Tech Deck High Tech Clips Alien Workshop. Making Even The Tamest Soccer-Mom Seem "Cutting-Edge Cool"
Written: Jul 31 '03 (Updated Aug 23 '03)
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Pros: Engraved design, exceptional clip, blank back allows for engraving or personalization.
Cons: Hard to find, some sets no longer produced.
The Bottom Line: Need to tag your gear or show off your Tech Deck line? Pick up this two-clip set today!
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| Freak369's Full Review: Tech Deck Alien Workshop Metal High Tech Clip [Gen... |
The Tech Deck series of finger boards took the toy market by storm. It seemed like overnight they were the "in" toy for kids to have. Thankfully for me it was a fad that never took off in this household because I can easily see how they would be even more painful to deal with then Lego piece. Small fingerboards, screws, bases, accessories – small enough to step on, get sucked up into the vacuum cleaner and easily lost. At this year’s ComiCon I was lucky enough to receive the entire set of the first generation of the Tech Deck High Tech Clips. One of my favorite from the series is the Alien Workshop that features two clips, one of the Alien Workshop logo [sonic] and the other of the Alien Workshop biohazard style logo. Each are made of metal, have a strong locking mechanism and can be used on clothing, gear or backpacks.
When I fist saw these in the package I assumed that the chain that connects the clip to the logo would be weak or easily break but once I broke it open I got to see the craftsmanship and give it a few good tugs. The four links will not come apart no matter how much you pull on them but the real trouble lies in the jump rings [the ones that connect to the clip and logo]. These were the first to come apart when I pulled on them but I do have to say, I was using a lot of force and under normal use these should hold up nicely. The jump rings can be closed with a pair of needle nose pliers if they do happen to star showing any signs of coming apart. Whatever you do, resist the urge to close these by biting on the ends, you never know when you’ll chomp down too hard and chip a tooth.
Tech Deck Sonic
The first clip is rounded rectangular logo of the Alien Workshop that measures almost two inches across and an inch and a half high. Since the top part of it is rounded it reduces the chance of it getting caught and staying caught on clothing and gear – something that I found out by complete accident when I hooked one to the zipper pull of my knapsack and got it caught in the doorway. A little shake of the backpack was all it took to break it loose and luckily the jump ring didn’t come loose. The logo itself is silver on a black indented background and might not look all that impressive at first, but once you see the detail of it up close, it is pretty cool.
Tech Deck Biohazard
Sliver with black inlay, this two inch clip has an extremely nice design to it. The ‘alien’ is standing inside the five column burst and is attached to a four link chain. This is bigger than the sonic logo but looks great when clipped to dark clothing or gear. Since the majority of the design is silver there is a good chance that over a period of time it will show scratches and scrapes but so far the one my oldest has on his backpack is showing no signs of wear. Some of the Tech Deck Biohazard designs were released by accident – with the five column burst in silver instead of black – meaning it was the exact opposite of the original design. I’ve yet to see these but was told that they are a rare commodity and worth a pretty penny if still in the package.
Things To Know
Both clips have a blank backing that you can have engraved, used for identification of gear or just to draw your own design on. It’s pretty important to know that these are made of metal and could hurt someone if it’s tossed around – especially if attached to a jacket or backpack. These make for the perfect accent for fingerboard enthusiasts, Tech Deck collectors or those into the skateboard scene. They are strong pieces of metal that will hold up to a good bit of use and abuse and so far the only noticeable design flaw I’ve seen is the jump ring. These come packaged on cardboard sleeves with both designs fully visible, each of them also come with the set number listed on the back so collecting and keeping track of them is a complete breeze.
Generation 1 Tech Deck Series
Included in the first series of Tech Clips are the following sets:
World Industries [3961], Blind [3962], Toy Machine [3963], Foundation [3964], Alien Workshop [3966], Santa Cruz [3967], Dregs [3968] and New Deal [3969]. These were all two clip sets that were first released in 1999 then again in 2000 as companion products to the Tech Deck line of finger boards, stickers and accessories.
The Bottom Line
I was extremely happy to receive the entire first generation of clips and have had a great time finding uses for them. My boys had a few instant favorites and sweet talked me out of several of them. If you have kids that are into the Tech Deck craze or have a liking of the individual series they released, these tech clips make for a great purchase. They have a suggested retail price of $4.99 for the two clip set but can be found for less at places like Toys ‘R Us and Target. If you are purchasing these at a retail store, be prepared for damaged and dented packages since more than likely they’ve been shuffled around a lot before they land in the clearance bin. If you are having trouble finding them you can check the Tech Deck website and order them directly from their online store. Some designs were recently marked down from the $4.99 original price to $1.99 – a great deal on these high quality clips.
For more information or to see other officially licensed products, visit the Tech Deck site at www.techdeck.com.
As always, thanks for the read!
^V^ Freak ^V^
© 2003 Freak369
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): ===free===
Type of Toy: Other
Age Range of Child: Kids to Teens
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