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It’s funny how many people from different backgrounds and countries sometimes share the same memories. If you had a couch with detachable pillows, odds are you built a fortress out of said pillows at least once, no matter where you grew up.

The Sofa Fort t-shirt celebrates that. And, really, we all have day when we’d rather be hiding out in our childhood fort rather than face the real world… It’s usually an impossible wish, but hey, a t-shirt will at least bring a smile and some nostalgia.

(And then you’ll understand one of the reasons why having children is good: you get to goof around and no one questions your sanity.)

How much under $29.99?
A little: $22 on CrazyDogTShirts.com.

Via FashionablyGeek

How many of the people involved in accidents thought it could never happen to them? Most of them, probably. And while bumping into another car might not be a tragedy, a serious accident could result in the car exploding or submerging… in which case the people inside should get out as soon as possible.

Houdini is here to help. No, the magician didn’t come back to life, but the Houdini Automotive Escape Tool uses his name to get the point across. A simple keychain could save someone’s life: it features a window breaker, a seatbelt cutter, a safety whistle and a LED flashlight, the basics for making sure no one remains caught inside the vehicle.

Unfortunately, being a careful driver doesn’t ensure road safety. You never know when someone runs into you… and “better safe than sorry” is the phrase that best applies here.

How much under $29.99?
A little: $24.95 on HoudiniTool.com.

Via AutoMotoGadgets

For someone who has cold feet (literally) even in the middle of summer, the mention of “USB heated slippers” triggers an “I want!” reflex. But then, when the whole thing registers…

USB heating. Hmmm. How do you wear slippers attached to a computer? Actually, the USB Big Slippers are even weirder: “they” are actually one slipper, large enough to fit both your feet, so there’s no way to move anyway (unless you like hopping around). They come in two styles, monkey and strawberry, and they actually look pretty cute.

On the other hand, there’s three models of regular slippers (panda, for men, for ladies) which could be used to walk around the house, if they weren’t tethered to the PC. Yes, the cable can be unplugged, but wanna bet how often you’ll remember to do that? I don’t see a bright future here.

How much under $29.99?
A little: $25 on Gadget4All.com.

Via Ubergizmo

Recycled products are a good idea in general… but we shouldn’t buy something just because it’s “greener”. Why buy a thing you won’t use or wear because it’s too impractical/ugly?

Fortunately, today’s recycled product is not only environment-friendly, but also an interesting piece of jewelry. The Recycled Skateboard Circle Necklace is made from an old skateboard, so it features a part of the model it used to have. But while the pictured pendant looks good indeed, there’s no two alike, so it’s ultimately a game of luck; you can’t choose the color or model to match your clothes.

But sometimes a surprise is welcome… or would be, if this wouldn’t cost $28. Seriously, why? It’s just a piece of wood; handmade, but still just that, and you have no control over how yours would look like. So, while it might be a cool idea, I wonder how many people will be interested…

How much under $29.99?
A little: $28 on UncommonGoods.com.

Via ModernEcoHomes

As far as a gadget is concerned, it doesn’t always need to be useful. Sometimes the “wow” factor alone is worth it… but it has to be real wow-worthy.

Unfortunately, the Plasma Mug fails on both counts. First, what it is: a double walled cup placed on a special coaster with colorful lights that “follow” your finger if you touch it. For someone who’s never seen plasma gadgets, it might be exciting; but since plasma globes are (or at least used to be) common, you’d have to have lived under a rock for years to not see one.

As for useful… it’s an overpriced mug. Seriously, why? You can’t even drink while enjoying the light show, since it needs the coaster to work. I’ll pass on this one.

How much under $29.99?
A little: $24.99 in our store, powered by Amazon.com.

Via Ubergizmo

If you were to wake up from a coma without knowing what season it is, all you’d need to do is read a couple of gadget sites. In summer the main topic is fans, while in winter the focus switches to warming devices.

It’s almost winter now and, naturally, Japan’s all over this. And they have a point: you need to be comfortable at your computer, which includes wam hands. Enter the USB Heating Mousepad from Thanko, with a description in a language I don’t understand.

But it’s not much to explain, anyway. As long as it doesn’t damage your mouse (which we can’t vouch for), it’s a good idea. Anyone who’s ever felt their fingers freeze while working would relish some extra heat… and the 41 degrees shown in one of the presentation photos looks promising.

How much under $29.99?
Some: ~$20 on Thanko.jp.

Via OhGizmo!

Is your life truly complete? Yeah, there’s a good job, your faithful lover, a nice account in the bank and great friends… but do you have a pair of Chewbacca Slippers?

Thought so. But we can fix that.

Starting with the obvious: these slippers are decorated with Chewie’s head in plush form (thank God, imagine how bloody they’d be if it were really his head…). They’re soft, fluffy and comfortable, and go up to size 12 (men’s). And you won’t be fulfilled until you own them.

All right, they’re pretty disturbing, but I know a couple of Star Wars fans who’d have their credit cards out in 5 seconds.

How much under $29.99?
Exactly $29.99 on ThinkGeek.com.

There’s no way to stop tacky gadgets from taking over the world. One day we’ll call a 3-in-1 USB hub and popcorn machine our master.

Or maybe, if something from the Egypt Series USB Drives takes control, we’ll be mummified wrapped in printer paper.

These drives comes in two models, Sphinx and Egyptian, and to call them ugly is an understatement. Even worse, they can be worn as a necklace, and fashion gurus everywhere are probably praying it will never happen.

They do come with a decent 2GB storage capacity, but $22 for this… no thank you.

How much under $29.99?
A little: $22 on USBGeek.com.

Via SlipperyBrick

You should never let your aspirations die, never become jaded with life. Keeping the dream alive is a marvelous and inspirational concept…

Especially when it comes in the form of a snooze button. The person who invented it deserves the gratitute of countless people all over the world. One push ensures you 9 more minutes of peaceful sleep and, depending on how good your reflexes are, even a continunous dreaming session.

The Keep the Dream Alive t-shirt celebrates that. A must for any true connoiseur of the art of sleeping.

How much under $29.99?
A little: $24 on BustedTees.com.

Via FashionablyGeek

You’ve bought all the personal care items you could think of. Short of going to a beauty parlor, there’s nothing else you could try at home: all the face creams, special shampoo, bubble baths filled with minerals… been there, done that.

But… never say never. Did you know there was such thing as a Infra Red Hairbrush? Well, now you do, and apparently it’s a big deal. Beside untangling your pretty locks, this hi-tech brush uses infra red to deliver heat and even massages your scalp.

The two AA batteries will make it heavier than a regular one, but not significantly. The real question is how much does pampering mean for you? If the answer is “a lot”, the (fairly high) price might be worth it. After all, head massages feel so good…

How much under $29.99?
A little: ~$26 on ExpertVerdict.com.

Via Ubergizmo