MicroPuzzles: Perfectly Portable Puzzles
What do you grab when you’re on the go? Your phone? A travel mug? Puzzles? I know puzzles might sound like an odd choice, but they are quickly becoming an excellent option when I leave the house thanks to MicroPuzzles.
MicroPuzzles are just that: incredibly mini 150–piece puzzles that are packaged in plastic tubes. The tubes are perfectly pocket sized! And, if you couldn’t tell already, their portability is my favorite feature. They are a great option for travel, as they fit easily into a backpack, luggage, or a purse.
The finished puzzle size is 4” x 6”, which fits very nicely into one of my sorting trays. That means I can actually do the puzzle pretty much wherever I like, including sitting in an airport, on the airplane, by a pool, or on the couch with my dogs! (See how many of these locations you can spot in my photos!)
Pictured here is Dogs - Who's a Good Boy?, which is a delightful image for any dog lover. As you can see in the first picture, the pieces really earn the name “micro!” A single piece fits on a dime, so it does take a little dexterity to work these puzzles. If you haven’t puzzled anything of this size before, it can be a little frustrating when a piece doesn’t go where you thought and have to remove it, but I think once you know this is a challenge of anything this size, it isn’t quite as bothersome. Some of the pieces also fit in multiple places, which I also don’t mind as much when I know it might happen.
If you’re worried about the size of the image on the tube, there’s a solution for that too! Just scan the QR code on the tube, which brings up a digital image to reference while you puzzle.
It’s easy to think that 150 pieces isn’t very many pieces at all, but these puzzles are actually harder than they look. (Especially if you’re in the middle seat of an airplane with no elbow room!) The backs of the puzzles have different colors, so, for an added challenge, you could even mix two puzzles of different backing colors together without fear of permanently getting them mixed up.
Llama Bama Ding Dong and Alpine Village
MicroPuzzles have the classic puzzle piece shape, so you mostly have to rely on the image rather than shape, which adds to the challenge. Fortunately, MicroPuzzles have a large variety of images designed by several regular artists. Puzzle Warehouse currently carries more than 80 different MicroPuzzles, so there is plenty to choose from! In addition to many animal-themed puzzles, like those pictured above, they have plenty of travel and nature-themed images as well as those that feature seasons and holidays, including winter, Halloween, Mother’s Day, Easter, Christmas, Hanukkah, and even birthdays.
Of course we can’t forget the Puzzle Warehouse–themed puzzles!
I really enjoyed putting together this image of the St. Louis arch. Someday I hope to see it—and the Puzzle Warehouse retail store—in person!
Puzzle Warehouse - Puzzle Path
With so many great images to choose from, it’s hard to go wrong. And, if you’re only a few dollars away from meeting that free shipping threshold ($75 in the contiguous US), MicroPuzzles are an excellent option to get you there.
Have you brought MicroPuzzles with you on your trips? What is the strangest place you have done a puzzle?
- Gail, @jiggies_and_gems
I bought one of those puzzles, really enjoyed doing it and plan to get some more now that there are so many other ones. Glad to see them get some "press".
Cost's and how to order?
