Measuring distances is easier said than done, especially when those distances are not in a straight line. While most of us have become accustomed to pulling out our phones for everything, including measuring, there’s something fundamentally flawed about trying to capture the graceful arc of a curved surface with a digital interface. We’ve always been a bit skeptical when it came to taking distances in an app.
Chinese titanium EDC specialists Titaner recognized this limitation years ago when they introduced the original Tiroler, a coin-sized measuring tool that could roll along any contour. Now, with the Tiroler 2.0, they’ve refined their analog approach and improved its functionality.
How Does It Work?
The concept is still just as simple. Two precision-machined titanium rings — one nested inside the other — click with each revolution as you roll the device along whatever you’re measuring. Each click represents exactly 10cm or 5”, depending what you prefer, while smaller increments appear through a viewing window. And best of all, you don’t have to use your phone!
The Art of Iteration
Building on the success of the original, which raised nearly $250,000 on Kickstarter, the sequel aims to fix everything users didn’t love. The most significant upgrade is a removable silicone O-ring that wraps around the inner wheel’s perimeter, essentially giving the Tiroler improved traction on slick surfaces like glass or metal. And on more delicate surfaces, the material helps prevent scratches.
Titaner’s engineers also relocated the viewing window from bottom of the outer ring to the top. On the bottom, your hand would often block the readout, which was a bit frustrating. Likewise, a small titanium pointer now indicates precise measurements, making it easier to see the scale, and from any angle.
Making for a much smoother roll, larger bearings and a PTFE-infused lubricating filament system replace the original’s simple lubrication system. And the clicking mechanism has been amplified too, with better auditory feedback that just so happens to enable the Tiroler to double as a fidget device.
Take It With You Anywhere
Machined from aerospace-grade GR5 titanium, the Tiroler 2.0 is offered in blue and yellow, plus five different O-ring colors that can be mixed and matched. There’s also a glow-in-the-dark O-ring option. A hole up top lets you attach a lanyard to wear this around your neck. Or you can transform it into a zipper pull.
Whether you’re measuring your waist for a new pair of jeans or your wrist for a watch you’re looking to purchase, the Tiroler 2.0 might just be the most useful measuring tool around.
Spec Sheet
Model: Titaner Tiroler 2.0
Materials: Aerospace-grade GR5 titanium with silicone O-ring
Measurement: 10cm or 5” per revolution
Features: PTFE lubrication system, enlarged bearings, top-mounted viewing window
Water Resistance: Seawater resistant
Weight: 3.6oz
Pricing & Availability
The Titaner Tiroler 2.0 launches via Kickstarter with early bird pricing at $55 for the metric version and $65 for the imperial model, which is about half of their planned retail prices of $108 and $128, respectively. Additional O-ring colors and anodized finishes are available as add-ons. Delivery is estimated for September.
Recap
Titaner Tiroler 2.0
Titaner improved upon its original Tiroler measuring tool with the 2.0 version. It now has better lubrication, a repositioned viewing window, and better grip for slick surfaces.
