Best water guns 2021 - save on must-have Super Soakers and water pistols for summer

best water guns
(Image credit: Hasbro)

With warmer weather just around the corner, it's a good time to arm up with the best water guns. Let loose the hounds of (safely-distanced) water warfare. To kick things off, we've listed a few of our favorite Super Soakers and water pistols right here. Want implements of H2O mayhem that won't break the bank? You've got it.

No matter whether you're looking for a cheap alternative or a premium Super Soaker, you'll find plenty of suggestions below. Our bargain-hunting software is always looking out for deals on the best water guns as well, so you can be guaranteed the most up-to-date discounts.

In the market for more summer distractions? Be sure to check out the best Nerf guns and the latest offers on Nerf bullets.

Best water guns - top 7

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1. Joyin 2 Pack

The best water guns overall

Specifications

Mechanism: Pump
Capacity: 25 fl oz (739ml)
Range: 36ft (10.6m)

Reasons to buy

+
Really cheap
+
Two-gun set
+
Good range

Reasons to avoid

-
Lacks a trigger

When it comes to the best water guns, you usually get what you pay for. But not with the Joyin 2 Pack. As the name would suggest, this contender offers two water pistols for the price of one - and they're both surprisingly good.

To begin with, that two-in-one combo is ideal for families with a couple of kids or a party of adults who are kids at heart but want to keep costs down. Secondly, the water guns themselves have an impressive range of 30-ish feet that'll challenge many a Super Soaker. And although the capacity isn't as noteworthy, it's still pretty good nonetheless.

The Joyin 2 Pack blasters aren't as little as they might appear in promotional pictures, either. These are larger than you'd expect, so whoever's going to wield them won't feel short-changed.

2. Super Soaker Fortnite HC-E

The best cheap water gun

Specifications

Mechanism: Trigger
Capacity: 7.4 fl oz (219ml)
Range: 9ft (3m)

Reasons to buy

+
Affordable
+
Fortnite theming

Reasons to avoid

-
Some leaking
-
Not very powerful

If you're hoping to get your hands on the best water guns without splashing out in terms of cash, this Fortnite-themed Super Soaker is a good place to start. While it isn't as powerful as other blasters, it's cheap and will do the job very nicely. It's a damn sight better than dollar-store equivalents, too.

Plus, few water pistols look this cool. Based on Fortnite's Hand Cannon, it's a pitch-perfect recreation of the gun from the video game (albeit in family-friendly purple and orange). And even though it's prone to some leakage, the HC-E's low cost and awesome design make up for that.

It doesn't require pumping up either - just fill it, aim, and pull the trigger. That makes this one a great Super Soaker for children who want to get into the action as quickly as possible.

3. Super Soaker Soakzooka

The best premium water gun

Specifications

Mechanism: Handle
Capacity: 55 fl oz (1.6L)
Range: 25ft (6m)

Reasons to buy

+
Easy to operate
+
Excellent capacity
+
Lives up to the name

Reasons to avoid

-
Range isn't massive

OK, now we're talking. If you want to bring out the (literal) big guns, Super Soaker has you covered with the appropriately named Soakzooka. This is a bulky blaster for when 'subtle' just won't cut it. 

Capable of carrying a massive 55 fluid ounces (1.6 liters), this is the sort of blaster that'll strike fear into the hearts of all your opponents. Throw in a range of around 25 feet and you can guarantee that everyone else will be running for cover sharpish. It's a monster.

However, its size doesn't mean the Soakzooka isn't suitable for the young water warriors amongst us. It's still one of the best water guns even if you're a kid thanks to an easy-to-operate firing mechanism - simply pull the handle to fire. That makes it well worth considering despite the higher price tag.

