Kid Scene Investigations With Wild Planet Spy Gear

Confession: I love toys that I can pretend to buy for my kid but really want just for me. For days when you want to pretend to be Dr. Ray Langston or Nick Stokes. . . . or for that matter Mulder and Scully, we’re here to help you out.

Wild Planet’s newest additions to the popular “Spy Gear” line include a “Lazer Tripwire High-Tech Security System” (for pretending to be Catherine Zeta Jones), an “Evidence Kit All-in-One Inspection Set” (with a 30X microscope and fingerprint kit) and surveillance gar including the “Micro Ear” (because we know you pretend you’re talking back to headquarters on your bluetooth anyway) and a “Spy Night Scope.”

Keep in mind these are all toys – and they come with limitations. But they fared well in a test by kid and adult alike.

The see in the dark part of the night scope is really just a pop-up light and red-tint on the lenses. But for $14.95 at Wild Planet’s store, it’s a sturdy little set of binoculars, and the wow factor works on kids.

The Micro Ear Gear gets extra points for price (another pricetag under $15) and for the volume limitations that protect kids’ ears (but my frustrate adults). Get it from Amazon alone or part of a multi-pack of Spy Gear toys to save money.

Jumping up a price point to the $20 range ($21.99 at Amazon), the Evidence Kit packs a lot more fun with a carrying case full of wizardry. And that means hours of occupying them on a rainy afternoon – which we were sold on right away.

The easiest to use (and possibly the coolest) item in the new spy arsenal is the Lazer Tripwire (top photo) – which shoots red beams out to “trip” up intruders. Perfect for keeping nosy little brothers out of the room, it’s on Amazon for $24.99.