If you ever ask me from which brand do I own most puzzles, it's going to be a close call between Ravensburger and Trefl. Both are big brands sold internationally. Neither one is my favorite brand but I do have around 40 Trefl puzzles also shown in my puzzle collection. This doesn't mean that I don't like Trefl, I like their puzzles a lot. Just nothing extra special about them.
Trefl puzzles are cheap - this is a good and bad thing, depends how you look at it.
Their quality is always the same, and it's good. No sad surprises.
Wide selection of all kinds of puzzles. Images are mainly photographs.
I want to start with the cons and move on to the pros towards the end of this review. So make sure you read it all! As with any other brand, there are things about Trefl that annoy the heck out of me, and also things I love.
Boxes Are Too Big
The biggest annoyance of them all. Trefl is the unfortunate winner of the biggest puzzle boxes. Ridiculously big. I could fit 10 x 500 pieces in their one 500 piece puzzle box. No jokes. I have seen other brands renewing the box size smaller and I hope Trefl will hop on the same train.
Every puzzle lover knows the issue that there is never enough space for puzzles. Of course, one could argue that we should buy less puzzles. But if we are to blame someone else, I would like to blame brands who make too big boxes.
If all the boxes were fitted for the space that pieces actually require, imagine how much more space you would have in your puzzle room, puzzle shelves, or wherever you store your puzzles.
Images Are Basic But I Love Collages
Most Trefl puzzle images are sooooooo basic. No favorites in here. But I'm a huge fan of collage puzzles and I think that Trefl has the most collage puzzles in the selection. At least if we compare it to other brands. Collages are the best.
Location, location, location... not talking about real estate. Trefl is known to have puzzle images of known (or less known) locations. It feels almost as if I had traveled the world through Trelf puzzles. I also find scenery puzzles beneficial for my speed puzzling practice. But they are not my favorite images.
I also have to give a thumbs up for Trefl's panorama puzzle selection. I used to be very slow with panoramas, and I felt like other brands didn't have many options to practice with. Then one online store in Finland had a great discount campaign for Trefl puzzles so I ordered their panoramas to practise with.
I have done my personal best time with Trefl puzzle. My first 500 piece puzzle in under 30 minutes. As a speed puzzler, you cannot do but love puzzles you are fast with. So that gives some more extra points for Trefl.
Special Collections
As said, Trefl always has good quality. And it gets even better. Trefl has three special collections that are focused on finer quality. There are Trefl Prime, Wood Craft, and Soft Velvet collections.
Trefl Prime
In comparison to regular Trefl pieces, in Prime collections, they are thicker. I believe they might be even the thickest on the market. I like them. One could say they are too thick. They also advertise them for Unlimited Fit Technology but I still don't know what that exactly means.
Prime collection's puzzle boxes are also more reasonable in size. Most Trefl Prime puzzles are 1000 piece puzzles but they also have puzzles going all the way up to 13500 pieces. My dream is to do someday one of those bigger puzzles. I only need to buy a bigger house first.
Velvet Soft Touch
Velvet Soft Touch collection is a continuation of Trefl Prime. Technically it belongs under Prime collection. They have soft pieces. Not in a way that the pieces are elastic or flexible(?) but the surface of the pieces has a soft feel.
Most Velvet Soft Touch puzzles are 500 piece puzzles. I absolutely love this collection, and my favorite is Tiger's Nap. And I cannot think of anything similar from other brands. Also, the images in this collection are not basic. They are the most lovely-looking illustrations from famous illustrators like Asia Orlando.
Wood Craft
Wood Craft puzzles are also considered under Trefl Prime collection. No surprise that we are talking about wooden puzzles here. And with an amazing quality. Wooden puzzles are more expensive but totally worth it. 1000 piece puzzle from this collection costs around 50 €.
Shaped pieces are included. For example, a wooden puzzle with Aimee Stewart's illustration World Travel Guides has pieces in the shape of a plane, a guitar, and much more. I have one extra cute Christmas puzzle from this collection. It has kittens and everything!
Fun fact. Even on the myspeedpuzzling.com, Trefl is the most added puzzle brand right after Ravensburger.
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