Nerf Super Soaker XP55 Review

Nerf has seen decent success with their “reimagining” of classic designs in the soaker space. I was especially fond of the XP100 which, naming conventions aside, balanced tribute and performance quite well.

This year’s XP55 is less successful in that regard. The overall looks are there, and the blaster shoots up to 30′. So for the casual user, it works. But as the odd person who still has three original XP55s from their childhood, the blaster leaves me unsatisfied.

Smaller in More than One Way

The new XP55 is made to evoke the original design, as opposed to reusing the original molds. So the right “faux tubing” structures are in the right places, the water tank is mounted and restrained the same way, etc. The nozzles are a bit different, though that’s not a huge deal. Notably, however, the pump on the new model is far smaller in handle size, pump diameter, and pump stroke. At the same time, the reservoir on the new version is visibly smaller – at least measuring at home, it holds ~500mL compared to the ~850mL of the old version.

It’s also worth noting that the original is pretty solid ABS plastic (aside from the tank itself), while the new version isn’t. You can feel the difference, and the newer version feels cheaper, in the same manner that some dollar store blasters feel compared to the mainline dart blasters they imitate.

Overall, while the new XP55 is at first glance a replica, it’s smaller than the original and has some major differences. And needing to quickly manipulate a tiny pump to pressurize a reservoir is annoying, to say the least.

Performance

The box doesn’t explicitly state any ranges, just the estimated capacity. In testing, though, I found the XP55 to have a max range of 30′, with a somewhat quick drop-off in range as pressure decreases.

There is a bit of a balancing act when it comes to pressurized reservoirs, though. If you fill the reservoir completely full, there’s barely room for adding air, so the initial shot reaches far, but is extremely short in duration. As such, most people familiar with old-school soakers are going to fill the tank 2/3 to 3/4 full. That way, you have a lot of air being compressed into the tank, enabling longer shot times.

This is the part where I personally was disappointed. Side by side, the original version version has both the larger capacity and the much larger air pump to pressurize it with. I can remember pumping up the original blaster as a kid, pulling the trigger, and being able to run around the yard chasing my sister while holding the trigger down, due to shot times being so long. In my backyard today, I can fire one of those original blasters at range (two reach a bit past 30′, while the third still hits 40′), and while the range might decrease over a few seconds to 25′ and then 20′, you still get a decent stream of water coming out even ten seconds later. The new version just can’t do that!

Open Them Up!

Thanks to isoaker.com for the internals pics from the old version. It makes my life slightly easier!

The same basic platform is there – an air pump pressurizes the reservoir – but there are minor differences that go a long way. I already talked about the tank size, the pump differences, and how full to fill the tanks. There is, however, one more crucial difference that makes me, as an “old fart” of the hobby, disappointed.

If you’re firing at range, both blasters are fine – you’re pointing up at an angle and the tubing line that leads to the nozzle being in water. If someone is closer, however, only the old blaster will suffice. Why? Not only is the original tubing thicker and heavier, but it also has a plastic end piece that weighs down the tubing and takes in water from below it. That means you can hold the blaster level and the feed line will still be under water, so you can still shoot.

On the newer version, there’s just a plain tip with a little plastic end to prevent you from sucking up obstructions (pool water can get debris in it, after all), and it’s really light. So once the tank level drops, you can’t fire straight without simply blowing air/mist out.

Final Thoughts

Had it been any number of other soakers being reimagined, I could have probably enjoyed the experience. But the XP55 was a major part of my childhood, and the new version is simply inferior in every way.

I ended up researching original pricing, and the first XP55 retailed for $10 in the 1990s. That works out to around $20 today after inflation.

The newer reimagining costs $15 at Target. If Hasbro had been willing to add the extras and price the XP55 at $20, or even $25 dollars (because there is money to be made for a legit retro experience), I would have happily recommended the new version. As it stands. though, there are better things out there.

Hasbro, if you’re listening, the Power Drench XL is a far better experience. I know soakers are hitting a race to the bottom in terms of the general quality/price curve, but if you’re choosing to make retro experiences that make customers happy, do 2-3 mid-range blasters that work, instead of one that’s priced low but is a shadow of the old blaster it’s imitating.