Tinker Crate is a subscription box for kids and tweens ages 9-16+ created by kids subscription box company KiwiCo. Each monthly Tinker Crate contains all the materials and instructions needed to create innovative, hands-on STEM projects, as well as a "Tinker Zine" full of educational information and additional activities.
This review is of KiwiCo's Tinker Crate (for ages 9-16+), which costs $19.95 per month.
ACTIVE DEAL: Get 50% off your 1st month! No coupon needed - just use this link.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
First Impressions
A drift motorcycle sounded like a fun project! I loved how organized everything was upon opening the box, too.
What's Inside This Box
1 of 8
Our Tinker Zine is full of educational information about conveyor belts. They taught us about the history of motorcycles and introduced the idea of drifting. They also added a fun maker challenge that we look forward to trying one day!
1 of 4
The directions for our project come on a separate sheet with illustrated steps broken into different sections. They always include helpful troubleshooting information as well.
Part A: Build the Front
1 of 2
They provided a mix of wooden and plastic pieces for us to use to assemble our drift motorcycle.
1 of 2
They also provided a motor, a battery pack (with batteries), some zip ties, rubber bands, foam adhesive, tape, and a cardboard piece.
1 of 4
Assembly was super easy, although I did do it upside down, once I realized my mistake, it was easy to fix thanks to such a simple build with all of the pieces fitting together perfectly. After attaching the front wheel, I then wrapped the battery pack in the cardboard piece and attached it to the wheel piece.
Part B: Build the Rear
1 of 3
Then it was time to add the motor by securing it with zip ties. Then I began assembling the rear wheel and I added a rubber band around it and placed the motor.
Part C: Connect the Parts
1 of 2
Lastly, I connected the rear and front wheels together and attached the wires so that the motor would run.
Here you can see it in action! It was pretty cool and when my kids saw it they were super excited to test it out! We just had to switch on the battery pack and it fired up.
To change up the way it worked, I added tape to both wheels. Then we tested it out again.
This time it seemed to run a bit smoother! With the tape on, my kids had fun passing the motorcycle back and forth between them since it moved in a longer straight line with the tape around the wheels.
Value - Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $19.95
ACTIVE DEAL: Get 50% off your 1st month! No coupon needed - just use this link.
This was a great box that my kids are still playing with now! They love the drift motorcycle and how fun it is to operate (and simple!). I love that we can extend the learning further with the challenge they included in the book, too! My kids had a blast placing toys on top of it and seeing how long they would stay on, so I would say our experience makes this box worth it!
Key Takeaways
This was a fun project that allowed for more fun even after the simple build. The materials were high quality, the instructions were clear and easy to follow, and the Tinkerzine was very educational. This was a unique one that we enjoyed!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? It is possible you might get this crate, but it is not a guarantee. From KiwiCo:
Crates are assigned each month based on availability and your crate history - not all subscribers receive the same theme each month.
What do you think of Tinker Crate? Click below to write a review!
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.