Folding bicycle is a bicycle designed so that it can be folded into a much more compact size. It is ideal for campers, students , city dwellers and everyone who has problem with space.

Folding bikes can easily be packed down, so you can carry them into buildings and any kind of public transportation.  They fit into the smallest apartments and you can easily store them in a car, a plane or a boat.

Folding bikes are the holy grail for mixed-mode commuters. They are highly recommended by people who are against dependence on cars as the major mode of ground transportation.

Main cons you need to consider, if you want to be a proud owner of this ingenious product, is its speed and stability. Most of the bicycles have 20″ wheels, and this is more or less the “standard” size for a folding bike. However, the size varies from 16 inches to 26 inches. Smaller wheels are great for long-distance carrying  and larger are for a faster and more stable ride. One of the main things you want to pay attention to is weight.

Every folding bike is meant to be a light folding bike. Average weight of these bikes is from 18lbs to 26 lbs. The material has a big role when it comes to weight and price. Some customers prefer titanium bikes while carrying them. Others think that the difference between steel and titanium is insignificant. Your selection depends upon your anatomy and the frequency of your use. Whatever you choose, all bikes on the market are particularly light so you’ll have no problem with that. You have to know that weight plays a big role in the price. Price will be much higher if you want to consolidate all the good sides of folding bikes.

Most people search for the best folding bike.  Bikes differ in many ways, and it is hard to compare them. You should search for something that fits you, for example, if you are a commuter and you want your bike to be easily foldable, you will search for portable bikes. Every bike has its own incomparable performances.

Some of the advantages are:

You can take it anywhere – more mobility

Folding bike is small enough that you can put it under your desk and no one will notice it’s actually there.  Another great thing is that you don’t have to worry about thieves.

Save money

By being a mixed-commuter, you can save a lot of money. Say no to expensive fuel, parking fees and high auto maintenance.

Be fashionable

Many people avoid folding bikes because they think they are too complicated and too much 70s looking. Recent folding bikes are designed so fashionable and innovative that everyone looks great riding it. It takes you 10-15 seconds to unfold it. Not as complicated as it seems.

Exercise

Replacing car with bike is an effective way to lose weight and be healthy. The recommended daily physical activity time for adults is 30 minutes a day. This way you don’t have to go to the gym. You are saving money and getting in shape at the same time. Jackpot.

Low maintenance

You have to worry about:

1. air in your tires
2. charging the lights
3. oiling the chain

and that’s it.

Even if you need to visit a mechanic, you’ll find they are waaay cheaper and more trustworthy.

Ice breaker

This one may sound weird, but every time you do your magic and open your bike, people will be interested and ask questions. It is fun and never gets boring.

What’s it like to ride a folding bicycle?

Folding bikes are very easy to use. All you need to do is practice. The most complicated thing is learning how to fold them, and that’s not hard.  You may notice it’s a little different than a regular bicycle when you first try it out.  Turning is a little more responsive because of the smaller wheels. This means you can quickly turn if you need to.  If you live in a hilly area, don’t worry! – many bikes have multiple gears, so you will be just as fast at hill climbing as with a regular bicycle.

How much do I need to spend? 

The prices vary from 150$ do 2500$. I recommend  to invest in a good bike, even if it is a little pricey. If you go for the cheapest one, you have to know that it’ll wear out faster. You can find a good bike for a reasonable price. Check out our buying guide so you can find a perfect match.

UNDER 500$

Vilano Urbana Single Speed Folding Bike

Durability – 70%

Mobility – 65%

 Rockefeller Integral 26-Inch Folding Mountain Bicycle

Durability – 90%

Mobility -80%

This bike can handle the roughest terrain because of a full suspension soft-tail system and a double disc. This bike does it all – it looks good, it is super easy to fold and extra cheap. You want to have this bike!

 RT-20 Folding Bike

Durability – 80%

Mobility -70%

 The 7 gears give a good speed. The weight of this foldable bicycle is 27.56 pounds with a dimension of 45.28 x 7.87 x 59.84 inches. It looks good in white and orange color.

