For those with a long commute to work, the hardest part can be the last mile between getting off of the subway or train and walking to the office. The Movpak is an electric skateboard built into a full-size backpack, designed to make that final stretch a bit less of a hassle without making you pay for a ride through a car-sharing service. Launching today on Kickstarter, the Movpak doesn’t come cheap: the early-bird special gets you a board from the first production run for $999. After that tier, the price goes up to $1,190 for the first batch, and $1,299 gets you a board from the second run. When the Movpak is available through more traditional retail channels early next year, its creators say the price will go up to $1,999, about the same as previous electric skateboards originally funded through Kickstarter. We tested it near our offices in San Francisco, and for the most part it made getting around a lot more fun. It has a top speed of 15 miles per hour with a range of 9 miles, more than enough for most walks to work;

in fact, it could probably replace a bicycle for commutes of a couple of miles, as long as you’re sure you can find somewhere to plug it in for two hours to top off the battery. While the backpack kind of looks weird sitting at the back of the skateboard, I found that it’s actually really useful as a stabilizer for novice riders. ywam backpackYou don’t have to kick to get the Movpack going, as there’s a wireless controller included, so all you have to do is lean slightly into the bag with your rear leg for a smooth ride.loyola backpack journalism While the Movpak is fun when you’re on it, the backpack (which contains the battery) and the skateboard together weigh 17 pounds. paq laptop backpack

In a pinch, it’s convenient to only have to carry one thing (as opposed to having a separate backpack and skateboard), but you wouldn’t want to go hiking with this thing — except for the fact that the giant battery can be used to charge other devices, like your phone. backpack crafting h1z1The backpack has a handle that extends to let you roll the bag around using the skateboard’s wheels, but it kind of detracts from the “cool” factor.gpa backpack ebayMovpak offers a funky solution to a common urban commuting problem: how to get you, and all your stuff, to your destination quickly and easily. cilao backpackA hybrid backpack and electric skateboard, Movpak was designed to help commuters with short trips in between other transportation methods—those last few blocks or miles between the bus or subway stop and the office, for instance.

With an Indiegogo campaign underway and booming, Movpak is skating onward with new ideas about solo transportation. Movpak is the smartest backpack you’ll ever meet, because it doubles as an electric vehicle. Controlled via remote, smartphone app, or voice activation, the electric skateboard can carry its rider at speeds up to 20 mph—not that we can think of any reason someone would want to ride one that fast. The Miami-based company has been around for a while and the Movpak was initially introduced in 2014, but it didn’t take off. Now, it’s back with some improvements, and the team has its sights set on mass production. The crowdfunding campaign has tripled the original $50,000 goal with nearly three weeks left. Related: 60 mph electric skateboard smashes Guinness World Record Unlike a skateboard or motorized scooter that a commuter might simply carry in a backpack, the Movpak backpack is attached to the board. The skateboard portion slides out from the back of the pack, similar to a telescoping handle extends from a suitcase.

Placed wheels down, the pack portion of the device sits on one end of the board, so it doesn’t have to be carried. Two tiny motors, located inside each wheelbase, propel the skateboard forward. The backpack also has outlets that enable the user to charge portable devices, like a cell phone, laptop, or tablet. Movpak even has its own headlights, for those late evening commutes. There’s no doubt that the concept is incredibly cool, but critics have ripped on the design execution, saying the skateboard’s wheels are too narrow and would be difficult and expensive to replace. Nevertheless, Movpak is a pretty unique solution to a problem that plagues many commuters. Indiegogo backers can reserve an early edition of the backpack-skateboard hybrid for as little as $699, which is a steal compared to the regular price of $1200.Send feedback about this experience Choose an areaVideo ContentAd ContentTechnical IssuesProductsCopyright Infringement Video DetailsRuntime2 minutes 17 secondsCategoryTechnologySynopsisKyle Russell takes a spin on the Movpak, an electric skateboard inside of a backpack.

If you have a question or problem, visit our Help pages. If you are a seller for this product and want to change product data, click here (you may have to sign in with your seller id).Yes, you read that right: The Movpak is an electric skateboard that doubles as a pack for your belongings. Just pull a handle, and out pops a board that can travel up to 20 miles per hour, or up to 10 miles at a time. And when I tried the Movpak on the sidewalks of San Francisco, I was surprised how easy it was to ride. See, the backpack doesn't disappear when you deploy the twin electric motors. It sits on the tail end of the board -- holding up to 35 liters of possessions while freeing up your body to keep balance as you carve up the sidewalk. The actual board seems distressingly small at first, but when I planted my leg firmly against the big battery inside the backpack, the rigid support kept me from sliding off. Which is completely unlike my last few experiences with skateboards. You use a little wireless remote controller to speed up or slow down.

So what's the catch? There are quite a few. First, it makes for a pretty heavy backpack: The Movpak weighs 17 pounds (7.7 kg) empty. That's actually lighter than a lot of electric scooters, but it could definitely take a toll on your back if you plan to strap it there. (Movpak has anticipated this: there's a pop-out handle so you can drag it like a wheeled suitcase.) Second, the Movpak isn't for sale yet. It's an Indiegogo project looking for crowdfunding to help support the fledgling company. That means if you plop down $599 thinking you're getting a huge early-bird discount (it'll retail for $1,200, or about £840 or AU$1640 converted), there's a decent risk you'll lose all that cash if the company fails or can't produce the product. Movpak actually tried and failed to raise $100,000 on Kickstarter a year and a half ago -- but Kickstarter refunds money if a goal isn't met. Third, Movpak doesn't seem as focused on the core backpack-plus-electric skateboard concept as it should be, if you ask me.