The Frugal Networker

The Lap Log
Bamboosa, LLC.
$39.00 to $50.00 at Bamboosa and Amazon (Prime)

The Lap Log seems an unlikely tablet computer accessory but it’s a really nice one. It’s made of sustainable, renewable products right here in the USA. In my humble opinion, the fact that it’s made in the USA, presumably in South Carolina, is a very good thing. Companies that manufacture good in the USA create new money, use raw materials, and support families by employing local workers. But regardless of where a product is made, consumers want quality products that have value. Bamboosa products fulfill that need. The Lap Log is a soft stand that supports your iPad, eReader, or tablet computer in your lap.

• Adjustable to any viewing angle and stable on all surfacesMade from Eco-friendly Materials
• GOTS Certified 100% Organic Cotton Twill
• Filled with natural buckwheat hulls
• Eco-friendly, removable wooden insert that holds tablet
• Use as a safe and stable station for your tablet to sit while charging

The Lap Log is filled with locally grown buckwheat hulls just like the famous Sobakawa pillow. And if your Lap Log doesn’t fit where you work exactly, you can remove or add buckwheat hulls to adjust it for your needs. How do you add more, you ask? Bamboosa sends you an extra bag of buckwheat hulls. I get the feeling that Bamboosa cares about its customers and its products. It even prints the extra bag information on 100% recycled paper. And Bamboosa offers a 365-day return policy.

I’m proud to see a US-based company that not only produces quality products but one that also is environmentally responsible. They could produce a far less eco-friendly product at a fraction of the cost or ship the manufacturing overseas but they don’t. I, for one, appreciate their efforts.

The Lap Log measures approximately 10.5 x 5 x 5 inches and weighs in at just over one pound. It’s perfect for travel and contains nothing that would set off any airport or ship sensors. If you’re like me, you always have your tablet with you. The Lap Log makes an excellent travel companion during flights, at the airport, in your hotel room, in a coffee shop, or on a park bench.

Of course, the Lap Log is perfectly suited to staying at home too. I take mine to the hammock and use it in my lap out there in the back yard, until I fall asleep that is. And although it’s not marketed as such, it makes a great makeshift hammock pillow too. The Lap Log is washer and dryer safe (follow the instructions) and can be wiped clean with a damp cloth in most cases.

Why it’s Frugal: The Lap Log is frugal because you can use it anywhere and for any tablet computer or eReader–you don’t have to buy more than one product stand. It’s also frugal because it’s an environmentally conscious product. Anything that is sustainable, recyclable, and harmless to the environment is frugal. Plus it’s manufactured in the US, which sustains jobs and creates money.

My wife uses the Lap Log in the kitchen to hold her iPad mini while she’s cooking and looking at a recipe on Allrecipes.com. It’s handy because it’s stable and, as she puts it, “Is shmutz resistant.” My daughter uses it to prop up her iPad mini when doing homework. It sits on her bed while she works. She says it’s “Very handy.” She’s a child of few words and I was lucky to get those in between homework, friend chatting, and listening to My Chemical Romance on iTunes or Pandora.

Do you get the feeling that I don’t see much of the Lap Log because of the other users in my house? You’d be correct to assume that. They just call it “The Log,” which I suppose is OK. I’ve stopped correcting them and steering them toward the official name of Lap Log. There are just some battles not worth fighting.

I like the Lap Log. It’s versatile. It’s made in the USA. It’s eco-friendly. It comes in a variety of colors and patterns. And it’s a product that will last for years. What’s not to like?

Rating: 9/10

Recommendation: Buy one for yourself and a community one so that you’ll get to use yours. Hammock not included.