Key Takeaways
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The MEEDEN tin carries 50 pre-filled pans plus a water brush pen, a 4B pencil, and 10 sheets of paper, so no extra shopping is needed.
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At $29.95, marked down from $39.95, it sits at the affordable end of the travel kit market.
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Reviewers rate the tin and color spread highly but flag gritty pigment that takes repeated layers to even out.
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Three of the best alternatives to the MEEDEN travel watercolor paint set are the Tobio’s Watercolor Kit, Funto’s Explorer Watercolor Kit, and Viviva Colors A6 Travel Paint Kit.
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Tobio's Watercolor Kit includes a 12-pigment palette, a walnut wood palette, and a case small enough for a pocket or purse, so on-the-go painting needs no cup or sink.
Is the MEEDEN Travel Watercolor Paint Set Good for Painting Outdoors?
The MEEDEN set is worth it for outdoor painting if you want the widest color range. The tin is slim and secure, and everything travels inside it; however, the pigment is grainy, so even tones take several passes.
That trade costs you more outdoors than it does at a desk. Painting on a bench or a train seat gives you a short window and one free hand, so paint that needs repeated layers eats the time you have. Under those conditions, a kit's speed beats how many colors it holds.
Tobio's Watercolor Kit is built around that constraint. Twelve pigments cover an even tone, and the walnut palette, 300 GSM cotton paper, and self-watering brush fit in one hand, so nothing slows you down between sitting and painting.
Tobio's Kits: Everything You Need to Start Painting, In One Box
Complete Starter Kit | Ages 6+ | No Art Experience Needed
Tobio's portable watercolor kit puts everything in one compact box (pans, paper, and a wooden palette) so you can start painting right away, whether you're at home or on the go. No separate shopping, no guesswork. Just open the box and paint.
✓ A truly portable all-in-one kit, not just the wooden palette (unlike cheaper lookalikes)
✓ Pre-sketched Beginner Workbook with 30 guided illustrations, so no drawing required
✓ Curated supplies that work together, designed for beginners without the overwhelm
✓ Great for ages 6+ and thoughtful gift-givers who want to give something meaningful
Creativity should feel welcoming, not overwhelming.
MEEDEN 50-Color Travel Watercolor Paint Set
MEEDEN packs this set with utility in mind. This is what the kit includes:
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50 pre-filled watercolor pans arranged in a sleek tin palette
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4B pencil, eraser, and stencil sheet for sketching before you paint
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Water brush pen, eliminating the need to carry a separate water container
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Compact tin case with secure closure for travel
The 50-color range is notable for a set at this price point. You get a wide spectrum, including warm and cool versions of primary colors, earthy neutrals, rich darks, and some more unusual tones that push creative possibilities beyond the basics.
Price & Value
Retailing at $29.95 USD (regularly $39.95), the MEEDEN Travel Watercolor Paint Set centers on one idea: give artists everything they need in one compact tin. It's slim enough to slip into a jacket pocket or a backpack's front pocket, and the tin construction protects the paints during travel.
What Users Say
Reviews on MEEDEN's site are limited but broadly positive about the packaging and portability. Buyers like the compact tin, the wide color selection, and the extras such as the postcard booklet, stickers, and paper sheets, with some noting the colors coordinate well with MEEDEN's gouache line. The general take is that it works well as a grab-and-go travel kit.
The paint quality draws the most criticism. Reviewers describe the pigments as grainy or gritty, needing several layers to reach an even tone, and some plan to swap out the pans while keeping the tin itself. The review pool is small, so treat this as early feedback rather than a settled verdict.
Reviews appreciate the portability of the kit, but the quality of the paint is something that has been criticized.
Best Alternatives to the MEEDEN Travel Watercolor Paint Set
1. Tobio’s Watercolor Kit
The Tobio’s Watercolor Kit is a very handy travel kit that allows you to paint conveniently wherever you go.
The Tobio's Watercolor Kit takes the opposite approach to a 50-pan tin. For $36 (regularly $80), you get 12 pigments in a walnut wood palette, a cotton paper sketchbook, and a self-watering brush, all in a case small enough for a pocket or purse. No cups, no sink, no setup beyond opening the box.
The focus here is on getting beginners painting rather than handing them options. Thick 300 GSM paper handles water without buckling, and a guided workbook with pre-sketched pages is available for anyone who freezes at a blank sheet. It suits ages 6 and up.
