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Four kids lined up outside shooting water guns and Nerf Super Soakers Credit: Reviewed / Lisa Lawrence

The Best Water Guns of 2024

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Four kids lined up outside shooting water guns and Nerf Super Soakers Credit: Reviewed / Lisa Lawrence

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Editor's Choice Product image of Zuru X-Shot Water Warfare Epic Fast Fill
Best Overall

Zuru X-Shot Water Warfare Epic Fast Fill

Check Price at Amazon

This high-capacity, leak-free soaker also has quick fill technology and a rotating front dial to adjust streams. Read More

Pros

  • Rapid fill back
  • Front dial with four water streams
  • High capacity

Cons

  • Fast fill back can be tricky
2
Editor's Choice Product image of Nerf Super Soaker DinoSquad Dino-Soak
Best for Small Kids

Nerf Super Soaker DinoSquad Dino-Soak

Check Price at Amazon

This cool-looking blaster is both aesthetically and functionally kid-friendly. Read More

Pros

  • Kid-friendly design
  • Good water capacity
  • Best pump action

Cons

  • Limited shoot range
3
Editor's Choice Product image of Nerf Super Soaker Twin Tide

Nerf Super Soaker Twin Tide

Check Price at Amazon

This water gun is surprisingly lightweight for the capacity it holds, and we loved the double-barrel shooting action. Read More

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Excellent water capacity
  • Easy to fill

Cons

  • None that we could find
4
Product image of Nerf Super Soaker Roblox Sharkbite SHRK 500

Nerf Super Soaker Roblox Sharkbite SHRK 500

Currently
Unavailable

A fun and easy to maneuver water blaster in a popular design Roblox fans love! Read More

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Shoulder-stabilizing shark tale
  • Popular Roblox design

Cons

  • Could have more power
5
Product image of Zuru X-Shot Fast Fill

Zuru X-Shot Fast Fill

Check Price at Amazon

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

Pros

  • Fast fill technology
  • Excellent drenching capability
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Beyond the fast fill, it’s short on features
  • Best Overall Zuru X-Shot Water Warfare Epic Fast Fill
  • Best for Small Kids Nerf Super Soaker DinoSquad Dino-Soak
  • Other Water Guns We Tested
  • How We Tested for The Best Water Guns
  • What You Should Know About Buying a Water Gun
  • More Articles You Might Enjoy

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. This summer we did some serious testing to see which of these bad boys are truly the best water guns for kids.

The water gun that truly blew the competition (ahem) “out of the water” is the X-Shot Water Warfare Epic Fast Fill by Zuru (available at Amazon) . 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 (available at Target) 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.

A girl uses the Zuru X-Shot Fast Fill water gun
Credit: Reviewed / Lisa Lawrence

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.

Best Overall
Zuru X-Shot Water Warfare Epic Fast Fill
  • Capacity: 30 ounces
  • Range: Approximately 32 feet
  • Mechanism: Pump
  • Size: 8.86 x 3.15 x 23.03 inches

This water gun drenched the competition during testing. A feature-packed soaker, with an excellent range, this soaker model also comes at a great price.

If you’ve ever been frustrated with the time it takes to refill an empty water gun while your opponents attack you, the Zuru X-Shot line will offer a whole lot of gratification during your next water war.

This is the fastest-filling water blaster we tried. The ingenious design has a flip-open back that reveals a nearly 3-inch opening, making this a water gun that can be dunked, filled, and closed in seconds.

The high-capacity reservoir, the excellent pump action, and its impressive drench range all made this water gun top our list. We also love that this soaker has a rotating face that allows you to change stream density, which allows kids to mix things up during water play.

The only complaint we got was this soaker can feel heavy and unwieldy and, while the large-mouthed water tank did make it a favorite, it can be tough to open for younger kids. If you have a child age 8 or older, however—or if you’re the one you’re shopping for—this is one stream machine that can’t be beat.

Pros

  • Rapid fill back

  • Front dial with four water streams

  • High capacity

Cons

  • Fast fill back can be tricky

Buy now at Amazon

$19.92 from Walmart
A boy uses the Nerf Dino-Soak Super Soaker
Credit: Reviewed / Lisa Lawrence

The Dino-Soak has great water capacity, excellent pump action, and was lightweight enough for sustained water play.

Best for Small Kids
Nerf Super Soaker DinoSquad Dino-Soak
  • Capacity: 24 ounces
  • Range: 25 feet
  • Mechanism: Pump
  • Size: 17 x 2.62 x 10.5 inches

This Super Soaker immediately stole the show for its cool design. For smaller kids, the Nerf Super Soaker DinoSquad Dino-Soak packs a ton of power in a relatively small package. What impressed us most was this Super Soaker’s ability to be manageable enough for kids as young as 3-years-old, yet powerful enough that you may want to steal it from your kid on occasion.

