*All Skill Toys come with inherent risks, especially Fire Toys. Learn and Play at your own risk.
Flowtoys- Lights That Inspire and Motivate Movement
Find Your Flow!
Many of us here at GyroPulse have been the proud owners of Flowtoys for some time now. And having been familiar with their inventory for well over 3 years, things have changed quite a bit. And it’s all been for the better! That’s what makes Flowtoys so unique, both as a business and as a product, that you can count on them to make the improvement and keep current with the needs of performers. I remember the first set of Flowpoi Duo’s I owned, and this was before the ingenious lock in caps. Their system of caps used to rely on pressure to keep the poi from coming out, and it was somewhat flawed. But these guys found out about the problem, fixed it, and sent out a whole new batch of awesome. They listen to what the community needs.
I say all this in preparation for my review of Flowtoys products. As we are now lucky enough to be sponsored by Flowtoys, it’s only fitting that we spend a little time talking about them. And since their marketplace is ever-changing, we decided to only review 2 specific aspects of their product line, which are for the most part complete. Don’t worry, we’ll be mentioning all the other awesome aspects of products they offer, but for now our focus is on Crystal Poi and the Flow-Wand.
Crystal Poi
All the Colors of the Astral Series (including Nebula)! Thanks to Garrett “little G” Runnels for helping.
These are my (Sean) favorite LED poi, and the only LED poi I’ve owned since they came out. There are various reasons as to why I use crystal poi, but the most important is the way it feels. The soft outer shell which protects the Flowlight fits perfectly in my hand, for all sorts of catches, throws, glow-stringing movements. They are the softest poi of this caliber that I’ve played with, which means if you get a little over-excited you won’t knock yourself unconcious. And the weight is both adjustable and comfortable.
An important aspect of any LED investment is durability, and I’m here to squelch any fears people might have. I have not broken a Flowlight in over 2 years. Specifically, I have never broken a Flowlight while using Crystal Poi. I’m sure it’s happened to some people, but I really play with my poi, and 2 + years of success is nothing short of miraculous. Yes, they will break, IF you don’t put them in a case. Like any electronic device, hard impacts are never a good idea. So protect yourself and your investment by using Crystal Poi.
The material used for the casing in Crystal Poi are, as I said before, soft. But they are also designed to evenly diffuse light throughout the poi, such that you have fewer dark spots. They also offer super soft handles, and they use leashes very similar to that of cole-cord. Top that all of with the option to add either 1 or 2 Flowmass easily to each light, and you have LED poi that feel the same as fire poi. Which is great for spinners who love heavy poi for isolations and hybrids. Don’t forget the ability to add a Flowlight onto the ends of your leash create a Flowlight handle, which is perfect for tracing and learning new tricks.
And perhaps the most incredible aspect of owning crystal poi, is the fact that you can use those same Flowlights in a myriad of other toys. Whether it’s a Staff, Juggling Clubs, Flowpoi Trio, or even Rope Dart, the flexibility of their modular system means that you save money. No need to purchase entirely new LED’s, instead simply take one toy apart, and transform it into another. This modular system is constantly changing and improving, so head over to Flowtoys website for the latest developments.
They currently offer two options when purchasing a full set of Crystal Poi, which is usually cheaper than buying all the pieces individually. The base model, which includes 2 Flowlights of your choosing from the currently available colors, the Crystal Cases, Leashes and Handles runs for $59.95. The Second package they offer comes with 2 Extra Flowlights for handles, and 2 Flowmass (one for each) for $99.95 . You can also choose to add extra Flowmass, Flowlights, Rechargeable Batteries (highly recommended), and even choose not to include handles.
All in all, the cost of Crystal Poi alone make them a great purchase. Sure, a pair of simple LED balls is only perhaps $30-$40 a pair, but the battery life and overall lifetime of those is significantly less. Not to mention they don’t look nearly as nice. In the long run, Flowtoys end up saving you money compared to a cheaper brand, and you look better doing it. See how good I look!
Flowlights: Over the years, the brightness and modes of their Flowlights has steadily increased. The Fire lights of yesterday pale in comparison to today’s lights. And they are always trying to create new and unique colors which will dazzle your senses. Here’s list of all the colors Flowtoys has ever offered, including some which are no longer in stock (just for fun):
- Core Series: Air, Water, Fire, Earth and Spirit
These lights are a constant in the Flowlight repetoire. While they are currently sold out of a few, they will certainly be back in stock soon, and they are always improving them.
- Astral Series: Luna, Sol, Nebula
This is a new series Flowtoys has launched, with several other colors to join the mix soon.
- Special Release: Love, Freedom, Watermelon, Luck
These are Flowlights with only 1 initial run of production. While they have brought the Freedom and Love back for multiple runs, there’s no guarantee. And Luck was just that, a manufacturing error. So don’t expect that one back anytime.
Here’s my little collection, from which I’m only missing Luck (That’s right, there’s some Nebula action in there. See if you can spot the Nebula!)
So if anyone out there has 2 Luck to sell me, I’d be MORE than willing to take them off your hands in order to complete my collection. I was one of those collectors as a kid, you understand.
Flow-Wand
I’m sure we’re all familiar with the phrase ‘often imitated, but never duplicated’. Well, that’s the honest truth when it concerns this insanely popular levitation wand. Originally this style of toy was used by Magicians for Dancing Cane acts. Flowtoys took the idea, applied it towards flow and dance, and ran with it. Now they have a product which is super lightweight, durable, and very well-balanced. It’s certainly something that enhances anyones dancing experience.
Here’s the folks at Flowtoys to give you more specific than I can on just how the Flow-Wand works:
The core of the flow-wand is fiberglass, which is nice and heavy, extremely strong, and does not warp with humidity or temperature. We drill, bevel and clean the fiberglass and apply a special tape to give the wand its beautiful holographic finish. This step has to be done very carefully to avoid getting bubbles under the tape. We then put a layer of clear heat shrink over the whole wand to protect the tape and prevent it from peeling off in humid weather. The hole is finished with handtools and tiny clear caps finish the ends and ensure that no fiberglass is exposed.
Now that we know just how complex and beautiful this toy is, let me shock you a bit by telling you it’s only $25.00. Not only is it gorgeous, it’s affordable for everyone in the community. It’ll get you dancing and flowing in no time. And that’s really the core of Flowtoys values. Affordable and beautiful toys, made specifically for flow.
And if you need extra little pieces for your wand, want to make your string longer, or replace any older parts, they sell everything you need on a per piece basis. Which, again, saves you money.
Hopefully we’ve inspired you non-Flowtoy people out there to try out this great product. They’re great toys, made by good people. People from our own community. So if you’re going to support someone, why not them. Good luck!