• 7 Gears Shimano
• 20 in Mini Folding Bike
• 12.5 KG Only
• 7005 Aluminum Frame
• Mechanical Brakes

Product Description

Dahon Jack D7 Folding Bike

OVER 1000$

We’re getting to the point where standards are high. You can expect lightweight, quick and portable bikes with disc brakes, carbon frames, suspension forks and slick gearing. The fact these bikes fold down can be considered a bonus rather than their primary function.

SOGAR Two-wheeled Electric Bicycle

Durability – 80%

Mobility -90%

• Mechanical shock, comfortable ride, effectively guarantee the long ride comfort
• Within the triangle component of the cavity, the triangle structure formation cavity suspension, effectively eliminate part away
• Removable battery, long life, the use of mainstream battery level supercar, movement of the “gas station”
• Comfortable damping cushion, accord with human body structural cushion, comfort breathable shock absorption

Bilateral lock locking device, more reliable, more convenient fold

Allen Sports XWay Aluminum 20 Speed Folding Bicycle

Durability – 85%

Mobility -80%

• 6061 Aluminum Frame and top end components deliver a light folding bicycle (11 KG/24 LB) that is great for long distance treks or urban commutes
• 20 Speeds provides wide gear range designed for high speeds on flat terrain, climbing hills and everything in between
• 451 MM Wheels deliver improved performance and handling over the standard 20″ or 16″ found on most folding bicycles
• Patented frame release levers allow quick and easy folding of bicycle in less than 8 seconds
• Patented wheel lock system secures the bicycle when folded and allows the bicycle to be rolled like a cart

Allen Sports XWay Aluminum 20 Speed Folding Bicycle received a full rating on Amazon. This lightweight bike is designed for urban environments.

Montague Paratrooper Pro 27 Speed Folding Bike

History of Folding Bikes

There are many companies that claim they are inventors of the first folding bike.  The truth is that the folding bike has been around for considerably longer than one might imagine and most claims of being the first are erroneous. When the military interests in bicycles arose in 1980s, French army deployed folding bikes for bicycle infantry use. The 1970s saw increased interest in the folding bike, and the popular Raleigh Twenty and Bickerton Portable have become the iconic folders of their decade. It was, however, the early 1980s that can be said to have marked the birth of the modern, compact folding bicycle, with competing tiny-footprint models from Brompton and Dahon. Founded in 1982, by inventor and physicist Dr. David Hon and his brother Henry Hon, Dahon has grown to become the world’s largest manufacturer of folding bikes, with a two-thirds marketshare in 2006.

Conclusion

There is an enormous number of folding bikes on the market. Folding bikes have come a long way in the past few decades. If you want to pick one for you, the key is to know what you’ll use it for and how far you plan to ride it. Folding bikes with larger wheels are good for long distanced trips and you will be more familiar with them, although the smaller-wheeled versions are also very impressive. If you decide to buy one, remember that folding bikes don’t depreciate in value. That means if you want to resell it, you could always find a costumer and give it for a very decent price.

We have tested 55 printers and we are going to present the results of our testing to you, so that you can choose the right printer with cheapest ink that suits you the best and which falls in your price range. Choosing the printer with cheapest ink takes a lot of time and consideration, so that is why we have narrowed down the selection for you, from the best to the cheapest, and the only thing that you have to do is to select the one that suits you the most.

Long time ago in a galaxy far, far away there was a man. This man had a vision to create a movie set in outer space. Little did he know that he would forever change the lives of millions of people. Spinning around a star somewhere in Milky Way was the planet Earth, a home to this man. Home also to other five plus billion, at the time, large primates who understood what a movie was. The man, the planet and the primates did not know how this movie would influence them, but it did.

On the serious note, there is not a single human on the planet that has not heard of the Star Wars movie franchise. The first movie was conceived and made at the height of space-craze during the 1970s, the decade after mankind had set foot on the moon. This movie made an astonishing impact on the popular culture, as almost every woman, man and child went to see this movie. It spanned two sequels, three prequels, numerous spin-offs and fan fiction, both endorsed and not by Lucasfilm, novels, video games, comics, toys and what not. Taking that into consideration, saying that Star Wars franchise is a popular culture phenomenon would be an understatement. The movie has also spanned numerous characters, some adored, some hated by the fans. Characters like Luke Skywalker, Leia Origana, Han Solo, Darth Vader, Obi Wan Kenobi, C-3PO and R2D2 are just some of the large cast of characters which appeared in movies.

