Credit:
Reviewed / Lisa Lawrence
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Credit:
Reviewed / Lisa Lawrence
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
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This high-capacity, leak-free soaker also has quick fill technology and a rotating front dial to adjust streams. Read More
This cool-looking blaster is both aesthetically and functionally kid-friendly. Read More
This water gun is surprisingly lightweight for the capacity it holds, and we loved the double-barrel shooting action. Read More
A fun and easy to maneuver water blaster in a popular design Roblox fans love! Read More
This is a fun soaker that really does pack a punch, but it’s short on cool features that make it stand out in an overall impressive crowd. Read More
Nothing says summer fun like an old-fashioned water war. From Super Soakers to water pistols, water guns have come a long way since we were kids, and they just keep getting better. We've covered the best Nerf guns and the best inflatable water slides for kids to make summer a truly memorable one for kids — this time, we did some serious testing to see which of these bad boys below are truly the best water guns for kids.
The water gun that really blew the competition (ahem) “out of the water” is the X-Shot Water Warfare Epic Fast Fill by Zuru. Its fast-fill technology puts kids at the top of their water combat game. For smaller kids that don’t have the muscle to handle the X-Shot’s 34-ounce water capacity, the Nerf Super Soaker DinoSquad Dino-Soak Water Blaster ran a close second.
While the X-Shot water gun and the Dino-Soak took top honors, there were some seriously close contenders. Most models we tried offered cool features like double-barreled drenching or sustained spraying—so we have lots to say about each toy.
The X-Shot Epic Fast Fill has one of the best shooting distances of all we tried, and we loved that you can change the stream density.
The Dino-Soak has great water capacity, excellent pump action, and was lightweight enough for sustained water play.
Lightweight
Excellent water capacity
Easy to fill
None that we could find
Lightweight
Shoulder-stabilizing shark tale
Popular Roblox design
Could have more power
Fast fill technology
Excellent drenching capability
Lightweight
Beyond the fast fill, it’s short on features
Cool, incognito design
40 ounce water capacity
Easy-to-hold
Difficult to recap
Took longer to fill
Fun to refill
Lightweight
Easy to use
Low water capacity
Short soaking distance
Great price point
Lightweight
Slow refill
Forgettable product
Short soaking distance
High water capacity
Two handle carrying option
Adjustable stream
Heavy
Cumbersome for kids
Limited soaking distance
First and foremost, we tested for playability—and fun!
There are hundreds of soaker guns on the market. We selected our pool from top sellers with the best reviews, then we pitted them against each other. We had testers ranging from age 3 to mid-40s and tested for ease of use, fun factor, water capacity, pump action, and distance of shooting streams.
I'm Janelle and I'm the parenting writer here at Reviewed. I also happen to love a good water war and have been shooting Super Soakers and water guns since the early 1990s. While I’m not sure there is any sort of certification for expertise in water combat, I’d probably consider myself an expert on all things Super Soaker and beyond.
I’ve tested toys and products for Reviewed for three years and love to nerd out on the nuances of each product.
My lab assistant for testing was 8-year-old Henry. We recruited as many friends (kids and adults) as we could to test the soakers on numerous occasions. (As you can imagine, recruitment wasn’t much of a challenge.)
Nearly a dozen kids tested these water guns for fun and usability.
First and foremost, when we tested for the best water guns we looked for playability; we tested the distance and the velocity of water streams for each.
We filled each water gun with water and food coloring and measured 30 feet, using that to test for the distance and accuracy of each water stream. Those that hit the 30-foot mark with accuracy rose to the top of the list.
We also tested the ease with which each soaker could be refilled, asking each child to refill the blasters without assistance. If it was too difficult for a child of the manufacturer's recommended age to figure out without help, we docked the soaker in our scoring.
Finally, we tested for weight and ease of carrying. We weighed each soaker after it was filled, but we looked at this objectively as well observing the kids and determining how long a child could use a soaker—particularly the heavier ones—before they decided if it was too heavy for a kid to use for extended water blasting.
The way a water gun works depends on the type of soaker it is. There are several kinds, including squirt guns, pressurized reservoirs, and motorized pumps. The basic mechanism, however, stays the same: you have your pump, which compresses the air into a chamber when you press down, the pressure of which causes the water to jet out. The water itself is stored in the water gun's tank or water reservoir. When you pull the trigger, the water goes through the barrel and exits through the nozzle, which directs the water.
For a truly powerful piece, we preferred a water capacity of 24 to 35 ounces. Kids will need a minimum of 24 ounces to stay in the game without needing to constantly refill, but anything around 35 ounces is generally too heavy for kids to manage while running around.
We had kids of all ages test these guns for usability.
If the weight of a soaker is too heavy, kids (and adults) will get fatigued by playing. If you want a soaker that’s over our recommended 35-ounce capacity, we encourage you to look for ones with alternative handle options to accommodate the weight.
Likewise, a soaker that’s too large for the child you are buying for will prove unwieldy. Since soaker battles aren’t the kind of activity you play when standing still, any soaker you buy should be at a scale your child can easily manage.
When it comes to firing water, you’re going to want to test the action on your water gun. Many water blasters put added tension at the pumps to enhance a soaker’s drenching capabilities. While this is generally a great thing, a worn-out pump arm is a buzzkill on the battlefield. We recommend you look for a soaker that has an action that your child can manage during long durations of play.
Janelle Randazza is a writer/mother hybrid and taco enthusiast based out of Los Angeles, California.
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