The Ring Bearer will be released on MK1’s website at 7 p.m. EST on December 6, 2024. MK1 has said 111 numbered One Ring colorway Ring Bearers will be available on release.
EDIT: Dec 6, 2024:
The last two colorways of the Ring-Bearer have been announced:
Elfstone and Arkenstone.
“These aren’t rings, but the Arkenstone is a big plot point (and a big gemstone) in the Hobbit, and the Elfstone is green so I love it automatically.”
EDIT Dec 3-5, 2024:
MK1 has released a new picture of the Ring Bearer with the throw’s stats, as well as a peek at some of the upcoming colorways.
Specs:
7075 Aluminum + SS Rings
Weight: 63.3g
Diameter: 55.9mm
Width: 46.3mm
Gap Width: ~4.5mm
Bearing: C
Response: 19mm pads
Axle: M4x8mm
Colorways:
The One Ring – Black w/Gold Rims (confirmed)
Vilya – Blue w/Gold Rims (confirmed) – Based off of, the ring that eventually found its way to Elrond.
Narya – Red w/Gold Rims (confirmed) – First given to Círdan the shipwright, and later, to Gandalf, who carried it during the Third Age.
Nenya – Silver (confirmed) – Given to Galadriel by Celebrimbor
UNSeen – Black (confirmed) – Different Elvish inscription on the yo-yo
Smaug – Red w/Gold Ring (confirmed) – YoYoExpert exclusive with Smaug engraved in the cup
The Box
Mark also shared that the boxes for the Ring Bearer are similar to MK1’s hexagonal boxes, but are designed to look like Hobbit Holes:
Original Post
MK1 has just announced a licensed Lord of the Rings yo-yo, the Ring Bearer™.
Here’s the announcement from Mark at MK1, originally posted on the YYE Forums:
“Back in early ’23 I had what I thought was a really straightforward idea to engrave the ring inscription from Lord of the Rings on a bimetal yoyo design that I had been sitting on for a bit. I called up my Dad (a big Tolkien fan and avid reader) to chat about this, and he reminded me of the reality of trademarks – but he also recommended contacting the licensor to ask for permission. Is it really that easy, I thought.
I looked up the best licensing contact for my proposed use and found one for Middle-earth Enterprises. I sent them an email and waited – for many weeks – until I got the response I was hoping for. This was, however, only the beginning of my adventure!
It’s now quite clearly almost 2 years after “early ’23” so I’d like to talk about everything that went into this amazing project, the Ring-Bearer.
If you aren’t familiar with the behind-the-scenes of licensed products, there’s a lot that needs to happen. Contracts, insurance, brand assurance, approvals. On top of that, I wanted to make this a big release, with extra colorways, cool box art, a mini-poster – the works. All of this extra stuff will get revealed soon, as I’m waiting for the shipment to arrive.
This will be as far as I can tell the first officially licensed Lord of the Rings yo-yo.
I’d like to also give a huge shout-out to my team & all the other people who helped make this happen, especially Mag who made the packaging artwork and many of the engravings for other colorways.
Specs and more colorways to come soon! There’s a whole lot more to show off.”
The Lord of the Rings™ and the characters, items, events, and places therein are trademarks of Middle-Earth Enterprises, LLC used under license by Mk1 Yoyos LLC. All rights reserved.
Once again, YoYoExpert is running its holiday Toys for Toys fundraiser. For every $10 donated, YoYoExpert, YoYoFactory, and Gibb will match it, donating 4 yo-yos to Toys for Tots.
From YoYoExpert:
“Our Toys for Tots Drive is Back!
Since 2015, thanks to an inspiring idea from our friend Gibb, we’ve been donating yo-yos to Toys for Tots, matching his contribution each year with 50-100 yo-yos. Together, we’ve made a difference, and now we’re inviting the community to join us and make an even bigger impact!
For every $10 donation, Gibb, YoYoExpert, and YoYoFactory will each match it, donating a total of 4 yo-yos (SpinStar by YoYoFactory or SnapBack by YoYoExpert).
Choose to donate publicly (and receive a thank-you in our final announcement) or anonymously. Every contribution helps brighten a child’s holiday!
Giveaway Bonus: We’ll randomly select two lucky donors to win:
Grand Prize: Legendary 888 Titanium Aluminum Bi-Metal Yo-Yo from YoYoFactory
Runner-Up: $50 YoYoExpert Gift Card
Let’s make this year the biggest yet! Last day to donate is December 9th.
(Note: Donations are not shipped and do not incur shipping fees.)
Thank you for your generosity, and special thanks to Gibb and YOU for making this possible!“
Throw-Yo x Yoyo Boomers Club Incentives
For the second year now, Throw-Yo Threads is teaming up with the Yoyo Boomers Club to offer several fundraising items to assist in YoYoExpert’s toy drive. This year there are 4 holiday fundraiser items in the Throw-Yo shop where all profits are donated to YYE’s Toys for Tots drive.
