FAQs - Hipstar Trailers

What is HipStar? Describe it in a few sentences.

HipStar® is a travel gear: a light, collapsible hiking/walking trailer that makes it easy to move heavy items over any terrain. It can also be used as a backpack or bike trailer. HipStar changes the way hikers, campers, backpackers, festivalgoers, first responders, elderly, or physically impaired people move by literally taking the weight off their shoulders. It will help people achieve full mobility with only the power of two legs and accomplish physical feats they never thought possible.

How is HipStar different from other hiking trailers?

Many hikers and travelers confirmed that HipStar has the best design and advantage over other devices. HipStar units provide a wider range of motion and better weight distribution. It is collapsible and adjustable based on the user's size. Our customer from Australia wrote: "The most versatile and effective hiking trailer! Everything seems to have been included in the design - multiple adjustments, shocks, running and walking flexibility - really impressive!"

What countries do you ship to?

We’ve delivered HipStar trailers to over 30 countries! Please enter your address on the checkout page to check if we deliver to your location and view shipping costs. You’ll see options for air or sea shipping, though some countries may have air shipping only. If your country isn’t listed, please contact us at support@hipstar.net, and we’ll do our best to assist you.

HipStar is quite an oversized item. How do you ship it? In which package, and what are its dimensions and weight?

As a reminder, the trailer folds into a flat compact mode. The parcel weighs 30 lbs, and measures 87 x 56 x 20 cm (34" x 22" x 8").

Do You Have Customers' Feedback?

We have customers in more than 30 countries. Most of their feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, especially from older adults, individuals facing physical challenges, and veterans. The HipStar was designed with your needs in mind, aiming to reduce the strain of carrying items and empowering users to regain control over their mobility and independence. You can read our customers' feedback on the Testimonials Page.

Do You Have a YouTube Channel?

Absolutely - HipStar YouTube Channel

Why did you decide to develop it?

The idea for HipStar came a few years ago as I traveled across Europe on business. I had a backpack to carry all of my things. There was so much to see, but after half a day’s worth of walking around, all I could think about was how the straps of my heavy bag were digging into my shoulders. I wish I had a companion who would carry everything and never tire. No matter where and how you travel, even a light backpack begins to weigh as much as a few bricks.

Heavy backpacks create a forward trunk lean (rounding of the upper back), which causes a forward head posture with an extended neck, creating 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 carry it in.

According to the Mountain Tactical Institute’s research, there are five “thumb rules” discovered:

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.

You get tired. You get impatient. You waste half your day dealing with back pain. All because there’s no other way to carry your stuff other than on your back. What about seniors or people with back problems? They are even more affected by carrying weight around. It doesn’t matter if it’s light or heavy.

That’s when the idea for the HipStar® was born: a back-free, hands-free, light, collapsible travel cart that makes it easy to move heavy items over any terrain with little effort, literally doing the heavy lifting for you and can be used as a backpack or even a bike trailer if needed!

- What inspires you to this design?

- If you have ever used a wheelbarrow to haul stuff, you probably have noticed that in addition to lifting it up, you have to exert extra force to push or pull it in order to move it from one place to another. It might make it easier on you if the weight's center of gravity (CG) was balanced close to the wheel axle, but a wheelbarrow is not designed to perform such a trick.

In the case of HipStar, the weight is already balanced on top of a two-wheel axle, and fine adjustments are made just by “bending” the frame, taking the strain off the user, and letting technology do all the work.

The angle between handles and frame can be adjusted so that the HipStar accommodates a wide range of weights. By keeping the bag’s CG above and slightly ahead of the wheel axle, the HipStar's overall stability is increased. It eliminates pushback force created while walking or running that would overturn the cart. As a result, a bag’s weight is supported almost entirely by the frame, and the user applies only the pulling force to generate movement.

Please watch the BALANCING VIDEO on the Video Manual page:

Why do you need shock absorbers between the frame and handlebars?

Once the balancing problem had been solved, I faced another issue: even a small weight generates annoying “push-and-pulls” when rigidly attached to your body during movement. Walking is a series of accelerations and decelerations - or “stop-and-go”. I had to build a few prototypes before I figured out how to keep it from bumping into you when you walk or run. To solve this problem, I designed a flexible harness and special shock absorbers.

