Water guns best: Best water guns 2023 | GamesRadar+

Keen to cut loose? You can’t do much better than this when it comes to water guns. It fires two streams in random directions, so there’s no escaping its wrath.

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Short-range

4. Super Soaker Twister

Best short-range water gun

For those who like to battle up close, the Twister is ideal – it fires a jet of water in a double helix pattern, so it’s near-impossible to keep out of the way.

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Premium

5. Super Soaker Soakzooka

Best premium water gun

If you’re fed up of having to reload your water pistol on the regular, the Soakzooka will be your jam. This massive blaster can fit 55 fl oz (1.6L) in its tank.

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Cool down

6. Super Soaker Freezfire 2. 0

Best water gun for hot weather

The summer heat can be punishing, so this option from Super Soaker should keep you nice and cool thanks to a compartment for ice cubes that chills any water inside.

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All-rounder

7. Super Soaker DartFire

Best all-rounder

Why limit yourself to water pistols when you can get a blaster that also fires Nerf darts? This option deals in both h3O and darts, making it a great all-rounder.

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For children

8. Fortnite HC-E

Best water gun for kids

Buying for younger water warriors? This is a great option because it’s small and light enough to be used with ease, and it has the Fortnite cool-factor.

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Fortnite fans

9. Fortnite TS-R

Best water gun for Fortnite fans

Those who love Fortnite will love this h3O-based version of the tactical shotgun from that game – it captures that distinctive, cartoony style perfectly.

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Best water guns – value

(Image credit: Joyin)

1. Joyin 2 Pack

The best-value water guns

Specifications

Mechanism: Pump

Capacity: 25 fl oz (739ml)

Range: 36ft (10.6m)

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Really cheap

+

Two-gun set

+

Good range

Reasons to avoid

–

Bulky

As with so many toys, you get what you pay for when it comes to the best water guns. Usually, anyway; the Joyin 2 Pack is different. Despite being aggressively affordable, these water pistols are surprisingly good – and you’re getting two for the price of one. That makes this blaster pack ideal for families with a couple of kids (or adults that are still kids at heart).

You won’t get a pang of buyer’s regret after breaking them out of their packaging, either. These water pistols have an impressive range of 30-ish feet that’ll challenge many a Super Soaker. And although the capacity isn’t as noteworthy, it’s still pretty solid nonetheless.

Just remember, the Joyin 2 Pack blasters aren’t as dinky as they might appear in promo pictures. These are larger than you’d expect, so whoever’s going to wield them won’t feel short-changed.

Best water guns – capacity

(Image credit: Hasbro)

2. Super Soaker Hydra

The best water gun for capacity

Specifications

Mechanism: Handle

Capacity: 65 fl oz (1.9L)

Range: 25ft (6m)

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

No need to refill regularly

+

Easy to fire

+

Powerful

Reasons to avoid

–

Heavy

If you’re keen to avoid refilling your blaster every few minutes, this particular Super Soaker is one of the best water guns there is. It offers a ridiculously large capacity of 65 fluid ounces (1.9 liters), so you’re set for the long haul with this one.

Although that makes the Hydra fairly heavy, it’s still straightforward for kids to fire if they’re strong enough to wield it fully loaded. That’s due to an easy-fire mechanism. Rather than a pump system, air pressure, or brute force, it uses a handle that you just pull to unleash a watery deluge.

And we mean deluge. This isn’t a dribbling dollar-store pistol. The Hydra means business, and it’s capable of utterly drenching your opponents. 

Best water guns – most fun

(Image credit: Future)

3. Super Soaker Hydro Frenzy

The best water gun for sheer chaos

Specifications

Mechanism: Pump

Capacity: 24 fl oz (709ml)

Range: App. 30ft (9.14m)

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

No dodging this one

+

Multiple settings

+

Surprisingly accurate in certain modes

Reasons to avoid

–

Leaks slightly

Want to bring a touch of carnage to your backyard battles? Take note of this water gun. The pressure from firing causes two flexible tubes in the barrel to twist in every direction, and that sends streams of h30 all over the place. It’s brilliantly chaotic, utterly random, and impossible to dodge.

