This past weekend was my son’s birthday. We took him out for the day on Saturday and had a family birthday party for him on Sunday.
Sometimes the kids get restless at Grandpa’s house. We usually have something for them to play with so that they don’t have to sit around and listen to the adult chatter away. The kids really want Grandpa to get a pool and/or trampoline. Of course that is not going to happen.
Aside from the usual outdoor stuff we keep in the trunk of my car (bat, wiffle ball, basketball, Frisbee, chalk…) I also brought up some Nano Hex bugs and play sets that were sent to me from BSB Media.
OH MY GOODESS!!! Have you seen these things? They are the creepiest little critters I have ever seen. They scurry around the floor like ROACHES! Gross!
Nano Hex bugs are about an inch in size. They are made from a hard plastic and use tiny button cell batteries (which are included). The bugs have rubber like legs/feet which help them to scurry around the floor.
Don’t believe me how creepy these things are? Check out this video.
I didn’t take any photos at the party of the children playing with the Nano Hex bugs out of respect. Not all parents are overly keen on having their child’s picture up on the Internet. I totally respect their decision.
The one in the video might need a new battery soon. It wasn’t zipping all over the kitchen like the bugs were doing at Grandpa’s house on Sunday. My kids each have two bugs and I was only able to find one of the bugs. I have no clue where the other bugs are. HOPEFULLY they didn’t fall victim to the dog or the cats!
Honestly, the ones over the weekend RACED around the floor going in all different directions. For some odd reason the one in the video is set on going around in a circle. Maybe there is a setting on the bug that I am unaware of?
The bugs come in different colors and designs. Their “backs” are a hard plastic and their legs are soft and rubber like. My son said they sort of resemble the end of a toothbrush (the part you put in your mouth). The underside contains an on/off switch and each bug comes in a long, clear plastic tube to call “home”. When they are turned on you can clearly hear them vibrating.
There are accessories you can buy with the bugs including play sets that you can either let the bugs race around on their own or they can “fight” other Nano Hex bugs. I prefer they just let them run around in the track rather then let them shoot across the floor and under foot. A couple of them almost got stepped on.
I would not recommend these for little kids. They could very easily be swallowed. I would also be careful around dogs and cats. The four legged family members found them equally as intriguing and can easily be swallowed or chew apart by a dog (a cat might be able to chew off the legs/feet).
There were kids from 10-15 years old who found them to be very entertaining. I would think these would be find for over 5+ years old up to about 12.
Nano makes other Hex bugs and critters like ladybugs, crabs and inchworms. If you are freaked out by bugs you WILL NOT like these toys! The Hex Bugs that we have truly do resemble a roach or something similar in side. When you catch one in the corner of your eye dashing across the room it really makes you think twice about what you saw. Was it the robotic bug or the real thing? Eww!
Here is another (professionally done) video. See what I mean – creepy!
The play sets were REALLY easy to set up. I was very relieved by that. Sometimes the play sets are not worth the headache trying to set them up. However the Bridge play set and the other habitat set that we received were really quick and simple to set up. In fact I think these sets are ideal for this toy because you can sort of set it up the way you see fit. A child can use his/her imagination to design the habitat the way they see fit.
The bridge set was interesting. The bugs zip around these tracks and meet up on this almost flat surface (bridge) and essentially push each other off. If they do fall off they land on a flat area beneath that essentially keeps the bugs from falling off and racing around the room. The bugs just pick themselves up and race back up the track to try all over again. I like the fact that the habitat essentially keeps the bugs confined so that they don’t go all over the place, especially when you have half a dozen kids tossing their bugs on the tracks at the same time.
The Hex Bugs are not cheap. They retail for around $12 for one little bug in a “test tube”. They are a little more expensive then a typical “stocking stuffer”. The play sets and accessories range in price from around $12 – $40. If you opt to buy the Nano Hex Bug as a gift I would recommend picking up the habitat set. Not only does it give kids something to do but it would also keep the bug contained. The bridge set is really only good if you have several bugs. One or two bugs at a time would be boring.
I can see children swapping these just like they would baseball cards or rubber bracelets. Even during the course of the day on Sunday the kids were swapping the bugs. I don’t know if it was because of the color (they had their choice) or the fact that the bugs seem to have their own personalities and some just seem to be a bit more crazier and/or faster then others.
I really wish I could figure out where the kids put their bugs. I’m a big concerned why I am only finding one.
Even thought the Nano Hex Bugs are a bit on the creepy side I can see how they would be a lot of fun for most kids. All the kids loved them at the party including my 13 year old daughter and 15 year old nephew. They appeal to both boys and girls.
For more information about the Nano Hex Bugs you can visit the official website at www.HexBug.com. While you are there check out the other varieties of critters too. There are also more videos you can check out.
Nano Hex Bugs are sold in most toy retail locations including Toys R Us and Amazon.
Kimberly
*We received a free party package with samples in order to do this review from BSB Media. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own.
Melissa P. @Mel4Him says
My son loves Hex Bugs. He has the Habitat Set but was just saying how he wanted the Bridge to battle. I’ve actual found the Hexbugs in the test tubes for around $8.00.