A few years ago, we were thinking about getting the kids a 3D pen. But I was worried that they were a little overhyped, and that we’d end up with something that broke after a couple weeks of use (or just collected dust in the closet).

After doing some research, we decided to pick one out for the kids for Christmas (that was back in 2023, so we’ve had a few years experience with it under our belt at this point).

Here’s my completely honest review of the Scrib3D Pen. I’ll talk through why we think this is one of the best 3D pens for kids, the good and the bad, and about what extras you might want to get if you’re thinking about getting a 3D pen for your own kids or teens.

Quick note before you dive in: I love doing honest reviews, because it feels like there’s a LOT online that is either overhyped to make money, or that’s just AI generated and doesn’t have real, human experience behind it. While I’ve included affiliate links throughout this post, all of this is 100% my own, honest opinion, and includes real experiences I’ve had with my own kids.

This post contains affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here.

What I Love

Easy Setup & Use

The setup was ridiculously easy. And it’s simple to swap out filament colors as well.

My kids were able to get it out of the box and start designing within just a few minutes. We really like that our pen has a speed slider that allows them to adjust the flow – it helps them as they’re creating different things to be able to customize that.

Creativity

My kids have made some crazy cool designs. It’s always fun to see what amazing things they come up with to make! They’ve been inspired seeing what other people come up with as well.

Safety

This was one of my concerns, especially for the younger kids. While the youngest needs some supervision (the tip of the pen can get very hot), I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how safe it is to use.

You still need be cautious. Know your kids and what they’re capable of. Go over basic safety – like not touching the tip, never leaving the pen unattended when on, etc. 

Still Going Strong!

I bought this 3D pen for the kids for Christmas of 2023, and it’s still going strong. I didn’t have super high expectations on how long it would last, and I was worried about plastic buildup, or it just breaking down with lots of use. But my kids use it a TON, and we haven’t had a single issue with it. And it’s something my teens enjoy using just as much as the younger kids.

What I Don’t Love

Mess

As a part of the process of creating some of their designs, bits of plastic end up accumulating. It’s not a huge mess or anything, and they are responsible for picking or sweeping up any pieces when they’re done making things, but it is something to keep in mind.

Sharing

While I’m glad we just started with one 3D pen, it’s gotten enough use that we’re planning to buy at least one more! It really is something only one person can use at a time.

Other Essentials

Work Mat

If you’re going to get one of the pens, it helps to have a mat or safe place to design on. The pen comes with some basic, fold out glossy material (though I think it’s mostly patterns) that works well for small designs.

But I ended up having the kids use one of my old, sewing cutting mats to make their designs on. It works perfectly to protect the floor or table where they’re working, and the designs don’t stick to the mat. If you have something like that laying around, that would be perfect. Or you can get one pretty inexpensively off Amazon. Even though it’s a big mat, it’s easy to store – we just slide it behind a desk once they’re done creating and cleaning up.

They also make specialized 3D pen mats if you’d rather something like that.

Extra Filament

The Scrib3D pen we got came with some starter filament, but you’re going to want to end up getting extra! Thankfully, filament is pretty inexpensive overall. Either stock up on a variety pack (this is the one we bought, and we’ve been really happy with the quality), or if you find your kids going through a particular color, it’s worth it to buy a big spool. (Black seems to be the color we go through the fastest.)

Just a quick note: If you do get a big spool, just make sure the filament size fits your pen.

Base Stencil Book

There’s plenty of 3D pen design inspiration online to find, but if you’re anything like me, I love giving my kids as many opportunities to be off screens as I can. Here’s a sweet 3D Pen Base Stencil book that has a bunch of designs, and mats for them to work on (Amazon has a lot of different versions of books like this, depending on what your kids are interested in).

It comes with finger guards – but we’ve found these aren’t always the most helpful (they just don’t fit on some of my kids’ fingers well enough, and are a little cumbersome to use). These hot glue gun finger protectors are a good alternative.

Which Brand Should You Get?

We went with the Scrib3D pen because it had fantastic reviews, and fit our budget. We’ve been super happy with it. (They also have an advanced version of the pen but we’ve been happy with the version we have.)

Mynt3D Pen is another excellent brand that has great reviews, though we haven’t personally used it.

3D Doodler Start – This one also has great reviews, but looks like it would work better for younger kids. (But again, we have no personal experience with this one.)

I’d be very cautious about using knock-offs or unknown brands. When you’re using a device with a heating element, you’ve got to think through the safety of your kids as they use it, as well as electrical fire risks. To me, that makes it worth it to get a well-known, well-reviewed brand over saving a few dollars.

Getting a 3D pen was a great choice for our family, and we’ve been so pleased both with how it’s held up and for the ways it’s let our kids be creative.

Have questions? Other things you want honest reviews on? Feel free to write in to hello@createinthechaos.com and let me know!