Reddit mentions: The best spring & wind-up toys

Gifts I've given, or considered giving, over the years -- descending price order

• AeroGarden (about $150)
  
• Klhip Nail Clippers (about $80-$100)
  
• Vera Bradley purse (about $60)
  
• Kindle cover with light (about $60, obviously this only works if she has a Kindle)
  
• Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder (about $50)
  
• Frog-shaped humidifier (about $40)
  
• Planet Earth (about $35-$40)
  
• Box of candy types from the decade they were a kid (about $30)
  
• Less crazily priced but still good fingernail clipper and toenail clipper (about $30)
  
• If she entertains guests ever, maybe a party game like this one (about $25)
  
• Travelocity gnome (about $25)
  
• Some good quality bath towels ($20 and up, multiple brands, my mom liked these)
  
• Wine chiller (about $20)
  
• Eye glass holder (about $20)
  
• Maybe she needs more drink coasters, here's just one of many types (about $20)
  
• Odd little windup-toy (about $15)
  
• Light blanket / throw (about $15)
  
• Wine Saver Set (about $15)
  
• Slinky! (about $6)
  
  Variably priced gift ideas
  
  
• Does she have a hobby? Search the internet for a good book / movie /class related to said hobby
  
• Bath & Body Works is a good bet, though it can help if you are able to snoop on your mom's favorite (spy in bathroom, ask family member or friend to spy) -- or go with eucalyptus, because my mom likes that one -- from $10 on up
  
• There's more than chocolate and flowers, do a search to find a bonsai tree to send her, or specialty foods if she has something she likes (e.g., gluten-free, low-carb, etc.), or just something different (honey-baked ham, omaha steaks, etc.) -- variable cost
  
• Gift certificate (or otherwise 'your treat' money) for a pedicure, manicure, massage, meal prep visit (search for 'meal prep cityname' to see what I'm talking about) -- $25 - $100
  
• Offer to pay for a night at a nice local hotel for her and a spouse/partner to get away -- or a local theater production, night out at the movies, restaurant gift certificate, etc. -- variable cost
  
  Some other places I look
  
  
• /r/BuyItForLife -- I get ideas of quality-type products here sometimes
  
• SkyMall -- some super-expensive stuff, but some interesting ideas and more reasonably priced stuff
  

So one of my nieces got this fidget toy and it is fun and relaxing to play with :)

Cheap & rugged first HF radios:


*ICOM IC-730 or 735



Cheap but good antenna solution:

Dipole antenna (straight wire or slinkys) with 300-ohm TV twinlead as the feedline. Also get an MFJ manual antenna tuner. This will handle the 100 watt transmitter and give you access to the most popular HF bands. :-)

Pros and Cons kindle single for 99 cents.

What a nice thing to do!

funny... or, from Amazon, this, or this would surely cheer me up!

My first item is Forbidden History: Prehistoric Technologies, Extraterrestria​l Intervention, and the Suppressed Origins of Civilization which I added today because amazon recommended it and it sounds cool. The last one (that's not from thinkgeek) is
Doctor Who - Wind up Tardis which I added because it looks fun and I was in a fun/geeky mood that day. If you could the items from other sites though, my last one is a TARDIS moon landing Photobomb t-shirt from thinkgeek.

If I had to pick one, and never get the other, I would have to go with the TARDIS... it's unique and there are other books out there and I have plenty on my shelf unread anyway :)

I think Katita Windup is pretty fun and they come in other designs too like Awika! and Cosmojetz

The inserts are sold on Amazon.

10 PCS Magic Fairy Flying Butterfly in the Book, Butterfly Rubber Band Powered Wind up Butterfly Toy, Novelty Wind Up Toys for Party Great Gag Gift Stocking Stuffer for Kids Boys Girls (Random Color) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MKFWHSH

Flow rings are great to play with and incredibly cheap.

https://www.amazon.com/Towerin-Stainless-Bracelet-Educational-Carrying/dp/B07CHFXVRR/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_21_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=F0K7GXTDF62YKCK3ZPK1

Some cats are natural hunters. You can stimulate that part of their brain by playing with him every day using toys that simulate the "hunt and catch" kind of thinking. Toys like a mechanical mouse or a classic dangle toy

These things are a good way to interact with people. Just ask them to hold your hand and transfer it to them.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CHFXVRR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_UQfrDbCD95EQA

I went to a workshop with Slinky Josh last weekend. The slinkeys he used looked just like this one . He also sells them on his website for slightly more with free shipping. You defiantly want plastic, and the 8cm*9cm dimension is what we used at the workshop.

