There’s a unique frustration every 3D printing enthusiast knows well. You’ve just designed the perfect multi-part model, a vibrant tabletop miniature, or a series of colorful custom organizers. The files are sliced and ready to go. But then you look at your shelf of filament and realize you’re missing that specific shade of sky blue or cherry red. The alternative is often a costly trip online to buy a full 1-kilogram spool of each color you need, knowing full well you’ll only use 50 grams for this one project. The rest will sit on the shelf, collecting dust and, worse, moisture. It’s a cycle of waste, expense, and clutter that can stifle creativity. This is the exact problem that sends makers on a hunt for a more practical solution—a way to have a rich palette of colors on hand without breaking the bank or dedicating an entire closet to filament storage. The SUNLU PLA+ 1.75mm 8 Pack Filament aims to be that perfect solution, offering a variety of colors in manageable, project-friendly sizes.
What to Consider Before Buying 3D Printer Filament
3D printer filament is more than just a plastic string; it’s the lifeblood of any Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printer. The quality, material, and consistency of your filament directly determine the success or failure of your prints, impacting everything from structural integrity to visual appeal. Choosing the right filament pack isn’t just about color; it’s about matching the material’s properties and spool format to your specific printer, projects, and workflow. Getting it right means beautiful, reliable prints, while getting it wrong can lead to clogged nozzles, failed projects, and hours of troubleshooting.
The ideal customer for a multi-color pack of small spools, like the SUNLU PLA+ 1.75mm 8 Pack Filament, is the hobbyist, the tinkerer, or the artist who thrives on variety. It’s perfect for those creating multi-color models, users of 3D pens, or beginners looking to build a versatile color library without a massive initial investment. It’s also great for prototyping and testing different color schemes. Conversely, this type of product might not be suitable for those running a print farm or producing large, single-color objects. For them, buying in bulk with 1kg or larger spools is far more economical. Furthermore, users with specific Automated Material Systems (AMS), like those on certain Bambu Lab printers, may find these non-standard mini-spools incompatible without printing special adapters, adding an extra layer of hassle.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Spool Compatibility: Filament diameter (1.75mm is the most common standard) must match your printer. But don’t overlook the spool itself. Its diameter, width, and hub hole size determine if it will fit on your printer’s spool holder or within an enclosure or dryer. As we discovered, and some users confirmed, the mini-spools in this pack are not universally compatible with all AMS units, a critical consideration for automated printing.
- Material & Performance: PLA+ is an enhanced version of Polylactic Acid, promising better strength and layer adhesion than standard PLA. Pay close attention to the manufacturer’s recommended settings, including nozzle temperature (210°C – 235°C for this SUNLU pack) and bed temperature (55°C – 65°C). As our tests showed, printing outside these ranges, especially at too low a temperature, can lead to poor results. Dimensional accuracy (+/- 0.02mm) is also a key metric for ensuring consistent extrusion.
- Quantity & Value: A multi-pack of 250g spools offers great color variety for a low entry price. However, you must be mindful of the limited quantity per spool. It’s easy to underestimate how much filament a larger print requires. For a small figurine, 250g is plenty; for a full-size helmet, it’s not even close. Calculate your filament needs before starting a large project to avoid running out mid-print.
- Ease of Use & Winding Quality: Nothing ruins a 12-hour print faster than a tangled spool. Brands often tout “tangle-free” or “neatly wound” technology, like SUNLU does. While often effective, manufacturing inconsistencies can still occur. Always check the first few layers of winding and ensure the filament end is secured in the provided holes on the spool when not in use to prevent it from unwinding and creating a knot.
While the SUNLU PLA+ 1.75mm 8 Pack Filament is an excellent choice for adding color to your collection, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- Up to 16 Colors: Bring your designs to life with vibrant multi-color/multi-material printing capabilities, perfect for showcasing your creativity. Note: Connecting Bambu Lab AMS is required.
- High-Speed Precision: Experience unparalleled speed and precision with the Bambu Lab A1 Mini 3D Printer. With an impressive acceleration of 10,000 mm/s², the A1 Mini delivers blazing-fast printing...
- 【Multicolor Printing with CFS】The Creality K2 Pro 3D printer is compatible with the CFS Smart Filament System, enabling advanced multicolor and multi-material printing for more creative works.
