Let’s continue the soaker reviews! Earlier this week, I reviewed the Xshot Fast Fill Motorized Turbo Stream. At $15, it was cute and easy to operate, but rather low on both capacity and rate of fire.
On the same shelf, for the same price, is the Adventure Force Water Strike Blitz Stream. It offers two nozzles, depending on the desired range and output. And while I may still prefer other options, the output is still twice that of the other soaker I reviewed this week. By that metric alone, it’s worth a look.
No Mags, Just a Reservoir
The blaster needs 4 AA alkaline batteries (not included), held in a compartment within the front grip. One screw holds the door in place, which then pivots away for installing the batteries.
The blaster itself has a very sci-fi, space-age look to it, which I can appreciate – not everything needs a serious motif.
The grip is large enough for adult hands, and the front nozzle selector is easily rotated between the two positions. Do note that while the fill cap is large, it’s meant for pouring water *into* the blaster. This blaster isn’t made to dip into a pool or other body of water, just for filling from a faucet or hose.
Performance
The Blitz Stream admittedly sounds more like an aquarium pump than a blaster (we’ll get to that in a moment). But regardless of sound, it’s effective at throwing water at range. Regardless of nozzle used, fresh batteries saw an average of 6mL per second getting pumped out. That’s not bad at all, and it’s done without any physical effort!
The main choice, however, is range. On the low setting, a thin stream of water can, at an angle, hit 25′, although it’s a shower of droplets by that point. It’s also far enough away some of the water can miss when chasing a target. The second nozzle, meanwhile, lets more water flow but at the cost of range – you’re lucky to make 13′ of range with the increased flow. Personally, I find that less useful; if you’re already that close to another water warrior, it’s better to throw a water balloon or use some other implement.
Internals
Let’s pick this thing apart! Note that you have screws under the battery tray door, as well as under the nozzle assembly.
It’s a rather large motor inside, glued into a pump assembly that sucks water from the bottom of the reservoir. The main switch, for lack of a better term, is just two thick metal strips in the grip, that get pressed together when you pull the trigger. Once you do that, the motor turns out, and water gets sent through the plastic hose toward the nozzle.
Just in case, I wound a small spring around the bend in the plastic hose near the nozzle, but I didn’t see any improvement in performance. That’s just there for my own peace of mind, so the tubing stays open over time.
At some point, I might try designing and printing a battery tray for using something more powerful…but that’s clearly outside the manufacturer’s recommended use.
Final Thoughts
Between the two $15 motorized options on the Walmart shelf, the Adventure Force Water Strike Blitz Stream is the clear choice. It holds far more water, and puts more water on target using 4 AA batteries. I still prefer the joy of pulling a trigger and unleashing a pressurized blast…but given what’s available, the Blitz Stream is a great option!