Rainbow Loom Crafting Kit includes Loom, Metal Hook, Mini Rainbow Loom, 600 Rubber Bands + 24 Clips

In today's technology-driven world it seems like every toy now requires batteries or a charger. How refreshing to find something as simple as a loom with rubber bands can keep my kids entertained!I purchased the Rainbow Loom in early October as a Christmas present for my 7-year-old daughter. It seemed like we were seeing cute rubber band bracelets everywhere and it was hard for me to not give it to her early. All she could talk about was wanting a Rainbow Loom. It was at the top off her Christmas list and it was the only thing she asked Santa for when she finally saw him in person. Being the critic that I am, I wrongfully assumed this was one of those toys that would provide an hour of fun and then be forgotten about for eternity.I couldn't have been more wrong. Three weeks after Christmas and this is still being played with on a daily basis. In fact, I just ordered more rubber bands yesterday. This is a high-quality loom which is made of thick plastic and doesn't feel fragile at all. It came with the loom, hook which has a "cap" that is actually a mini-loom, instruction booklet, and a pack of multicolored rubber bands, both opaque and jelly. There is blue plastic on the base of the loom which actually detaches and is used to connect multiple looms together. We have had no issues with any of the rubber bands breaking and the included "c-clips" hold exceptionally well. I purchased a few rubber bands from a well-known girls' clothing/accessories retailer and while the bands have been fine, the clips, which are shaped like an oval, do not hold well and the bracelets easily come apart.Recommended for ages 8 and up, my 7-year-old has absolutely no problem whatsoever making bracelets. The Rainbow Loom's website has a tab titled "Instructions" which lists multiple designs by complexity (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) along with instructional videos. I, myself, have made several different patterns and really enjoy it. It's a nice way to relax for 20 minutes and decompress after work. While a single loom can make multiple patterns, it isn't big enough for the wider bracelets which require extension with a single-loop chain in order to form a complete bracelet. I plan on purchasing a second loom for this reason.I highly recommend this Rainbow Loom for both boys and girls alike. Even if you have a child who has never expressed interest in this, I still think this would be a big hit. In fact, I would pay double the price for its entertainment value alone.

Where do I begin? My child is a builder - he loves Legos and at 5 is pretty good at building them, but we were looking for something else. I bought the bands for these by themselves as a stocking stuffer because I saw you could make them without the loom, but he just didn't have the attention span and didn't have the finger strength to hold the bands to do much with them. He needed the loom if he was going to do anything. I bought this on sale after Christmas and I'm so glad I did. He has taken to this so well and I'm so proud of what he's done with this. I will say this - at 5, he cannot do this alone. He needs help, this is not something they can do all on their own. The videos Rainbow Loom has on their website are fantastic, but it can get a little overwhelming looping in some of the more complex parts and ending the project.We've also had a lot of luck simply going to Google for additional and more unique projects. He's already made Spiderman and Hulk action figures with his loom that he is beyond proud of.The loom itself is fantastic quality. You can just feel that its well made, and the great part is that in the event something broke, you can replace one of the rows fairly inexpensively through the manufacturer. Not to mention how completely versatile this is to make bracelets, figures, and so much more. The bands are easily found on sale at a variety of places so you aren't getting bled dry to maintain this, although for specific projects if you need a super unique color, you may pay quite a bit more than normal. I was able to purchase a bunch of solid colors for $1/bag for 300 and 500 count bags at Joann Fabrics this week - I would say good quality bands, we had minimal breakage - , but for some of the more specialized colors like gray, gold or silver, you may have to pay quite a bit more (i.e. closer to $5 for 300).**Added comment**Mine is a legitimate Rainbow Loom. My mom purchased through a different vendor, though fulfilled by Amazon with free shipping, and hers was a fake. That being said, be vigilant to inspect yours when it comes from here. Check on the Rainbow Loom website for what to look for. Honestly, the main thing is the embossed "rainbow loom" name all over the blue pieces and the hook.