The Hydro Frenzy isn’t just about mayhem, though. This is a three-in-one blaster with a couple of very different settings, so it’s not a five-minute novelty. Besides the mode listed above, you can slide the nozzle forward to provide a wider blast radius or lock those tubes in place for something more traditional. The latter catapults two jets of water straight ahead, and besides being quite accurate, their range is surprisingly good. In essence, this is a great multi-purpose option.

Fully unhinged

GamesRadar+ review

When combined with a reasonable price tag under $20 / £20, you’re getting a lot of fun for your money here. As such, those wanting a more memorable Super Soaker will find this to be one of the best water guns for the job.

• Read more: Super Soaker Hydro Frenzy review

Best water guns – short range

(Image credit: Future)

4.

Super Soaker Twister

One of the best short-range water guns

Specifications

Mechanism: Pump

Capacity: 37fl oz (1,094ml)

Range: App. 20ft

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Twisting jets

+

Can soak multiple people

+

Decent capacity

Reasons to avoid

–

Needs force to work properly

This isn’t your average water gun; it’s precision-engineered to cause delightful carnage on the battlefield. Rather than shooting a single stream, the blaster fires a double-helix of h30 to drench anyone in front of you no matter how much they try and dodge.

It’s all down to a spinning cylinder at the end of the barrel. Using the gun’s pump will cause that cylinder to whirl, sending out twin jets of water that are almost guaranteed to hit something. That makes the Twister perfect for folks who charge headlong into action – it’s capable of blasting multiple people at once.

This blaster slaps

GamesRadar+ review

Although it requires force to activate properly (meaning very young warriors should look elsewhere), this is balanced out by not needing to aim. We’re a terrible shot so ended up being grateful for that during our hands-on tests.

• Read more: Nerf Super Soaker Twister review

Best water guns – premium

(Image credit: Hasbro)

5. Super Soaker Soakzooka

One of the best premium water guns

Specifications

Mechanism: Handle

Capacity: 55 fl oz (1.6L)

Range: 25ft (6m)

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Lives up to the name

+

Excellent capacity

+

Easy to operate

Reasons to avoid

–

Range isn’t massive

OK, now we’re talking. If you want to bring out the (literal) big guns, Super Soaker has you covered with the appropriately named Soakzooka. This is a bulky blaster for when ‘subtle’ just won’t cut it. 

Capable of carrying a massive 55 fluid ounces (1.6 liters), this is the sort of weapon that’ll strike fear into the heart of your opponents. Throw in a range of around 25 feet and you can guarantee that everyone else will be running for cover sharpish. It’s a monster.

However, its size doesn’t mean the Soakzooka isn’t suitable for the young water warriors amongst us. It’s still one of the best water guns even if you’re a kid thanks to an easy-to-operate firing mechanism – simply pull the handle to fire. That makes it well worth considering despite the higher price tag.

Best water guns – hot weather

(Image credit: Hasbro)

6. Super Soaker Freezefire 2.0

The best water gun for hot weather

Specifications

Mechanism: Pump

Capacity: 20fl oz (591ml)

Range: 38ft (11.5m)

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Uses ice cubes

+

Refreshing

+

Fair range

Reasons to avoid

–

Low capacity

The best water guns are ideal for cooling down quickly in the heat of summer, but none more so than the Freezefire 2.0. Thanks to a larger tank that can hold ice cubes alongside water, it fires the chilliest barrage on this list.

Sure, you don’t have to arm it with ice if you’d prefer not to. But in particularly hot weather, it’s the perfect choice. Especially thanks to its impressive range. Capable of firing up to 38ft, you can stay in the shade while sniping opponents. Nobody is safe from its wrath.

This particular Super Soaker is a more manageable size, too – it’s not heavy or unwieldy like some of the competition. In other words, the Freezefire 2.0 is perfect for younger water warriors.

