Can anyone tell me about K'nex

[DebMcDonald]

A friend says she has a daughter that likes them. Are they just a different verison of legos. She says she buys them with her 50% off coupons at A C Moore, are they a good deal? Are they more boy than girl?

 

[PinballFamily]

My kids love legos, but never took to Knex. They are plastic spoke things that link together to make structures - some can be pretty tall - like 5-6 feet, if you have enough parts. (Think like an Eiffel Tower...)

I used to get them on clearance at TJMaxx, etc. and got a few sets at ACM with the coupons, but the kids never played with them and I just finally dropped off the sets at a local thrift shop a few weeks ago. Price tags still on...etc. argghhhhh - oh, well!

 

[3boymthr]

I second pp - if your kids are into legos dont bother with k'nex. Same basic toy just different shape. We received some sets as presents and because it didn't work with the legos my kids only played with them once in a while. But I know people who started their kids off with K'nex and they love them and the kids don't get into legos.

 

[HM]

When I was turning 12, I asked my parents for Legos (35 years ago and I am a girl). They gave me K'Nex instead. I was very disappointed. They are not like Legos. Sure you can build things with them, but they aren't nearly as durable, and I never found them that fun.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

K'nex are building sets, but different from legos. My kids have a few sets that can build different moving things. Like a roller coaster track with a moving roller coaster, and Ferris Wheel that really works. They also take the motor from the coaster, and use it to make cars and things that will go. They play with the K'nex once in a while, but they play with the legos every day. They are playing with legos right now! If I could go back now, I wouldn't even bother with the K'nex.

 

[KAMKIM]

I have found that K'nex are difficult for my kids to use and figure out how to actually build the darn things they show on the box....but my kids LOVE Magnetix - they are easier to "build" something - just becareful with littles one under 3 because the magnets are dangerous if swallowed...my kids love the magnetics (or man nuggets as my 4 yr old calls them )

 

[emh1129]

My son loves to build with both Legos and K'Nex. They are very different structures but both are really neat. We have a ton of both.
He builds the most amazing creations with them!

 

[ddleffers]

I have to agree with emh. My son (5) was given a big container of K'nex from another kid and we have bought him Lego since he was little. He loves both. He builds completely different things out of the two sets and some of the things he comes up with blow my mind. They really are different though. K'nex can make some pretty large intricate structures while Lego is Lego (which is great). The thing that I like a little less about Lego these days is that so many of the sets have such specific pieces that cannot be used for much else. K'nex does not have any "special" shapes that only make specific things.