Ravensburger Puzzle Stow and Go

Amazing product! I was a bit skeptical before buying it as I wasn't sure how exactly this contraption is supposed to work. Upon arrival, I was even more wary of the product when I realized that it's a felt mat. In the past I used a large cardboard oaktag as my work surface. However I was too excited to start working on my puzzle to deliberate any further and opened it up. Surprise, surprise! I couldn't have been happier with this product!! It took some time getting used to the felt surface as the puzzle pieces tend to stick to the surface vs. what I was used to. However this is precisely what makes the product work! I ended up liking the felt as it keeps the pieces safely on the mat, virtually no worries of pieces gliding off the surface and getting lost. Additionally, I love the idea of just rolling up the entire puzzle in one neat and safe piece until I get to work on it again. I want to point out that when rolling/unrolling up the puzzle, the puzzle pieces stay nicely in place with just a bit of shifting which is totally okay. Another great thing about this product is that you can reuse it indefinitely. Really happy I discovered this product!

One reviewer actually gave this product a 1 one star rating based on the fact that it consists of an inflatable tube that is "sure to pop" and straps that are "bound to get lost" and the felt mat that comes folded and will not lie flat. The reviewer is right - this product includes a felt mat that is folded, a blow up tube and straps that are not attached to the felt or the tube. It is for these exact reasons that I give this product a 5-star rating. Here's why:1. The inflatable tube is a genius idea. Yes, it's true, it may pop - if you use it like a blow-up light saber. But don't worry - it's made of durable plastic, much like a pool float. The inflatable idea is actually a plus - not a minus. You can control the firmness of the tube based on how much air you add. For puzzles with larger pieces, you don't want too rigid a cylinder, because your pieces will be bent. Because it is deflatable, it can be stored in a much smaller space than, say, a cardboard tube of the same dimensions. Also, being able to fit into a smaller box helps keeps the cost of this item down. Larger packages = higher price for the customer.2. Yes, the felt was folded (and creased) when we received it. Again, being able to be folded into a smaller container helps to keep the price down. And as another reviewer mention, you can iron it. Over time, it will eventually flatten on its own. However, I'm not too concerned about that as we refold it for storage when not in use. Again, I'm glad to have something that will fit into a small space.3. And finally, that's right, the straps are not attached. Are you afraid you might loose the straps? Honestly, if you are scared off by the possibility of loosing track of small objects, then I don't think that puzzling is the pastime for you. However, in my assessment, the fact that the straps are not attached it a plus, not a minus. Why? This offers maximum flexibility. First, it's important to be able to completely remove the tube and the straps so that they can be placed elsewhere and not take up space on the table (or, worse yet, hang off the edge of the table and pull the entire felt sheet and your puzzling work to the floor)! It also means that you can put the straps as close together or far apart, and as close to or far away from the ends of the tube, as you choose, based on the size of your puzzle.This is meant to be a simple, inexpensive solution to help you work on your puzzle and then remove it from the dinner table when it's time to eat ... or play a board game. It's not water proof. It will not withstand nuclear blasts. And if you carry it under your arm like a loaf of french bread, you'll probably drop puzzle pieces like Hansel and Gretel leaving a trail of breadcrumbs. But if you just want a way to move your puzzle aside with relatively little disruption, this is the answer!P.S. Before I purchased this, I looked into making a puzzle mat on my own out of PVC and felt. It actually would have been more expensive (and used up more of my time) than ordering this from Amazon. Don't expect miracles. But do expect a good product for the price! :-)

We are loving this puzzle keeper! It works exactly as I had hoped. With an open living area and a cat, plus having the dining table as the only suitable work surface, it was critical that we could easily put away and take out a large in-progress puzzle. I was honestly surprised that this has worked so well for us. As long as we roll up the felt tight to the tube, and unroll it slowly and evenly, everything stays put. A few pieces might need to be tapped back down into place but it's totally manageable.I am subtracting 1 star because the felt holds onto the loose little bits of puzzle "fuzz" that are a leftover part of the puzzle cutting process. As a result the felt looks super dingy after only completing 3 puzzles (see photos). It will be cheap to replace, though.

I use this all the time to work puzzles on my kitchen table and then roll it up and out of the way when it's dinner time. The yellow felt does not allow the puzzle to slide and move around so sometimes you will have to make sure your puzzle is correctly adjusted and aligned. That's a very picky complaint though that doesn't really bother me, I just thought I would mention. Other than that, it works great just like expected. Be sure you do not inflate the tube all the way or your puzzle will not stay together. I usually inflate mine 75% full and it's perfect.

I had never used a puzzle storage device before this one. I really needed a way of getting partially completed puzzles off the kitchen table without losing all the work I had done on the puzzles. This puzzle accessory consists of a bright yellow felt mat, an inflatable tube, and two elastic bands. You must inflate the tube by mouth unless you have a pump; this procedure is quick and easy if not sanitary. You lay the mat out and work the puzzle on it. When you get ready to put the partially completed puzzle away, you put the inflated tube on one end of the mat, roll it up and secure it with the two bands. When you unroll it, some of the puzzle will break apart, but you can reassemble it fairly easily. Some puzzles with parts that interlock well may not fall apart at all, but the one I am working on has some pieces that do not interlock at all and other pieces that interlock with a loose fit. In other words, the problem may be the puzzle, not the accessory.

I wasn't sure if this was really going to work, but it did! I have a puzzle that cannot stay in the same place it gets worked on and needs to travel well. This stow and go really does both! I haven't lost any puzzle pieces and it's easy to roll up and secure. It's not complicated and only takes a minute to lay out or roll up. It's a perfect gift to include with a puzzle.