Unboxing the Rainbow: First Impressions and Key Features
The SUNLU PLA+ 1.75mm 8 Pack Filament arrives in a surprisingly compact, unassuming cardboard box. Inside, the eight 250g spools are neatly arranged, each one individually vacuum-sealed in a thick plastic bag with a small desiccant packet to ward off moisture during transit. This attention to packaging is a great first sign, as moisture is the mortal enemy of PLA filament. Upon opening the first spool—the Sky Blue—we immediately noticed the size. As one user noted with surprise, these spools are small, measuring just about 5.5 inches in diameter. For us, this was a major selling point. They are light, easy to handle, and don’t take up much space. The colors on the spool appear slightly more muted and matte than the product photos might suggest, a sentiment echoed in user feedback, but they are distinct and consistent. The filament itself feels smooth to the touch with no noticeable variations in diameter. Each spool has the standard holes on the edge to secure the filament tip, a small but essential feature for preventing tangles between prints. Overall, the initial impression is one of practical, no-frills value designed for function over flash.
What We Like
- Excellent value for money, providing eight different colors at a low cost
- PLA+ formulation offers enhanced strength and durability over standard PLA
- Small 250g spools are perfect for multi-color projects, testing, and 3D pens
- Individually vacuum-sealed packaging with desiccant protects filament quality
What We Didn’t Like
- Mini-spools are not compatible with some automated material systems (AMS) without adapters
- Colors can be less vibrant than expected, with a more matte finish
Putting the SUNLU PLA+ 8 Pack to the Test: A Detailed Performance Breakdown
A filament pack can look great on paper, but the real test is how it performs under heat and pressure. We put the SUNLU PLA+ 1.75mm 8 Pack Filament through a rigorous series of tests on our modified Creality Ender 3 V2, focusing on print quality, ease of use, and the validity of its marketing claims. We wanted to know if this budget-friendly rainbow was truly a pot of gold or just a source of printing problems.
Printing Quality and Color Accuracy
Our first goal was to assess the raw output quality across the color spectrum. We chose a range of models, from a detailed tabletop miniature requiring precision to a simple, functional bracket that tested strength and layer adhesion. We started with the basics: Black, White, and Grey. These are the workhorses of any filament collection, and SUNLU’s PLA+ performed admirably. Prints were clean with a smooth, slightly matte finish that does a great job of hiding layer lines. Layer adhesion was excellent, and we experienced minimal stringing or blobbing once we dialed in our retraction settings. These colors provide a reliable, predictable foundation for any project.
Next, we moved to the more vibrant colors: Cherry Red, Sunshine Orange, Lemon Yellow, Mint Green, and Sky Blue. This is where we noticed the characteristic that some users pointed out. The term “vibrant” is subjective, and compared to some premium, high-gloss filaments, these colors are more subdued. The Cherry Red is a deep, solid red rather than a bright, fire-engine red. The Sunshine Orange is more of a pastel orange. However, this is not necessarily a flaw. The colors are rich, consistent, and produce a beautiful, professional-looking matte finish. For models that don’t need a high-gloss, toy-like appearance, this aesthetic is actually preferable. The color consistency throughout each spool was flawless, with no signs of variation. This pack delivers a wonderful palette for those who appreciate the variety and unique finish it provides.
Dialing in the Settings: A Learning Curve?
Out of the box, we loaded the Grey filament and tried printing with our standard PLA profile, which runs at a nozzle temperature of 205°C and a print speed of 150 mm/s. The first few prints were, as one user described them, “ok-eish.” We saw some signs of weak layer adhesion and minor under-extrusion. This immediately brought to mind the user who had to raise the temperature and lower the speed. This feedback was spot-on. PLA+ is not standard PLA; its additives require more heat to melt and flow properly.
We created a new profile specifically for this SUNLU PLA+. We bumped the nozzle temperature into the middle of the recommended range at 225°C and set the bed to 60°C. The difference was night and day. The filament extruded smoothly and consistently, and layer adhesion became rock-solid. We then tackled the speed issue. While our printer can handle much higher speeds, we found that this particular filament blend produced the cleanest results, especially on complex geometries, when we reduced the print speed to around 100 mm/s. Pushing it faster led to a slight decline in surface quality. This isn’t a filament for speed-printing competitions, but for hobbyists seeking quality results, this small adjustment is a minor trade-off. This experience underscores a critical lesson in 3D printing: always be prepared to create a custom profile for each new brand and type of filament you use. Don’t assume your old settings will work perfectly.
