Ravensburger Puzzle Stow and Go

One reviewer actually gave this product a 1 one star rating based on the fact that it consists of an inflatable tube that is "sure to pop" and straps that are "bound to get lost" and the felt mat that comes folded and will not lie flat. The reviewer is right - this product includes a felt mat that is folded, a blow up tube and straps that are not attached to the felt or the tube. It is for these exact reasons that I give this product a 5-star rating. Here's why:1. The inflatable tube is a genius idea. Yes, it's true, it may pop - if you use it like a blow-up light saber. But don't worry - it's made of durable plastic, much like a pool float. The inflatable idea is actually a plus - not a minus. You can control the firmness of the tube based on how much air you add. For puzzles with larger pieces, you don't want too rigid a cylinder, because your pieces will be bent. Because it is deflatable, it can be stored in a much smaller space than, say, a cardboard tube of the same dimensions. Also, being able to fit into a smaller box helps keeps the cost of this item down. Larger packages = higher price for the customer.2. Yes, the felt was folded (and creased) when we received it. Again, being able to be folded into a smaller container helps to keep the price down. And as another reviewer mention, you can iron it. Over time, it will eventually flatten on its own. However, I'm not too concerned about that as we refold it for storage when not in use. Again, I'm glad to have something that will fit into a small space.3. And finally, that's right, the straps are not attached. Are you afraid you might loose the straps? Honestly, if you are scared off by the possibility of loosing track of small objects, then I don't think that puzzling is the pastime for you. However, in my assessment, the fact that the straps are not attached it a plus, not a minus. Why? This offers maximum flexibility. First, it's important to be able to completely remove the tube and the straps so that they can be placed elsewhere and not take up space on the table (or, worse yet, hang off the edge of the table and pull the entire felt sheet and your puzzling work to the floor)! It also means that you can put the straps as close together or far apart, and as close to or far away from the ends of the tube, as you choose, based on the size of your puzzle.This is meant to be a simple, inexpensive solution to help you work on your puzzle and then remove it from the dinner table when it's time to eat ... or play a board game. It's not water proof. It will not withstand nuclear blasts. And if you carry it under your arm like a loaf of french bread, you'll probably drop puzzle pieces like Hansel and Gretel leaving a trail of breadcrumbs. But if you just want a way to move your puzzle aside with relatively little disruption, this is the answer!P.S. Before I purchased this, I looked into making a puzzle mat on my own out of PVC and felt. It actually would have been more expensive (and used up more of my time) than ordering this from Amazon. Don't expect miracles. But do expect a good product for the price! :-)

I wasn't sure if this was really going to work, but it did! I have a puzzle that cannot stay in the same place it gets worked on and needs to travel well. This stow and go really does both! I haven't lost any puzzle pieces and it's easy to roll up and secure. It's not complicated and only takes a minute to lay out or roll up. It's a perfect gift to include with a puzzle.

As other reviewers noted, the yellow felt comes folded with creases so I had to get my steam iron out, but the folds did all iron flat with steam. The material is just like the red felt we used in grade school projects, nothing special, and an enterprising person could put together the ingredients for this without buying it, if you have the time. I just finished a 1000 piece Ravensburger puzzle on it that we started at Christmastime, and I was able to move it three times. All I had to do was flatten some of the pieces when I unrolled it to be able to work on it again. I even rolled it up with some of the sorted pieces arranged around the edges, so I didn't have to dump them all back in the box and start completely from scratch with sorting. I did put a baggie over each end, though, before fastening the velcro straps, because it looked like if I tilted it some of the loose sorted ones around the edges could fall out. There are criticisms I could make, like with the Ravensburger name it still said Made in China, and the white bag that you blow up seems like a cheap plastic (is it toxic? BPA? I thought of finding some kind of solid roll to use instead but haven't spent time on that yet) and the fact that the cloth could have been boxed rolled up so you don't have to steam it flat before you can use it, but this WORKS for its intended purpose. Who would have thought it could be easy to completely relocate a puzzle in progress? Be certain when you first lay out the edges that you have the puzzle where you want it on the felt, because you CANNOT slide, scoot or move the puzzle on the felt itself once you get it started.

Amazing product! I was a bit skeptical before buying it as I wasn't sure how exactly this contraption is supposed to work. Upon arrival, I was even more wary of the product when I realized that it's a felt mat. In the past I used a large cardboard oaktag as my work surface. However I was too excited to start working on my puzzle to deliberate any further and opened it up. Surprise, surprise! I couldn't have been happier with this product!! It took some time getting used to the felt surface as the puzzle pieces tend to stick to the surface vs. what I was used to. However this is precisely what makes the product work! I ended up liking the felt as it keeps the pieces safely on the mat, virtually no worries of pieces gliding off the surface and getting lost. Additionally, I love the idea of just rolling up the entire puzzle in one neat and safe piece until I get to work on it again. I want to point out that when rolling/unrolling up the puzzle, the puzzle pieces stay nicely in place with just a bit of shifting which is totally okay. Another great thing about this product is that you can reuse it indefinitely. Really happy I discovered this product!

Muy práctico para los espacios recucidos donde hay que estar moviendo el rompecabezas

Works as describe. Pieces stick to felt so can’t slide into place, you need to pick up but that’s good since you don’t want falling out when wrapped up

Muy útil y si sirve para guardar los rompecabezas

This is great for taking your puzzle on the go, from house to rv to cottage etc

Demasiado dinero para un pedazo de fieltro, no gastes si en realidad puedes comprar un fieltro, lo unico que se puede considerar util es el tubo inflable pero aún así es caro para lo que es