MEMA ALU Collars

 

    I was contacted a few weeks ago concerning a Kickstarter program for a new type of dog collar.  Since collars have remained the same forever, I was curious.  Going to their Kickstarter site, I found an extremely good-looking collar with inventive new hardware.  The Kickstarter is over and ALU Collars is ready to begin taking orders.  The shipping will begin on December 15, 2014, just in time for Christmas.

   What is so special about the ALU collar?  The answer is a lot!  The ALU comes from ALUminum, which they use to make the hardware.  Aluminum has an unbeatable strength to weight ratio.  It is also strong, durable, flexible, and very lightweight compared to other metals.  One of my favorite things about it is that it’s 100% recyclable.

   At first glance, the collar looks like the traditional design.  A closer look reveals the custom buckle.  It is machined out of two solid pieces of aircraft grade aluminum.  Each buckle has been chamfered (beveled edge connecting two surfaces); glass bead blasted and finished with hard anodized plating.  Anodizing is an electrochemical process that converts the metal surface into a decorative, durable, corrosion-resistant, anodic oxide finish.  The two connecting pieces come together easily with rare earth magnets.  Once connected, they do not pull apart no matter how hard you try.  To remove the collar, simply lift the center connector straight up.  If you attempt to twist or turn it apart, it won’t work.  I think that is just amazing.

   Unlike cloth or leather collars, the MEMA Pets ALU is made out of cork, a natural, biodegradable, and completely environmentally friendly material.  Cork has waterproof, fireproof, and mosquito repellent properties that make it ideal for dog collars.

   The webbing is designed from hemp; one of the strongest and most durable natural textile fibers out there.  Products made from hemp will outlast any competition by many years.  In addition to being extraordinarily strong, hemp holds its shape and stretches less than other natural fibers.  This will keep the ALU collar from becoming distorted and the hemp actually gets softer with use.  It is also resistant to mold or ultraviolet rays.

   The thread is something that always drives me crazy on collars.  It doesn’t take much to start unraveling or having short little fly away threads.  ALU uses a thread as strong as the cork and hemp.  It is a heavy UV-Bonded polyester thread.  This thread is resistant to sunlight, mildew, aging, and abrasion.  It is used outdoors and in moist areas, like to sew canvas sails, awnings, and the upholstery in convertible cars.

   Now that you have all of the technical information, let’s get down to the nitty gritty.  The ALU collar we received is a large, but was a wee bit small for Bentley’s neck.  He has a lot of extra chin skin.  ☺  I adjusted the collar to fit Pierre.  The collar is available in medium for neck sizes 14”–18”, Large for 16”–20” and Extra Large for 18”–24”.  Pierre’s looks really handsome against his white fur.  I think the cork would look wonderful with any color of dog.

Pierre has worn his for a couple of weeks, which includes rolling in the grass and dirt.  He has dug holes, chased squirrels, lizards, and Bentley.  The collar still looks terrific with no stains or broken thread.  I was excited to see the strength of the buckle, as no matter how hard he played, it stayed secure.

   I love this collar!  Mema Pets and their ALU collar have invented the equivalent of a better mousetrap.  The beauty and strength of the collar is outstanding.  The only negative about the ALU collar is the price is high, but they are working to bring the cost down.  The great people at Mema are offering 15% off to my audience if you order using the code THERETURNS and they have free shipping in the U.S.

We received one ALU large collar in exchange for an honest review.  There was no monetary compensation involved.   Barking from the Bayou only shares products that we believe in and want to share with our audience. 

*I am thrilled to announce that I am joining my friend Ruckus the Eskie and Love is being owned by a Husky to co-host Thoughtless Thursday!  Thanks so much for inviting me to be a part of this fun blog hop. ♥