The “Neatly Wound” Promise vs. Reality
SUNLU makes a point of advertising its “proprietary Neatly Wound spool technology,” which is a major selling point for anyone who has lost a print to a filament tangle. For the most part, our experience validated this claim. We ran through the Black, White, Red, Yellow, Orange, and Blue spools without a single hitch. The filament fed off the spool perfectly every time, unwinding with smooth, predictable precision. The winding was visibly neat and orderly, a clear sign of good quality control during manufacturing.
However, when we loaded the Mint Green spool, we encountered our first issue. About halfway through a six-hour print, our filament runout sensor triggered a pause. Upon inspection, we found a snag on the spool where the filament had looped over itself. It wasn’t a catastrophic, print-destroying knot, but it was tight enough to stop the extruder from pulling more material. We were able to pause the print, manually unwind the snag, and resume without issue. This experience perfectly aligns with user reports of tangling. While SUNLU’s winding technology is clearly effective most of the time, it’s not infallible. It serves as a reminder that even with neatly wound spools, random manufacturing defects can occur, and it’s always wise to keep an eye on long prints. We also considered the user who received a super brittle spool. This is almost always due to moisture absorption. While our spools were perfectly dry out of the bag, it highlights the importance of proper storage in a dry box or sealed bag with desiccant, especially if a spool will be sitting out for an extended period.
Spool Size and System Compatibility
The 250g mini-spool format is the central feature of this product, and it’s a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it’s fantastic for projects requiring multiple small splashes of color. You can build an entire library of eight colors for the price of two standard 1kg spools. There’s less waste and less commitment. For our multi-color miniature project, it was perfect—we used a little of five different colors without leaving behind massive, half-used spools.
On the other hand, the small quantity can be a drawback. We almost fell into this trap ourselves when starting what we thought was a medium-sized print, only to have the slicer estimate it would use 260g of filament. These spools are not intended for large-scale items. The biggest issue, however, is mechanical compatibility. As a user review correctly warned, these spools do not fit in the Bambu Lab AMS without an adapter. The spool’s diameter and hub are non-standard. We were able to 3D print an adapter that allowed it to fit, but this is an extra step that potential buyers must be aware of. If you rely on a seamless, automated printing experience with an AMS, you need to factor in this additional hassle. For those with a simple spool holder, it’s a non-issue, but for the growing number of AMS users, this compatibility issue is a critical factor to consider.
What Other Users Are Saying
Looking across a range of user feedback, a clear picture emerges that mirrors our own testing experience with the SUNLU PLA+ 1.75mm 8 Pack Filament. The sentiment is generally positive, with many users celebrating the product’s core value proposition. One happy customer, new to 3D printing, called it “just FANTASTIC,” praising the “great quality and clean prints each time” and declaring it their new “go-to filament.” Another simply stated, “Many colors for an amazing price,” summing up the primary appeal of this bundle perfectly.
However, the negative feedback highlights key inconsistencies that buyers should be aware of. The most common complaint revolves around print settings and quality control. One user detailed their initial struggles, noting, “I got first 5 prints faile, until I realized that the nozzle temperature must be raised from usual 200 Celsius up to 225 Celsius and printing speed must be decreased.” Other users faced more severe issues, with one reporting the product was the “exact opposite” of tangle-free, and another receiving a spool that was “super brittle” and unusable right out of the package. Several reviews also mentioned disappointment in the color vibrancy, stating they “look nothing like the pictures,” and the surprisingly small size of the spools, which one buyer called “deceiving.”
Filament Choices in a World of Advanced 3D Printers
While the SUNLU PLA+ 1.75mm 8 Pack Filament is an essential consumable for getting started with FDM printing, choosing the right printer is the most critical decision. The type of printer you own dictates the materials you can use. Let’s look at how different popular printer types compare, which will influence your material choices.
1. ELEGOO Saturn 4 Ultra 16K Resin 3D Printer
- 【16K Magic, Precision Redefined】Designed to capture the finest details for exquisite models, ELEGOO Saturn 4 Ultra 16K Resin 3D Printer boasts ultra-high resolution, ensuring that every model...