4. Super Soaker Hydra

The best water gun for capacity

Specifications

Mechanism: Handle
Capacity: 65 fl oz (1.9L)
Range: 25ft (6m)

Reasons to buy

+
Easy to fire
+
No need to refill regularly
+
Powerful

Reasons to avoid

-
Heavy

If you're keen to avoid refilling your blaster every few minutes, this particular Super Soaker is one of the best water guns there is. It offers a ridiculously large capacity of 65 fluid ounces (1.9 liters), so you're set for the long haul with this one.

Although that makes the Hydra pretty heavy, it's still easy for kids to fire if they're strong enough to wield it fully loaded. That's due to its easy-fire mechanism. Rather than a pump system, air pressure, or brute force, it uses a handle that you just pull to unleash a watery deluge.

And we mean deluge. This isn't a dribbling, dollar-store pistol. The Hydra means business, and it's capable of utterly drenching your opponents. 

5. Super Soaker Freezefire 2.0

The best water gun for hot weather

Specifications

Mechanism: Pump
Capacity: 20fl oz (591ml)
Range: 38ft (11.5m)

Reasons to buy

+
Uses ice cubes
+
Refreshing
+
Good range

Reasons to avoid

-
Low capacity

The best water guns are ideal for cooling down quickly in the heat of summer, but none more so than the Freezefire 2.0. Thanks to a larger tank that can hold ice cubes alongside water, it fires the chilliest barrage on this list. 

OK, you don't have to arm it with ice if you'd prefer not to. But in particularly hot weather, it's the perfect choice. Especially thanks to its impressive range. Capable of firing up to 38ft, you can stay in the shade while sniping opponents. Nobody is safe from its wrath.

This particular Super Soaker is a more manageable size, too - it's not heavy or unwieldy like some of the other choices on this list. In other words? The Freezefire 2.0 is perfect for younger water warriors.

6. Super Soaker DartFire

The best combi-water gun

Specifications

Mechanism: Pump
Capacity: 40fl oz (1.1L)
Range: 38ft (11.5m)

Reasons to buy

+
Uses Nerf darts too
+
Fair capacity
+
Decent range

Reasons to avoid

-
Only carries 5 darts

This one does what it says on the tin; alongside water blasting, it's also capable of firing Nerf darts as well. This makes it a good choice for anyone that wants the best water gun and a Nerf blaster - it solves two problems in one fell swoop.

Handily, the DartFire uses Nerf Elite darts. Because these are the bog-standard bullets of choice for most Nerf products, they're easy to buy in bulk. That makes stocking up on ammo nice and easy.

This Super Soaker is no slouch when it comes to water battles either. Powered by a 40 fluid ounce (1.1 liter) capacity, the DartFire is able to blast water up to 38 feet. That's not bad going for something in this price range.

7. Fortnite TS-R Super Soaker

The best water gun for Fortnite fans

Specifications

Mechanism: Pump
Capacity: 36fl oz (1L)
Range: 10ft (3m)

Reasons to buy

+
Awesome Fortnite design
+
Good capacity
+
Fair price

Reasons to avoid

-
Poor range

Fortnite and Super Soakers are a match made in heaven, and this is arguably one of the best water guns of the bunch. Combining the video game's distinctive look with an ability to drench your friends, it's sure to go down very well for fans of the series.

While its range isn't massive (which I suppose makes sense, considering the fact that it's based on Fortnite's Tactical Shotgun), the TS-R's capacity makes up for it. Able to carry 36 fluid ounces / 1 liter, this isn't a one-hit wonder that'll run out after a few blasts.

The firing mechanism also ties into its identity as a shotgun - the TS-R is pump-operated. This does make it a little trickier to use for small children (and I'm disappointed that the trigger is fake), but it is pretty satisfying nonetheless.


For more offers everyone can enjoy, be sure to check out the top board games for kids and board games for families.

Benjamin Abbott
Tabletop & Merch Editor

As the site's Tabletop & Merch Editor, you'll find my grubby paws on everything from board game reviews to the latest Lego news. I've been writing about games in one form or another since 2012, and can normally be found cackling over some evil plan I've cooked up for my group's next Dungeons & Dragons campaign.