29.4.2019

Before I made my purchase , I read the reviews on many cheaper marble runs and learned how they often pop apart or break... then bought Galt. So glad I did! This, to me, is just like the marble run I had as a child - probably better actually! It is made from sturdy plastic, there are enough special features to make it interesting, and the push fittings are smooth and consistently firm enough to hold the structure together whilst easy enough for a child to construct or pull apart.I particularly like the large dish/vortex feature, where the marbles go round for ages, making the run last so much longer, and it's fun to watch a handful all swirling around together.My toddler also uses this to just hoof a load of marbles in all at once, then stands back and clasps her hands in awe as they all clatter down the run together! You can't build directly above the dish end though, so if you use it, it has to be at the top of one leg of your construction, but as there are 6 feet this leaves plenty of choice.There are no sharp edges; the pieces are beautifully finished, and have a great smooth and sturdy feel to them. I'm sure it will last for many years.A few words about stability and marble runs, as I have seen reviews even for this toy, saying it is 'unstable' and that they are disappointed with Galt... I think this is unfair. Stability can only exist in the design of the structure you build - so it's up to the builder to make sure the run is stable. I had no problem with this, as I have a good grasp of how to design a stable structure - in short, build using three or more legs, linking them horizontally often. I don't build any section stupidly high. When my 2 year old is a little more capable and wants to build it herself I will teach her this, and I'm sure there won't be any frustration with the kit. She can already help to push pieces together, but designing the route will take a little longer!It should go without saying, but I wouldn't try to move it around once built, unless it is a simple and compact design that you can lift from the feet. The weight of marbles left in the feet (or of construction pieces) below your lifting point may pull it apart, as this is designed for easy breakup and reconstruction. I have found that if anything gets dislodged by my two year old pulling it about, it is easy to push down on each leg of the run to firm up any loose fittings. They don't spontaneously fall or pop apart (as some cheaper sets have been said to do), and if you are using it properly you will have no problems.The four examples in the booklet were fairly easy to follow - the larger ones incorporate the idea of building two separate runs within the same structure, thereby making better use of the bits, and keeping the run stable and compact. I think one or two reviewers were thrown by this as they didn't expect it, so couldn't make sense of the route/s. However, doing it this way not only increases the mental challenge for older kids (and grown ups!) but means you can race each other.You can make multiple marble runs converge, to end up at the same foot if you want, although I haven't seen any kits out there that can send the marbles from one starting point off in different directions - that would require some sort -of marble-operated switch trap, but would by nature have to be quite delicate and risk getting broken or simply blocked if several marbles came through too close together, so I think that's why nobody has made this a feature yet.I have seen reviewers say they run out of vertical spacers on some kits - this hasn't happened to us yet with the Galt Super. Even if it did, you can use spare crossing sections to join two neighbouring columns together, thereby adding stability whilst also raising each one by a level, much as in the multiple run designs. To be honest, if you're running out of vertical spacers, you're probably trying to build something so ambitious that it won't be stable anyway. Some folks just want to built it as high as possible and then blame the manufacturer when it falls over, lol! Of course, it's completely natural that the first thing kids want to do with a construction toy is build as high as possible, so let them have a go, but I suggest that grown ups should be grown ups and manage their expectations so that the kids learn about stable structures and gain the understanding required to go on and design runs that are also fit for the main purpose: marble racing! Either that or find a way to stabilise it using tethers to a handy coffee table or something - get creative! Want more pieces? Get another / a bigger kit. But get Galt!

27.12.2011

We bought this for my not quite 3 1/2 year old son for Christmas as he has a fascination for marble runs ever since he started watching random marble run videos on youtube. He also has a major interest in construction toys, so we knew this would be something he would like. What we DIDN'T know was just how much he would like it. He has literally played for HOURS, nearly ALL day, every day for the past three days since he opened this gift for Christmas. It didn't take him long to figure out how to construct the runs himself as the pieces are quite easy to put together and very durable. He is continually building, racing marbles, and then reconfiguring the run into a new one.

27.1.2010

My 3 children, two girls and one boy aged between 5 and 7 still fight over this after having it for over two years.At first the younger ones found it tricky to set up so that it worked and to balance the pieces correctly and needed adult help, but now all 3 can set it up themselves.The set is just about big enough for 2 children to work together or apart on, but there are not really enough exciting pieces to keep 3 at a time happy if working on separate runs. Working together on it can produce squabbles but I consider it also encourages teamwork!The set requires concentration and imagination to design the cleverest run. Two-way runs can also be made and the really fun pieces are bits like the paddle wheel.

23.7.2015

This marble run is providing hours of captivated play for my three year old. Though marbles are not a good choice if you have a young child who puts things in their mouths. For young children it's an excellent toy but requires constant adult supervision to prevent them swallowing marbles, and the run is too complicated for young children to build themselves.The run comes with six marbles, which I think is too few; I bought an extra pack of 50 marbles and my child likes to put handfuls of marbles on it at a time, one after the other. Standard size small marbles fit the run.It's simple for adults to build the run, there are no instructions and they're not really needed.