Star Wars fans are one of the most devoted groups in the world. Whenever there is a screening of old movies, or new, they dress up as their favorite characters and go to watch it. Every kind of toy, gadget, everything related to their beloved franchise has to be in their possession. They have gone so far as to create their own religion, named Jediism and based on the philosophy of the Jedi Order featured in the movies.

The character of R2D2 is a particularly favored character. It is a droid that is not capable of a human, or should we say galactic, language communication. Instead it communicates in a form of screeches and beeps. It was first in the property of Anakin Skywalker, a Jedi who later converted to the dark side of the Force and took the moniker of Darth Vader, and then later came in possession of Leia Origana, Anakin’s daughter, through her mother Padme Amidala. The droid later ends up with Luke Skywalker, Leia’s twin brother. We hope that this did not confuse you, but truth be told, if you are a fan you are already in possession of this information. If you are not a fan, well, what are you doing here? R2D2 memorabilia is one of the most popular in the Star Wars franchise. So today we have come up with two articles related to R2D2 to present to you: the tank top and a real-life replica that moves around and beeps. Whether you want to buy these products for yourself, or to buy them as a gift for someone who adores Star Wars, you are in the right place.

Womens R2D2 Swimsuit

Let us first start off with a sexy product related to R2D2. Artoo-Deetoo is known as a smart and helpful but he is never taken seriously. The poor fellow is always considered a comic relief, even though he has gotten the main heroes out of some serious pickle on numerous occasions. Who stopped the trash compressor from flattening Han Solo, Luke, Leia and Chewie on the Death Star? Our little blue and white droid of course. If you feel treated the same way as our little robot then this is the perfect tank top for you. Or maybe you just adore R2D2, or you know a female human that does. This comfy piece of clothing Halloween is around the corner, so why not dress as your favorite droid? It is not really a costume, but with certain additions it could definitely pass as a part of one.

This tank top could be worn as a shirt or a short skirt; it depends on your body measurements and the size you purchase it in really. R2D2 tank top is a tank top (yeah, we used that word formation on purpose) that is covered with graphics representing the body of our beloved little droid. Legs and head are not included in this design. That is why with small modifications it could be a perfect Halloween costume, or just a shirt that you, or your friend could wear with pride. Since it is designed for the female part of Star Wars fandom, or should we say geekdom, it does not detract from the serious note. You can basically wear this shirt anywhere without being called geeky and dorky, just because of the sleek and appropriate design. Heck, most people will not recognize the graphics as belonging to our little beepy friend until you tell them. Or until you start walking around beeping and screeching. We will not judge you for that, because that is what our colleague did when she wore the shirt.

But we cannot guarantee that people will not look at you as if you have gone crazy. You have been warned. So, this tank top with R2D2 graphics could be considered a fashion statement, or maybe a piece of clothing that will reflect the admiration towards the franchise. Whatever you are going to use it for, or the person you will give it to will use it for, you cannot deny that this piece of clothing for women is a good bargain for the price. R2D2 women tank top is a perfect gift for yourself or for a friend, maybe as a fashion statement or part of a Halloween costume, and it is definitely one of the cutest Star Wars memorabilia which will make every Star Wars female fan happy if she obtains the possession of this item. Just, please, restrain from beeping in your office while wearing it.

Here are some customer photos:

Star Wars Interactive R2D2 Astromech Droid Robot

So, ever dreamed of owning the adventurous Artoo Deetoo droid? We have, and you could not wipe the joy from our faces when we got this product. It is the real deal: a living, breathing (put that in quota marks) 13.2 x 13.2 x 17.8 inches R2D2 droid made by Hasbro. Here is a little bit of history on R2D2 before we describe this replica in detail for you. According to the movie lore, our little Artoo is an astromech droid in the R2 series, created by Industrial Automaton. Over the course of years, this droid has developed an adventurous personality. The droid comes with many resourceful tools which are used for numerous things, such as slicing computers, extinguishing fires, repairing starships and what not. It moves on three legs supported by wheels. Now that we have gotten that out of the way, let us present to you this replica.