Best water guns – all-rounder

(Image credit: Hasbro)

7. Super Soaker DartFire

The best combi-water gun

Specifications

Mechanism: Pump

Capacity: 40fl oz (1.1L) + 5 darts

Range: 38ft (11.5m)

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Uses Nerf darts too

+

Fair capacity

+

Decent range

Reasons to avoid

–

Only carries 5 darts

This one does exactly what it says on the tin; alongside water blasting, it’s also capable of firing darts just like the best Nerf guns. That makes it a good choice if you can’t decide between the best water guns and a Nerf blaster – it solves two problems in one fell swoop.

Handily, the DartFire uses Nerf Elite darts as well. Because these are the bog-standard bullets of choice for most Nerf products, they’re easy to buy in bulk. That makes stocking up on ammo nice and easy.

Not that this Super Soaker is no slouch when it comes to water battles, of course. Powered by a 40 fluid ounce (1.1 liter) capacity, the DartFire is able to blast water up to 38 feet. That’s not bad going for something in this price range.

Best water guns – for kids

(Image credit: Hasbro)

8. Super Soaker Fortnite HC-E

The best water gun for kids

Specifications

Mechanism: Trigger

Capacity: 7.4 fl oz (219ml)

Range: 9ft (3m)

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Affordable

+

Fortnite theming

Reasons to avoid

–

Some leaking

–

Not very powerful

If you’re hoping to get the best water guns without splashing out both literally and figuratively, this Fortnite-themed Super Soaker is a fair place to start. While it isn’t as powerful as other blasters, it’s cheap and will do the job very nicely. It’s a damn sight better than dollar-store equivalents, too.

Plus, few water pistols look this cool. Based on Fortnite’s Hand Cannon, it’s a pitch-perfect recreation of the gun from the video game (albeit in family-friendly purple and orange). And even though it’s prone to some leakage, the HC-E’s low cost and awesome design make up for that.

It doesn’t require pumping up either – just fill it, aim, and pull the trigger. That makes this one a great Super Soaker for children who want to get into the action as quickly as possible.

Best water guns – for Fortnite fans

(Image credit: Hasbro)

9. Fortnite TS-R Super Soaker

The best water gun for Fortnite fans

Specifications

Mechanism: Pump

Capacity: 36fl oz (1L)

Range: 10ft (3m)

Today’s Best Deals

Reasons to buy

+

Awesome Fortnite design

+

Decent capacity

+

Reasonable price

Reasons to avoid

–

Very poor range

Fortnite and Super Soakers are a match made in heaven, so this is arguably one of the best water guns of the bunch. Combining the video game’s distinctive look with an ability to drench your friends, it’s sure to go down very well for fans of the series.

While its range isn’t massive (which I suppose makes sense, considering the fact that it’s based on Fortnite’s Tactical Shotgun), the TS-R’s capacity makes up for it. Able to carry 36 fluid ounces, this isn’t a one-hit wonder that’ll run out after a few blasts.

The firing mechanism also ties into its identity as a shotgun – the TS-R is pump-operated. This does make it a little trickier to use for small children (and we’re disappointed that the trigger is fake), but it is pretty satisfying nonetheless.

Best water guns – FAQ

(Image credit: Hasbro)

What is the most powerful water gun?

If you’re looking for the best water gun that balances price with power, the Super Soaker Hydra is a front-runner with few rivals. Thanks to a handle pump that unleashes a deluge of water, it’ll completely drench opponents in no time at all. Although it’ll get through its 65 fl oz (1.9L) tank faster than you’d expect, there aren’t many alternatives within the same price range that can challenge it.

More premium options offer an even stronger performance. We’ve yet to go hands-on with it, but the SpyraTwo has been making waves in recent years (quite literally). Indeed, the company claims that it is the “world’s strongest water gun”. This is thanks to an electric pump that fires pellets of water rather than the usual stream.

Which water gun shoots the farthest?