22.10.2009

My 6 year old received the basic run for his birthday and it was soon commandeered by his 3 year old brother, so when his birthday came round, we put this set on his wish list. It has not disappointed and he spends many minutes (he is only 3!) playing with it. We join the 2 sets which gives even more options but this set alone has plenty of pieces. It does take an adult's eye to set up and can be a little unstable but once you have got it togetehr the runs you can create are really pretty good. There are some nice interesting pieces such as a "wiggle", a wheel and a drop through plate which add to the fun. What I hoped for was a piece with a 2 way exit to give some randomness but it doesn't come with that.I would make 2 recommendations: 1)

6.4.2013

My 8 year old and 5 year old absolutely love this toy. It was ordered 2nd April and arrived 5th April. My two boys have played constantly with this toy since it arrived early yesterday. They enjoy making various towers, swapping to play with each others designs, breaking them apart and starting all over again. Mum and Dad have had fun with this toy too! It is very easy to connect the tubes/slopes etc and equally easy to separate them. Even when it is built tall and falls over, the plastic parts just bounce off the hard wood floor. What makes this an even better buy is that unlike the reviews of the other marble runs, this one can use standard size marbles. It comes with 8,

28.12.2009

Having been to many friend's houses with boys of the same age as my son (three years old) and watching him and them playing with their marble runs for hours on end, I asked my in-laws to buy him one for Christmas. The Galt one is FAR superior to other ones available - it is more sturdy, less delicate, and has fewer additions which are meant to add to the appeal of the product but are actually too complicated and flimsy (eg. mechanical devices to move marbles from a to b).My parents also bought my son a marble run from ELC (it stays in their house for when we visit them) and, although it is OK, it is more delicate and wobbly and too complicated to create really good runs.I had a marble run (helter skelter)

26.12.2012

I researched this product and compared with other cheaper versions and all reviews for the others said "brittle plastic". I don't feel that with this product.I had a Galt marble run myself 30 odd years ago... it's still in use today by my mother for visiting kids!Thats why i was happy to spend a bit more for this and I wasn't disappointed. My almost 4 year old girl has spent Christmas day playing with it (and so has this 40 year old!)A few parts have evolved, new bends and twists and vortex piece have been added but fundamentally it's still the same, solid quality.Makes you think about the run design and the kids don't care, they just enjoy the racing marbles bit.I'd say it is a good buyGood with standard 16mm marbles.

10.2.2014

This is a really well designed piece of kit. The pieces can be interlocked in virtually any order, so you can build limitless marble runs of your own, and they are robust enough that the occasional misplacement of a child's foot is unlikely to do lasting damage (and even if you lose a piece or two, none of them are critical and there are plenty left). So it's durable, fun, easy to assemble, easy to change, suitable for a (smart) 3 year old or a (less smart) 3 year old with an indulgent elder sister, and great fun.I bought this off the back of the existing recommendations for this product, and second them -- it was a much enjoyed Christmas present for a 3-coming-up-4 year old,

26.8.2012

Bought this for my daughter's 4th birthday, when she opened it she exclaimed "marble run!" I didn't even know she knew of it, but apparently one of her friends has it and she's played with it at his house. So much fun she remembered it. She does need help putting the bits and pieces together, and it can be a bit tricky getting everything at the correct height and distance so make the run stable. But once she gets the hang of it I'm sure she'll enjoy making lots of great runs for the marbles to travel on. I think it's a great toy, it's educational in the way it helps to encourage the use of different skills and with a bit of imagination you could incorporate other toys into the game - something I'm sure her 7yr old brother will be doing with her.

2.1.2020

I had a massive regret buying this item.... It being that I didn't buy the bigger set!It was bought as a Christmas present for my children who are just under 3 and 5.They absolutely love it! My son spent most of Christmas Day and boxing Day playing with it.It's made from very sturdy, good quality plastic, the mouldings are of high quality.Some of the spacers are a little looser than the others, but generally the fit is very good and it's not a problem.Instructions are just four pictures, there are four run examples in a pamphlet. It's generally easy to assemble, although I did have one or two head scratching moments. That said, it's all part of the fun and as long as you aren't one of the new generation who wants everything done for them,

22.2.2012

I bought this toy for my grandson's 7t birthday and he has thoroughly enjoyed it. I purchased it in part because it looked like a "fun" toy but also for it's intrinsic educational value. Getting the marbles to follow a predefined path is the goal of this game. However, intrinsically, it is teaching basic programming and design skills. The marbles represent data or strings of serial data and they must follow a predefined path the the builder "programs" for them to follow. The tactile feel for design and engineering inherent with this toy made it a "must buy" for me. The result has been that my grandson, his brother, and friends have spent hours designing intricate paths for the marbles to follow.

7.9.2016

This was a birthday present for a 4 year old. The product was received on time and in a sensible sized box. Inside the box there are lots of different coloured peices of different shapes and sizes. This is brilliant because you can build a run of whatever different size and shape you like with no restrictions.Positives1. Sturdy plastic pieces2. Enough variety of shapes and sizes to vary your run3. Easy to assemble4. Pieces fit together and stay together well5. Comes with marblesThe only negative is that it could do with a few more marbles, but this isn't a massive problem as they are cheap to buy or like us you may already have a supply!Overall I would really recommend this.

29.7.2012

I bought this for a three year old boy. After (eagerly) helping him build the structure pictured on the box a couple of times he quickly picked up how to construct his own versions. Six months later, he still plays with it regularly and all the bits are in good condition.I went for this GALT version after hearing bad things about the durability of an alternative (cheaper, national toy chain store own brand) which others complained had fiddly connectors which were not "deep" enough for little fingers to connect. This is not an issue with this set. I also considered some sets with more "fancy pieces" (wheels, steps, etc.) but the increased number of standard pieces (just tubes, bases, etc.)

7.5.2011

we bought this for my 4 year old daughter. I have found it to be robust enough for her to put the runs together on her own and it provides her with hours of fun making up games and using her imagination.I've been looking for an extention pack to add to this set as she uses it so much and now has so many marbles to use with it (it doesn't really need it though as there are plenty of parts giving lots of different possibilities). My daughter can be pretty heavy handed at times and so far we havent had any broken bits. We do find that it can get a bit top heavy and every so often the whole lot comes crashing down (mainly because she builds really tall towers and knocks them about a bit)

Galt Super Marble Run - Reviews

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