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Skateboards are incredible. Skateboard culture is incredible. Skateboard backpacks, on the other hand...
Koala Boards is the last cruiser board you'll ever need. It's perfectly sized - small enough to travel with you but large enough to ride confidently - and it can do what no other board can: clip onto and slide off of your backpack in a matter of seconds. No more velcro. No more buckle straps. No more carrying by hand. Here's how it works:
The magnetic clasps help align the board with the backpack and pull the two together, clicking into a secure connection that is rated for 130lbs+. Go about your day! You'll forget the board is even back there, but it’s ready for fun at a moment's notice.
To remove the board from your bag, simply lift up! The board will slide out of the clasp and you're off riding.
This is a passion project of mine. I created the first Koala Boards prototype in 2017 and one version or another has been my daily sidekick ever since. I rode one through college, I rode one through travels abroad, through every airport, and I ride one around New York City now for everything from getting to meetings to running errands. Because I snap this skateboard to my backpack everywhere I go, I usually skateboard around the city instead of hopping on the subway, leading me to discover many gorgeous pockets of NYC and to meeting some incredible people that I never would have otherwise. (This board is an absolute conversation starter.)
Here's how it works: you click the board onto the backpack to attach it (while the clasps are magnetic, this is only used for helping them connect). Once attached, it's a mechanical connection and the clasps are rated to withstand many (many) times what the skateboard could weigh. It's not going anywhere. Then, when you're ready to use the board, you simply reach back, grab the board, and lift up! It comes off instantly and seamlessly, and you're on your way!
The clasps are embedded into the decks (they do not hinder riding) and although a couple of holes are milled into the wood, the installation of the clasps restores the structural integrity. That said, this board is intended more as a cruiser than a park board. The coinciding clasps are installed on a backpack (or theoretically whatever you can think of). This can be done by the user using the included installation kit, or a pre-configured backpack is available.
Koala Boards was launched as a Kickstarter Campaign in April 2023 and ultimately did not reach its funding goal. The project may return at some point in the future. Apparel is still available for sale for a limited time.
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