Nowhere Plank
Nowhere Plank
Love it or hate it, we can all agree that the Nowhere Plank is a small rectangle. Across our broad range of products, if we're being real, the Plank stands out for being poorly designed as any kind of skill toy. The shape is not conducive to flipping around between the fingers. If you want that, our knucklebones are the evolved form, go buy one. This Plank is something else. It's effortless. If anything, it's more of a simple mindfulness tool than a skill toy. The Plank is something basic, even primordial. It just feels satisfying to hold in the hand. It is certainly possible to flip it around and do some basic manipulations with it, but where the Plank truly excels is in situations where full on manipulations would be an unwelcome distraction, either to you, or to others around you. Given the mindfulness aspect (now, here) and the idle meandering it supports (as opposed to conscious trickery), we've dubbed this little unit the Nowhere Plank. It may not be for you and that's fine. But if you're feeling it, we've got you.
Notes on the titanium versions: As with our other products, the titanium blasted finish tends to feel much smoother and less grippy in the hands compared to the polished versions. So, depending on your preference, you can choose the option that most interests you.
Notes on the ebony and Ultem versions: Both the ebony and the ultem planks are very lightweight compared to our initial titanium offering. This makes them very light in the pocket, as well as in the hand. As with our lighter weight deadeye coins and knucklebnones, manipulating the lightweight planks will take some getting used to, but as your hands become accustomed to the lighter touch they need, you'll appreciate how gravity stays out of the way and lets your hands just do their thing. Both materials are offered in a glossy polished finish, as well as a matte machine finish. The polished finishes have a gleaming appearance, and provide substantially more grip for control. The machine finished surfaces are more dull in appearance, with less grip, allowing them to glide more smoothly between the fingers. Both finishes have their virtues.
Notes on the delrin versions: The delrin version of the Nowhere plank is lightweight, durable, and feels great in the hand. If you don't already love delrin, these planks will kindle a spark in your heart. The material is smooth and warm to the touch, unlike any other polymer materials we know. The finish is slightly polished, and has a soft grip to it that is noticeably different from acrylic, ultem, or any of the metals materials
Notes on the Clear Acryliv Ice Plank versions: The clear acrylic Ice Plank is one that we obviously had to make. It’s a lovely rectangular piece of clarity. These guys are light and grippy to keep you from fumbling them too much. They offer a unique little window into the world, and they’re darn photogenic to boot.
Notes on the Green Sandlewood version: The green sandalwood has a pronounced grain and beautiful colour variation which is brown but tinged green-grey. The matte machine finish is slightly dull in appearance but allows the fingers to feel and sense the grain of the wood. The polished/ waxed version is grippier and the shine really accentuates the beautiful look of the material.
For more information, have a quick watch of our drop preview video, embedded and time stamped below.
Details:
- Length x Width x Height: 80x20x10mm
- Titanium (Sandblasted, Machined), weight: ~67g
- Brass (Polished), weight: ~127g
- Ultem (Polished, Machined), weight: ~19.6g
- Ebony (Polished, Machined), weight: ~19g
- Green Sandlewood (Polished, Machined), weight: ~18g
- Delrin (black, white, red, yellow, blue, green), weight: ~21.5g
- Blue-Pink-white swirl Acrylic, weight: ~18g
- Clear Acrylic, weight: ~18.4g
Customer Reviews
More from this collection
The Nowhere Plank is an enigma. At its core, it is merely a chunk of material, in whatever material and finish you choose to buy, machined into a small, rectangular block. That’s it. That’s all it is. Its shape is very clearly not designed for fancy tricks or dexterity exercises, like most of Aroundsquare’s catalogue is, and there’s no fancy gimmick to it, because it is exactly what it presents itself as: a plank of material.
And yet, this is one of my favorite mindfulness tools I’ve purchased from Aroundsquare. So much so that I own two, and am considering a third at the time of this review.
The things that would normally be a weakness are what makes this tiny little plank so compelling for one who absentmindedly fidgets like myself. It’s just bulky enough and square enough and smooth enough that it forces you to pay attention to it while it’s in your hand, while also not being too obtrusive like some other skill toys and mindfulness objects can be. The two variants I have purchased (machines ultem and mixed polished acrylic) each have different, distinct textures to them, making them distinct enough that I currently carry both on me and reach for each one in different mental spaces when I want to try and remain centered and work off some nervous energy or even just work through a mental block or puzzle of some kind.
They’re likely not for everyone, as they are certainly not skill toys, but after the initial titanium batch sold out immediately, I chose to grab one in the other materials to see for myself what all the fuss was about, and I understand now why they’re fairly popular.
If you’re looking to grab an inexpensive one, I highly recommend the acrylic style, they’re grippy enough in the hand that it really does force you to sit with it as you manipulate it.
That said, the machined ultem plank has a lovely, soft texture to it and a lovely amber hue that makes it my favorite of my collection so far.
Absolutely love the brass plank. Precision fidgety at its finest!
This is a statement piece! The mirror finish has allowed me to take some beautiful pictures. The weight is awesome. Chappy loves it!
I think the plank is a perfect addition to anyones repertoire wether you are into skill-toys or simply fidgeting.
After playing around with my plank for a while, I can see a lot of potential to do isolation tricks with it, as well as some simple fidgeting moves. They feel great in hand, they have a lovely medium size that you notice but won't forget.
As for material, I have the Ultem version but any of the Delrin colours will be a joy to the touch and ears!
Great for keeping my hands busy! Love these things. Definitely recommend