IQ Gears Review

We got a big shipment from Timberdoodle earlier this summer, and IQ Gears is just one of a dozen or so wonderful products inside the box.

Nevertheless, IQ Gears was the game my 18-year-old son called dibs on first. He grew up playing Smart Games, so he was excited to try out our newest acquisition.

For each of the 120 challenges in the booklet, there are multiple ways you can get the pieces to fit. The challenge is arranging them in such a manner as to allow the gears to engage properly.

If you do it correctly, you will be able to turn one of the large gears on the side of the box and set the gear on the opposite side to spinning at the same time.

Something I especially like about IQ Gears is its portability. The entire puzzle and challenge booklet folds into a compact carrying case, making it perfect for travel.

We took it along on our last trip, and Abby and I both enjoyed completing several of the challenges while waiting at the hotel or airport.

The challenges get progressively harder as you work your way through the booklet. In the beginning, the hints are color-coded to match the pieces, so you know for sure which to put in the starting positions (though you can’t necessarily tell which way the gears should be oriented).

By the end of the book, the challenges don’t give any color-coded hints at all. They just show gear positions, but since several game pieces are identical in shape, you may have to try several different arrangements to find one that works.

Do you have kids who enjoy thinking games? If so, you should consider getting IQ Gears for your home, too. It’s available from Timberdoodle for individual purchase or as part of their 2024 10th Grade Curriculum Kit.

And while you’re on the Timberdoodle website, I’d encourage you to look around. We love everything we’ve ever ordered from this small family-owned company!

Be sure to sign up for their Doodle Dollar program to save on future purchases. And to read more of my Timberdoodle Reviews, follow this link.

PLEASE NOTE: As a member of the Timberdoodle blog team, I routinely receive free or deeply discounted products in exchange for writing honest reviews. Opinions expressed in these posts are 100% my own. I’ve been a happy and enthusiastic Timberdoodle customer for decades — long before I ever started blogging for their company.