After a lot of research, we’ve discovered that the Stream Machine TL 750 might just have the longest range of all the water guns we’ve looked at – more specifically, it can fire “up to 70 feet”, which is a whole lot more than the majority of the competition. Want a water gun that can shoot the farthest? Take a look at the Stream Machine.

30 feet is the minimum range we’d recommend

By way of context, your average water pistol can shoot a distance of 5 to 40 feet. The vast majority tend to fall around the mid-30s, and the bare minimum range we’d recommend is 30 feet unless you’re opting for power (as is the case with the Super Soaker Soakzooka) or sheer soaking capability.

How much does the most powerful water gun cost?

If you’re looking to get your hands on the most powerful water gun to make your friends run for cover, you can expect to pay $20 / £20 as a bare minimum for the privilege (a Super Soaker Hyrda costs roughly that amount, for example). However, top-of-the-line blasters can set you back a fair bit more so we’d expect prices to rise to the region of $30 / £30 at most. Basically, the more powerful your water pistol is, the more expensive it’s going to be. 

Well, we say ‘at most’. There are super-advanced blasters that’ll really knock your socks off like the SpyraTwo, but those will put a significant dent in your wallet of $100 / £100 or more.

For more offers everyone can enjoy, be sure to check out the top board games for kids and board games for families. As for other outdoor distractions, be sure to check out the latest offers on Nerf bullets.

Round up of today’s best deals

JOYIN 2 Pack Water Pistol Guns

£19.99

View

See all prices

Nerf Super Soaker Hydra

£23.49

View

See all prices

Nerf Super Soaker Hydro Frenzy

£12.16

View

See all prices

Nerf Super Soaker Twister

£13.97

View

See all prices

Nerf Super Soaker Soakzooka

£37.59

View

See all prices

Nerf Super Soaker Freezefire Blaster

£23.90

View

See all prices

Fortnite TS-R Nerf Super Soaker Water

£24.99

View

See all prices

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As the site’s Tabletop & Merch Editor, you’ll find my grubby paws on everything from board game reviews to lists of the very best Lego. I’ve also been writing about games in one form or another since 2012, and can normally be found cackling over some evil plan I’ve cooked up for my group’s next Dungeons & Dragons campaign.

Best Water Guns for 2023

I never spent much time choosing water guns based on performance metrics. Most of the time, I might be inspired by the coolest-looking one or how advertisers catch my attention more often (looking at you Nerf). But rest assured, after my experience testing some of the best water guns, there are huge differences in best use cases as well as performance. 

While some of these models are better for pools, others are more suited for backyards. Or beaches. None of that is unusual. What I did learn, surprisingly, is that some of these water guns are specifically not intended for those uses. Imagine I show up to a fancy pool water gun fight (that’s a thing, right?) with my new, $179 water gun only to spend all day grumbling because I can’t even take the thing into the pool.

Or maybe I’m chasing my dogs around the yard, unleashing the moisture apocalypse upon them, but I have to run back to the kitchen sink after every single shot. Ugh.

Well, don’t worry about being caught in these dire circumstances. I’m here to walk you through the best, and worst, water guns for your situation. Here we go.

Other water guns we tested

Nerf Super Soaker XP50-AP: Old-school design stands the test of time. It didn’t fare particularly well in our testing, having the lowest soak factor overall, but the pressurized shooting design is fun, but may keep you out of a quicker paced skirmish with plunger or automatic options available.

Nerf Super Soaker Soakzooka: This was actually a great product, just not a category winner. Third highest soak factor, and was the only gun to actually shoot farther than its stated claims at 30 feet versus 25.

Team Magnus Incog Water Guns 1,200cc: This gun had one of my favorite looks. It holds a lot of water because it’s basically all capacity and no fluff. It doesn’t shoot very far in comparison to our other tested units, but it’ll keep you in the game for a while, taking about 1 minute, 15 seconds to empty — even constantly shooting.

