This is part of our series – The Best Guide To The Top Hot Holiday Toys for 2012 . Please make sure to read the rest of the toy reviews in our Top Toys for 2012 Guide.
Some parents will debate the merits of giving our kids toy guns to play with. We will not. It’s a fine debate for parenting experts, but alas, we are not parenting experts, we are toy experts! If toy blasters are not your thing, skip this article. If you are looking for the best blasters of 2012, come on in, we promise not to shoot you with anything as you read this article…
It’s Alive! This List is Growing Like a Weed
If you are reading this before December 24th, 2012 we are still searching for the best toys. This is a living, growing Holiday Toy Guide for 2012. Below you will see some of the top toys we have currently reviewed, but please check back often as we will continue to update our list as we review new toys. You can also see all of the toy reviews we have done by visiting our Toy section. More of a visual learner? Watch our Toy Review videos on our YouTube Channel.
Top Toys for 2012: The Best Blasters and Toy Guns of 2012
Best Nerf Blaster Ever Made
Nerf N-Strike Elite Hail-Fire
We know, we know – how could we really single out one Nerf gun as the best ever? Well, if you measure the coolness of a Nerf blaster by its range and capacity, it is hard to argue against the new Nerf N-Strike Elite Hail-Fire. The Hail Fire uses new technology to blast the Elite darts over 75 feet (yes, we tested, they do go 75 feet) and the Hail Fire holds an amazing 144 darts. Incredible range, long battles before needing to reload – if your kids love Nerf, this is the blaster to put under the tree.
Full Review (and video) of the Nerf N-Strike Elite Hail Fire
Price: Sells for About $35. Good for kids ages 8 and up.
Best Blaster That Does More Than Just Blast
Launch N’ Attack Annihilator
Yes, Nerf is the name everyone thinks of when you mention foam dart blasters, but they are not the only game in town. If you are tired of buying your kid dart blasters, that look identical to the dart blasters you bought them last year, breakout of the dart blaster rut with the Launch N’ Attack Annihilator by Citiwell International.
The Launch N’ Attack Annihilator is a blaster that fires foam darts, but it has one major twist…the ability to also launch a Heli disc in the air and shoot it down. Pull the rip cord on the launcher, the Heli Disc flies 40 feet up and then practice your aim as you try to shoot it down with your 6 shot blaster.
Full review (and video) of the Launch N’ Attack Annihilator
Price: About $15. Great for kids ages 8 and up
Top Toy For Kids Who Have Moved Beyond Foam Blasters
Vapor Delta 500 Blaster
Foam based blasters are great, but as kids get older, they want something with a little more…oomph! The Vapor Delta 500 moves beyond foam and into the new world of gel ball based blasters. The Vapor Delta 500 fires tiny gel balls over 80 feet and they break apart on impact. With Gel Ball blasters, no more picking up the ammo, the gel balls are single use, which does mean these are outdoor toys. Prepare for the gel ball invasion!
Full review (and video) of the Vapor Delta 500 Blaster
Price: About $25. Great for kids ages 14 and up
Best Toy For Kids Who Have Moved On To Gel Ball Blasters
Xploderz X2 Mauler 1000
Xploderz started the gel ball invasion in 2011 with their original Xploderz blasters. Now in 2012 they have revamped the technology with the X2 line of blasters such as the X2 Mauler 1000. The new blasters have greater range and auto loading of ammo, for a faster battle experience. In addition, Xploderz has some cool technology like glow in the dark gel balls for nighttime battles! If your kids are ready to go head on into the world of gel ball blasters, the Xploderz line has some great options.
Full Review (and video) of the Xploderz X2 Mauler 1000
Price: About $24. Best for kids ages 10 and up.
Top Blaster For Kids Who Are Making The Move To Paintball
JT SplatMaster z200 Paintball Shotgun
Since this is a toy guide, we want to be very clear – the JT SplatMaster z200 Shotgun is NOT a toy. The z200 is a sporting good product that shoots tiny little paintballs. Follow the safety procedures with this blaster and you are in for a blasting good time! The blaster uses no batteries or CO2 and still manages to fire off tiny paintballs over 50 feet with incredible accuracy. Kids move beyond foam? Go to gel balls. Teens moved beyond gel balls? That is when you go with the JT SplatMaster z200 Shotgun.
Full Review (and video) of The JT SplatMaster z200 Shotgun
Price: $39.95. Best for kids ages 14 and up.
More Top Toys of 2012
This is just the start of our 2012 Top Toy Guide. Here are the rest of the top toy lists…
- Top Outdoor Toys of 2012
- Top RC Flying Toys of 2012
- The Best Driving, Racing and Crashing Toys of 2012
- Fun Toys The Kids Will Still Be Playing With in 2013
- Top Spy Toys of 2012
- Best Toys for Moms and Dads (why should kids have all the fun)
- And much, much more…
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