This surprisingly powerful soaker completely kept pace with competing models that are geared toward older kids. The Dino-Soak effectively shot streams of water slightly over 25 feet, making it a formidable piece of artillery. It was also surprisingly lightweight, so younger kids really felt like they were at the top of their blaster game.

What truly set it apart, however, is it had the smoothest and easiest pump action of all the water guns we tried. This made it a soaker that was easier for kids to use without getting fatigued—and it also made for a pretty good time when adults took it to the battleground.

Pros

  • Kid-friendly design

  • Good water capacity

  • Best pump action

Cons

  • Limited shoot range

$9.39 from Amazon

Other Water Guns We Tested

Product image of Nerf Super Soaker Twin Tide
Nerf Super Soaker Twin Tide
  • Capacity: 33 ounces
  • Range: Approximately 32 feet
  • Mechanism: Pump
  • Size: 14.4 x 2.38 x 7.25 inches

Nerf is always an impressive contender in the battle for best water gun; this stream machine tied for second place with the Dino-Soak in our testing. Holding an impressive 33 ounces of water, it still managed to be surprisingly lightweight and very easy to wield, thanks to its stocky design.

This soaker has an extra-wide mouth so it fills far more quickly than most. It’s also a surprisingly powerful water gun for its size, with a deceptively forceful firing mechanism.

This water blaster is double-barreled and shoots two simultaneous streams of water—making for some pretty substantial soaking action that kids loved. This is a serious favorite of the kid and adult testers alike, earning this one an Editors' Choice award.

Pros

  • Lightweight

  • Excellent water capacity

  • Easy to fill

Cons

  • None that we could find

Buy now at Amazon

$26.88 from Walmart
Product image of Nerf Super Soaker Roblox Sharkbite SHRK 500
Nerf Super Soaker Roblox Sharkbite SHRK 500
  • Capacity: 22 ounces
  • Range: 25 feet
  • Mechanism: Pump
  • Size: 11 x 22 x 2.52 Inches

New to the water blaster scene is the SharkBite, a Roblox-branded Super Soaker by Nerf. Kids love the lightweight feel of this soaker and its excellent water stream. They also, not surprisingly, loved the look of this streamlined water blaster.

Cool features on this option, which helped it rise to the top, were the shoulder-stabilizing shark tale and the shark-fin “sights.” This is one of the most stable-shooting Super Soakers on the market. Kids loved both the look of this water blaster and the accuracy of aim they were able to achieve.

Pros

  • Lightweight

  • Shoulder-stabilizing shark tale

  • Popular Roblox design

Cons

  • Could have more power

Product image of Zuru X-Shot Fast Fill
Zuru X-Shot Fast Fill
  • Capacity: 24 ounces
  • Range: Over 30 feet
  • Mechanism: Pump
  • Size: 16.54 x 3.35 x 10.63 inches

Like the X-Shot Epic Fast Fill, this soaker has the flip-back fast-fill feature that allows kids to refill their water guns within seconds. This blaster holds 24 ounces in its water tank and doesn’t have the dial feature that allows kids to choose their water stream. While some may prefer this pared-down version, it was too similar to the Epic, so it really just felt like it was living in the shadow of a much cooler model.

Pros

  • Fast fill technology

  • Excellent drenching capability

  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Beyond the fast fill, it’s short on features

Buy now at Amazon

$16.49 from Walmart
Product image of Nerf Super Soaker Hydra
Nerf Super Soaker Hydra
  • Capacity: 65 ounces
  • Range: Over 30 feet
  • Mechanism: Pump
  • Size: 2.64 x 25.98 x 11.26 inches

A veritable water cannon in a kids’ toy, this is the most powerful water gun we tried. Holding 65 ounces of water, this water blaster truly goes the distance, making it an excellent choice for serious play. It also shot so far beyond our 30-foot threshold that we truly don’t know how far the stream is. Suffice to say, it’s epic!

While this wasn’t our favorite when it came to running around, it was a winner when it came to more tactical water wars. If your water warrior wants to be shooting from a fox hole, this is our favorite choice.

Pros

  • Extreme drenching power

  • Powerful pump handle

Cons

  • Can be heavy and unweildy

Buy now at Amazon

$19.99 from Walmart
Product image of Team Magnus Incog Water Gun (40 oz)
Team Magnus Incog Water Gun (40 oz)
  • Capacity: 40 ounces
  • Range: Approximately 32 feet
  • Mechanism: Pump
  • Size: 15 x 1.5 x 6.5 inches

And now for something completely different. What everyone liked most about this soaker was you didn’t realize it was a soaker until it was too late. Named the “Incog,” this soaker looks more like a briefcase for an international spy. The compact size made it easy to hold, the action was great, and—when full—it remained lightweight and delivered great drenching power.

