10 Water Guns for Kids and Adults: Choosing the Perfect Summer Toy Gift

Best Water Gun Toy for Kids
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Written by Emmet Sheridan

Updated - November 14th, 2023

Summer in Australia is just around the corner, which means 40-degree days and lots of festivities to be a part of. Spending time with friends and family over this holiday period goes hand in hand with cooling off with some type of water whether that be at the beach, the pool in the backyard, lakes…or water gun fights! If you’re looking for a fun Christmas Day activity with the family or a great secret Santa gift, we’ve got 10 water guns for you to check out!

Zuru Bunch O Balloons

Bunch O Balloons Zuru Slingshot

1. Our Pick

Benefits

  • Water balloons are self sealing eliminating the tedious nature of tying all the balloons individually
  • The Zuru Slingshot has incredible range, hauling balloons a whopping 30 metres
  • This water weapon is unique and is sure to impress

Drawbacks

  • There is an ongoing cost of having to buy more water balloons after the initial 100 run out
Hasbro NERF Super Soaker Hydra Water Blaster

Nerf Super Soaker Hydra

Premium Pick

Benefits

  • Enormous 2L tank!
  • Super long range of 10m

Drawbacks

  • Expensive price tag, coming in at nearly $50
  • Lacks mobility due to form factor and weight when the tank is full
TEAM MAGNUS Water Guns

Team Magnus INCOG Water Gun

Best Value

Benefits

  • High capacity at 1.18L
  • Incredibly high range at 32 feet (9.75m)
  • Stealthy look - water gun in disguise

Drawbacks

  • Hard to acquire in Australia as only sold in the USA

1. Our Pick: Bunch O Balloons Zuru Slingshot

If you’re looking to switch up your fighting arsenal and bring something different to the fight look no further than the Zuru Slingshot. This weapon requires some preparation as it relies on water balloons however the slingshot comes with its own self-sealing water balloons, 100 of them! An incredible feature of this slingshot is its range, this thing can fire up to 100ft (a whopping 30 metres!). The slingshot is a specialty weapon, guaranteed to catch your opponents by surprise.

Gadget Features Inspired For You

Unique | Interesting | Fun

Benefits

  • Water balloons are self sealing eliminating the tedious nature of tying all the balloons individually
  • The Zuru Slingshot has incredible range, hauling balloons a whopping 30 metres
  • This water weapon is unique and is sure to impress

Drawbacks

  • There is an ongoing cost of having to buy more water balloons after the initial 100 run out

2. Premium Pick: Nerf Super Soaker Hydra

If you’re looking for something with some serious capacity then you’ve come to the right place, the Nerf Super Soaker Hydra packs an enormous tank at nearly 2L! This water gun is a heavy hitter, blowing all the others out of the water. For what it lacks in mobility it makes up for with not only its incredible capacity but its huge range! This thing fires well over 30 feet (10m) making it the longest range out of all the water guns discussed in this article. This is sure to bring all day entertainment this summer!

Gadget Features Inspired For You

Heavy Hitter | High Capacity, High Range | Premium

Benefits

  • Enormous 2L tank!
  • Super long range of 10m

Drawbacks

  • Expensive price tag, coming in at nearly $50
  • Lacks mobility due to form factor and weight when the tank is full

3. Best Value: Team Magnus INCOG Water Gun

Slightly higher in price, coming in at $20 USD, the INCOG water gun by Team Magnus has a unique design that can be very stealthy likening to a portable battery. The INCOG has a 1.18L capacity, which will last you through multiple gunfights. With a 32-foot range (9.75m) this stealthy weapon is sure to catch opponents not paying attention. The INCOG also features a large rear handle adding to the portability and control when in use. This gun comes in a variety of colours; blue, purple, red, and grey/yellow. Unfortunately for Australian customers, this gun is sold in the US and will have to be imported into Australia, raising the cost.

Gadget Features Inspired For You

Portable | Stealthy | Cool design

Benefits

  • High capacity at 1.18L
  • Incredibly high range at 32 feet (9.75m)
  • Stealthy look - water gun in disguise

Drawbacks

  • Hard to acquire in Australia as only sold in the USA

4. Nerf Fortnite HC-E Super Soaker

The Nerf Fortnite HC-E Super Soaker is inspired from the hand cannon in the popular video game Fortnite. This is a pistol water gun meaning it has a lower capacity of 218mL (just under a cup of water). This gun alone won’t win you any battles, but it can be a great secondary weapon to whip out in a close-range fight. If you’re wondering what the difference is between the ‘HC’ and the ‘HC-E’ variants, there isn’t much. The E stands for Epic, referring to the rarity of the weapon in the video game. I’d recommend buying the HC Super Soaker as you can find it for much cheaper and it’s more widely available.

Gadget Features Inspired For You

Affordable | Fortnite | Perfect for close-range fights

Benefits

  • Inexpensive and affordable, retailing at $12
  • Great secondary weapon
  • Great for kids, due to Fortnite theme

Drawbacks

  • Small capacity at just 218mL
  • Short range due to trigger mechanism (as opposed to pump)

5. Nerf Super Soaker XP100 Water Blaster

For those who want more of a classic water gun, the Nerf Super Soaker XP100 is the go-to. This water gun packs a punch with a 1.26L tank, perfect as a primary rifle with a hand cannon in your holster! This remake of the original super soaker features a removable tank for easy refill just like the classic, as well as a pressurised tank to enable a continuous flow of H2O. The Super Soaker’s range starts out at 35 ft (over 10m) however drops off significantly after that as the tank starts to empty. This gun lacks stealth with bright colours but makes up for it with the nostalgic value and its incredible fighting power. It’s also on the more affordable end.

