Lakeshore Ultimate Fort Builder

I had previously purchased a fort builder from a different company but I returned it as it was too difficult to use - the poles did not fit into the connectors without brute force. Then I did some research online and found Lakeshore's Ultimate Fort Builder with the click mechanism design. It's easy to put together - no great force needed - and easy to pull apart when we're finished. As a mathematics teacher I love how this product gives us the opportunity to physically build and talk mathematically about 3D shapes - the poles are edges, the connectors are vertices, and you can create all sorts of prisms and pyramids and compound 3D shapes. I also like the problem solving aspect of this product - if the arrows on the connectors are not pointing in the right direction, you might not be able to connect the pole as you need to, so you need to figure out which connector is around the wrong way and correct it. Great learning! And it's creative. And brilliant for inside play on a rainy day. The instructions on how to make various structures are very clear - some of the best instructions I have ever seen for an educational product. I highly recommend this product!

Great fitment, high quality plastic.Fitment can be tight for kids, but holds the structure well.

I researched the fort building sets for weeks before I got this one as a joint present for my 6 and 4 year old granddaughters. This is the only set with the great reviews and even though it is more expensive than the others, it is definitely worth it. What a brilliant play set, we love it. It's so good I have just purchased a second set so we can make BIGGER forts and cubbies.

We had tried other versions, it seems all the others are hard foam balls and sticks. Those are just so difficult, either the kids push the rods in not far enough and it falls apart easily, or an adult has to battle for ages to get properly in. This kit is far superior as the "balls" are hard plastic with holes very easy to insert, and the sticks are sturdier.I now need another box so that they can get even more creative!

Fun! Easy to use! Even for my 4 and 6yr olds! Poles stay in really well but still easy to take apart. Pretty sturdy design!! I wish it wasn't so expensive so I could buy another or it had more pieces because you couldn't build much with one set. We ended up getting a diff brand also but it was cheaper quality and the sticks didn't stay in so this one is def the best. My kids love it!