The only statement that we can make, so as to present to you this product is the following: it is a geeky dream of every child/teenager who adores Star Wars. Period. Once you pop in four AA and four D batteries, this little fellow comes to life and starts beeping and screeching all over the place. It will move on its own accord, and the movement replicates the one from the movie in detail. This little droid is capable of executing over forty voice commands, and the way to grab his attention is to simply say the two magic words: “Hey Artoo”. You can ask him about various Star Wars characters and he will respond in accordance to his relationship towards them. If you want him to screech in terror and start moving backwards, you just ask him about Darth Vader.

We won’t lie to you, we had countless hours of fun with this little replica in our office. One of our co-workers booped the little robot on the head, and the response that he got was hilarious. The little Artoo made an irritated voice and moved away from that person. Our little Artoo boasts of numerous features, including a secret cargo compartment, where you can hide things such as your lightsaber, or an extra sandwich, a utility arm for holding beverages, removable sensor scope, light beam, droid mood–status indicator and many more. Some of the commands that will initiate certain modes of this little fellow include “Go on patrol”, “Light Beam” and “Play Message”. If you send R2D2 on a patrol he will go on a patrol with his sonar navigation equipment and infrared location sensor and report back to you. We do not guarantee that you will understand him. Most of the times he will report back about your cat being present there.

Now, when you initiate the game mode, this little astromech droid starts responding to more complicated voice commands. He can act as a sentry to protect your things. Trust us, with the ruckus that he makes when someone or something approaches the guarding stuff will alert you even if you are far away from the spot. Another command makes him dance to the famous cantina music, which is an excellent and very fun little dance that will make you smile for hours afterwards. You can even play light tag with the little or make him spin around. There is also a command that lets you give Artoo directions as to where to move, or make him execute pre-programmed directions.

There is a small catch here, as when you enter the more complex modes, your commands might not be recognized by the little fellow at certain instances. But that is natural, as Siri will also misunderstand you, as will any apparatus, no matter how advanced it is, with voice recognition. The voice recognition hardware/software has not reached that point where it can be perfect. But you do not need to worry, as every simple command will be executed immediately without delay.

R2D2 interactive replica has grown to our hearts in a very small period of time. It is up and about our office as I write this. We all play with it, even though we are all adults. In a nutshell, this little droid is a perfect representation of the movie character we all love. With the features that it has, this would be a perfect gift for your child, or for anyone who loves Star Wars. If you buy this for your child, be convinced that the whole family will enjoy playing around with this droid. Star Wars fans and collectors will definitely want to have this amazing little droid in their personal collections. Our little Artoo is definitely worth every penny you pay for it and it is an amazing piece of robotic engineering. Well, not that amazing, there are things out there which surpass it, but for us, the Star Wars fans, it is the best modern robot ever. Period. Every time you are feeling down, this astromech droid can cheer you up. It really is priceless and a definite purchase for Star Wars fans. Just do not scare or irritate the poor fellow too much, because that would be considered droid cruelty you know. You would have to answer to the intergalactic robot labor union for that.

Conclusion

There are a lot of products out there related to Star Wars franchise, and Artoo himself. Here we have presented to you the tank top with the graphics and an interactive replica of the famous and adorable little droid. These could be perfect gifts for Star Wars fans and geeks alike. Whether you buy them for yourself or for someone else, it does not matter, as these products will definitely put a smile on the face of anyone who receives them. The tank top is perfect as a fashion statement, or even a piece of a Halloween costume. The R2D2 replica on the other hand is a perfect companion that will cheer you up and remind you of our little Artoo whenever you turn it on. You just pick up the one that you want and you are good to go. And, remember that the Force is always with you. Or in the words of Artoo: “Beep-boop-bip-beep-beep”.

