HEX Bots Remote Control Tarantula

Description

The cheapest robot on this page and the one most likely to get a reaction. It’s a remote control tarantula that crawls on eight legs with lit-up eyes and a glowing body, made by Spin Master, who also make Paw Patrol and Hatchimals. At this price it’s a stocking filler rather than a serious toy, and it knows it.

• Crawls on eight legs, 360 degree steering: It scuttles rather than rolls, which is most of the appeal.
• Infrared remote, multiple spiders at once: The remote can drive several independently, so two of them turn into a race.
• Rechargeable batteries and USB cable in the box: Unusual at this price. Nothing extra to buy.
• LED eyes and spider noises: Which is either the selling point or the problem, depending on the household.
• 18 x 15 x 11cm, about 310g: Big enough to startle someone, small enough to lose under the couch.
• Made by Spin Master: Listed 6+ on the box, though the specs say 4+. Covered by Spin Master’s care commitment.

Worth knowing before you buy: this does one thing. It crawls, and it looks like a spider doing it. There’s no coding, no app, nothing to build, and no second mode to discover next week. It’s a gag gift and a good one, so buy it as the extra present rather than the main one. And if anyone in the house is genuinely afraid of spiders, this is a cruel thing to put under a tree.