Box Type

[Piranha]

The other day I was opening a LEGO set box and noticed that the box opened up by the lid popping up displaying all the bricks in it.

I also remembered that in the past this was the dominant box type, where the box lid opened up. I prefer this because it allows you to see all the parts and goodies.

This made me think, of all the other box types, there are the push in flaps to open and the ones you cut the plastic to open.

Have you ever thought about this before?

[ILikePi]

Yes, I have!

The plastic sticker type with the cereal box tabs are my favorite. They can be stored easily (just cut the flaps on both sides to flatten) and also can be closed.

The thumb-punch one is just OK. Not as good as the cereal box one though, since you can't flatten the box.

The opening box lid type might be good for seeing what you get, but it's got to be the worst in the long run. You can't really flatten the box, and the two flaps on the side always tear when opening the set for the first time.

One weird thing to note is that some sets have box variants. For example, I own a Cannon Battle set that was purchased from a LEGO Store in January. It had a thumb punch box. However, a few months later, I saw the same set at Target, but with a plastic sticker type of box (no cereal box flaps)!

EDIT: Fixed two typos

Edited January 6, 2010 by ILikePi

[Rick]

I open the 'thumb-punch' (never heard that term before) boxes with a knife most of the time. I (try to) cut through the glue to preserve the full backside of the box.

My favorite modern boxes are the sturdy ones with the little plastic seals (because they're so easy to flatten and are sturdy). Nothing beats the old boxes of 'big sets' with the big flap on the front though. But I guess it's also good to not have to expensive and environmentally unfriendly (lots of plastic) packaging.

[CP5670]

I much prefer the older boxes with the flaps and windows with clear "featured parts" trays. There were a couple of versions of these. Some had large windows that let you see everything inside and others had only small openings in the window (late 90s). Apart from the clear parts trays on top, some contained additional, large plastic trays inside (90s) while others had cardboard dividers (80s). Some of the early 80s boxes also had a thick, polystyrene interior. A few large boxes around 2000 had smaller sub-boxes inside them, for different parts of a model.

My favorite boxes are probably 8448 (8 smaller sub-boxes arranged in a jigsaw pattern and the wheels lined up along one side) and 6990 (multiple layers of big, featured parts trays). The late 80s Light and Sound boxes were also cool, as they all had flaps/windows and parts trays regardless of their size.

We still have the flaps today on a few of the largest boxes like the Technic flagship sets, but there are no longer any windows or trays inside.

[Milan]

THESE and THESE boxes are my favorites.

I still use them, and they are in great condition, even today.

[KurttKrueger]

I too miss the old 'lift the flap' style Lego boxes. As a kid, you just knew it was a good set if it had a flap :D

I will always have a soft spot for the 'thumb punch' style though, as thats what all Lego boxes I've had as a kid had!

[Big Cam]

The other day I was opening a LEGO set box and noticed that the box opened up by the lid popping up displaying all the bricks in it.

I also remembered that in the past this was the dominant box type, where the box lid opened up. I prefer this because it allows you to see all the parts and goodies.

This made me think, of all the other box types, there are the push in flaps to open and the ones you cut the plastic to open.

Have you ever thought about this before?

I only remember these from the older LARGE sets.

They died out long ago but just recently LEGO seems to have brought them back on large sets, which I think is a fantastic idea becasue it allows for so many more iamges on the inside of the cover.

I can tell you the box I hate the most. The damn finger punch ones like the battle packs. Grrr, so stupid.

I really like the ones where the ends are not glued but only held on with those two sticky pieces of almost tape like susbtance, it makes opening them really easy and then you can slowy take the tape off and fold the box away nicely for storage.

[dr_spock]

I'm still using my old 555 set flip up box. Plastic tray in the box is very handy.

[ziljin]

I just cut them open. Even the punchout ones. It ends up looking ugly but I just don't like having a hole in the side.

[bamaker]

With the "cereal box" (wonderful description) type opening, I usually just cut through the tape and pop out the tab slot in the flap and I have a wonderful box for storage. The "thumb push/crush" boxes usually get thrown out after I've thoroughly demolished them in the opening process.

If I have to use my thumb to open the box, then the box gets tossed once it's been opened. I guess you could say that's my rule of thumb.

[Piranha]

Great comments everyone, I enjoyed reading them, interesting how one person likes a box type, when another person dislikes it.

The last lid opening box I had was the Hospital from 2006

If I recall the 2006 Trains also had that type of box.

Keep the comments up

[user]

What I do is repeatedly stab the box with my pocket knife while wearing a blindfold until the bricks come out then I do the same ting with the bags!

[RileyC]

I prefer the good old thumb punch. The one with the tabs annoy me to get out and the one with the lid is alright if the set is big

[The Green Brick Giant]

I hate the IJ4 boxes with the tabs at the ends. I like a box which the back is glued to the other sides, with the thump punches. That way I can cut the back and flip the box open so I can dump the pieces into the box.

Edited January 7, 2010 by The Green Brick Giant

[Rick]

What I do is repeatedly stab the box with my pocket knife while wearing a blindfold until the bricks come out then I do the same ting with the bags!

Soaking the box in water for prolonged periods of time also helps. It doesn't open the plastic bags inside though.

[user]

Soaking the box in water for prolonged periods of time also helps. It doesn't open the plastic bags inside though.

You're just not trying hard enough.