The 10 Best KNex Roller Coasters
This wiki has been updated 25 times since it was first published in January of 2019. One drawback to many popular building sets is that they don't really do anything. After you've put the structure together, it just sits on the floor, ready to be knocked over accidentally. K'Nex, however, offers a variety of kits for constructing interactive roller coasters, and once assembly is complete, kids can spend hours watching cars zip along the tracks. They are available for various ages. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Web Weaver
2. Amusement Park In-A-Box
3. Dragon's Revenge
Editor's Notes
September 16, 2020:
Removed several items due to availability concerns and replaced them with a variety of designs with unique features ranging from glowing parts to guides that encourage scientific inquiry.
Several models, including Shark Attack and Bionic Blast, have graphics that use theming to help create atmosphere. Some options take this concept to the next level with movement. The creature in Kraken's Revenge appears to control the ride by moving a lever with its tentacle, while the dragon in Dragon's Revenge has flapping wings.
Rather than use a motorized track, Web Weaver features an air-propelled car that allows it to move at high speeds throughout the ups & downs of the coaster. Amusement Park In-A-Box has enough parts to build three rides, including a ferris wheel and swing ride, so your kids can re-create a carnival at home.
Note that K'Nex sets come in different sizes, and not all of them are compatible with each other. Some find the micro scale to be too small and difficult to work with, while others appreciate the fact that the finished rides are smaller and thus take up less space. Be sure to read the descriptions carefully before you buy to avoid any issues. Sets of the same size can be used together to create unique track layouts.
Like Lego and other building sets, K'Nex toys can help get kids interested in STEM by allowing them to get hands-on engineering experience, figuring out how to make the pieces fit together to get the results they want.
January 22, 2019:
The biggest decision that needs to be made when selecting one of these kits is whether you plan to let your kids build it on their own, or if you're going to put it together and simply let them play with it. If you're the former, one of the more limited sets is a good place to start, as they will have fewer pieces and less repetition when building. More complicated sets will required dexterity in order to handle the tiny pieces, and you'll be doing a lot of the same things over and over with the rods and connectors.
4. Disney Parks Space Mountain
5. Bionic Blast
6. Shark Attack
7. STEM Explorations
8. Kraken's Revenge
9. Clock Work
10. Hyperspeed Hangtime
Sheila is a writer and editor living in sunny Southern California. She studied writing and film at State University of New York at Purchase, where she earned her bachelor of arts degree. After graduating, she worked as an assistant video editor at a small film company, then spent a few years doing freelance work, both as a writer and a video editor. During that time, she wrote screenplays and articles, and edited everything from short films to infomercials. An ardent lover of the English language, she can often be found listening to podcasts about etymology and correcting her friends’ grammar.