Review: 41392 Nature Glamping
Posted by MeganL,
The first wave of Friends sets every year usually doesn't have a particular theme but generally has sets that are suitable for each Friend. 2020 looks to be no exception to this, though there were a few in the early wave that caught my attention, including 41392 Nature Glamping. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, glamping is an activity for those who want to consider camping, but also don't want to sacrifice any non-camping luxuries, like running water, electricity, etc.
My first reaction was that the name of the set seemed to contradict itself - whenever I think of glamping, it usually means that nature really isn't that close!
The set comes with two numbered bags, a 8x16 plate, a small sticker sheet, an instruction book, and a sheet of plastic to provide the tent portion of the glamping set up. A piece of cardboard is also included, which is rare, especially in smaller sets. I'm assuming it's because the plastic sheet needs to be kept flat. This set also comes with Instructions PLUS, however I wasn't able to access it as we're prior to the official release date.
Minidolls
The minidolls in this set are Olivia and Mia. Mia has the same bright, bright red hair that was introduced last year. She's wearing a green sleeveless hoodie with slash pockets with a blue shirt underneath. That's paired with some purple shorts and blue lace up shoes. Olivia is wearing a cool yellow tank top with a patterned inset and a thin fuchsia sash. Since I'm writing this prior to the official release date I don't have access to the inventory, but this torso seems new. Olivia continues the yellow colour scheme with a cool yellow skirt and blue shoes.
The obligatory cute Friends animal in this set is a squirrel. It's been a while since we've seen a squirrel in a Friends set - the last time was in 41031 Andrea's Mountain Hut in 2014.
The completed model
The set is composed of a few smaller builds. First, though, a bicycle is included that allows the Friends to do some exploring. A helmet is also included, because safety first! I have to admit I really struggle on how to place a Friend on a bicycle.
A campfire is next. Since the Friends are glamping, they wouldn't deign to sit on the ground, so some seats with upholstered cushions are included (upholstery is provided by a sticker). A telescope is near by so Olivia can indulge some of her science oriented activity, though I'm used to seeing a 1x1 round transparent piece for a lens at the end.
At the base of a flowering tree, a hot tub is provided. I have to assume the hot tub is a permanent fixture as that would be difficult to transport! The Friends have everything they would need for their time in the hot tub, including some drinks and a stereo to provide some tunes. There's a mat at the entrance to the tub so the Friends don't get their feet dirty. A ledge halfway up the tree allows the squirrel a place to become part of the scene. A lantern to provide some light is hung from another bough. Finally, a string of fairy lights is strung from the tree to reach over to the tent.
The other end of the fairy lights lands at a post located just outside the Friends' tent. From the front of the tent we can see the bedroom area, as well as a log table and two chairs that have been provided for the Friends.
The cover is provided in soft plastic and is designed quite appropriate for the Friends, with bright yellow and pink patterns. The side view shows the side entry, windows, curtains, and of course, heart-shaped skylight windows.
If you remove the soft plastic as well as the top level of bricks providing the tent structure, you can see the details included on the inside of the tent. It's quite spacious, with two beds for the Friends - I'm assuming Olivia has the bed on the right - and a night table in between that has a lantern and a cell phone on it. One of the requirements for glamping is internet access, so clearly the Friends will be using their phone to share pictures back to Heartlake City. The back side of the night table has something for several glamping interests: hairbrush, lipstick, flashlight and a pair of binoculars.
The bed/night table portion of the builds slides into the tent area, so there's an extra opportunity for play there, and I think this is a nice feature.
Overall thoughts
I'm of mixed minds about this set. It provides a lot of play value for its intended audience, no doubt, and doesn't use a lot of pieces to do so. However, I do think it's a little expensive for what you get, in the U.S. at least (241 pieces, $29.99, 29.99€, £24.99). The stickers, while not many of them, do seem superfluous and I wonder if they are included just for people who like to add the stickers to parts.
I think the choice of the word "glamping" for the set is an interesting one. I'm not sure the scene built really goes the full glamping experience - I would expect many more luxuries for a glamping experience. But that would undoubtedly require more parts. I also think it's interesting that Mia is included in one of the minidolls - at first it does make sense, since Mia is the outdoorsy Friend. But glamping is generally an activity that is for non-outdoorsy people. Friends have had camp-themed sets before, and indeed had an adventure camp subtheme a few years ago. However, of the Friends sets, none have been of a campsite with the exception of a small set.
