10 of the best cardboard gadgets

Berlin Boombox

£50 firebox.com
A flat packed kit that requires self-assembly, the Berlin Boombox is named after the city in which it was conceived (by designer Axel Pdaener). Made from recycled cardboard, the Boombox comes in one black and white finish – the idea being you can break out the Sharpies and customise its look. There are two 5W speakers, a 3.5mm stereo input and it runs off three AA batteries.

Cardboard bike

£TBC
Cardboard boxes can be strong because of their structure, but this bicycle required years of perfecting in order to stand up to the weight of a human. Israeli inventor Izhar Gafni also treats the material with a secret formula to make it water- and fireproof, then finally coats it in lacquer paint. It contains no metal parts whatsoever, and should cost no more than US$20 to buy; mass production will begin in a few months.

Vax Ev

£TBC cardboardvax.com
The brainchild of industrial design student Jake Tyler (who now works full-time for Vax), the Ev is made from recycled and recyclable material, mostly cardboard, and currently exists as a working prototype. Yes – it really does suck. Vax is planning trials in the near future, though – so it could become and actual product in the next few years.

Kid Koala’s 12 Bit Blues

US$20 kidkoala.com
Buy the limited edition of the Canadian DJ’s latest release and you’ll get one heck of an extra in the box: a build-it-yourself cardboard gramophone and a playable disc. Fit a pin to the cone, spin the disc with your hand and you’ll hear something special.

IKEA Knappa camera

£N/A psathome.ikea.com
A skinny, simple cardboard camera designed to be recycled after taking 30 shots, the Knappa is actually digital, and transfers photos to your computer using a swing-out USB arm. It’s not available to buy, but given to selected customers in IKEA’s retail stores.