What’s New in Water Warfare? The Must-Have Arsenal for Aqueous Combat

By Danielle Puma, Raimundo Ortiz and Ryan Lavis

As we’re heading into the hot, dry dog days of August, kids looking for ways to cool down during the last weeks of their vacation can always turn to their toy water guns for some relief.

The ‘Xploderz Xground Pounder 2500 Blaster’ offers a new take on the traditional water gun. It uses “H2Grow” technology – little liquid pellets that explode on impact – that allows its user to refill ammo for an unlimited battle experience. It costs $40 on the Toys ‘R’ Us website

For parents looking to score their child the latest in water-fare weaponry, stores across The Five Towns offer a wide selection of super soakers and blasters that will leave them drenched in fun.

And with water guns flying off the shelves across The Five Towns, parents should act quickly unless they want to send their kids high, dry and unarmed into the wet and wild August battlefield.

Toys ‘R’ Us           

While the Toys ‘R’ Us in Valley Stream is currently sold out of water guns, parents and their children can choose from a wide selection of advanced H2O-blaster technology on the company’s website. But just keep in mind – these aren’t your grandparents’ water pistols.

The ‘Xploderz Xground Pounder 2500 Blaster’ offers a new take on the traditional water gun. It uses “H2Grow” technology – little liquid pellets that explode on impact – that allows its user to refill ammo for an unlimited battle experience. It costs $40 on the Toys ‘R’ Us website, and promises your child will “outblast and outlast the competition.” There are also varying models, including a pump action version, and ones with flip-up sights and shoulder mounts for maximum effectiveness.

For those on a tighter budget this summer, the ‘Sizzlin’ Cool Aquapower – Double XR60 Water Shooter’ should do the trick. At a reasonable price of $11.99, these mini-blasters are air-pressure powered and hold up to 38oz. of water, with a range of up to 23 feet.

Toys ‘R’ Us also offers a selection for kids who want to wage their battle onto the pool front. The ‘Sizzlin’ Cool Eliminator Water Toy’ is only $3.99 and lets you use pool water as ammo. And for those who really want to crush their aquatic enemies this summer, the ‘Banzai Battle Blast Sting Ray’ is a water gun mounted pool float that costs $13.99. The blaster siphons water from the pool for unlimited ammo, as kids duke it out to see who can stay afloat the longest.

Toys ‘R’ Us is located at 300 W. Sunrise Hwy in Valley Stream. (516) 791-1270. You can also visit the website at www.toysrus.com

La Toys Etcetera

La Toys Etcetera in Cedarhurst sells a range of water guns to entice a child or adult of any age. Many of their guns offered are sold to children that are enjoying their summer vacations at camp. One of La Toy’s most popular items is the Nerf Super Soaker Tornado Strike. It blasts a stream of water up to 20 feet and is also equipped with refillable water clips. The Tornado Strike is sold for $39.99 and is for children ages six and up.

Another item La Toys offers to water gun lovers is the Nerf Super Soaker Thunderstorm Blaster. It is a motorized, fully automatic water blaster that can deliver a stream of water up to twenty-five feet away. There is no pumping required. This product was originally selling for $29.99 but was recently discounted down to $19.99. The Thunderstorm Blaster is intended for children ages six and up.

Invented by a fourth-grade child, the water balloon Pumponator is designed to fill balloons up quickly with water and air. All that is needed is to fill the container with water so it can fill the five hundred water balloons that are included. The balloons are available in red, blue, purple, green and pink. This item sells for $19.99.

Lastly, La Toys sells the Nerf Super Soaker Point Break Water Blaster. It is an air-pressure water gun that requires about twenty pumps for maximum soaking. It delivers a sixteen feet stream of water and is being sold for $14.99. The water blaster is intended for children ages six and up.

La Toys Etcetera is located at 82 Columbia in Cedarhurst. (516) 569-1112. www.latoysetc.com

Matty’s Toy Stop

Matty’s Toy Stop in Hewlett is a great place for families to bring their kids in and find  the aquatic weapons of the future. The first gun on the list for all the boys and girls should be the NERF Super Soaker Thunderstorm. The Thunderstorm is aptly named, because this blaster is fully automatic, meaning it allows for fast and furious soaking like the torrential downpours it is named after. The only requirements for operation are a quick fill-up of the water clip and the ability to pull a trigger with reckless abandon. The Thunderstorm costs $14.99 and requires four AA batteries, which are not included.

The next instrument of H2O terror is the NERF Super Soaker Electrostorm. This gun is smaller than the Thunderstorm, but is far more compact and can drench opponents from lengths as great as 25 feet. The Electrostorm, which costs $9.99, is fully motorized and requires four AA batteries, which are not included.

Finally, for the fiscally responsible youngsters trying to send their opponents to a watery doom while not breaking the piggy bank, there is the NERF Super Soaker Microburst. This is an easily concealed weapon, perfect for child espionage, than can rain on foes from  a distance of 20 feet. The Microburst costs $6.99 and does not require any batteries.

It is very important that none of these guns are discharged at the eyes or face of anyone involved in a water war, and that all clips and tanks are filled with clean tap water.

Matty’s Toy Stop is located at 1350 Peninsula Blvd. in Hewlett. (516) 295-2555

Sakoff’s Personalized Gifts and Toys

For those looking for more conservative brands of water guns, Sakoff’s offers the Turbo Spy Soaker. While this soaker is small in size, it still packs a wallop. It features a 180-degree swivel nozzle that let’s you sneak-up on your friends for maximum damage. Kids can pretend they’re James Bond or Jack Bauer as they utilize the swivel nozel for extreme spying capabilities. And the cheaply priced Cyber series x-794 Splash Water Gun is perfect for kids who want a smaller option that they can easily conceal. Both guns cost about $8.

Sakoff’s is located at 131 Cedarhurst Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY 11516 (516) 569-2390.