Best water guns 2024: Save on must-have Super Soakers and water pistols

Even though sweater weather has set in and the cold is biting, now's a great time to be looking for the best water guns. No, not to use (unless you're lucky enough to live somewhere eternally sunny, anyway). To buy - because it's off season, everything from water pistols to Super Soakers end up cheaper. That means it's your best chance to save ahead of the 2025 rush.

Because we're not exactly short on choice (and not all of water pistols are created equal), the 12DOVE team and I have rounded up our favorite implements of H20 war here. That includes something to suit most budgets and ages, from official Super Soakers to third-party alternatives, so you should find the best water guns to suit you here regardless of who you're shopping for.

Make sure you pop back ahead of summer 2025 as well. I'll be testing and reviewing as many new water guns as I can before that point to make sure this list is totally up to date, so check it out if you want to stock your water pistol armory with the very best toys.

Quick list

Best water guns - value

As with so many toys, you get what you pay for when it comes to the best water guns. Usually, anyway; the Joyin 2 Pack is different. Despite being aggressively affordable, these water pistols are surprisingly good - and you're getting two for the price of one. That makes this blaster pack ideal for families with a couple of kids (or adults that are still kids at heart).

You won't get a pang of buyer's regret after breaking them out of their packaging, either. These water pistols 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 solid nonetheless.

Just remember, the Joyin 2 Pack blasters aren't as dinky as they might appear in promo pictures. These are larger than you'd expect, so whoever's going to wield them won't feel short-changed.

Best all-round water gun

Want to bring a touch of carnage to your backyard battles? Take note of this water gun. The pressure from firing causes two flexible tubes in the barrel to twist in every direction, and that sends streams of H20 all over the place. It's brilliantly chaotic, utterly random, and impossible to dodge.

The Hydro Frenzy isn't just about mayhem, though. This is a three-in-one blaster with a couple of very different settings, so it's not a five-minute novelty. Besides the mode listed above, you can slide the nozzle forward to provide a wider blast radius or lock those tubes in place for something more traditional. The latter catapults two jets of water straight ahead, and besides being quite accurate, their range is surprisingly good. In essence, this is a great multi-purpose option.

When combined with a reasonable price tag under $20 / £20, you're getting a lot of fun for your money here. As such, those wanting a more memorable Super Soaker will find this to be one of the best water guns for the job.

• Read more: Super Soaker Hydro Frenzy review

Best water guns - capacity

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 fairly heavy, it's still straightforward for kids to fire if they're strong enough to wield it fully loaded. That's due to an 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.

Best water guns - short range

This isn't your average water gun; it's precision-engineered to cause delightful carnage on the battlefield. Rather than shooting a single stream, the blaster fires a double-helix of H20 to drench anyone in front of you no matter how much they try and dodge.

It's all down to a spinning cylinder at the end of the barrel. Using the gun's pump will cause that cylinder to whirl, sending out twin jets of water that are almost guaranteed to hit something. That makes the Twister perfect for folks who charge headlong into action - it's capable of blasting multiple people at once.

Although it requires force to activate properly (meaning very young warriors should look elsewhere), this is balanced out by not needing to aim. We're a terrible shot so ended up being grateful for that during our hands-on tests.

• Read more: Nerf Super Soaker Twister review

Best water guns - premium

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 weapon that'll strike fear into the heart of 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.

Best water guns - for young kids

If you're hoping to get the best water guns without splashing out both literally and figuratively, this Fortnite-themed Super Soaker is a fair 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.

Best water guns - very hot weather

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.

Sure, 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 competition. In other words, the Freezefire 2.0 is perfect for younger water warriors.

Best water guns - multi-use

This one does exactly what it says on the tin; alongside water blasting, it's also capable of firing darts just like the best Nerf guns. That makes it a good choice if you can't decide between the best water guns and a Nerf blaster - it solves two problems in one fell swoop.

Handily, the DartFire uses Nerf Elite darts as well. 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.

Not that this Super Soaker is no slouch when it comes to water battles, of course. 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.

Best water guns - for Fortnite fans

Fortnite and Super Soakers are a match made in heaven, so 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, 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 we're disappointed that the trigger is fake), but it is pretty satisfying nonetheless.

Best water guns - FAQ

For more offers everyone can enjoy, be sure to check out the top board games for kids and board games for families. As for other outdoor distractions, be sure to check out the latest offers on Nerf bullets.