The Orphosis’ ergonomic shape is created by strong folds and an angled bottom that balances the distribution of weight. The folds remain in place while you walk, hike, bend over, or toss the bag into the backseat of your car. The double-layer fabric is durable and water resistant, and the backpack features both padded shoulder and chest straps for the most comfortable carrying experience possible, even when you’re packing it to its maximum capacity.

When folded, the Orphosis origami backpack measures 19.3 inches tall, 12.2 inches wide, and 4.7 inches deep. When expanded, the depth increases to 9.4 inches. Changing the capacity is as simple as folding in the sides and snapping them together.

The Orphosis doesn’t sacrifice functionality for its minimalist looks. You can’t tell from the outside, but it actually has all the special pockets you could ask for in a backpack. The security pocket on the side is the perfect place to tuck your wallet and phone, since you can reach in without taking the backpack off. The chest strap also tucks into its own pocket in one of the main backpack straps when you don’t need it.

A deep side pocket with magnetic closure is capable of holding various water bottle sizes up to 32 ounces, or an umbrella. Inside, you’ll find a pocket that fits laptops up to 16 inches long, a tablet pocket, pockets for other tech like charging cables and ear buds, and even an anti-RFID pocket for the security of your personal data. The whole backpack unzips like a clam shell for easy access to everything you carry.

The backpack’s Kickstarter page explains that the design is “based on research and good understanding of the way people use backpacks. Orphosis was designed and prototyped in California by James Piatt, a well-rounded industrial designer in innovative product design solutions, materials, product engineering, and architecture. ‘We like to think of Orphosis Backpack a piece of functional art, and we hope our designs inspire our users to also think creatively,’ says Piatt.”

The design team adds that the backpack is “socially responsible…and sustainable by design. Longer product lifetime is better for the environment. We have a top-notch and responsible supplier who has supported some successful global brands and well-known crowdfunding brands. Their high-quality testing and quality control system can meet our high function and quality requirements.”

Want to snatch up an Orphosis minimalist backpack of your own? Check out the Kickstarter campaign to back the project. A pledge of $79 or more will get you a backpack at 40 percent off the expected retail price of $129.99.

The post Orphosis: Origami-Like Backpack Expands and Contracts on Demand first appeared on Dornob.

The California-based Rareform is the result of two brothers with a passion for the environment. When one of them, Alec Avedissian, was living in El Salvador, he observed the locals using old billboard advertising materials as roofing tarps, and the signs couldn’t have been more clear: billboards made for a terrific durable and waterproof material.

With product ideas churning in his head, Alec headed home to secure his brother’s help in creating a surfboard carrying sleeve. The two then began calling billboard companies who were more than eager to ship truckloads of used billboards to their home.

Knowing that the typical billboard only remains roadside for an average of a month or two, Rareform can count on a consistent material supply. Plus, turning a usable material into something useful is a business model that gives the vinyl billboards new life instead of just sending them out with the trash.

Six years after the brothers set off on their venture, manufacturing has moved out of their parents’ house and the product line continues to grow. Production in their plant is almost completely streamlined, beginning with the sorting and washing of hundreds of billboards daily. The materials are sorted by thickness and color in order to match the a wide array of preferences for different products. Pieces are then hand cut and inspected before being sent out for final stitching. Even the smallest scraps are incorporated into manufacturing, resulting in minimal waste. Once stitched, each bag is individually photographed for an accurate representation of how the pattern lays out in the final product.

To date, the brothers and their team have converted 2,710,252 pounds of billboard material into one-of-a-kind backpacks, duffle bags, crossbody bags, messenger bags, and briefcases. Unique totes and purses come in a variety of options, with a new lunch tote being the most recent addition to the lineup. The good news is that when it comes to using up all those scraps we mentioned earlier, a ton of products fit the bill. Choose from wallets, toiletry bags, wristlets, pouches, and even fanny packs. Planning on traveling sometime soon? Pick up a passport holder, luggage tag, or key chain. If you’re looking for something more casual, just grab a fun tee or hat.

Rareform may be all about sustainability, but they still realize we live in a modern world, accordingly churning out heaps of laptop sleeves and iPhone cases. Don’t worry though, Alec’s passion for surfing hasn’t waned one bit, and his initial long and short board surf bags are still considered staple products six years later. They also produce change pads, which are perfect for handling the wet and sandy conditions the beach provides.

While Rareform continues to pick up vinyl billboard waste (and we salute them for it!), the newfound spotlight on the ad industry’s bad habits is causing some changes around them. More specifically, new technology in printed billboards allows makers to reduce their carbon footprint with the use of water-based adhesive vinyls and 100-percent recyclable paper. On top of that, many billboards are now digital, taking away the waste but not the resource consumption. Digital billboard signs do create a host of other environmental problems though, including energy consumption, light pollution, and disposal at the end of usable life.

The post Rareform Converts Old Billboards Into Unique Bags first appeared on Dornob.

The idea for HoverGlide first arose after looking for a way to lighten the impact on troops carrying heavy loads in the battlefield. The Office of Naval Research approached Dr. Lawrence Rome, a biology professor at the University of Pennsylvania and an expert in muscle function and biomechanics, to create a pack that Special Operation Forces could rely on for the massive loads they frequently carry.

The result was the HoverGlide, which today comes in four distinct models, each with a different task in mind. All four packs, however, are compatible with the same patented Suspended Load Technology (SLT) that allows their contents to move up or down in direct correlation to the person carrying it. While this technology doesn’t necessarily make the standing weight any lighter, it does reduce the impact weight that comes with movement.

To get a better idea of how it all works, imagine yourself carrying a forty-pound pack. Whenever you were standing still, forty pounds of pressure would be applied to your joints and body. Whenever you were in motion, the up and down movements of the backpack could cause impacts three times heavier than the actual weight of the pack. With the HoverGlide, that impact is reduced by as much as 87 percent. Talk about a big load off your shoulders!

To see the HoverGlide in action is to suspend disbelief, especially when the wearer’s running. The pack even moves up and down a bit when walking, hovering over the back at a constant distance from the ground so it almost appears still — and a sharp contrast to a typical bouncing backpack. The benefits of this design can really be seen and felt when going up or down stairs. Because the pack moves effortlessly with each ascent or descent, there’s absolutely no pull on the shoulders. Think of it as “hovering” when in motion and “gliding” over stairs.

With the design hammered out, the HoverGlide frame was attached to the Trekker: the largest available pack with a carrying capacity of 55 liters. Along with the spacious main compartment, this pack also offers a standard hip belt, mesh cargo pockets, and a floating upper pocket.

The smaller Tactical design was created with first responders and trainees in mind. It’s large enough for a hydration reservoir and water bottle with its 30-liter carrying capacity, but still small enough to use while running or climbing stairs. The Hiker is similar to the Tactical but intended more for day hikers who need to pack hydration essentials and other small pieces of gear.

The smallest model, the Commuter, comes on a 20-inch modular frame and is perfect for use as a day-to-day pack for work, school, or hiking. Of course, the Tactical, Hiker, and Commuter can all be swapped out for use on the same frame, which means you can get three of the four total pack options in one design!

The last HoverGlide crowdfunding campaign raised nearly $250,000, with the latest one on Indiegogo raising yet another $300,000. Thanks to that success, production is now well underway, and the company hopes to start shipping orders out as soon as July 2019.

The post HoverGlide Backpack Stays in Place While You Move first appeared on Dornob.

The post Lightweight Backpacking Tent Reduces the Reviled Poles first appeared on Dornob.