Whether you are very serious about your fitness or just plainly want to know what is going on with your body on a daily basis, activity trackers can help you. You can get rid of all paper based calorie loss calculations and calendars if you transfer to these electronic devices that offer a lot more. Activity trackers are basically an advanced version of pedometers. While pedometers are electronic portable devices that measure every step based on your hip movements, activity trackers do more than that. Accelerometers or altimeters for distance tracking, calculators for your calorie loss tracking,  some of them are able to monitor your heart rate and even the quality of sleep.

What is the best activity tracker?

So, in layman terms, activity trackers are handy devices that help you oversee your fitness levels with computer-aided calculations for certain parameters. The term “activity tracker” has been used for these devices ever since the release of the original Fitbit in 2009. They usually come in pair with an internet-based or mobile application which help you to have a better insight in your lifestyle and physical health. Some of these devices can be connected to a smart bathroom scale and other similar devices in order to provide you with the most accurate data about your body. There are many forms and design shapes so they can be attached to your waist via clip-on technique, or they can be in a form of a watch that goes around your wrist. There are even some devices that can be attached to your shoe.

When analyzing the best activity trackers out there, you have to take into consideration a lot of elements and features. The main ones being the amount of information with which such a device can provide you and of course, looks and design. Most people do not want these kinds of devices to be intrusive or seen by other people, and that is what makes the design a very important aspect.

We have tested a lot of products out there, around fifteen of them, and we came to conclusion that two companies provided the best activity trackers on the market: Fitbit, with the original activity trackers, and Apex Fitness Group with their BodyBugg line of products. We really did not know how to select the best product from these two companies, as they all have different features that make them great. That is why we are going to present to you both, Fitbit and BodyBugg products, so that you can choose the best one for yourself. Your style and preferences will determine which one of these products is the most suitable for you, according to your needs. So, without further ado, let us present to you an in-depth review of these products.

Fitbit

The Fitbit Inc. produced the first activity tracker ever, the Fitbit Tracker. Fitbit Tracker was the first fitness device that was an update of the pedometers. The device used a three-dimensional accelerator to measure your body activity, such as the distance you have walked, floors you have climbed, calories burned, basically everything you did, plus the length and intensity of these activities.

The device used a display to convey this information and came with a wireless station that enabled the user to charge the device, connect it to a computer and upload the data to Fitbit website. The upload of data to the website enabled the user to use numerous features, such as overview of physical activity, tracking of set goals, food log and interaction with other users. The website is free to use even today, whether you own a Fitbit or not. The design of this device was a breakthrough, as it was a small device which could be clipped on your body so that you can wear it all the time.

There were numerous products developed in the Fitbit line since 2009 and the original Fitbit, such as the Fitbit Ultra, Fitbit One, Fitbit Zip, Fitbit Flex, Fitbit Force and even the Fitbit Aria which is a wireless smart scale for measuring of weight, body mass index and body fat. Fitbit Ultra was basically an upgrade to the original product with new features such as a new altimeter that could measure the floors you have climbed, digital clock and stopwatch.

Fitbit Force is the latest addition to the family and it has all of the features that its predecessors have had.  Released in 2013, Fitbit Force comes with a beautiful watch-like design and it is a light-weight device that you would not even feel. The constant tracking of your progress is available through the top-notch accelerometer and you can access it with one touch of a button. This activity tracker tracks the number of steps you have taken, number of stairs you have climbed the distance you have traveled and the duration of these activities.

Force is even able to calculate, based on all of the mentioned measurements taken, how much calories you have burned during your daily activities. At the end of the day, there is no need for you to take off this device when you go to bed, as it is able to track your sleep pattern with number of hours you have slept, how quickly you fell asleep and how many times you awoke during the night. All of these features come with a friendly alarm that will silently wake you up without bothering any people around you or even the person you are sharing your bed with.

Another great feature of the Fitbit Force is the ability to connect wirelessly and automatically with a number of different devices through Bluetooth technology, including your PC, iPhone or your Android based devices. When connected to a device, only a tap of button on your Force will activate the companion application. Also, through this application you are able to connect to your personal dashboard where you can overview and calculate your data seamlessly, set up your goals and keep track of them.