Spyra LX: With the release of the Spyra Two this year, we also wanted to compare it to the previous model. In some ways this version can be more useful since it can be fully submerged without all those internal electronics, but as far as performance goes, the new generation wins (other than the LX being able to dump its full load about 6 seconds faster, for a higher soak factor). If you like the look, but don’t want to drop $149 on the Spyra Two, The LX is more manageable at $79.

How we test water guns

The nature of water itself makes some aspects of testing water guns a bit difficult, but I feel good about the process overall. 

To start, we need to know how much water these things will hold. I do this by weight. Since 1 milliliter of water weighs 1 gram, it’s easy to measure capacity with a scale. After subtracting the empty blaster weights, you can see in the table below exactly how the capacities shake out. The Nerf Super Soaker Hydra has the overall largest capacity followed by its Super Soaker sibling. The least capacity was definitely the Temi blaster since it only stores the water for a single burst at a time.

Overall water capacity of each model in comparison.

Steve Conaway/CNET

Once the capacities are locked down, I then go through the process of shooting each gun as quickly as possible to find the shortest amount of time possible to empty that capacity. I have help from someone with a timer, and sometimes have to do multiple runs. Sitting around and shooting water guns for a couple of hours nonstop is way more of a workout than i expected. 

You can see here that typically, if it takes a long time (over 30 seconds) to empty a water gun, its overall soak factor (capacity divided by empty time) is pretty low. And, although quickest dump time doesn’t always mean the highest soak factor, that is exactly how it works out with the Temi. With a moderate one-shot capacity at just over 500mL, the 1.8 seconds it takes to empty gives it a massive soak factor of almost 300. 

The Super Soaker siblings come in second and third with similar empty times, but the Hydra’s larger capacity gives it a better soak factor. The old school Nerf XP50-AP and Team Magnus guns have median capacities and low soak factors, but keep you in the fight for much longer than their counterparts. 

Time (in seconds) to empty the water guns stacked with their overall soak factor in blue. One clear winner!

Steve Conaway/CNET

The only other measured test we run is for distance. This one is fairly simple in design, but has a touch of abstractness to it. 

Holding the blaster at the same starting point, height and angle, I let out several blasts, usually five, until I am sure than I can’t get the water any farther on an outdoor concrete surface, which discolors well with water. I then measure from the starting point to the furthest edge of the water markings — discounting any stray single drops.  

Water gun FAQs

What is a water bullet gun?

How much does the most powerful water gun cost?

Which water gun has the longest range?

Best Water Guns of 2021 – Save on Essential Super Socks and Water Guns for Summer

June 28, 2021

UPDATED: June 28, 2021

(image provided by Hasbro)

Since the mountains are no longer the mountains, it’s time to arrange the best water pistols. Release the dogs (at a safe distance) of the water war. To get you started, we’ve listed a few of our favorite supersocks and water pistols right here. Want h3O weapons of chaos that won’t break the bank? You got it.

• Browse the water gun offers. Save 10% or more on Amazon.

Whether you’re looking for a cheap alternative or a premium Super Soaker, you’ll find plenty of deals below. Our bargain finder software is always looking for deals on the best water guns as well, so you can be sure of the most up-to-date discounts.

Looking for other summer activities on the market? Be sure to check out the best Nerf shotguns and the latest Nerf ammo deals.

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(Image credit: Joyin) Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Joyin)

02 The best water pistols overall

Movement: pump | Capacity: 25 fl oz (739 ml) | Range: 36 ft (10.6 m)

Prime $10.95 View on Amazon Really cheap Two gun set Good range No trigger

When it comes to the best water guns, you usually get what you pay for. But not with Joyin 2 Pack. As the name suggests, this contender offers two water pistols for the price of one – and they’re both surprisingly good.

To start with, this 2-in-1 combo is perfect for families with a couple of kids or a group of adults who are kids at heart but want to keep costs down. Second, the water pistols themselves have an impressive 30-foot range that will challenge many Super Soakers. And although the capacity is not so noticeable, nevertheless, it is quite good.

