to propel a rider about 10 feet into the air, which we guess gives sort of a sensation of flying. Of course it cost 129,000 €, which is out of the price for most people, which is just one of the many problems we see with these devices.
But if you’re convinced that man should fly over water and you only have about $9,000 to spend there is still hope. For that money you can get the Jetovator instead. It is a sit down version that does roughly the same thing – so it is sort of motorcycle that flies over the water. And for that kind of money you can afford this silly device and have cash left over for lunch. And if that’s still too much might we suggest another (Mis)Shift, the Ski Seat, a sit down water ski. All this makes us think… no, it’s not safe to go back into the water.
Kinetic(Mis)Shift are products that we think deserve to be called out for their utter lack of fitness benefit.
The result is a very expensive set of skates for those weighing less than 180 pounds and want to travel a short distance. In other words these aren’t practical for most commuters, take up to five hours to charge – and only support 500 cycles –and don’t appear to be the easiest things to use. In other words, might we suggest a pair of roller skates instead?
[Via Gizmag: spnKiX motorized skates now available to buy]
Kinetic(Mis)Shift are products that we think deserve to be called out for their utter lack of fitness benefits
We’ve heard some companies state they have the “Cadillac of bikes,” and while we even noted that there are such things as the Lamborghini and Ferrari branded bicycles the folks at Becker Cadillac Escalade ESV have introduced an Escalde with a bike inside! Basically in the Cadillac Escalde SUV there is a stationary bike so riders in the car can spin during their ride.
We see this is probably better than just sitting in the SUV, but frankly this is a true Kinetic(Mis)Shift. If you want to spin, save some gasoline and ride a bike to the destination!