Before I get to reviews, here’s an overview of what I’m seeing in my area. Thankfully, I have a few stores that tend to update spring shelves early, so I can peak at what’s appearing on shelves. Not *everything* is here yet, given what I know from various websites, but here’s a good idea of what to expect as the weather warms up!
Prime Time Toys: One Thing So Far
Under Walmart’s Adventure Force line, we have the $15 Blitz Stream, a motorized soaker with a large fill cap and two nozzles. Pick the nozzle you want based on range vs. stream diameter. It takes 4AA batteries, and it looks really cool as far as aesthetics are concerned. A sci-fi look with a translucent reservoir helps shake up what we see on shelves.
On to the next brand!
Xshot: Always Expanding
The article’s cover photo comes from my local Meijer, which always dedicates a rather large aisle in the seasonal space to soakers. And Xshot takes up a lot of room!
I’m seeing more Xshot soaker swords pop up, along with the ever-present Bunch O Balloons packs. However, we have a few new soakers of note. One, a new motorized Fast Fill Turbo Stream, uses 4 AA batteries and a removable “magazine” reservoir. The other is the 80’s Super Splash, which comes in three colorways and clearly evokes classic soaker design. I have yet to see the Xshot Fast Fill Shark Attack on shelves, though a few websites list it.
I should note that, while the shelf tag for the 80s blaster reads $15, mine rang up for $12. Your mileage may vary.
Buzz Bee Toys: Lots More Store Brands
Buzz Bee soakers do show up in a few more places that haven’t updated locally yet (Menards, Dollar General, etc.), with new things sometimes showing up before Buzz Bee’s own website gets updated. That being said, chains like Meijer have a LOT of rebranded Water Warriors blasters in their own store branding. So the company is still kicking, they’re just willing to do things under other labels.
The Outlaw is still kicking, after all these years!
Nerf Super Soaker: Hose-Attached Toys and Other Options
Nerf has a few offerings that attach to your garden hose, so let’s copy/paste from a press release email:
NERF SUPER SOAKER STOMP & SOAK (HASBRO | Ages 4 & Up | Approx. Retail Price: $19.99 | Available 1/1/26 at Amazon, Target, Walmart, and other major retailers)
Stomp, soak, and splash with the NERF Super Soaker Stomp & Soak water toy. The NERF Super Soaker Stomp & Soak toy features a jellyfish character that unleashes streams of water everywhere. When the jellyfish is hovering, press on the launch pad and watch the jellyfish rise into the air for high-flying soakage. The fun, wiggly tentacles help spray water everywhere – so everyone gets soaked. Connect it to your garden hose and let the water fun begin. It’s the perfect summer toy for kids to stomp, splash, and cool off outdoors. NERF Super Soaker water toys make awesome gifts to get kids outside for fun, active play that’s a real splash! (Garden hose required, not included).
NERF SUPER SOAKER HOP & CHOMP (HASBRO | Ages 3 & Up | Approx. Retail Price: $14.99 | Available 1/1/26 at Amazon, Walmart, and other major retailers)
When the shark starts chomping his jaws, the water blasting fun begins. The NERF Super Soaker Hop & Chomp water toy features a shark that unleashes 2 rotating streams of water from his chomping jaws. Kids can play in different ways: jump over the streams to dodge the drench or run through the streams for soaking silliness. The shark’s mouth open and closes for fun chomping action. It’s easy to get started: Simply connect the shark to your own garden hose. You can also adjust how quickly the streams rotate or you can fix them at a certain angle. The shark character is a perfect pal for warm weather play that gets kids outdoors and having fun. NERF Super Soaker water toys make awesome gift for fun, active play that’s a real splash! (Garden hose required, not included.)
Let’s see how much I can get tested. Even with it being below freezing outside with snow on the ground.
I’m sure my wife would be happy to spray me…