Here at The Regency Chess Company, we have been selling travel chess sets for over fifteen years. These were some of our very first offerings back when we started out, and over the years we've managed to refine the quality and style along with making a great deal of improvements.
If you're interested in just a folding board without the pieces and the storage, we also sell those too, so you can use an existing set or find your preferred set yourself from our wide range of chess pieces.
Most of the travel sets we sell with the folding mechanisms utilise a powerful magnetic system instead of an external clasp, which offers a clean minimalist look to the chess board. These magnets are powerful enough to prevent accidental opening of the chess set when in transit, so there are no drawbacks when choosing a magnetic travel version over clasped.
We also sell a couple of travel chess sets with a clasp mechanism, which some people prefer. These have two external catches which hook over to lock in place. These clasp locks are very durable and can withstand the physical demands of frequent travel.
All our wooden travel chess sets come with magnetic chess pieces, which allow the game to be played in all kinds of situations, such as when travelling in a car, that would otherwise throw the pieces off the board. You can even hold the board with the pieces attached 90 degrees and upside down, and the pieces will remain on the board!
The space saving nature of these sets makes them easy to store when not in use, which is perfect for those with limited space. The boards feature a foam-lined insert with individually cut compartments for each chess piece to be stored in, so you don't have to worry about purchasing a separate chess piece box to store them in.
Amongst the Staunton travel chess sets we offer, we have included a fantastic miniature version of the Isle of Lewis chess set, which comes in both Ivory and Brown colours. These neat little sets have all the charm of their larger counterparts in small form, with a lift-off playing surface that conceals a storage compartment for the pieces underneath. These sets certainly have ornament potential and look great on display on a mantlepiece or windowsill.
Our Isle of Lewis travel chess sets are made from crushed stone resin, which is a great material that has much of the aesthetic appeal of natural stone, but with the strength of resin. Crushed stone resin is made by combining crushed natural stone (such as marble, granite, or quartz) with a durable resin binder.
Our other sets are made from a mixture of solid wood and finely placed inlays, which provide a satisfying weight indicative of their quality. In the past we have stocked cheaper alternatives, but we have found their aesthetic appeal and quality of inlays and carvings to be lacking. As such, we have since refined our selection to include only the most outstanding craftsmanship from vetted workshops in India.
Despite the small size of these sets, the chess pieces are still hand-carved and include a very nice level of detail. These are then hand-polished or lacquered to give them a perfect finish to complement the natural beauty of the wood.
We are pleased to stock a substantial range of sizes to ensure there is something for everyone. Our smallest wooden travel chess sets measure a mere 7.5 inch, whilst our biggest travel sets measure 14 inches. Our standalone folding chess boards are 16.75 inches.
As we have focused on getting top-quality mechanisms implemented in these travel chess sets, it's down to a personal choice of aesthetic. The external clasps will protrude slightly, whereas the magnetic versions provide a seamless design. The magnetic clasps are so strong that you don't have to worry about them opening accidentally.
Yes, all our wooden travel chess sets feature magnets in the base of each chess piece, along with the board, so you can rest assured these won't fall off during play whilst you're travelling. The only exception to this is the Isle of Lewis compact sets, as they do not feature magnetic pieces.
As long as your pieces fit the squares, there's no reason why you can't use your own pieces on the travel sets. Please note that they may not fit inside the foam inserts, however, as these are specifically designed and cut to fit the pieces that come with the set.
Due to the way these are constructed, it's normal to have a small gap between the table and the board in the centre. The actual playing surface should meet without any notable gaps, though.
Yes, all of our folding and travel chess sets come with a two-year warranty.
You can find reviews for these and our other products on our Google Reviews and TrustPilot pages.
In this particular review our customer Suh-El says that he'll be taking his travel set with him all the way to Spain to play a few games there.
