Funto Mini Watercolor Travel Set Reviews, Price & Alternatives: Is This a Good Portable Kit?

What Does the Funto Mini Watercolor Travel Set Offer?

The Funto Explorer Watercolor Kit is available in two size options: 8 colors or 15 colors. Both versions feature hand-poured pigments housed in a magnetic walnut wood case that closes flush and clean. The hand-poured process signals more intentional pigment density compared to mass-produced pan sets that are often underfilled or inconsistent in color saturation.

The solid watercolor pans are designed to activate easily with just a small amount of water, which is exactly what you want when you're painting on location without access to a full studio setup. The pigments are described as rich and easy to blend, with smooth wash performance that suits both beginners learning color theory and more experienced artists working plein air.

Price

The Funto Explorer Watercolor Kit starts at $27.99 for the 8-color version and $34.99 for the 15-color version. Each option includes the magnetic walnut wood palette, a watercolor journal, water brush, collapsible cup, spray bottle, and crossbody carrying bag. 

Customer Reviews

The Funto Explorer Watercolor Kit holds a 4.9-star rating across 78 reviews from Funto's official product page, and the feedback clusters around two consistent themes: pigment vibrancy and true portability. Buyers frequently highlight how vivid the colors are straight out of the pan, and several note that the entire kit fits back into the crossbody bag without any repacking hassle.

Users highlight the portability and pigment vibrancy of the kit. 

Positive reviewers tend to be hobbyists, gift buyers, and parents purchasing for younger artists, with multiple mentions of the kit performing well during travel (including on flights). The most common criticism is that the paints are not professional-grade pigments, which is a fair expectation at this price point. 

Best Alternatives to the Funto Mini Watercolor Travel Set

1. Tobio's Watercolor Kit: Best for On-the-Go Artists & Beginners 

Tobio’s Watercolor Kit comes with 12 colors. 

Tobio's Watercolor Kit packs 12 paints, a walnut wood palette, a cotton paper sketchbook, a self-filling water brush, an absorbent wristband, a digital guide, and a metal clip into one pocket-sized set. 

Workbooks and sketchbooks are sold separately from the Watercolor Kit, but you can purchase them together at a lower price. Because the brush holds its own water, you can paint in coffee shops, on flights, or outdoors without a cup or sink.

The kit is available for $36 (originally $80) and comes with a 60-day guarantee. It carries a 4.76 out of 5 rating across more than 6,400 reviews. Pigments are student-grade, but the complete accessory set and guided workbook make it one of the most beginner-friendly watercolor kits on the market. 

Users find the Tobio’s Watercolor Kit very handy and perfect for an impromptu painting session. 

2. Pagather 24-Color Mini Watercolor Travel Set: Best for Wide Color Range on a Budget

The Pagather 24-Color Mini Watercolor Travel Set includes 24 solid pans in a magnetic walnut wood case, a refillable water brush, detail paintbrush, mixing palette, collapsible water cup, sketchbook, and zippered storage bag. It uses the same walnut case format and all-in-one accessory approach as the Funto, making the two kits a close comparison. 

The difference is range: 24 pans against the Funto's 8 or 15, with both sets using student-grade pigment. 24 pans give enough room to mix most secondary and tertiary hues without feeling restricted. It is a reasonable pick if the broad color range matters more to you than pigment density or paper quality. 

At $21.98 on Amazon with a 4.6-star rating, the Pagather is the cheapest kit in this comparison. Reviewers praise the sketchbook paper quality and the compact format. Criticism centers on beginner-grade paints, color names that do not match the swatched result, and limited lightfastness. 

Users consider the Pagather’s Watercolor Set quite decent.

3. Sennelier Artist Watercolour 12 Half Pans Metal Pocket Box: Best for Artist-Grade Pigment

The Sennelier Artist Watercolour 12 Half Pans Metal Pocket Box comes from a Paris-based manufacturer that has produced artist-grade pigments since 1887. Its honey-based half pans carry higher pigment concentration and stronger lightfastness than the Funto's student-grade pans. The trade-off is price and contents, since the Funto ships with paper, a brush, and a bag.

The metal tin doubles as a mixing palette and is compact enough for travel. It’s available for $87.30 at Jackson Art, making it sit well above budget kits. It also has a 60-day return policy. 

The kit has a 4.8 rating on Jackson Art. Reviewers rate the paint highly, describing the colors as rich and the consistency as creamy. The recurring criticism is the packaging, not the pigment, with several buyers calling the case flimsy.

While users find its colors good, repeat reviews highlight how the case was poor in quality. 

Funto Mini Watercolor Travel Set vs Alternatives: Comparison Table

Portability Matters, Tobio's Watercolor Kit Backs It With a Track Record

You can use Tobio’s Watercolor Kit whenever you want and wherever you are. 

A portable watercolor kit needs to do two things well: survive travel and hold up over repeated use. The Funto Mini Watercolor Travel Set handles the first part, but its short review history leaves the second part unproven. Picking a kit with more evidence behind it lowers the risk of buying something that doesn't last. 

Tobio's Watercolor Kit gives you that evidence. Our set pairs 12 paints, a cotton paper sketchbook, a self-filling water brush, and a walnut wood palette in one pocket-sized package, backed by a 4.76-star rating across more than 6,400 reviews. Grab the full kit today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are the Funto watercolor paints refillable?

The Funto Mini Watercolor Travel Set uses solid watercolor pans that sit in a fixed magnetic walnut wood case. The pans themselves are not designed as a traditional refillable system.

How many colors are included in the Funto Mini Watercolor Travel Set?

The Funto Explorer Watercolor Kit has an 8-color version and a 15-color version. Both feature hand-poured pigments in a magnetic walnut wood case. 

Can beginners use watercolor kits?

Absolutely. Watercolor is one of the most accessible painting mediums for beginners, and compact travel kits make it even easier to start. Starting small with a portable kit lets you build confidence and technique with the right supplies. 

Are portable watercolor kits good for plein air painting?

Portable watercolor kits are ideal for plein air painting, which refers to painting outdoors from direct observation. The compact size means you can set up anywhere in minutes: on a park bench, a rocky coastline, or in a crowded market square. 

What is included in Tobio's Watercolor Kit?

Tobio’s Watercolor Kit includes 12 paints, a walnut wood palette, a cotton paper sketchbook, a water brush, an absorbent wristband, a metal art clip, and a digital guide. Everything fits into one pocket-sized set, so you don't need to buy anything extra before you start painting.

*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.