Shock absorbers, along with a flexible harness, even out any disturbing walking motions and minimize the uneven inertia generated by the user when walking or running, allowing for smooth movement and a comfortable experience, further reducing stress and minimizing user effort and exertion. The upper design allows the user to adjust to fit based on height. The handle-strut angle is also adjustable depending on the load weight, harness height (waist height), and distance from feet to wheels, all of which assist in relieving the stress from the load, allowing the user to walk or run without interference from the cart.

Now, no matter the size, shape, type, or weight of your bag or suitcase, the HipStar will give you the same level of comfort so you can walk or run without even feeling the weight of your bag. And if you ever need to climb some steps or cross an obstacle, simply convert it into a backpack and you’re all set.

What is the maximum waist size the HipStar frame and harness can accommodate?

The HipStar frame and harness are designed to fit any waist size. The telescopic crossbar, connected to the handlebars with a twist-lock mechanism, offers a wide range of adjustability. The belt is also fully adjustable to accommodate all sizes, and the straps can be positioned on the hips for a secure fit.
There are solutions for individuals with larger bellies who may worry about the belt sliding down: shoulder straps can be connected to the belt using buckles, or non-elastic suspenders can be used for added support. When the HipStar is properly balanced, the belt has no downward pressure. For more details, refer to the HipStar Balancing guide.

- It looks heavy. How much does it weigh? You show a strong muscular man using the HipStar. How about a 120-150-pound woman? How about a senior citizen?

- It is not heavy at all. A frame weighs approx. 10 lbs. The wheels are 2.5 lbs. each. With the HipStar in a CART MODE, a cargo weight is nearly zero due to CG balancing. With the HipStar in BACKPACK MODE, they will not notice a 7-8% weight difference in a short run, when traveling over more difficult obstacles (rivers, ravines, steps, etc.) or when moving on rough terrain that the cart cannot traverse. Finally, they would need to choose to carry their load on the spine all day long or a bit heavier load just for a few moments to go over some obstacles.

What wheels come with HipStar?

15" wheels with soft flat-free polyurethane tires, capacity 180 lbs.

- What is the HipStar weight limit?

HipStar can easily hold up to 80-100 lbs. (or even more) of gear with only 6-8 lbs. of force in cart mode. The frame is light, durable, and perfect for any journey. The HD model is popular due to its features, including disc brakes, reinforced wheels, and hubs with disc rotors. A standout feature is its threaded HD axle, which prevents wheel oscillation and ensures that the brake rotors do not grind against the calipers. If you prefer not to use brakes, you can easily remove the brake components (levers, cables, calipers, and rotors) in 5-10 minutes and use the trailer with no brakes. But for heavier loads, brakes are recommended to enhance safety and comfort, particularly when navigating inclines. HipStar quickly collapses to the flat and compact mode, ideal for long-distance transportation or storage. Please check our instructional videos.

As optional add-ons, we offer a rigid carrying bag, a 100-liter backpack, a frame cushion with large pouches, shoulder straps, and a bike mount to connect to bikes. A backpack is under development and testing and will be available in Q1-25: New Backpack Sample video.

If the user decides to convert the HipStar to backpack mode, the weight limit might vary depending on how much they are willing and capable of carrying on their back. In real life, average backpacks weigh 10-12 kg (22-26 lbs), and serious hikers 15-18 kg (35-40 lbs). In the CART MODE, it represents 1.0-1.5 and 3-3.5 lbs. of pull correspondingly.

- What material have you used? Have you considered making it of composite material? Composites are lighter than aluminum and stronger than steel.

The composite would increase the price; therefore, the cost of materials has to be well balanced. Many components, such as grip joints, are converted to structural plastic parts. It is less expensive, easy to use, more attractive, and ergonomic. Current models are made of aluminum 6063, tubing 25mm, 22mm, and 19mm, and a wall thickness of 1.5 mm.

- Did you test HipStar in a lab?

We tested the samples in the certified lab BRAUN INTERTEC in Minneapolis, MN. Below are the cycle and static load test reports.