“The excitement, the fun, the play! Children are just getting to ‘be children’ when they use a water soaker. They still have to be safe, but actually – it’s now OK to spray Mummy and Daddy with water, which they wouldn’t normally get to do! It’s great for bonding and a fun way to be playful with our children."
With so many different water soakers out there, each with their own funky features, and all at different price points, how do you know which is the best water gun for your brood?
Through our testing and parent feedback, we’ve found the best of the best water soakers and compiled a list of all the things to consider when buying a water gun.
Best water soakers for kids at a glance
- Best for long-distance blasting: Nerf Super Soaker Dartfire, £34.99
- Best budget buy: Zuru X-Shot Typhoon Blaster Water Gun, £10
- Best for toddlers: HydroStorm Water Blaster, £5.49
- Best fun feature: Zimpli Kids Slime Blaster, £14.73
- Best for older kids: Nerf Super Soaker FreezeFire 2.0, £19.99
- Best for water capacity: Nerf Super Soaker Hydra, £29.03
- Best small soaker: Nerf Super Soaker DinoSquad Dino-Soak Drench Water Blaster, £12.99
- Best no-frills soaker: Storm Blasters Jet Stream Water Blaster, £3.50
- Best multi-pack: Joyin 2 Pack Water Pistols, £17.99
- Best water balloon soaker: Zuru Buncho Balloons Neon Splash Slingshot, £17.50
Things to consider when buying a water soaker
- Age of your child – Water soakers come with a range of features, some of which are aimed at specific ages. All soakers will have an age suitability suggestion on the packaging, so use this as a guide. Then look at how complicated it is to use, what kind of shooting action it has, how heavy it will be when filled with water and how easy it is to shoot.
- Size of the water soaker – You can find water soakers as small as a palm-sized little pistol, or as big as a full-on bazooka blaster. Large feature-filled soakers may look like the most fun, but if they’re too big for your child to handle they might feel frustrated and upset that they can’t control it.
- Water capacity – Soakers are made to hold different capacities of water and small water tanks will need to be constantly refilled. If you’re just looking for a simple, fun game to play around a paddling pool, then a smaller water capacity could suffice, but for epic water fights choose one with a larger tank.
- Blast Distance – Whether it’s a gentle blast or a full-on soaking, you can find water guns with various blast distances. We've listed the blast distances for each soaker, but remember these are the maximum possible distances, not all kids will be able to reach those max lengths, especially if strong pumping is required first.
- Firing action – There are two types of release action: trigger action, where you fire a trigger and which might be easier for smaller fingers; and pump action where you vigorously pump first to get a powerful stream of water, which requires more muscle power and can suit older kids.
- Features – Fancy a soaker that does more than blast water? Some shoot slime, Nerf bullets as well as water, or water balloons.
The best super soakers and water guns for children - tested by kids
1. Nerf Super Soaker Dartfire, £34.99
– Best for long-distance blasting
Age suitability: 3 years+ | Size: 50.8 cm (H) x 6.5 cm (W) x 31.2 cm (D) | Weight: 0.69 kg | Blast Distance: Up to 38 feet | Water capacity: 1100 ml
The Nerf Super Soaker Dartfire not only soaks your opponent from a long distance but also lets you blast them with Nerf darts. Our child testers LOVED this novel double shot of blasting action.
With a blasting distance of up to 38 feet (the furthest in our list along with the Nerf FreezeFire and Joyin 2-pack), the Dartfire features snap-fire trigger technology, and there’s no pumping required. It holds an impressive amount of water in the tank (1.1 litres), so will potentially keep your child water-armed for longer than their opponents.
The Nerf bullets are a lot of fun but it only comes with 5 bullets, and as parents know, it's exceptionally easy to lose them.
Pros: Super-long blasting distance, good water capacity, no pumping required
Cons: Only 5 bullets - so you're likely to need to purchase more separately, pricey (but good play value), heavier than others
Available at: Amazon
2. Zuru X-Shot Typhoon Thunder Blaster Water Gun, £10
– Best budget buy
Age suitability: 5 years+ | Size: 24 cm (H) x 40 cm (W) x 7 cm (D) | Weight: 0.46 kg | Blast Distance: 30 feet | Water capacity: 550ml
This handheld water blaster packs some serious wallop for a tenner.
The Typhoon Thunder has an impressive blasting distance of up to 30 feet, which beats some of its more expensive competitors. To get the soaker ready to blast, you need to pump it a few times and then squeeze the trigger to release, and so is best suited to older kids (it has an age suitability of 5+.
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With a capacity to hold 550 ml of water, it may also require a fair amount of reloading water, so great for playing near paddling or splash pools.
