Hexbug advice for 7 year old

[Shagley]

I want to get some Hexbug's and a playset of some sort for a 7 year old little boy for Christmas, but I have no clue where to begin or what exactly to get for him. Does anyone have these to tell me exactly what I should get. I'm looking to spend around $30 and would like to have at least 2 of the "bugs" and some sort of habitat or playset for him to use. I have been looking at Amazon.com, but have no clue of what to get. There are Hexbug Nano's, Hexbug Warriors, Hexbug Spider, Larvae, Habitat, Battle Arena, Bridges, Battling Robots, Battle Stadium, Hive Playset, Zipline set, etc, etc, HELP!!! I was hoping that Costco would have an all in one set, but our local Costco doesn't open until the end of the week for me to even check.

TIA

 

[Swimalie]

If you want a full set, get a larger set of Nanos with the tracks and such. We have a full set plus 2 additional add-ons as well as about 12 Nanos. The warriors are good, I guess but we're not getting them. The individual ones like the larvae, crab, etc don't have sets. They are just the bugs. Warning -the ant ran under our oven immediately and we had a hard time getting it out.

 

[riley2008]

Target has them and so does Radio Shack. We've had them for many years - my mom bought them online before we ever saw them anywhere in stores.

That said....invest in batteries off of eBay, size AG13. There are cheap and they last just as long as the $5/ea in stores. Also include a small phillips head screwdriver - we have a pen with a screwdriver on the end that works well. The batteries and screw driver are in a little ziploc storage container.

The whole accumulation is in a large under the bed box that once held wrapping paper.

I think because we have a surplus of batteries, my boys play with the a LOT. The make trails with Legos and also some cardboard building blocks they got when they were 2. They've never really gotten into Matchbox cars, but have been given plenty....Hexbugs are al ot of fun on the Matchbox tracks.

ETA: I'd go with the Nanos or Warriors. They are the only ones with habitats. The others aren't really fun for too long anyway. (We've had some of those, but can't even say where I'd find them at the moment in the house.) I'm pretty sure you can remove the outer cover on the Warrior bugs and they are just Nanos underneath. Could be wrong though.

 

[Shagley]

I am leaning towards getting him the Hexbug Hive playset...

http://www.amazon.com/Innovation-Fi...F8&qid=1352765995&sr=8-6&keywords=hexbug+nano

plus an extra Hexbug Nano and some extra batteries.

Would that be a good starter set? His 7th birthday is in February, so if it is a big hit, I can get him more pieces for his birthday.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Last year at Christmas our two cats were 6 months old and a bit shy and we bought two of the hex bugs and boy were they a hit. When I turn the bugs on the cats would come running and play all over the kitchen floor for along time with them. Of course I have to put a towel in front of the stove to prevent them, the bugs, from running under the stove.

 

[Shagley]

It sounds like I am going to have to get a hex bug for me too. I have 4 cats, and 3 of them are new since last Christmas. I'm sure they would get a kick out of it (okay, 3 of them would probably enjoy it, and one would be terrified by it).

 

[Swimalie]

Honestly, for a little more, this set would be a better starter set http://www.amazon.com/Hexbug-Nano-Elevation-3D-Habitat/dp/B0046JEXWM/ref=pd_sim_t_2. The tracks can be changed around all sort sof ways. We have the glow in the dark set that is similar.

 

[la79al]

We will be getting this set http://www.amazon.com/Hexbug-Track-Plus-Nano-Bundle/dp/B007V4WXVW/ref=sr_1_29?ie=UTF8&qid=1352811580&sr=8-29&keywords=hexbug for Christmas this year. It looks like more than enough track and stuff for my 2 girls and it comes with 2 nanos. We actually already have a nano that died over a year ago so I'll probably get some batteries for that one too. The only other thing I sort of wanted to get was the spiral and I might add that at some point. When I researched the other hexbugs, a lot of them got poor ratings for not being durable or exciting. I know the nano we have held up to my then 2 year old playing with it nonstop.

 

[pyrxtc]

lots of batteries with whatever set you get.

 

[Shagley]

Thanks for the help everyone!!! I ended up getting the elevated habitat set that Swimalie suggested. I thought that really seemed like something he would like so I ordered it online at Radio Shack for $29.99 and will pick it up at the store tonight to save on shipping costs. He likes his matchbox cars with the tracks, so I think he will like putting together the tracks for the bugs. I will also get him some extra batteries to go with it. The good part is that his Mom works in a jewelry store and she can get the batteries at cost for just a few cents each (since they are actually watch batteries).

If it is a big hit, I will probably get him the set that la79al suggested for his birthday in February, so he can add to his collection.

Thanks again everyone! Hopefully this will be a big hit for Christmas.

 

[Swimalie]

Thanks for the help everyone!!! I ended up getting the elevated habitat set that Swimalie suggested. I thought that really seemed like something he would like so I ordered it online at Radio Shack for $29.99 and will pick it up at the store tonight to save on shipping costs. He likes his matchbox cars with the tracks, so I think he will like putting together the tracks for the bugs. I will also get him some extra batteries to go with it. The good part is that his Mom works in a jewelry store and she can get the batteries at cost for just a few cents each (since they are actually watch batteries).

If it is a big hit, I will probably get him the set that la79al suggested for his birthday in February, so he can add to his collection.

Thanks again everyone! Hopefully this will be a big hit for Christmas.

I hope he enjoyes it. My 7 year old has had his set for about a year and plays with it a lot.