There’s nothing quite like outdoors. With your boots tied tight, a backpack, and wind in your hair, you’ve got nowhere to go but up.
ART MATRIX LLC is developing the HipStar™, a product that will change the way hikers, campers, backpackers move by literally taking the weight off their shoulders.
The HipStar™ is a project of our passion in striving to help people achieve full mobility with only the power of two legs and accomplish physical feats they never thought possible – no matter if they’re young or old. It will be an affordable way to make travels more enjoyable.
If you are on-the-go, you need a versatile and convenient way to lug all your gear when hiking, camping, or simply traveling from one place to another. That's how we invented HipStar™ - a light collapsible cart that makes it easy to move heavy items over any type of terrain hands-free with little effort and can be used as a backpack or bike trailer depending on the needs of its user.
How many people can say that they sprinted the entire length of a football field carrying 80 pounds, and barely broke a sweat? Our product will not only enable its wearer to sprint while carrying that much weight, it will also make those 80 pounds feel as light as the shoes on your feet.
In designing the HipStar™, the goal was to create a unique product that is MULTIPURPOSE, COMFORTABLE and most importantly, DURABLE.
The HipStar™ is the culmination of an extensive research to develop a light, collapsible cart that makes it easy to move heavy items hands-free over any type of terrain. The HipStar’s versatility allows it to be used as a cart, backpack, or bike trailer depending on the needs of its user.
The HipStar is perfect for a wide range of travelers - from those who want to go on a short stroll, to professional mountaineers. When traveling, people have always needed to carry items with them, but often are forced to make tough decisions as to what items they can fit in their backpacks, suitcases, or bags.
The HipStar™ is the solution for anyone seeking an effective means to transport heavy items without compromising on comfort. It will make life easier for people who are constantly on the go and is the perfect accessory for everyone.
Not to mention senior citizens or people with back problems - it will breathe new life into their adventures all while reducing unnecessary physical stress.
In a professional or military setting, the HipStar™ can be used to transport vital equipment and supplies over almost any terrain by rolling it on the ground or carrying it on the user’s back.
Whether it’s hiking up a steep mountain, taking an excursion to a remote beach, or traveling to the far corners of the world, the HipStar™ is the perfect solution for those who need to bring ALL their necessities wherever their journey takes them.
The various rolling bags and backpacks currently on the market were designed for use mainly in airports and railway stations – areas with smooth flooring. While wheels help move theses bags on short trips from the house to the car or the car to the hotel, they are practically useless for longer excursions and get stuck when trying to roll across uneven or rough surfaces. Additionally, tourists and hikers prefer to use conventional bags and backpacks because the internal frame and wheels of rolling bags take up valuable storage space and add excess weight.
The various rolling bags and backpacks currently on the market were designed for use mainly in airports and railway stations – areas with smooth flooring. While wheels help move theses bags on short trips from the house to the car or the car to the hotel, they are practically useless for longer excursions and get stuck when trying to roll across uneven or rough surfaces. Additionally, tourists and hikers prefer to use conventional bags and backpacks because the internal frame and wheels of rolling bags take up valuable storage space and add excess weight.
Heavy backpacks create a forward trunk lean (rounding of upper back), which causes a forward head posture with extended neck, creating a neck and shoulder pain and make it difficult for muscles and ligaments to hold the body up. After a long day on the trail, even 5 kg (11 lbs.) will feel heavy no matter what you are carrying it in.
1) One pound on your feet equals five pounds on your back.
2) One pound on your feet equals five percent more energy expended.
3) Every one percent of your body weight makes you six seconds slower per mile.
4) Ten percent grade incline cuts your speed in half.
5) Going up slows you down twice as much as going down speeds you up. Every percent of incline adds 15 seconds to your mile pace. Every percent of decline takes 8 sec. off of your mile pace.
So what can the travelers do? Rolling backpacks are not a solution, since they lack the shock absorption, balance adjustment, and wheel design to make them appropriate for long walks through the cobblestone streets of old Europe or the rugged terrain of a national park. Leaving vital gear at home is not an option either.
The answer is the HipStar™: the light, portable, collapsible cart provides an innovative new way to move all your gear easy and comfortable. Hands free. Back free. Whether you’re hiking, camping, traveling, or just have to get from one place to another with your gear, the HipStar™ makes it almost effortless.
A suitcase balances a lot of weight on one axle - the same design used in the HipStar.
Even with a suitcase, you have to hold it and drag it behind you. The HipStar attaches to your hip and leaves enough room behind you so your heels don’t hit it when you are walking or running.
Walking is a series of many accelerations and decelerations - or stop-and-go. Even a small weight will generate annoying push-and-pulls when rigidly attached to your body. The HipStar’s shock absorbers and flexible harness even out those disturbing walking motions for a comfortable experience.
The HipStar folds down into a backpack in seconds, making it easy to climb some stairs or hike up a mountain. The heaviest model weighs only ten pounds. And when you reach flat ground, expand it, attach it to your hip, and you’re good to go.
The HipStar is able to completely collapse, allowing you to store it in your closet, your trunk, or even carry-on on a plane.
For serious mountain hikers and military use, the HipStar™ comes in a more durable option featuring additional hardware that reinforces the structure and allows for heavier gear to be carried with the same ease and comfort. For the military, a huge tactical issue is Rucking performance (Rucking is the military term for hiking under load). The issue is that soldiers must conduct dangerous missions wearing body armor, carrying weapons, ammo, water, and other heavy gear, putting them at further risk of injury. The HipStar™ can help military operations mitigate this injury risk by reducing the load these soldiers need to carry.
Military personnel will find the HipStar™ useful as a both a tactical and practical tool: on duty, the HipStar™ is perfect for moving heavy gear over any type of terrain; on leave, the HipStar™ can help personnel move their heavy backpacks while traveling. Since they’re not using civilian suitcases, the HipStar™ can help our service members move heavy, military-issue backpacks through airports and rail stations effortlessly by easily transforming into a rolling suitcase by pulling the handle located on the top of the frame. The HipStar™ can also stand on its own using its built-in kickstand — a convenient option when forced to wait in a long line.
The HipStar™ will be available in three versions: Light, Medium, and Heavy-duty. The heavy-duty model allows users to move up to 80 lbs. of gear with only 6 lbs. of force. A serious hiker's backpack can weigh up to 40 lbs or more. When used in cart mode, the user will only need to exert up to 3.5 lbs of force to move the backpack. Medium and light models make the HipStar an affordable solution for everyone.
