Resistance bands might be the ultimate portable, easy-to-use, effective workout tool. Every gym has them and many households do as well. The only downside is that it’s difficult to gauge how many calories you have burnt or how much force you’re really putting into the exercise.
A possible solution lies in the Circuband iQ, a new NASA-caliber sensor that launched on Kickstater on Aug. 15. The sensor is the newest product innovation from Circuband, a New Zealand-based company that creates resistance training products. According to a press release, Circuband is attempting to raise 65,000 New Zealand Dollars (~$47,000) to mass-produce and scale the product.
The Circuband iQ sensor, a separate product from the resistance bands themselves, can be buckled onto existing Circuband products. It then tracks the force applied, calories burnt, and repetitions for any exercise and sends that data to a smartphone app. The bands can provide up to 120 pounds of resistive force per handle.
The app saves your progress and allows you to track and share your fitness goals and results. The app also includes instructions for how to complete a number of resistance exercises, according to an email SportTechie received about the product.
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“Honestly just a great way to sneak in a quick workout while getting your work done,” Casey Neistat, the widely known vlogger, said of Circuband iQ in the press release. Along with Neistat, several high-profile figures and media outlets have covered the product, including TechNewsInsider and Men’s Health.
Interested investors can receive two Circuband iQ sensors in return for a 200 NZD (~$144) donation; $202 nets backers the “Perfect Package”—a heavy band with two iQ sensors and three attachments, along with access to a free online course, pro certification, and a 12-week training program. The package has an expected retail value of 400 NZD, equal to about $288. The product is predicted to ship in March 2018.
The Kickstarter campaign is active until Oct. 14.