Where it fell short was during filling. The screw-top cap didn’t always recap easily—particularly when kids were being targeted during refills. This caused some frustration, some leakage, and maybe one temper tantrum. Overall this is still a fun water toy and we loved the element of surprise, but this is better for older kids.

Pros

  • Cool, incognito design

  • 40 ounce water capacity

  • Easy-to-hold

Cons

  • Difficult to recap

  • Took longer to fill

Buy now at Amazon
Product image of Zuru X-Shot Micro Fast Fill
Zuru X-Shot Micro Fast Fill
  • Capacity: 10 ounces
  • Range: Approximately 10 feet
  • Mechanism: Trigger
  • Size: 8.27 x 2.17 x 12.4 inches

We’d be lying if we said these squirt toys weren’t fun to play with. If you’re going into a small-scale, hand-held, water fight, your foes don’t stand a chance.

Like the other X-Shots, these high-quality pistols have the fast-fill option. Unlike them, however, the reservoir opens with a really fun flip button that you can open one-handed. If you are looking for a squirt gun as opposed to a soaker, you will love these.

Pros

  • Fun to refill

  • Lightweight

  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Low water capacity

  • Short soaking distance

$16.06 from Walmart
Product image of Joyin Sloosh Spritz Aqua Phaser (3 Pack)
Joyin Sloosh Spritz Aqua Phaser (3 Pack)
  • Capacity: 15 ounces
  • Range: 30 feet
  • Mechanism: Pump
  • Size: 11.8 x 1.20 x 6.30 inches

For a family outing or a party, the value of this party favor-style three-pack can’t be beat. These are also easy to manuever and fun to use, however, these guns still ranked low on our list. Since they only hold 15 ounces of water, kids ran out of water almost as fast as they could refill.

Refilling was slow, and there were no fun features to make these stand out. The price point is terrific, but since most of the soakers we tested (and loved) came in at $15 or less, this may be a situation where a little splurge is worth it.

Pros

  • Great price point

  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Slow refill

  • Forgettable product

  • Short soaking distance

Buy now at Amazon

$11.99 from Walmart
Product image of Max Liquidator Original Water Blaster (6 Pack)
Max Liquidator Original Water Blaster (6 Pack)
  • Capacity: 3 ounces
  • Range: Approximately 32 feet
  • Mechanism: Pump
  • Size: 2 x 2 x 12.5 inches

Even though they look like something that rolled out of Elmo’s toy box, these water guns are still a load of fun to play with. They were a blast to unleash on unsuspecting victims who underestimated their power. That being, they only hold about 3 ounces of water, so they need to be refilled for every shot.

These are a fun choice for a kiddie pool, when you don’t want anyone accidentally bonking each other with the hard plastic of other soakers, and when you have water to refill at the ready. Our 3-year-old tester loved these, but kids 5 and above were ready to move on to soakers with more exciting features.

Pros

  • 30-foot soaking range

  • Soft exterior

Cons

  • Low water capacity

$20.03 from Amazon

$37.26 from Walmart
Product image of Hitop 1500CC Super Squirt Gun (2 Pack)
Hitop 1500CC Super Squirt Gun (2 Pack)
  • Capacity: xx ounces
  • Range: 27 feet
  • Mechanism: Pump
  • Size: 13.8 x 10 x 2 inches

We initially loved the idea of this two-pack, unfortunately, these left us underwhelmed. Even though these blasters held an exceptional amount of water, the stream didn’t go as far as its competitors. They were also heavy and difficult to lug around, fatiguing all of the children who tested them.

Pros

  • High water capacity

  • Two handle carrying option

  • Adjustable stream

Cons

  • Heavy

  • Cumbersome for kids

  • Limited soaking distance

How We Tested for The Best Water Guns

A boy shoots a Nerf Super Soaker
Credit: Reviewed / Lisa Lawrence

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.

The Tester

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.)

The Tests

A boy shoots water from a Nerf Twin Shot Super Soaker
Credit: Reviewed / Lisa Lawrence

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.

What You Should Know About Buying a Water Gun

Which water gun has the largest water tank?

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.

Three kids test water guns.
Credit: Reviewed / Janelle Randazza

We had kids of all ages test these guns for usability.

Weight of the Soaker

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.

Which is the best water gun for its size?

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.

What is the most powerful water gun?

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.

Meet the tester

Janelle Randazza

Janelle Randazza

Former Senior Staff Writer, Travel & Commerce

@

Janelle Randazza is a writer/mother hybrid and taco enthusiast based out of Los Angeles, California.

See all of Janelle Randazza's reviews

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