Pros: Great price, long blasting distance
Cons: Smaller water capacity
Available at: Argos and The Range
3. HydroStorm Water Blaster, Pack of 4, £5.49
– Best for toddlers
Age suitability: 3 years+ | Size: 26 cm (H) x 4.2 cm (W) x 18.6 cm (D) | Weight: 0.18 kg | Blast Distance: Up to 19.5 feet/6 metres
These Hydroform water blasters are a simple and good value introduction to super soakers, plus small and light, so easy to pack on days out or holidays. Fully immerse these foam blasters into water and toddlers and pre-schoolers can draw up the pump then push it in to release a healthy blast of water.
We love how squishy and soft these water blasters are. Unlike the other soakers in our list, these are made from a soft, foamy fabric rather than plastic, making them an easy and safe water toy for your toddler to handle.
Victoria, mum to our child tester (pictured above), agrees, saying: “Foam water shooters are so easy for little ones to hold and use; my child love loves them.” Though no toy is completely accident-proof, the fact that it’s soft might help limit potential accidents."
Pros: Available in multi-packs, easy for young children to use
Cons: Not as long-lasting as plastic soakers, need to be fully immersed in water to fill up
Available at: Amazon and Pound Toy
4. Zimpli Kids Slime Blaster, £14.73
– Best for fun features
Age suitability: 3 years+ | Size: 23 cm (H) x 8.5 cm (W) x 46 cm (D) | Weight: 0.45 kg | Blast Distance: Up to 23 feet | Water capacity: 400ml
What do you get when you mix a water blaster with slime? Oodles of gooey green fun.
But before your mind immediately jumps to messy slime being blasted all over your garden and clothes, we can reassure you that the slime used in the Zimpli Kids Slime Blaster is non-stain, washable and skin- and drain-safe.
“I love that it shoots real slime! It goes really far and I could squirt my brother from the other side of the garden,” said child tester, Tyler, 6.
The blaster comes with 12 sachets of powder (making 200+ slime shots) to make the slime, and you can buy more separately. Simply add the powder to the water in the canister, shake it and wait for 5 minutes. The Slime Blaster has a pump action, which can take some time for younger children to get the hang of, and if it’s not pumped fully, it won’t reach its maximum blasting distance.
Pros: Slime is biodegradable, washable and non-staining, can also be used as a regular water gun
Cons: Pump action so may be trickier for younger kids, smaller water capacity, likely to need to buy additional slime sachets
Available at: Amazon and The Shop of Toys
5. Nerf Super Soaker FreezeFire 2.0, £19.99
– Best for older kids
Age suitability: 6 years+ | Size: 29.8 cm (H) x 6.5 cm (W) x 25 cm (D) | Weight: 0.4 kg | Blast Distance: Up to 38 feet | Water capacity: 591ml
There's a clue in the name of the Nerf FreezeFire - your child can not only soak their opponents, they can freeze them too. An oversized filler cap means you can add ice cubes to the cold water, to turn the blast into an icy shower. This soaker is pump operated, with a fantastic reach and produces a strong and steady stream of water when released.
Our child testers loved the compact size of this soaker, which made it easy to conceal when going for a sneak attack.
Pros: Super-long blasting distance, takes ice cubes as well as water, compact for its power
Cons: Pump action so may be trickier for younger kids, tank size on the smaller side
Available at: Amazon and On Buy
6. Nerf Super Soaker Hydra, £29.03
– Best for water capacity
Age suitability: 7 years+ | Size: 66 cm (H) x 6.7 cm (W) x 28.6 cm (D) | Weight: 0.85 kg | Blast Distance: Up to 20 feet | Water capacity: 1900ml
This super soaker really is a SUPER soaker. It produces cannon blasts of water and thanks to its huge size, it also holds an impressive amount of water (1.9 litres). This is a hefty water blaster and not surprisingly aimed at 7 year+ kids. who can better handle the size and weight.
You activate the water blaster by pumping the handle back and forth (although some of our parent testers found if you pump it too hard it could cause the handle to not work as well) and set loose a powerful stream of water.
Fans of the traditional Nerf gun will love this, as Debbie, mum to our family of child testers, says, “My boys and daughter all love Nerf guns and particularly the Nerf water super soakers in the summer. They really are fantastic!”. Be warned though, the stream is pretty strong so best to encourage a safe distance.
