The approaching Holidays always bring great new seasonal LEGO® sets to store shelves. This year, one such set is Santa’s Sleigh (40499). After the 2020 Elf Clubhouse introduced the reindeer figurine, fans went wild. People ordered it like nobody’s business on Bricks and Pieces, and the figurine frequently sold out as soon as it appeared online. The reindeer was such a hot commodity, it comes as no surprise that the LEGO® Group opted to release a “reindeer battle pack”, as fans have come to call Santa’s Sleigh. In this review, we take a closer look at one of the most anticipated Christmas sets of 2021.
SANTA’S SLEIGH (40499) SUMMARY
- NAME: Santa’s Sleigh
- SET #: 40499
- THEME: Seasonal
- COST: $49.99 CAD
- BRICK COUNT: 343
- MINIFIGURES: 1
- OF INTEREST: 4 reindeer
- RELEASE DATE: October 1, 2021
SANTA’S SLEIGH (40499) QUICK REVIEW
- VALUE: 84% (Satisfactory cost-per-brick and a good amount of build time.)
- BUILD: 95% (Simple, but very nice design.)
- MINIFIGURES: 100% (Great minifig design, and amazing bricks/fig.)
- ENTERTAINMENT: 100% (Great set with wider appeal than just the xmas crowd.)
- OVERALL SCORE: 95% (Great set)
SANTA’S SLEIGH (40499) REVIEW
VALUE: 84%
Santa’s Sleigh costs $49.99 in Canada. I will admit, my first reaction to that was “really? $50?”. However, with 343 pieces, the cost-per-brick works out to $0.146. Compared to LEGO® sets in general, that is close to average, though leaning towards the expensive side. Comparatively, the True North Bricks average cost-per-brick is currently $0.139. As such, I rate the cost-per-brick for Santa’s Sleigh at 78%.
This set took me one hour and 16 minutes to piece together. At full price, the resulting cost-per-minute of build time was $0.66. On average, building a LEGO® set costs me $0.85/minute. So, Santa’s Sleigh actually gives a pretty good amount of build time for a set of its size. I rate that at 90%. Averaging this with the cost-per-brick score gives an overall value rating of 84%.
BUILD: 95%
As the name suggests, Santa’s Sleigh consists of Kris Kringle’s vehicle of choice. While not the most modern method of transport, Claus still manages to deck out his wheels… er… skis with a 54N7A (SANTA) vanity plate, a large-screen GPS system, and some sweet golden trim. Additionally, a hidden compartment holds sustenance for the four reindeer. Buildable presents and minifig accessories fill the storage area above it. My only minor complaint is that the reins for the reindeer are too long. The animals should be a bit closer to the sleigh. However, maybe the designers just left room for additional cervids. All things considered, Santa’s Sleigh is an excellent holiday display piece that will no doubt go well with the Santa’s Visit Winter Village kit. You won’t learn any new build techniques with this one, but it is fun. I rate this build at 95%.
MINIFIGURES: 100%
The set includes one Minifigure… you guessed it, Santa. Old Père Noël features a new face print I have not seen before, but only printed on one side. He sports the typical Yuletide hat and a beard. The torso has front and rear printing but is the same design we have seen in the past. However, this Santa has dual-molded legs featuring black boots. That is new for Santa figurines this year from what I can tell. In terms of accessories, the set includes a printed “Nice List” tile, skis, a teddy bear, a white guitar, a carrot, a pretzel, and the four reindeer. This old man easily earns 100% for design.
As mentioned before, Santa’s Sleigh includes four reindeer. Since we are entering our second COVID Christmas season, it stands to reason that the other four reindeer are quarantining or otherwise not fit to cross international borders. Alternatively, you can buy two of these kits to complete the line-up. With that said, the reindeer are a substantial add to the figurine count of this set. As such, I include them in the brick-to-fig ratio along with Santa. Five figurines in a 343-piece kit gives a ratio of 69 bricks/fig. Quite frankly, that is amazing. You get a lot of characters for a set of this size. Again, solid 100%.
ENTERTAINMENT: 100%
This is one of my favorite Christmas LEGO® sets. I am not surprised that it is hard to find online and in stores right now. It makes a great seasonal display piece and has already made it to my fireplace mantle. Couple it with the Winter Village Santa’s Visit set and you have a great display. Additionally, you get reindeer! As a LEGO® animal enthusiast, I am really happy that the set includes more than one, which was all we got last year with the Elf Clubhouse. I am entertained, and I think most LEGO® fans will be too. The reindeer alone make this set appeal to more than just those who celebrate Christmas. I rate the entertainment score at 100%.
OVERALL SCORE: 95%
My initial thought when I saw Santa’s Sleigh was that it was expensive. However, after building it, I take my incredulity back. The value is actually not that bad at all. The cost-per-brick is a little on the pricey side, but still close enough to average. Additionally, for a set this size, you get a good amount of build time and an excellent number of figurines. Christmas enthusiasts and LEGO® animal collectors alike stand to gain from this set. I am quite happy having spent $50 on this set. What do you think? Feel free to comment below or reach out on social media.
Until next time,
-Tom
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