I'm guessing it was more of a marketing decision on what to name the set, but I question the message that's being sent that the girls are going glamping instead of camping. Though in all fairness, the Friends theme has had more sets with a camping theme than any other (I did search in the database on "camp" and was quite surprised to learn this!).
Marketing decisions aside, I think for a camping set I would have preferred another colour for the primary colour of the soft plastic tent as opposed to pink. While the rest of the set doesn't have much of the colour, having a pink tent just provides another argument for those who will avoid the theme purely because of that.
Many thanks to the The LEGO Group for providing a copy of this set for review. All opinions expressed are mine.
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20 comments on this article
The word glamping caught my Attention enough to click to the article. I usually skip friends.
Playwise it does look really good. It does a lot with very little.
The girl on the bike looks ridiculous though
Still looks like a great set! May pick this up for my sister, since she enjoys camping
This looks like something happening in a backyard that has access to the forest, wonder how they would react if a T-Rex appeared.
@Darth_TNT I agree, LEGO seriously needs to introduce a new bike element compatible with Mini-Dolls, and stop having them wear helmets without hair underneath, it just looks stupid.
Overall I like the idea behind this set, but will probably either get it on sale or pass for something a bit more imaginative.
That indicia on the plastic tent is pretty ostentatious. They couldn’t have gone with a smaller font for that?
I love the pink tent!! This is a must have set for me, just for the tent alone. I am not the demographic for this line, but I will definitely be getting this set. I like the glamping upgrades, versus just camping.
I'm a pretty experienced camper... And this looks insanely luxurious. How is this not glamping?
"Glamping" in general simply disgusts me (not meaning to offend anyone though). That's really all I have to say about this set.
I haven’t heard of the term “glamping” until now. Seems like LEGO is trying to stay relevant with these Friends sets. One time they made an animation of the LEGO Friends characters doing the “floss” dance. Ugh.
Don’t get me wrong, the set looks good (as far as LEGO Friends sets go). Just wanted to express my two cents about the subject matter.
That bicycle is very dangerous for the Friends - they can't possibly hold the handlebars!
Is Olivia in a tank top or a halter neck?
(The odd things that jump out at me when reading reviews)
How did Olivia get all her hair inside that helmet?
Also, another telescope. That's the third one I've seen this month.
Is this how Mia gets her friends to join her camping? Because, frankly, Olivia seems much more the normal, down-to-earth camper than Mia herself. (Can't see Olivia wasting time with lipstick, for example.) Perhaps the glamping accessories--and a hot tub does signal glamping to me, however spartan the rest of the set-up!--were a joint purchase by Mia and Olivia to try and lure Andrea away from her citified life, in which case they (obviously) wasted their money.
Or maybe, as @Lordmoral suggested, they're just in a back yard all along. That hot tub does look pretty permanent!
All the same, it looks like the basis of a fun sleepover to me. What's wrong with a little extra comfort now and then?
Why don't they make a bike that actually works with minidolls?
Haven’t yet bought a set that provides this tent “fabric”. The flag designs and the pink make for an attractive option.
@MeganL: Will you intend to review 41390 Andrea's car and stage in the future?
Glamping? Glamping.
...
Glamping?
I'm gonna go take a slow walk into fast traffic, brb.
That is pretty horrible indicia on the tent, I must agree.
Just an ok set, I guess.
But I have some questions:
1) why do Friends minidolls have to wear dresses/skirts almost every time? It seems kinda stereotypical. I would have liked to see some of those characters wear some pants/shorts (besides Mia, she's the one who doesn't wear dresses/skirts).
@j_d said:
"Why don't they make a bike that actually works with minidolls?"
Better question imho:
Why didn't they design minidolls that actually work with the system?
Seriously, the minidoll (non-existant) function design has got to be one of the worst blunders that ever got through the TLG product approvement phase.
You can't properly place them on a bike.
You can't properly place them on a horse (!)
Come to think of it, you can't really properly place them on anything securely or in a natural pose, without the aid of additional pieces to cram the feet into.
You can't use the arms/hands most of the time for proper posing.
What a fail. I mean, even minifigs aren't perfect, but they are way better than minidolls in that respect. And that design is over forty years old!