Is Kickstarter changing the outdoor industry?

For those of you that aren't aware, Kickstarter is a website where creators of a prototype can make a plea via video, pictures and the written word for donations to help get a product into production. Donations are put into categories, and depending on how much you donate you get something. Maybe just a T - shirt for a $10 donation, or a version of the product for a higher price, or for something outlandish like $1000 a visit from the maker and a copy of the product. This is changing the world because if the 'group' - think internet community as a whole - likes a product you can get off the ground running. The bottle opener/key chain is just one item that is on kickstarter, but there are some amazing things coming from this one source. The Biolite stove was a kickstarter.

Here is a fuel cell to charge your phone or iPad in the back country.

 

My gut says this one isn't going to fly. As it looks like a stove when it is in use - they do say you cna cook while you charge. I think I would need to play with it.

I posted this on my facebook page a while ago, if they don't get bought by a major sleeping pad manufacturer soon, there is something wrong with the outdoor industry. This is brilliant.




You can also use Kickstarter to fund expeditions - which I am toying with - here is one by NOLS trying to help build a connection between the outdoors, and people who don't usually recreate in the outdoors.




and finally, this is brilliant. While I love my Kelty Noah's tarp, I am thinking about splurging on a NOLS Thelma fly. But while I was thinking about that. This popped up.




Yes, this is for over a hammock, which I will never do. But I am thinking you could use it as a regular tarp. Absolutely love the brilliance of collecting water off the tarp. So the question remains, is kickstarter changing the outdoor industry?