Soaker tests

Washington Post/Dudley M. Brooks

Lateisha puts a water toy, and Brandon, to the test in a KidsPost evaluation of the coolest new products. Here, she has the Foam-a-Lator in foam mode. The Foam-a-Lator rated a C plus because it's "more for a little kid."

When it's hot there's no better way to cool down than to get wet. And there's not better way to get wet than to blast away at each other with water weapons. The Washington Post handed a bunch of brand-new squirters to a bunch of hot and eager kids. Here's their report:CONSTANT PRESSURE SYSTEM SPLASHZOOKA

Made by Larami, a division of Hasbro, Inc.

Cost: $19.99

Volume: 65 ounces.

What it is and what it does: A big squirter, it takes two hands to hold it. Screw the fast-fill adapter (included) on the end of your garden hose and set it on the ground. Then simply press the Splashzooka down on it. That opens a valve and lets in hose water that fills up the chamber and pressurizes it. No pumping needed. Hold trigger for continuous stream, or squeeze for short blasts.

Comments: Testers loved it. Easy to use. Long powerful stream of water. Easily blasted 20 feet or more. Fast-fill device makes reloading quick. "I like that you don't have to pump, or anything."

Grade: A +STORM 2100

Made by Trendmasters.

Cost: $19.99

Volume: 65 ounces

What it is and what it does: A big, two-handed squirter. Also comes with hose adapter. Fill the two chambers from hose, then pump to pressurize. A light beam shines like a laser when the trigger is pulled (requires two AA batteries. )

Comments: Harder to fill than Splashzooka, and the pumping was difficult, even for adults. It's supposed to blast 40 feet, but our testers never figured out how to make it do more than dribble. Hard to see light beam in daylight. "I hate that thing. It just doesn't work."

Grade: D-SUPER SOAKER MAX-D 4004

Made by Larami/Hasbro.

Cost: $9.99

Volume: 24 ounces.

What it is and what it does: Mid-size squirter. Takes two hands to hold and pump, yet it's not too heavy. Twist off the cap, fill it from hose and pump it to pressurize. Pull trigger to blast.

Comments: Popular with our testers. "I like that it fits in your hand."

Grade: BSTORM T-SHOCK

Made by Trendmasters.

Cost: $9.99

Volume: 12 ounces.

What it is and what it does: Mid-size. Use hose adapter (included) to fill it. No pumping needed. Trigger also sets off a pretend laser beam (requires two AA batteries).

Comments: Easier to use than its big brother, the Storm 2100. Blasted well, 20 feet and more. As with the 2100, light was impossible to see in daylight. "It can go pretty far, for a smaller" gun.

Grade: BSPIDER-MAN DUAL-ACTION WEB BLASTER

Made by Toy Biz, a division of Marvel Entertainment.

Cost: $17.99

Volume: About 3 ounces.

What it is and what it does: A glove that shoots fluid or water. (Includes two 3-ounce cans of web fluid.) Pump it to pressurize. Strap it on wrist and press middle-finger like Spidey.

Comments: Takes awhile to set up, but testers loved the Spider-Man play-action. Messy web goo sticks to everything, so use it outside. Fluid cans empty quickly. "Somebody help me get this thing on. It's hard!"

Grade: B-SPIDER-MAN WATERBLASTER PUMP-AND-BLAST

Made by Toy Biz.

Cost: $14.99

Volume: 128 ounces.

What it is and what it does: A spider-shaped, water-filled backpack, connected by a hose to a blaster attached to your wrist with straps. Trigger is a button you press with your middle finger.

Comment: Kids liked this a lot. It shoots far and makes you feel like Spidey, blasting web strands. It holds lots of water, so it's a bit heavy. "Very cool."

Grade: AFOAM-A-LATOR

Made by Little Kids Inc.

Cost: $12.99

Volume: 9 ounces.

What it is and what it does: Fill it with the tearless shampoo packet included or any tearless shampoo you have. Add water to fill line. Pump to pressurize, then squeeze the trigger. Squirts out short blasts of foam. Can also squirt water, up to 20 feet away.

Comments: Fun, but doesn't shoot that far when in foam mode. Tearless foam got in testers' eyes, and though it wasn't excruciating, it didn't feel that great, either. "More for a little kid."

Grade: C+

SOURCE: The Washington Post