2. Funto Explorer Watercolor Kit
The Explorer Kit uses refillable tube paints rather than pre-filled pans, so painters fill and arrange the empty palette wells themselves. The set covers 12 colors, empty palettes with mixing areas, a 3.35-inch cotton journal rated at 300gsm, an absorbent sweatband, metal clips, and a travel pouch.
It sells for $32.99 on Funto's official site, with a walnut wood 15-color version at $35.99. Colorway options include Forest Green, Creamy Cookie, and two walnut wood configurations.
3. Viviva Colors A6 Travel Paint Kit
The A6 kit measures 6.2 by 5.3 inches and swaps pans for colorsheets, a system that fixes concentrated dye onto paper with minimal binder. The set includes 16 colorsheet watercolors, an ivory A6 sketchpad, a waterbrush, and a fine waterproof liner in a vegan leather case.
Both the colorsheets and sketchpad are refillable, so the case stays in use as supplies run out. It lists at $44.99 on Viviva's website. The colors are dye-based rather than pigment-based, which gives a different look from traditional watercolor pans.
MEEDEN Travel Watercolor Paint Set vs. Alternatives: Comparison Table
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Kit |
Price |
Colors |
Included |
Best For |
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Tobio's Watercolor Kit |
$36 (reg. $80) |
12 pigments |
Walnut palette, cotton sketchbook, self-watering brush, wristband, metal clip, digital guide |
Beginners and gifts, ages 6+ |
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MEEDEN 50-Color Travel Set |
$29.95 (reg. $39.95) |
50 pans |
Tin palette, water brush pen, 4B pencil, 10 paper sheets |
Painters who want the widest color range |
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Funto Explorer Kit |
$32.99 |
12 tube colors |
Empty palette wells, 300gsm cotton journal, sweatband, clips, pouch |
Painters who prefer mixing their own |
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Viviva Colors A6 |
$44.99 |
16 color sheets |
A6 sketchpad, waterbrush, waterproof liner, vegan leather case |
Refillable, ultra-light setups |
Why Choose Tobio’s Watercolor Kit
If you enjoy plein air painting or want to bring a handy watercolor set on your next trip, get the Tobio’s Watercolor Kit today.
A travel watercolor kit lives or dies on how fast you can start painting. MEEDEN gives you the widest color range for the money, Funto suits painters who like mixing their own, and Viviva keeps things featherlight. The right pick depends on how much outdoor setup you are willing to tolerate.
At Tobio's, we packed the palette, cotton sketchbook, and self-watering brush into one box so nothing is missing when you sit down to paint. Twelve pigments cover more than most beginners expect, and you don't need a cup or sink. Shop the Tobio's Watercolor Kit and paint on your next trip.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are MEEDEN watercolors any good?
MEEDEN watercolors are good for their price range. The 50-color travel set delivers a broad spectrum of usable colors in a portable format, and the included water brush pen adds real convenience for location painting.
How can you watercolor while traveling?
Keep your setup simple so you can paint within seconds of sitting down. Use a compact pan set, a pre-filled water brush, cold-press paper in an A5 or A6 journal, and a folded paper towel for brush control. Work light to dark and aim for quick sketches.
How can you use a portable watercolor set?
Open the tin, wet your brush, and activate the pans with a few seconds of swirling before you start. Sketch light pencil guidelines, then build color in thin layers, rinsing between shades. All-in-one kits like Tobio's Watercolor Kit keep the palette, paper, and water brush together so nothing slows you down.
What do you paint first in watercolor?
Always start with your lightest values and work toward your darkest. This is the foundational rule of watercolor that travel painting makes even more important. Because watercolor is transparent by nature, you cannot paint a light color over a dark one and expect it to show.
Is the Tobio’s Watercolor Kit suitable for beginners?
Yes, the Tobio’s Watercolor Kit was built for people who have never painted before. Everything comes ready to use with student-grade pigments, thick cotton paper, and a self-watering brush that needs no cup or sink, so setup takes about a minute. It also suits ages 6 and up.
*Disclaimer: Tobio's Kits watercolor supplies are designed for ages 6 and above. As with all art materials, paints are not food-safe and should be kept away from the mouth. Best suited for beginner to intermediate painters. Visit Tobio's Kits to explore our full range of art kits and find the right set for you.