Gadget Features Inspired For You

Classic | Nostalgic | Great Value

Benefits

  • Classic look of the original super soaker
  • Huge 1.26L removable tank making refilling a breeze
  • Pressurised tank for high pressure stream

Drawbacks

  • Lacks stealth due to bright colours
  • Has long range when full, however drops off significantly as gun begins to empty

6. Zuru X-Shot Water Warfare Epic Fast Fill

Similar in price to the Nerf Super Soaker, the Zuru X-Shot is the modern cousin to the nostalgic super soaker. The Zuru X-Shot has a range of 10 metres and a capacity of 887mL. The main feature of the X-Shot being its incredibly fast refill time, the back of the tank has a 7-centimetre opening meaning the gun can be dunked in a bucket of water, filled up and the cap closed in a matter of seconds! The X-Shot also features a pump mechanism allowing for high-pressure, long-range attacks as well as a rotating outlet allowing you to change the density soaking your opponents.

Gadget Features Inspired For You

Modern | Fast Refill | High Pressure

Benefits

  • High range of 10 metres
  • Fast refill time with large opening at the rear
  • Rotating outlet allowing you to change the density of the water (similar to a shower head)

Drawbacks

  • The X-Shot has a smaller capacity at just 887mL

7. Nerf Super Soaker DinoSquad Dino-Soak

This water gun is perfect for younger kids to join the battle, the Dino-Soak’s smaller form factor with only slightly less capacity and range of just over 700mL and over 7.5m respectively, means it can keep up with the adults’ weapons. What makes it great for kids specifically, is its smooth water pump meaning kids won’t get fatigued or struggle adding pressure to the water when in the midst of battle. The cool design of the gun also makes it a hit as a Christmas present for your little one. Adults better watch out for this one!

Gadget Features Inspired For You

Ideal for Kids | Small form factor | Light-weight

Benefits

  • Perfect for kids due to its smaller form factor and lighter weight
  • Packs a punch with a range of 7.5m

Drawbacks

  • On the more expensive end of products

8. Zuru X-Shot Micro Fast Fill

If its pistols you’re chasing don’t look past the X-Shot Micro Fast Fill. This duo loadout is a perfect complement to the rifle-type water guns discussed above, especially if you’re in an intense water fight and don’t have time to refill. Speaking of refill, these pistols have the coolest refill mechanism featuring a plastic top that folds back for lightning-fast refill times of 1 second! No need for two hands either drop both into a bucket of water have them filled up only needing one hand per gun. They’ve got a range of 8m, which is very competitive considering how small these are and that they act off of a trigger instead of pump. The pistols have a small capacity of 170mL each which is fine for a gun this size and taking into account their refill time. Worth checking out!

Gadget Features Inspired For You

Affordable | Super Fast Refill | Long Range

Benefits

  • Lightning fast refill times of 1 second!
  • Long range of 8m considering the small form factor
  • Inexpensive at $13.99 for two pack

Drawbacks

  • Small capacity at 170mL each

9. Max Liquidator Original Water Blaster

We’ve all used these as kids, they’re tried and tested and guaranteed to get a reaction out of family members at Christmas. I’m talking about the stealthy pool noodle water guns, those who are unsuspecting or caught off guard around the pool can be met with a wet surprise. These water guns have a huge range of 9.75m however need to be filled up every shot, they’re the sniper of water guns but only work well if you’re in or right around a pool.

Gadget Features Inspired For You

Inexpensive | Basic | Fun | Perfect for Pools

Benefits

  • Incredibly inexpensive
  • Unsuspecting opponents due to disguise of a pool noodle
  • Huge range of 9.75m

Drawbacks

  • Need to be refilled every shot
  • Most useful in or around a pool or large body of water

10. SNAEN Water Blaster

The SNAEN Water Blaster is perfect for fans of Ghostbusters with its backpack style design. This water gun is unique as you carry the 2.5L tank on your back and is designed to not leak even in an intense water fight. The gun itself has a range of 30 feet (9.14m) making it comparable to most others listed above however the tank is what sets it apart. With the tank being secured to the users back it is ideal for kids as they don’t need to struggle carrying a 2.5L tank whilst running around.

Gadget Features Inspired For You

Unique Design | Mobile | Great for Kids | Ghostbuster-like

Benefits

  • Great for kids as tank is located on the users back making it easier to carry
  • Gigantic 2.5L tank & 9.14m range
  • Perfect for fans of ghostbusters due to backpack design

Drawbacks

  • Relatively expensive at $29.99 USD

Our Final Opinion

  • Best Value – The Team Magnus INCOG Water Gun is the best pick for all round use, with the large 1.18L capacity and a 9.75m range all for the price of approx. $29 AUD there isn’t much else that can top it!
  • Premium Pick – The Nerf Super Soaker Hydra has all the bells and whistles with a huge 2L tank and a range that surpasses the competition by a long shot – you’re not losing any water fights with this one.
  • Our Pick – The Bunch O Balloons Zuru Slingshot is a unique water weapon with some insane stats. The Zuru slingshot can haul water balloons a whopping 30m making it our pick.

FAQ

Emmet Sheridan - Gadget User Writer
Emmet Sheridan

Emmet is a marketing student at Curtin University in Perth, joining Gadget User in 2022. He’s passionate about consumer tech and eager to write more reviews to keep you informed in this changing environment.