Pros: Large water capacity (nearly 2l), powerful water stream
Cons: Heavy particularly with full tank, pump action so may be trickier for younger kids
Available at: Amazon
7. Nerf Super Soaker DinoSquad Dino-Soak Drench Water Blaster, £12.99
– Best small soaker
Age suitability: 6 years+ | Size: 26.7 cm (H) x 43.2 cm (W) x 6.7 cm | Weight: 0.68 kg | Blast Distance: Up to 25 feet
Our child testers loved the unusual dinosaur design of the Dino-Soak blaster and found it easy to hold and handle.
But don’t let its size fool you, it may be compact, but it still packs a great soaking wallop, with water shooting out of its mouth to a decent blasting range. What made this really stand out – apart from the cool dinosaur look – was just how easy it is to use. Our testers found the pump to be smooth and simple to operate.
Pros: Easy to fill, simple pump action, fun dino design
Cons: Pump action so may be trickier for younger kids, water capacity smaller than some
Available at: Amazon and Argos
8. Storm Blasters Jet Stream Water Blaster, £7 but on sale for £3.50
– Best no-frills soaker
Age suitability: 5 years+ | Size: 15.4 cm (H) x 28.5 cm (W) x 4.4 cm (D) | Blast Distance: Up to 19.5 feet/6 metres | Water capacity: 500 ml
Affordable enough to buy in bulk (they seem to be on a fairly permanent 50% price reduction), these Storm Blasters soakers are great for kids' birthday parties or epic family water fights.
This easy-to-use blaster is operated with a pump action and has a reasonable blasting distance of nearly 20 feet. It comes in a range of colours but you are sent them at random and can’t choose the colour you want. and they’re affordable enough to buy in bulk.
Pros: Great price, easy to fill up, effective blast
Cons: Smaller water capacity, pump action so may be trickier for younger kids
Available at: The Entertainer
9. Joyin 2 Pack Water Pistols, £17.99
– Best multi-pack
Age suitability: 3 years+ | Size: 20.2 cm (H) x 39.8 cm (W) x 14.4 cm (D) | Weight: 0.825 kg | Blast Distance: 36 feet | Water capacity: 740 ml
Packing a mighty blasting distance and reasonable water capacity, this pack of 2 Joyin compact soakers offers a good value option for duelling.
Our testers loved the smooth, pumping trigger to release streams of water and found them simple and easy to use. A couple of our testers found they leaked a little bit after using them for a while, but, on the whole, we were impressed with their performance and durability, especially for the price.
Pros: Good value 2-pack, super-long blasting distance, easy pumping action
Cons: Can leak a little after extended use, pump action so may be trickier for younger kids
Available at: Amazon
10. Zuru Bunch O Balloons Neon Splash Slingshot, £17.50
– Best water balloon soaker
Age suitability: 3 years+ | Size: 32 cm (H) x 44.2 cm (W) x 7.7 cm (D) | Blast Distance: Up to 130 feet
A different option to the traditional water blaster, this slingshot water soaker launches water balloons over super-long distances (up to 130 feet if you're really adept).
It’s surprisingly simple and quick to use as the design of the balloons allows you to fill 105 balloons in minutes by attaching multiple balloon stems to a hose. Better yet, you don’t have to tie them yourself, thanks to their self-seal design.
Although age suitability is from 3 years, the slingshot action is a little tricky for young children to master. While our child testers adored the bright, neon colours of the balloons, our parents loved how the balloons are made from natural rubber, making them sustainable as well as fun.
Pros: Biodegradable, ultra blasting distance, self-tying balloons
Cons: Need to purchase more balloons separately, better for older children
Available at: Tesco and Toy Street
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How did we choose our 10 of the best?
When choosing and testing these water soakers we considered size, weight, price, water blast distance, water capacity, ease of use, special features, style and play value.
Out 10 of the Best lists are compiled by qualified and experienced parenting journalists. They rely on a number of sources, including our testing during the MadeForMums awards and feedback from our home testing panel and Top Testers Club.
Each year, 1000s of products are put through their paces by hundreds of parents across the country on behalf of MadeForMums, to ensure we’re bringing you honest and true reviews and recommendations.
Our list is not an ordered ranking from 1-10, but instead a carefully selected group of tried-and-tested products, each of which we believe is best for a different situation or requirement. We don’t just tell you what is best, we aim to help you discover what is best for your family.
About the author
Claire is mum to Elijah, Teddy, and Lottie, and has worked as a content writer and copywriter for 10 years. She has written product reviews and articles for MadeForMums since becoming a mum for the first time in 2013 as well as parenting articles and other content (in industries ranging from fashion to wellness to sustainability) for national and international newspapers, websites, and blogs.
