In 1982 Air Force and NASA engineer Lonnie Johnson conceived of the idea of a pressurized water gun after shooting a powerful stream of water in his bathroom while performing experiments for a new type of refrigeration system. Several months later he built a prototype in his basement, using Plexiglas, PVC pipe, O-ring seals and a two-liter soda bottle for the ample reservoir. [5] Johnson originally wanted to produce the toy himself, but realized that the costs were out of his reach. He attempted to arrange partnerships with toy companies to bring the product to market, but it was not until 1989 that he found success. While at the American International Toy Fair in New York City he met the vice president of the toy company Larami, who showed interest in the idea. [6] Kindy, David. "The Accidental Invention of the Super Soaker". www.smithsonianmag.com . Retrieved 25 June 2019.

Toysrus.ca & Babiesrus.ca base "Our Suggested Age" ranges on these manufacturer recommendations, as well as considering which ages will enjoy the product. Such factors as a child's developmental skill set and toy popularity help determine the enjoyment levels of a product. You might be tempted to don your army fatigues, but you'll be at a major disadvantage. Light clothes that won't absorb too much water are best for keeping you agile and speedy in the heat of water-based battle. 5) Get to cover True to the original design, the XP100 blaster has a removable tank that you fill with water and the handle that you pump to pressurise the air pressure chamber.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. Size: As previously mentioned, modern water guns come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes, with the larger options on the market almost always boasting more power and range — albeit at the cost of portability and child-friendliness. The weight of the water tank is also spread out evenly and the handles are smooth and comfortable to grip, so you won't face ease of use difficulties with the Hydra. Hasbro sues other toy makers over patents". 2 June 2010. Archived from the original on July 5, 2010 . Retrieved 20 March 2012.

But this water gun did come up the shortest in our range tests and it can't be relied on to get your opponents especially wet.

Bringing Back the Oldies

A product's "Manufacturer's Age" range on Toysrus.ca & Babiesrus.ca is provided by the product's manufacturer. This suggested age range may be based on what age range the manufacturer recommends will like the product best, or what age range is appropriate based on safety information and restrictions.

These were replaced every two years by successive generations of models until finally the XP series itself was replaced by the Max-D series. 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?

Inside the Beast

Experience the water-drenching fun that started it all. This Nerf Super Soaker XP100 blaster features the original air-pressurised water launching mechanism, bright retro colours, and classic styling. Fill the removable tank, pump the handle to pressurise the tank, then pull the trigger to unleash a continuous, air-powered blast of water. Soak up the fun and pour on the air-pressurised power of the Nerf Super Soaker XP100 blaster. Tank capacity is 44.44 fluid ounces (1.26 litres). This tactic can be used to your advantage when your enemies run out of water, too. If you're close to the refill station when they need to come in to load up, they'll be left wide open for you to give them a good soaking without any risk of return fire. 2) Aim high The XP100 is a lightweight, solid blaster, with the modern, durable plastic you’d expect from Hasbro. It keeps the overall shape of the classic it’s based on, but has a few key differences to go along with the face lift. In our range tests we fired each water gun several times at various angles to find the maximum range we were able to reach. Across the board we found that aiming your gun slightly higher helped the water fire further.

Water Gun / Water Blaster Product Analyses Listings / Soaker Database (water warriors blasters)". The Armoury. isoaker.com . Retrieved 20 March 2012. Smith, Monica. " Meet Lonnie Johnson, the Man Behind the Super Soaker". Lemelson Center. Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Retrieved 3 July 2017. To find out how each water gun fares at the all-important task of drenching your opponents, we dressed a tester in white overalls and dyed the water in our water guns green. FILL, PUMP AND BLAST: Fill the tank, pump to pressurise, and pull the trigger to deliver a deluge of soakage. Features After two more years, those models were replaced by the CPS 1200, 1700, 2700, and 3200. After two more years, the final CPS models were the 2100 and 4100.Super Soaker CPS 2000 Review, Manufactured by: Larami Ltd., 1996:::: iSoaker.com". www.isoaker.com . Retrieved 23 August 2018. It looks like a Super Soaker!!! Although one of the better aspects of the Nerf Super Soaker line is undoubtedly their sleek looks and minimalist colour schemes, to me they just don't look enough like water guns; not so here. The XP100 is clearly inspired by the iconic SS100 and retains its classic pressure chamber behind the reservoir and pump above the nozzle layout. It isn't a straight re-release however as it seems to be slightly chunkier and shorter than the original and utilises a flat sided reservoir and pressure chamber. I also approve of the colour scheme which I feel captures the 'modern re-imagining of a classic' feel quite well although this, like many aspects of aesthetics, is subjective.