Magformers

[KrisM]

I'm thinking of getting DS2 Magformers for Christmas (I know it's early!). WE have Magna Tiles and they're a huge hit. DS2 is just hard to buy for being the 3rd kid and I'm thinking these are different enough from Magna Tiles that it'll work.

Any thoughts?

[MontrealMum]

I was recently looking at these at a fancy store with my mom and wondering the same thing. DS now has 2 boxes of magnatiles and loves them so I'm sure he'd like the magformers as well. I'm wondering, though, do they work with magnatiles? DS has finally gotten to the stage where he will combine different toys in his play. I think that it would be a bonus if magformers would work with the magnatiles to make new and interesting designs. We have a very small house, though, so I always have to consider how new toys will fit with existing ones.

[roseyloxs]

I am coming from the other end. We already own magformers and I just bought some magnatiles for Xmas. I think or at least I hope they are different enough and won't be a redundant toy.

DS loves his magformers. We don't own any of the cruiser sets so I can't speak to those. We have one normal and one jumbo (super) set. DS much prefers the jumbo (super) set. So if you can find that for a decent price I would recommend those overall. He likes to build a space station with the super set and a space ship with the normal set. This works out because the spaceship can usually fit inside the 'door' of the space station.

The biggest downside to magformers is that they have basically been out of stock since we bought them last March ('11). Looks like they are coming back into stock now though so hopefully they stick around. I actually gave up on finding more for a decent price so I invested in the magnatiles a couple of weeks ago.

[KrisM]

Thanks. Is the super set with bigger pieces?

[roseyloxs]

Thanks. Is the super set with bigger pieces?

Yes. They are 4 times bigger meaning 4 regular squares can fit on one super square. Same is true of the triangles.

[KrisM]

So what is a reasonable price for a super set? Can you give me approximate dimensions, too. I'm not finding that anywhere.

[KrisM]

I was recently looking at these at a fancy store with my mom and wondering the same thing. DS now has 2 boxes of magnatiles and loves them so I'm sure he'd like the magformers as well. I'm wondering, though, do they work with magnatiles? DS has finally gotten to the stage where he will combine different toys in his play. I think that it would be a bonus if magformers would work with the magnatiles to make new and interesting designs. We have a very small house, though, so I always have to consider how new toys will fit with existing ones.

I'd bet they would work together in that you can make a house with one and a ship with another. But, I don't think they'll be the same size. It would be nice though.

I am looking at the set with wheels now. Maybe this: http://www.amazon.com/Magformers-Magnetic-Building-Construction-Set/dp/B001KAZPXG/ref=sr_1_2?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1345912268&sr=1-2&keywords=magformers+extreme


And, here's the super set: http://www.amazon.com/Super-Magformers-Magnetic-Building-Construction/dp/B002T5TI98/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345907455&sr=8-1&keywords=super+magformers. If you consider each piece is 4 of the small pieces, it's a good deal..

[baileygirl]

We (boys are 5.5 and 3.5) have magnatiles and magformers, and the magformers only get played with when we run out of magnatiles (i.e. decoration on the magnatiles). We bought the XL cruiser set because a lady at our local toystore said she liked the magformers better and then 2 extra sets from QVC a couple of years ago. But my kids like to mainly build things like hexbug mazes and tall buildings. I think they would like magformers better if they liked to build cars. Also, magformers are kind of neat that they can kind of fold up into a shape (not certain if that makes sense).

For DS2 I am trying to find something good to build forts with for Christmas.

[roseyloxs]

Dimensions of the square in the super set: 6" x 6"

I bought my set from qvc last year. After shipping and taxes it was $72 for a 36pc set. It included big squares, big triangles, and rectangles (which are half the size of the big squares). Looks like the new rainbow set might just be squares and triangles which is different but I don't think any better or worse then the original set. You get less variety but more of the bigger pieces.

[MontrealMum]

I'd bet they would work together in that you can make a house with one and a ship with another. But, I don't think they'll be the same size. It would be nice though.

I am looking at the set with wheels now. Maybe this: http://www.amazon.com/Magformers-Magnetic-Building-Construction-Set/dp/B001KAZPXG/ref=sr_1_2?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1345912268&sr=1-2&keywords=magformers+extreme


And, here's the super set: http://www.amazon.com/Super-Magformers-Magnetic-Building-Construction/dp/B002T5TI98/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345907455&sr=8-1&keywords=super+magformers. If you consider each piece is 4 of the small pieces, it's a good deal..

Hmm, I think they're going to have to go on the Christmas list. DS just had a b-day but they look like they'd round out our building stuff nicely.

[KrisM]

Hmm, I think they're going to have to go on the Christmas list. DS just had a b-day but they look like they'd round out our building stuff nicely.

I'm pretty sure I'm going with these: http://www.qvc.com/Magformers-CruisersExtreme-44pc-Magnetic-Building-Set-w2-Wheels.product.T31736.html?orderId=21139452&itemId=208320864&sc=CRT. I think having wheels will make it more different than the Magnatiles. The super size set looks neat, but more like Magnatiles to me. Wheels will let him do things he can't do with Magnatiles.

[happymom]

Just another thought- do you have the magnatiles truck set?
http://www.amazon.com/Magna-Tiles-98127-Magna-Tiles-Working/dp/B000JFA1KA

Not a building toy, but it gets played with a lot in my classroom. (3-4 yr olds)

[roseyloxs]

I'm pretty sure I'm going with these: http://www.qvc.com/Magformers-CruisersExtreme-44pc-Magnetic-Building-Set-w2-Wheels.product.T31736.html?orderId=21139452&itemId=208320864&sc=CRT. I think having wheels will make it more different than the Magnatiles. The super size set looks neat, but more like Magnatiles to me. Wheels will let him do things he can't do with Magnatiles.

I just put the cruisers on my DS's amazon wish list aka his Xmas/Birthday list. Now that DS is a bit older I think he would really enjoy the added benefit of wheels. You could always mention the super set to the grandparents. That's actually how we got two sets because my mom bought a regular set and we bought the super set for DS's 4th birthday.

[KrisM]

Just another thought- do you have the magnatiles truck set?
http://www.amazon.com/Magna-Tiles-98127-Magna-Tiles-Working/dp/B000JFA1KA

Not a building toy, but it gets played with a lot in my classroom. (3-4 yr olds)

We don't. I actually think it's too specific for what he does. I think he'd rather build weird vehicles and ships than put trucks together, you know?

[KrisM]

I just put the cruisers on my DS's amazon wish list aka his Xmas/Birthday list. Now that DS is a bit older I think he would really enjoy the added benefit of wheels. You could always mention the super set to the grandparents. That's actually how we got two sets because my mom bought a regular set and we bought the super set for DS's 4th birthday.

I might do that. Or, it might be a good birthday idea if he does like them