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FAQs
Which Nerf water gun shoots the farthest? ›
Nerf Super Soaker Breach Blast. The Breach Blast is an all-around well-performing Super Soaker with a firing range of 38 feet and a water reservoir that can hold 50 fluid ounces (1.48 liters) of water. The reason why the reservoir is so big is that the blaster is designed such that the handle can also carry water.
What is the most powerful water gun Super Soaker CPS 2000? ›To this day, the first generation CPS 2000 is the most powerful production water gun, with an output of 30 oz. per second (~850 ml/s), and a range of 53 feet (16 m).
What is the fastest shooting Nerf gun 2022? ›Exclusive: Nerf's upcoming blaster fires seven darts per second.
What is the most powerful Nerf gun in the World 2022? ›In fact, all of our testers gave the Outbreaker high marks for its shooting power—it was the strongest of all the guns we tested—as well as how easy it was to load the darts into the rotating drum. The Zombie Strike Outbreaker also got points for how cool it looks.
Which Nerf gun is best for 8 year old? ›Nerf MicroShots N-Strike Elite Firestrike, For Kids Ages 8 years old and Up.
What age are Orbeez guns for? ›Mroalk Electric Gel Ball Gun,Orbeez Gun with 30000+ Automatic Water Bead Gun, Glock Gel Blaster Pistol for Outdoor Splat Gun Game,Orbit Guns for Teens, Ages 12+
What is the number 1 nerf gun? ›Super fun, the Nemesis is not only the best blaster in the NERF Rival range, but it is also the best NERF machine gun and, in fact, simply the best-unmodified blaster, full stop! Read my full review of the NERF Rival Nemesis here.
How far does the Nerf Megalodon shoot? ›Nerf Mega Megalodon Blaster
Experience the mega-firing power of this red Nerf N-Strike Mega toy blaster that shoots darts up to 85 feet (26 meters). The blaster comes with 20 big red Official Nerf Mega Whistler darts that are designed for power and make a whistling sound as they fly through the air.
Nerf Mega XL Double Crusher Blaster, Largest Nerf Mega Darts Ever, 4 Nerf Mega XL Whistler Darts, Onboard Dart Storage.
What is the Powerfulest water gun? ›...
Product information.
| Product Dimensions | 26.3 x 3.82 x 9.41 inches |
|---|---|
| Maximum Range | 15 Meters |
| Batteries Required? | Yes |
How much does the CPS 2000 cost? ›
...
| CPS 2000 | |
|---|---|
| Stock Capacity: | 3.1L of water |
| Family: | CPS |
| Additional Pages: | |
The pump-action Super Soakers also offer a fair distance of 38 feet.
How do you win a Nerf war? ›- Establish a Base. One of the most crucial considerations during a NERF war is how and where you are going to establish your base. ...
- Fighting From the Base Line. ...
- Defend your base. ...
- Abandoning your base. ...
- Intimidation. ...
- If possible, build fear. ...
- Reloading. ...
- Do not use damaged darts.
Cons: The biggest con is these smaller rubber Hyper rounds HURT. They're smaller and denser than normal rival rounds, which is great for compact ammo bays and range... But they REALLY sting.
Can a NERF gun break a TV? ›A: Yes, it can definitely ruin a tv screen.
What's the fastest NERF gun? ›The Nerf N-Strike Elite HyperFire blaster is the fastest-firing Nerf dart blaster. This fully motorized blaster unleashes up to 5 darts per second with fresh batteries, so kids can rain down a deluge of darts onto targets.
Which is the best Nerf Mega? ›- Nerf N-Strike Mega Megalodon. Topping the list of best Nerf Mega blasters is the Megalodon, a slide-action weapon that can shoot darts in single and slam-fire mode. ...
- Nerf N-Strike Mega Mastodon. ...
- Nerf N-Strike Mega TwinShock. ...
- Nerf N-Strike Mega CycloneShock. ...
- Nerf N-Strike Mega RotoFury.
The balls themselves are rubbery, soft and compress upon impact which means that you definitely feel them but they won't leave a serious welt or pain. Obviously, eye protection is recommended but that was always the case.
How do you win a water gun fight? ›- Find Good Cover.
- Stay On The Move.
- Be Unpredictable.
- Have Proper Stance.
- Dress Appropriately.
- Map Out The Battlefield.
- Practice Throwing.
- Keep Extra Ammo Nearby.
However, there are some Rare Guns that have been designed to work underwater. These include the Heckler and Koch P11 pistol and the APS Underwater Assault Rifle.
What is a water gun called? ›
A water gun (or water pistol, water blaster or squirt gun, Marathi : Pichkari पिचकारी) is a type of toy gun designed to shoot jets of water. Similar to water balloons, the primary purpose of the toy is to soak another person in a recreational game such as water fight.
