what is a 'wow' gift for 5-7 year old boys?

[Reservoir13]

I've done most of my shopping - as per usual rather sensible. So my two boys (5-7) will get lego's, playmobil, HW trackbuilder, books, etc. However, that's toys that I like them to play with. They see advertising for bakugan, nerf, vtech, pokemon and so on that they find much cooler than lego. So I'm very happy to include for each one not-so-sensible gift, which they can immediately start using on Christmas eve (as opposed to the legos which will only be opened under supervision, have learned my lesson there).
Do you have recommendations for cool gifts for boys that age? Preferably things that do last for some time, do not eat 5 AAA batteries in 30 minutes (looking at you there, RC cars!) and do not require extensions packs to be really useful to play with?

Aren't they writing lists?

You're making Christmas sound very prescriptive. You'll allow them one "not sensible" gift, they can't open lego unsupervised... Where's the fun?!

Marble run

drone

A bike?

It depends on their specific interests. When DS was 5 it would have been Superzings (Professor K's Lab), which was a crappy piece of plastic that I resented buying but it made him very happy and still gets played with 2 years later. Last year it was Pokémon stuff, this year it is King of Tokyo - the only way of knowing is to listen to what they are into ATM.

Also I suggest light up swords or lightsabres - that will keep them busy on Christmas morning.

On the lists: only the eldest can write - so yes, his list includes bakugan (of which we have nothing so far) and Pokemon (we have lots of cards/display books)
Prescriptive: yes, I'm fully aware of that. Hence the request. Lego unsupervised means that half the box has gone missing by the time we do serious building. I have two other (older) kids so in terms of toys, we have a very very wide selection already in the house and are already struggling with storage. In real life, they play a lot with the lego and playmobil so I'm always happy to add to that. It is just that they find other toys in advertising more appealing.
Bike: they have bikes, but indeed I was looking at scooters. Only problem is that we have cobblestones in our street, which I think is not made for easy scootering.
Marble run: yes, will look into that. They're finally out of the age that we cannot have small objects around anymore.
drone: We had some cheaper versions + the helicopters. Fun for a while, but either they break easily or they need so many batteries that I feel like an eco-disaster.

My 7 year old got a switch and that wowed him!! Never got bored of it.

Depends on your budget but this went down a treat in our house!

www.amazon.co.uk/Magformers-SkyTrack-Play-44-piece-Set/dp/B07BB36Y3K

Nerfs were a roaring success for my 3 boys. He got DS3 one for his birthday end of last November and when he saw the faces of DS1 and DS2 he told me he had Xmas sorted. Big nerfs. DS3s was almost bigger than him (he was 5).

Marble runs are sometimes a hit, sometimes a miss. Mine play with them sporadically. The Carrera car track was a big hit.

This looks amazing. We have connectix, do you know how compatible different brands are?

Actually DS3 told me that the only thing going on his list is a ninjago teddy and a “beautiful book about monsters and myffs”. His brother has one he covets.

Gravitrax

Ha ha, to show that I'm not entirely boring: we have the skytrack already - it was a gift for our eldest and it does get played with still. The rest of the magformers not so much.
The 7-year old will get a switch for his birthday - he's going to love that one indeed.
I'll have another look at the nerf guns - any specific recommendations?

a puppy or a kitten

if want a toy,
I found this one very good, very lovely to play, my DS and DH both enjoy it so much.
100 Pcs Magnetic Building Blocks
https://amzn.to/3hVSDev
now on sale for Black Friday Deal!! very good price!!

or if you want something else, not toy,
I recommend Amazon Alexa Echo Dot
https://amzn.to/3Aqk5aX
this is the 5th generation, almost half-price now, very good Black Friday Deal!

Anything minecraft for my 6 year old boy. I’ve got him a minecraft laptop for Xmas

Just no!

Great idea! Thanks for the heads up I’m going to order those for my three.

Can you share the link please?

When my DS was that age it was all about light sabres, preferably with lights and sound effects, nerf/laser guns and beyblades! Or how about a scalextric set if you don't have one already?

Kinetic sand- has always gone down so well. This one in particular as it has a board to play within and shapes. Generally on sale at about 15euro and he literally plays with it non stop!

The dinosaur nerf are fun for that age. But some require batteries. Although I’ve never changed them and we’ve had it for a year, still working fine.

So you buy your kids stuff they cant use and dont want... how is that a gift?

When it comes to gift giving what YOU like doesnt matter as its not FOR you.

Vtech stuff is frankly far more sensible than lego (since lego does go missing and they aren't even allowed to use it when they wan't).