Ikea Makes the Best $30 Commuter Roll Top Backpack
Ikea is low key, the best backpack designer out right now.
Feiyu Tech SPG Plus Smartphone Gimbal First Impressions
Just when I thought I've seen every small handheld gimbal that's out there, along comes the Feiyu Tech SPG Plus 3-Axis gimbal for smartphones. With it's two handed operation, it resembles the style of traditional gimbals but in a smaller, more compact frame. It's perfect for content creators who share their videos directly on social media.
One cool feature is that the SPG Plus can automatically alter between horizontal, vertical and upright modes using a specially designed altitude sensor. The gimbal also offers 360 degree panning, tilting and rolling. Combined with it's structural stabilization, the SPG Plus makes it easy to take perfect panoramic shots with your smartphone.
In addition, the SPG Plus also has a sliding arm on the roll motor side to easily fine tune the balance of just about any phone, even with accessories like lens clips or filters. With foam spacers, the SPG Plus is also capable of flying action cams like the GoPro or Xiaomi Yi.
Accessory wise, the SPG Plus features 5 1/4-20 threads - three on top and two on the bottom of the handles for attaching a top handle, lights, mics or other accessories. Feiyu Tech also released a companion app which allows you to initialize gimbal calibration, update the rig's firmware and customize settings. The SPG Plus is powered by a massive 22650 Li-Ion battery that offers up to eight hours of shooting.
Recently I've become pretty gimbal weary, especially for mobile phone or action cams but I was pleasantly surprised by the SPG Plus. With it's sleek two handle design, and auto balancing features, it's truly a unique entry in the crowded world of lightweight gimbals. If you have any questions about the Feiyu Tech SPG Plus, hit me up in the comments below.
Why I Built a Carbon Fiber Electric Skateboard Mini Cruiser
My original DIY Electric Mini Cruiser Skateboard still holds up quite nicely even after 6 months of hard riding and natural wear and tear. But as with all things DIY, parts can always be upgraded. One key feature that I wanted to improve upon was weight, so once again, I researched the right combination of components to make an already awesome commute even better. I've nicknamed this build - the A2ESK8 Mini Cruiser.
My original 29" mini cruiser was the perfect size thanks to the unique design of the now discontinued Jet Spud deck. But I wanted to do something different, which is why I chose the Hi5ber Ion 30 mini cruiser deck. Hi5ber has built a great reputation for manufacturing the best carbon fiber longboard decks available. They are lighter and stronger than typical wooden longboards which create a more controlled, responsive experience for the rider.
The Ion 30's design is the definition of stealth with it's ultra thin rails that gradually curve thicker towards the wheelbase. The added benefit is an enhanced wheel clearance that looks so damn futuristic. Other than the low weight, the characteristics of the Ion 30 include high rigidity, high tensile strength, corrosion resistance and fatigue resistance. And unlike wood, carbon fiber doesn't warp when exposed to water.
Before electrictrifying the Ion 30, I tested it out with Gullwing Sidewinder II trucks alongside 72mm ABEC11 Freerides and it was a blast. That combination of an ultra lightweight carbon fiber deck and double kingpins was so much fun I was a little hesitant to throw electronics on there. But my curiousity got the best of me so I got to work.
The next step in weight reduction was the battery. My original build contained the 10s3p Enertion Space Cell, a wonderful battery pack, but 30 cells demand a lot of real estate in the wheelbase for a small mini cruiser deck. With a wheelbase of 16.25" on the Hi5ber, I knew I had to figure out another power solution.
I ended up creating a custom 12s1p LiFePO4 battery pack with the help of my friend Landon who is an electronics wizard. LiFePO4 batteries are the safest type of lithium batteries as they will not overheat, and even if punctured they will not catch on fire. The cathode material in LiFePO4 batteries is not hazardous, and poses no negative health or environmental hazards. Due to the oxygen being bonded tightly to the molecule, there is no danger of the battery erupting into flames like there is with lithium-ion. We used 12 cells in series for a total voltage of about 36v. Paired with a BMS, voltage display, charge port and power button, the pack ended up having a more compact size - perfect for the Hi5ber deck.