There is even an award system which gives you badges for your achievements. Fitbit Force is also able to integrate itself with other relevant apps, including Run Keeper, Map My Fitness, My Fitness Pal, etc. To sum it all up, this device is perfect for people who want to track their daily and nightly activities, whether they are professionally into fitness or just partly interested in the everyday activities of their body. With Fitibit practically inventing the activity tracker devices, you know you cannot go wrong with their products. That being said, when you add the great price for this product, we can say that the Fitbit Force is one of the best activity trackers on the market.

BodyBugg

The largest chain of fitness centers in the world, 24 Hour Fitness, created a nutritional supplement company called Apex Fitness Group. This company was the creator and distributor of the 24 Hour Fitness’ activity tracker named BodyBugg. This device comes with a number of features. First of all, the device can be strapped anywhere on your body and is able to calculate the calories you have burned. So, basically it is a device that is excellent for people who want to exercise. The display, a watch-like designed device, is an optional purchase which will enable you to receive this information in real-time.

This device is basically a calorie management system, as it tracks how much calories you have spent and how much of them have you consumed. All of these results can be viewed on the optional display but also on your Android based devices, your iPhone or personal computer.

The BodyBugg system enables you to connect wirelessly to those devices via a companion application. Upon the purchase of this device, you will be awarded a free six-month long subscription to the website where you will be entering a nutrition and fitness program. Through this program you will be able to enter the food you have eaten and based on that data you will receive suggestions for your future meals. The BodyBugg system also comes with one private session with a BodyBugg coach. The coach will help you set up your fitness program and your device. There is also an option to purchase the further aid of a fitness coach.

The website itself also enables you to upload all your data and calculate precisely how much calories have you burned and based on that, you can set and monitor your goals for the future. This device is specifically made for people who are professionally into fitness or those who want to lose weight, as it is a very precise device when it comes to calculating the number of calories you burn.

Online programs, goal and food consumption monitoring systems with additional help from a personal coach are features that lean towards the statement made in the previous sentence. The features you get for the price you pay are amazing and the satisfactions of many customers who have used this device are the proof of what this device is capable of. That being said, and taking into consideration the relatively modest price, BodyBugg is definitely one of the best activity trackers out there on the market.

Conclusion: Fitbit VS BodyBugg

While testing these devices, we have come to the conclusion that they are definitely the best activity trackers on the market, and you can see from the overview of their features. They are both an advance version of pedometers, and are also excellent fitness aid tools that will satisfy even professionals. Considering all the features, one can see that the Fitbit Force is an all-purpose tracking activity device. It can be used for numerous purposes, such as for fitness training programs, weight-loss programs or even health monitoring. BodyBugg on the other side is a strictly fitness tool that built to help you lose weight and improve your training. Both, Fitbit Force and BodyBugg offer internet based services where you can monitor your data.

The Fitbit website is completely free to use, while the BodyBugg one is free for only for six months after you purchase the product. Still, the BodyBugg web service is full of helpful courses about fitness and weight loss programs, what justifies the monthly subscription. Fitbit Force has some additional features that are not included in the BodyBugg system, such as the sleep monitoring ability.

It also has to be noted that the Fitbit comes with a real-time display that will convey the measured parameters, which is a paid service with BodyBugg.  There is one BodyBugg  feature that is non-existent when it comes to the Fitbit Force, and that is the additional help from a fitness coach that will enable you to develop and improve your fitness or weight-loss program. While this feature is not free and requires a monthly fee, you still get one free session after you purchase the device.

Product Recommendation: The Fitbit Alta

This Fitbit tracker is the best buy tracker currently on the market. You can’t do anything wrong by buying it.

That one session will certainly help to set your goals on the right course. Also, BodyBugg offers a full customization program which can be found on their website. The program will be based on your age, weight, height and your personal goals. Taking all these features into consideration, one can see why these devices are the best activity trackers on the market. Now, it is just up to you to select the one that suits you the best and fits your needs. You will get an all-purpose device with Fitbit and a strictly fitness and weight-loss aid device with the BodyBugg.

This article was updated on 14th May 2018!