Janis P.
I’m feeling decidedly nostalgic about sunny spring days from my childhood, where my brothers and I would spend hours throwing our much loved Nerf football around, stopping only for watermelon breaks. A pleasure then, to read this article by our friends at Argos about how much Nerf has evolved since then, and a peek at some of their new outdoor toys!
If you are unfamiliar with the name Nerf, an American brand that has been manufacturing foam based toys of various shapes and sizes since the 70’s, then this summer might be the time to get clued up on one of the most popular children’s toys around.
Now most famous for its foam dart guns (or ‘blasters’ as they are known) the Nerf brand actually begun in 1969 when a Mr Reyn Guyer invented an indoor volleyball game which used a 4-inch foam ball. Guyer pitched the ball to toy manufacturers as a ball that children could play with inside without the danger of smashing a window or toppling a precious ornament. From the foam ball the name Nerf, which stands for “non-expanding recreational foam”, was born.
It was from there that the Nerf brand really took off, with various incarnations of the original foam ball hitting the shelves, including Nerf footballs, Nerf basketballs and just about every Nerf variation you could ever dream of. It wasn’t until the introduction of its first foam ‘blaster’ in 1989 that the brand really hit the big time, with its ‘Blast A Ball’ gun that was able to fire off golf ball sized foam bullets at a fairly sedate pace.
Things have moved on significantly since the ‘Blast A Ball’ in the world of foam weaponry, with Nerf currently producing a range of armaments that would not look out of place in a real life theatre of war, let alone your living room. If you think that a Nerf blaster would be a great way to get your kids active this summer – there nothing like a pitched battle around the house to get your children up from their games console and running – then why not consider investing in one of the following, each of which offer a completely safe, active and great fun way for your children to play.
N-Strike Vulcan
As you can see, the Nerf N-Strike Vulcan really represents the pinnacle of foam gun technology. Featuring a 25 dart belt, which allows you to fire an astonishing 3 darts per second, your child can also change from single shot to automatic mode at the flick of a switch. This battery powered gun, which sits on its own built in tripod, will allow a element of realism to every child ‘war games’ that will keep them entertained for hours.
Nite Finder EX-3
If you think you child might be looking for something a bit more portable, then you may wish to consider the Nerf Nite Finder EX-3. Not only does the Nite Finder fire off 3 super accurate micro darts, but it also contains a special feature that sets it apart from other Nerf guns – its red light beam lock on system. Using the red laser that is emitted from the front of the gun, you can lock on to your targets with amazing accuracy, even allowing you to target in the dark!
Thanks to the team at Argos for writing this article.