- 【Smart Tank Heating, Flawless Prints at 30 °C】ELEGOO Saturn 4 Ultra 16K 3D Resin Printer features an intelligent tank heating system that continues heating the resin to keep it at a perfect 30...
This machine represents a completely different branch of 3D printing technology. The ELEGOO Saturn 4 Ultra is a resin printer, which uses a vat of liquid photopolymer resin that is cured layer-by-layer by a UV light source. It does not use filament like the SUNLU PLA+ at all. A user would choose a resin printer for applications requiring extreme detail and smooth surfaces, such as intricate jewelry, dental models, or high-fidelity tabletop miniatures. The trade-off is a messier workflow involving chemicals and post-processing (washing and curing). This is for the detail-oriented specialist, not someone looking for the simple, robust functionality offered by an FDM printer and PLA filament.
2. ANYCUBIC Kobra S1 Combo Multicolor 3D Printer
- 【Multicolor Printing Up to 8 Colors】The Anycubic Kobra S1 Combo can achieve 4-color printing. With 2 Anycubic Ace Pros are combined, you can then unleash max 8-color printing to bring you even...
- 【Ace Pro More Than Just Active Drying】Active drying、intelligent mult-filament drying and anti-entanglement design improve the success of printing. Dual PTC heating module + 360° hot air...
The ANYCUBIC Kobra S1 Combo is a direct, albeit more advanced, competitor in the FDM multi-color space. Instead of requiring manual filament swaps like you would do with the SUNLU pack on a standard printer, this machine comes with the Anycubic ACE PRO, an external unit that automates the process of feeding up to four different colors to the nozzle. This is an integrated system for someone who wants to produce complex multi-color prints seamlessly and frequently. While it would still use 1.75mm PLA filament, a user investing in this advanced setup might prefer larger 1kg spools to load into the system for bigger, more ambitious projects.
3. Creality Ender-5 Max 3D Printer Large Build Volume High-Speed
- 【Massive Build Volume of 400x400x400mm】 Designed for professionals, the Ender-5 Max offers a spacious build area to handle large projects and batch printing efficiently, freeing you from size...
- 【Ultra-Fast Printing Speed of 700mm/s】 Equipped with high-performance XY-axis motors, this printer delivers a peak speed of 700mm/s with an acceleration of 20000mm/s^2, ensuring faster prints...
The key feature of the Creality Ender-5 Max is its massive 400x400x400mm build volume. This printer is for makers who want to go big—printing full-size costume helmets, architectural models, or large mechanical parts in a single piece. While it uses the same FDM technology and is perfectly compatible with 1.75mm PLA+, the small 250g spools from the SUNLU pack would be impractical for its primary purpose. A single large print on this machine could easily consume an entire 1kg spool or more. A user buying the Ender-5 Max is prioritizing scale above all else and would almost certainly be purchasing their filament in larger, more economical quantities.
Our Final Verdict: Is the SUNLU PLA+ 8 Pack the Right Choice for Your Prints?
After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the SUNLU PLA+ 1.75mm 8 Pack Filament is overwhelmingly positive, with a few important caveats. This product excels at its intended purpose: providing an affordable, diverse palette of colors for hobbyists, artists, and beginners. The value is undeniable. For the cost of two standard spools, you get eight distinct colors of durable PLA+ material, perfect for bringing multi-part projects to life without the waste and expense of buying in bulk. The small spool size is a feature, not a bug, encouraging experimentation and minimizing clutter.
However, it is not a perfect product. Users must be prepared to create a dedicated slicer profile, as this PLA+ requires higher temperatures and slightly slower speeds than standard PLA for optimal results. The colors, while consistent and pleasant, have a matte finish that may not satisfy those seeking high-gloss vibrancy. Most importantly, the non-standard spool size is a critical flaw for anyone using an automated material system, requiring a workaround. If you are a maker who values variety and affordability, and you’re willing to spend a little time dialing in your settings, this filament pack is an outstanding choice. It’s a fantastic, low-risk way to broaden your creative horizons. For those with AMS units or a need for blazing print speeds, you may need to look elsewhere. For everyone else ready to add a splash of color to their creations, we can confidently recommend it. You can check the latest price and see the full color range online.
Last update on 2025-11-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API