The Joyin 2 Pack blasters are also not as small as in the promotional photos. They are larger than you expect, so whoever owns them will not feel cheated.

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(Image credit: Hasbro) Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Hasbro)

5

Best Cheap Water Gun

Movement: trigger | Volume: 7.4 fl oz (219 ml) | Range: 9ft (3m)

Prime $9.99 See at Amazon $12.12 See at Walmart19 Walmart customer reviews ☆☆☆☆☆ Affordable Fortnite themeing Some leaks Not very powerful

If you’re hoping to get your hands on the best water guns, without splashing in terms of money, this Fortnite-style Super Soaker is a good place to start. While not as powerful as other blasters, it is cheap and does the job perfectly. It’s a hell of a lot better than the dollar store equivalents.

Also, a few water pistols look so cool. Based on Fortnite’s Hand Cannon, this is a perfect recreation of the video game pistol (albeit in purple and orange for family viewing). And even though it’s prone to some leaks, the HC-E’s low cost and stunning design make up for it.

Pumping is also not required – just fill, aim and pull the trigger. This makes it a great Super Soaker for kids who want to jump into action as quickly as possible.

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(Image credit: Hasbro) Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Hasbro)

002 Best Premium Water Gun

Movement: handle | Volume: 55 fl oz (1.6 L) | Range: 25ft (6m)

Prime $32.24 View at Amazon $50 View at Walmart912 Amazon customer testimonials ☆☆☆☆☆ Easy to operate Excellent capacity True to the name Range is not huge

Okay, now we’re talking about. If you want to showcase a (literally) big weapon, Super Soaker will give you the appropriate name Soakzooka. It’s a bulky blaster when a “thin” one just can’t handle it.

This blaster is capable of carrying 55 ounces of fluid (1.6 liters) and strikes fear into the hearts of all your opponents. Throw in a distance of about 25 feet and you can guarantee everyone else is sprinting for cover. This is a monster.

However, its size does not mean that Soakzooka is not suitable for the young water warriors among us. It’s still one of the best water pistols even if you’re a kid, thanks to the easy-to-use firing mechanism – just pull the handle to fire. This makes it worth considering despite the higher price.

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(Image credit: Hasbro)

4. Super Soaker Hydra.

Best power water gun

Movement: handle | Volume: 65 fl oz (1.9 l) | Range: 25 ft (6 m)

$25 View at WalmartPrime $34.73 View at Amazon10 Walmart Customer Reviews ☆☆☆☆☆ Easy to ignite Does not require regular refilling Powerful Heavy

If you don’t want to refill your blaster every few minutes, this Super Soaker is one of the best water guns around. It offers a ridiculously large capacity of 1.9liters (65 fl oz), so you’re ready for the long haul with this one.

While this makes the Hydra quite heavy, it’s still easy for kids to shoot if they’re strong enough to keep it fully charged. This is due to its light fire mechanism. Instead of a pumping system, air pressure, or brute force, it uses a handle that you simply pull to release water.

And we mean flood . It’s not a dollar store dribbling pistol. Hydra means business and it has the ability to completely dunk your opponents.

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(Image credit: Hasbro)

5. Super Soaker Freezefire 2.0.

Best Water Gun for Hot Weather

Mechanism: pump | Capacity: 20 fl oz (591 ml) | Range: 38ft (11.5m)

$25.83 See at WalmartPrime $59.99 See at Amazon606 Amazon customer reviews ☆☆☆☆☆ Uses ice cubes Upgrade Good range Low capacity

The best water guns are perfect for a quick cool down in the summer heat, but no more so than the Freezefire 2. 0. With a larger tank that can hold ice cubes next to water, it makes for the coldest barrage on this list.

Okay, you don’t need to arm it with ice if you don’t want to. But in especially hot weather it is an ideal choice. Especially thanks to the impressive range. Capable of shooting up to 38 feet, you can stay in the shadows while shooting at opponents. No one is immune from his wrath.