Which is the lowest price Nerf Gun? ›- Nerf Alpha Strike Lynx SD-1 Dual Set Guns & Darts. ₹1,831. ₹2,299.
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The Nerf Microshot Blaster is probably the easiest Nerf Gun to use for small kids. It is small enough that it fits well in their hands, it also is very easy to load.
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Can a 10 year old have a airsoft gun? ›Children under 18 should always have an adult with them when using non-powder guns. Children must be at least 10 years old to play at most paintball fields, and if they are under 18, they will need their parent's consent. You must be at least 18 to buy a BB gun or airsoft gun.
Are toy guns OK for kids? ›Some parents worry that allowing their children to play with toy guns will lead to them being violent as they get older. However, Felder says available research shows there isn't a link between toy gun play and future violence.
What is the strongest Nerf? ›So, while it doesn't come cheap, if you're looking for the most powerful NERF Blaster on the market, the Elite Titan CS-50 is the gun to buy.
What is the biggest Nerf battle ever? ›Well imagine play-fighting with 2,289 people and 4,394 NERF blasters! The Largest toy pistol fight ever took place in Texas, USA last week at the AT&T Stadium. The event was called Jared's Epic NERF Battle. Everyone was split into two massive teams which then tried to shoot each other with the soft darts.
What does Nerf stand for? ›Origin of Nerf
From NERF® ("non-expanding recreational foam"), a range of toys made of soft foam, ineffective as actual weapons (1969).
Today, the company's announcing Nerf Hyper, a new line of blasters that not only shoots harder (up to 110 feet per second) than any stock blaster but also features the company's fastest reloads yet, thanks to a smaller foam projectile that takes up so little space, you can fit 40 of them inside a pistol-sized blaster.
What Nerf gun can hold the most bullets? ›
It's the highest capacity NERF blaster ever. The N-STRIKE ELITE HAIL-FIRE tops out at an astounding 144-dart capacity (with the purchase of additional clips and darts). It holds up to 8 clips, and delivers a semi-auto barrage of darts as fast as you can pull the trigger.
How fast do Nerf bullets fly? ›The average Nerf blaster fires darts at around 70 ft/s (21 m/s).
Which Nerf gun is the rarest? ›The N-Strike Longstrike CS-6 is among the rarest Nerf guns around if you're looking for one that's still in the box and untarnished.
What Nerf dart goes the farthest? ›Nerf Ultra darts are the farthest flying Nerf darts EVER -- up to 120 feet (36 meters)! These ground-breaking darts feature an innovative flight tip, Aerofin technology, and Nerf Ultra foam. Nerf Ultra darts work only with Nerf Ultra blasters.
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To unlock Echo you need to reach tier 21 in Season 10 Battle Pass. Echo is in Shotgun class of COD Mobile, Echo is a semi-automatic shotgun that has very high damage, good accuracy, with low recoils.
How much does it cost to get a legendary gun in CoD Mobile? ›Call of Duty Mobile- Legendary Weapon Bundle released by Activision costs 40 CP: A massive news awaits Call of Duty Mobile fans.… Legendary Weapons are one of the most interesting items in Call of Duty Mobile.
What is the fastest ads sniper in CoD Mobile? ›Outlaw is one of the fastest sniper rifles in CoD mobile right now. With the right loadout, this sniper rifle can be a tool of total domination. This sniper gun is a beast. It has the fastest ADS and movement speed, which means you can run faster and react/aim quicker than your opponents.
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- Kimber Hunter. ...
- Savage 110 Classic. ...
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Can you hunt with an AR? ›
Many hunters say the standard caliber, or diameter of the bullet, of an AR-15 is preferable for hunting smaller animals. The average power of the shot can be less than a standard hunting shotgun. For Marbut to successfully hunt elk that weigh at least 500 pounds, the larger bullet is a must.
What is the TikTok water gun? ›The Orbeez Challenge encourages TikTok users to buy small soft gel or water balls (the Orbeez), load them into toy guns, and fire them at innocent victims. Many videos showed teens firing the water beads from a moving car.
What water guns shoot the farthest? ›Stream Machine TL-750
It's an intriguing option for looking for an aquatic-artillery water gun that shoots at the farthest distance. Though you've to refill after every shot, this gun's 70 feet range is significantly higher than other water guns we've reviewed.
The Nerf N-Strike Elite HyperFire blaster is the fastest-firing Nerf dart blaster. This fully motorized blaster unleashes up to 5 darts per second with fresh batteries, so kids can rain down a deluge of darts onto targets. Press the acceleration button, pull the trigger, and let the rapid-fire action begin!