Nope.

I did not want to crap up dudes thread with his incredible bender which I would love to have one if he ever decides to make a fortune.....


http://www.amazon.com/Futurama-Bright-Shiny-Bender-Wind-Up/dp/B000063XUZ/ref=sr_1_36?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1367634391&sr=1-36&keywords=bender+futurama

If anyone is looking to buy Made in the USA kids toys, there's a list here. Oompa Toys has another list.

A bunch of well known toys are made in the USA:

Cozy Coupes and most? all? Little Tykes toys are made in the USA.

Lincoln Logs are made in the USA.

The Original Slink Brand is made in the USA.

Vermont Teddy Bears are made in the USA.

Many Crayola products are made in the USA.

Plus, there are lesser known brands like Maple Landmark, Green Toys, Berlin Wagons, Whittle Shortline Railroad, BEKA, Guillow Model Airplanes, and Uncle Goose that are made in the USA.

This doesn't solve the problems with Chinese factories, but if you're someone who buys a handful of toys as gifts every year, it is possible to stick to made in the USA toys.

I think I got this right...

$0-5: Sharpie Pens these are currently waaaaaaay marked down, hopefully they stay that way for the duration of the contest EDIT: booooo the price went back off, I've got nada for this category.

$5-10: A wind-up Tardis

$10-20: The Avengers Pre-order everyone wants that

$20-50: Rice Cooker!

Flow rings. I bought mine at American eagle, but you can buy some here: Spinner Ring Arm Slinkey Toy | Rainbow | Flow Rings Kinetic Spring Bracelet - Science Educational Sensory Interactive Cool Toys For Kids Teens Adults - Spinning Metal Globe Slides Down Arms https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BHLRX49/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_JG5sDbBZA9HX8

Looks like this one:

​

https://www.amazon.com/DESDK-Kinetic-Executive-Illusion-Creativity%C3%AF%C2%BC%CB%86Gray%C3%AF%C2%BC%E2%80%B0/dp/B07JM1ZTFR/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1550519026&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=desk+spinner&psc=1

Looks like one of those wind-up toys...

Available via Amazon Prime, for those of us who mainline Bezos:

http://www.amazon.com/Kikkerland-Pea-Wind-Toy-Assorted/dp/B005C5PNLO

https://www.amazon.com/GloFX-Flow-Ring-Kinetic-Interactive/dp/B07DDN2N6D/ref=asc_df_B07DDN2N6D/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312094682607&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17344834320787654988&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031285&hvtargid=pla-569828676400&psc=1

​

got you fam

Short link: https://www.amazon.com/GloFX-Flow-Ring-Kinetic-Interactive/dp/B07DDN2N6D

https://www.amazon.com/Spinner-Ring-Arm-Slinkey-Toy/dp/B079QJHHJG

https://www.amazon.com/Butterfly-Powered-Novelty-Stocking-Stuffer/dp/B07MKFWHSH/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=butterfly+card+surprise&qid=1564866143&s=gateway&sprefix=butterfly+card&sr=8-4
It’s a butterfly windup card that flies out when opened (it made more noise then flew).

$2.49

$4.47

$4.67

$4.35

$5.00

$5.82

Codename Duchess

https://www.amazon.com/Spinner-Ring-Arm-Slinkey-Toy/dp/B07BHLRX49

Here is where i found one. Ordered it for my kid. https://www.amazon.com/Rokment-Transformer-Clockwork-Deformable-colorful/dp/B078K5P2FY

Chattering teeth

Installing a Slinky in a carb!

A Slinky!

On UK Amazon

Slinky has been around for a long time.

The longer I'm away from it the less the cravings get. Unless I'm watching an old Humphrey Bogart movie then I'm shaking with cravings. I've found that ice cold water helps. Also chewing gum helps a lot.

I have one of those [little slinky things] (http://www.amazon.com/POOF-Slinky-110-Original-Slinky-Assorted/dp/B00000IZKY) that's made of plastic. It helps with keeping my hands busy. You can usually buy them out of a machine for .50.

Lastly, my husband has horrible asthma, so when all else fails I think of him.