Yoyo Tricks for Kids is a new book by Jasper Todd that walks kids through 30 different yo-yo tricks of increasing difficulty. The truth is that there are 31 tricks, as readers can scan a QR code at the end of the book linking to a tutorial on how to do the DNA; one of the most popular tricks on the internet. At the beginning of the book, a QR code leads to a £29.99 set of videos (I did not get access to these for this review) to go along with the book if that’s your jam. There are loads of videos on the net of each trick to find for free, but I understand people need to make a living.
Right off the bat, Yoyo Tricks for Kids details different kinds of yo-yos and how kids set up their first yo-yo. From there, the book delves into the basic throws and the tricks many people are familiar with: rock the baby, walk the dog, and around the world. There are a few others in there to really get them comfortable with their yo-yo before moving onto some harder stuff. Each trick is broken down into manageable steps, with images for every step.
The book is in black and white, well laid out, and has large, clear images. Yoyo Tricks for Kids is a large-format book, making it easy to follow along with the instructions while working on new tricks. It is attractive enough to keep the attention of younger kids while containing enough content to keep older kids engaged as they progress through an increasingly difficult level of tricks. Readers who complete all the book has to offer will have a solid grasp of the world of yo-yo’ing, with enough skill to move on to even greater heights.
Any child interested in picking up a yo-yo will benefit from Yoyo Tricks for Kids. There is an overwhelming amount of yo-yo content out there, which can be intimidating for younger players. Yoyo Tricks for Kids solves this by consolidating a core set of tricks into a single volume, allowing them to learn at their own pace without digging around the internet without a solid plan. place. As of this writing, the book is only $12, which is an incredible value for what you get.
A free digital copy of Yoyo Tricks for Kids was provided free for this review by Jasper Todd
Spenser of Dreamcraft, maker of the Asora, shot the Archive over a box of throws. Inside this box were the Asora 01, Asora 02, the Production Asora 03, and two other early prototypes, the FUWA 01 and the FUWA 02. In my mind, this box makes up the Asora family of yo-yos, as the FUWA shares some design features of the Asora line that led up to the production release in October 2024. Each was from Spenser’s collection and showed lots of love and play.
Spencer’s goal for the Asora was to create a modernized version of the AnY Free Rider, most evident in the Asora 01. The addition of Side Effects, and further modernization, can be found in the Asora 02 and the Asora 03. When playing all three so close together, you can feel the progression, though the 02 and 03 both play wonderfully and feel more different than the 03 being “better” than the 02. I wasn’t as much of a fan of the 01. The 02 and the 03 are amazing and are some of my favorite yo-yos I’ve ever thrown. If forced to choose between the two, I’d go with the 03, as it’s the production model, though I’d love to have both in my collection.
The Asora is an organic throw that encourages a laid-back play style. It rejects string beautifully. The ability to modify its weight with Side Effect and Freehand compatible caps is also a huge plus for the throw, giving players a choice in how they set up their Asora for their preferred play style.
Asora 01Asora 02Asora 03
As a high-walled organic, the Asora is not meant for performance. It’s not a competitive yo-yo. What the Asora is, however, is a work of art. It’s a great-looking yo-yo that’s comfortable to hold, stable if your throw is clean, and an absolute joy to play. Spin times are better than you might expect, and it certainly was able to handle the intermediate set of tricks at my disposal. The Asora is a passion project from a creative individual; it is meant to be enjoyed. To that end, it excels in its purpose.
Now I can’t talk about the Asora without talking about the Asora goodies. Dreamcraft has some cute stickers, a pin, and even an aluminum case available for purchase, all with the Asora/Dreamcraft vibe. One of the coolest things is the full art card included with the yo-yo. The front features Asora, the character designed by Spenser to go along with the yo-yo, and some specs and stats on the back, including the production number of your specific yo-yo. As a special thanks to the Archive for taking a look at the Asora, I received a custom art piece with a lovely thank-you note on the back.
So we’ve come this far, but I still haven’t mentioned the two FUWA prototypes. The FUWA 01 and FUWA 02 are yo-yos that didn’t make it past the prototype stage yet feel similar to the Asora. They’re a bit larger in diameter and width, though they feel lighter than the Asora. Each uses Side Effects, and there was a definite difference in feel between the 01 and the 02. As with the Asora, the FUWA 01 didn’t do much for me. The FUWA 02 was a lot of fun, but certainly not something I would go out of my way to pick up if a production run saw the light of day. In the end, the Asora is where it’s at.
Offset’s Outlier 5, Brandon Vu’s latest signature yo-yo, dropped over the weekend.
From Offset:
“The OUTLIER 5 is our most powerful and wide competition yoyo, built for Brandon Vu in 2024.
Featuring extreme overhang bimetal rings and a super wide 55mm width, this flagship yoyo delivers unmatched catchability and power for competition.
Made from high-grade 7075 aluminum with stainless steel rims, the OUTLIER 5 combines speed with an aggressive weight distribution that allows for incredibly long spins.
Every aspect of the design has been meticulously refined to deliver maximum stability and power in every throw.”
