I don’t often review products on here but when the opportunity came up to check out the Magic Tracks set, which was rated once of the top ten toy success stories from the US in 2016 and has recently arrived in the UK, I thought it might be something the boys would really enjoy playing with.
The glow-in-the dark track comes in a compact box with colourful pieces that can be joined together very easily by both adults and kids. The set comes with one car, though we were kindly given an extra car so that the boys had one each to test it out – and thank goodness they did, as the boys immediately chose one each and haven’t let go of them since!
Each of the cars requires x3 AAA batteries and after putting them in, the boys used the stickers which came with the set to customise their cars so that each of them looked different. We then laid the track out in a simple oval circle (see video) and the boys raced the cars around the track. The cars actually go pretty fast when they are switched on and light up when zooming along the track.
The boys then got more adventurous and started adding in little ramps to the track using pieces from their train set, some cartons from our recycling bin and other bits and pieces from around the house. The new additions weren’t always a success but they had great fun retrieving the cars which had gone careering off track and across the room.
As the day went on, they created a track from the kitchen out through the back door into the garden, with all sorts of obstacles for the cars to get past on their way out. They also enjoyed the dividing the track into two and racing the cars in parallel.
I’m not going to deny that there were several arguments between the two of them when playing with the track but this is the absolute norm in our house these days. It’s one of the few toys that is suitable for both of them to play with and so far has provided hours of fun for them. It’s really nice that they have a toy which belongs to both of them too.
The track, which is very lightweight, is easily transportable and can be rolled up for easy storage. We have taken it out with us when visiting friends/family. It’s a great distraction and extremely durable so I didn’t need to worry about it getting broken.
With an RRP of £19.99, I think this set is great value and something I would definitely buy as a gift. My boys liked it so much that I would also consider buying another set for them so we can create an even bigger track in the future. When we went away over Easter, it was the first thing they insisted on playing with when we arrived home. A sure sign of a winner in my opinion…
Magic Tracks are now available in the UK from Smyths Toy Stores nationwide and www.smythstoys.com. All sets are suitable from age 3+.
Disclosure: I received this item for free in exchange for an honest review.