Once again I designed a custom 1/8" ABS enclosure using my homemade vacuum former. This time I wanted the buttons to be located on the side of the enclosure as flush as possible. This created a more pleasing appearance that complimented the look of the carbon fiber. The length of the enclosure came out to 11" and width at 5". This meant plenty of room to spare on the Ion 30 wheelbase.
Another big upgrade I made was swapping my original Torqueboards 2.4ghz Mini Remote with an even smaller 2.4ghz Nano Remote that features a thumb throttle instead of a trigger throttle. As far as how it feels in my hand, it's pretty awesome. Granted, I'm not a big guy but it's the right size for stealth in the city. It's as if they took the best features of the Yuneec EGO and Boosted Boards remote and put it into a no frills casing. I like the short throw, knob throttle which is a much better design than Boosted's long throw thumb dial and trigger button. Shout out to Kaly over at ESK8 builders for the hookup on this remote.
The only components I ported over from my original build are the Ollin Board VESC and the Carvon V2 Single Hub Motor. Because of months of wear and tear and a few moisture issues, Landon and I decided it was best to clean the VESC up with some gentle scrubbing and a coating of anti-corrosion spray. Even so, the VESC is still going strong with no issues or errors - a testament to Ollin Board's high quality manufacturing practices.
My Carvon V2 Single Hub Motor was upgraded with authentic 90mm ABEC11 Flywheels and is really the backbone of my entire mini cruiser build. I've put the hub motor through the ringer in every harsh road condition imaginable and it continues to perform flawlessly. Carvon continues to push the boundaries of eboard drive trains and I look forward to seeing what they do next with their V3 hub motor design and EVO series.
Dialing in the VESC settings is critical for creating a safe and fun mini cruiser. My original build was capable of hitting 31 mph but the sweet spot for a board this small is around 15-18 mph - more than enough for carving through a dense city filled with intersections and pedestrians. Also, the 12s LiFePO4 battery delivers a stronger punch than my 10s lithium ion with a more stable discharge and minimal voltage sag. As much as I enjoy releasing the full power and speed from a DIY eboard, there's something quite satisfying about taming a mini cruiser eboard that has the ability to hurl you but won't because you're keeping it on a leash. More importantly, this build never feels like it's struggling or straining and that kind of confidence transfers into longer range and fun, safer rides.
Skating the A2ESK8 Mini Cruiser around the city proved to be a blast. On FOC mode with the Carvon V2 hub motor, the sound is nearly silent. The ultra light Hi5ber Ion 30 board makes acceleration from standstill fantastic and it really feels like your riding on some kind of space age material because of how responsive it is. Carbon fiber handles bumps slightly differently than wooden decks but in a good way because vibrations don't transfer as much harsh energy to your body. Oh and did I mention how light this thing is? Seriously I'll take carbon decks over wood any day of the week.
DIY electric skateboard builds have been getting better and better in just a few months yet there are still just a handful of 30" and under DIY mini cruiser builds. Perhaps it's a bit of a stigma to purposely limit your top speed on a smaller deck but I feel like it's our responsibility to be ambassadors of this technology everytime we step on a board. I've already seen friends who've hurt themselves on eboards and in almost all cases, the problem was either an inexperienced rider or a road obstacle and not a board failure. Going over 25 mph instead of 13 mph on a non electric board meant crashes that have caused broken bones and serious concussions. Believe me, I've had first hand experience with this and it's made me a very visible advocate for eboard helmet safety.
This mini cruiser was not designed to be a land missile and it shows. It's become the ultimate conversation starter whenever I ride in the city because I'm seriously just having fun. The weight reduction made a huge difference and carrying it on public transportation is even easier. If you're in the Detroit area at the end of July, check out this mini cruiser build in person at the Detroit Maker Faire where will have an A2ESK8 booth and demonstrations. For more information on the products I used to create the video above, please check out the links below.
