Previously we have posted on the hidden pocket travel socks and the secret stash cap. Now the time has come for the hidden compartment flip-flops. Inside the sole there is a tray you can use to hide credit cards, keys, money and other small and flat stuff. The sandals comes from Reef and they are USD 46:- on Spydersurf webshop and others. Alas they seem to be available in ladies sizes only. brbr
Don’t know if this can be retro-fitted, but even if it does not; this is an idea we are going to keep in our special smart ideas drawer until such a time when we are building or renovating a staircase. From the picture it looks like they have installed drawers in just a couple of the steps, but imagine doing it in all the straight ones. With three pairs of shoes to a drawer and let us say ten steps, that makes room for 30(!) pairs of shoes.brbr
A while ago, when we posted on the rare (in Sweden anyway) two wheeled wheelbarrow from Canada, we had a quick response telling us there are such wheel barrows available in this country, too. Perhaps Smart Stuff reader Åke G. read those posts, because he has sent us an e-mail with information on yet another take on wheel barrows. The power barrow. Åke’s business, Electro-Mobile, sells these barrows, so naturally he is looking for some publicity. But since we like the idea, he’s gonna to get some. Almost any old wheel barrow can be converted to electrical power with Åke’s kit. It comes with a wheel with an electric motor in the hub to replace your old one, a battery pack and a throttle/reverse handle. The conversion kits starts at SEK 5.550:- (about USD 820:-), but you could also choose to buy a new ready-made power barrow for SEK 6.525:- (approx. USD 970:-).brbr
Isn’t it funny how things tend to come in two’s or three’s? What made James M. mail the tip about Driinn (A) the other day? And why should we stumble upon the Load-Thing (B) among old posts on Swissmiss today of all days? It is either a very strange synchronicity, or ideas are sort of suspended in mid air for people to grasp. Anyway. Both these inventions are designed to hold your mobile, PDA or iPod or whatever you need to have charged. The Driinn is hard plastic, available in five (or possibly six) colors and cost EUR 5:- (approx. USD 6:80) on Driinn’s website. The Load-Thing is delivered flat and must be folded into a cradle, is available in three colors and they will charge you EUR 9:90 (about USD 13:50).brbr
Magnifiers lets one see details in one’s face that one hardly knew existed. And sometimes even stuff one was better off not knowing about. But of course they are very handy when one’s vision is no longer 20/20. This product is called Spegelzoom (Swedish only), and it is a pretty smart magnifying lens that attaches to any mirror with the integrated suction cup. The lens gives approximately 3X magnification and its inventor, Annika Winell, was nominated to the Best female inventor award in 2007 by the Swedish Inventor’s Association. The Spegelzoom is SEK 895:- (about USD 132:-) on the company website.brbr
We are all surrounded with smart gadgets and inventions that we often take for granted and never think much about. When we were going to exchange our propane tank recently, it struck us we were actually holding one such invention in our hand. We have used this combined valve cover and carrying handle lots of times without thinking about its actual smartness. Instead of the ordinary valve cover you attach this handle and get a cover and a carrying handle all in one. We have no idea who the inventor is, but we want to extend our congratulations and thanks for a smart and useful invention.brbr
The post on this pretty cool and clever beach chair is courtesy of a tip from Smart Stuff reader Rauz L. (thanks!) who found them on the Gadling travel blog. The two sticks or posts on the chair, or rather backrest, is pushed into the sand and that’s it, folks! Consider the amount of unprintable language and injured hands you could safe by not having a folding chair. It should be easier to bring along to the beach, too. The chair is made of plastic, designed by Lawrence Laske, and available from Design Within Reach for USD 30:- a piece or 2 for USD 50:-.brbr
I think we’ve always wanted something like this. Ever since we learned about how the British SAS rigged their campsites during the colonial fighting in the jungles of Malaya, we have tried to do the same thing ourselves. First the hammock, the an extra rope above it, and finally a mozzie net and a rain cover. Sometimes it has even worked. Now everything is available in one neat package from Swiss Tammock. Hammock, mozzie net and tent. 2 kilos. EUR 250:- (approx. USD 335:-) from Tammock.brbr
A few years back there was a show on Swedish TV featuring where the British design firm SeymorPowell attempted to solve various everyday problems by applying industrial design knowledge. Unless we are completely mistaken one of the programs was about remote controlled locks and alarms for ordinary homes. We liked the idea, but unfortunately the program ended in uncertainty wether the ideas would be produced or not. We cannot remember the name of the company involved, but the other day we stumbled upon the remote controlled locks from British Locca. These locks open via remote from up to 50 meters distance, and you do not even have to remember locking it again since they re-lock after a programmable time, from 1 to 120 seconds. The Locca locks are supposed to mount on almost any existing door, and they are sold through British locksmiths and D-I-Y stores BQ. Locca are planning a launch in Sweden and they will be starting at about SEK SEK 1.200:- (approx. GBP 88:-).brbr
This may seem strange, but without any really conscious effort we seem to have become collectors of grocery grips. You know, the little handles that lets you carry grocery bags without cramping your hands. Here are two new for the collection; # 13 and # 14. The one on top is the Helping Hands from Helping Hands. It is USD 19:95 for two. The other one is the One Grip from Space Savers and it is USD 5:- a piece. Link to all 14 grocery grips on the site!brbr
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