The Water Warriors Pulse Strike is the mid-sized, spring-based water blaster with futuristic styling released for 2009 by Buzz Bee Toys Inc (though actually available in Australia in October, 2008).

The Blaster ::

Nozzle ::

The Pulse Strike features a single nozzle with a good amount of power provided by its spring-based pressure chamber. Streams produced by this nozzle feel quite potent, yet flow smoothly. While the output is not particularly high, stream performance is quite respectable for a blaster of this size. The primary drawback comes not from the nozzle, but from the limited volume in the pressure chamber. This blaster only offers just over one-second shot times.

Pump ::

The pump on the Pulse Strike has a good, solid feel to it. Like with the Pulse Master, upon first removal from the packaging, the pump seemed to be a little stuck and required a little extra force to get it moving. However, once the initial stiffness was overcome, the pump moved smoothly with just the right amount of resistance. The pump's grip feels comfortable to hold and its shape should minimize slipping. One minor problem is that the pump can end up stuck in an extended position once the pressure chamber is full; the pressure release valve does kick in if one forces the pump.

Triggers / Grip ::

The trigger on the Pulse Strike feels solid, but moves smoothly. The trigger opens the valve readily, but the nozzle valve lag a little upon release if attempting to perform tap shots. It appears that the force from the pressure chamber holds the pull-valve open a little when the pressure chamber is fully charged, but this is not a problem if attempting to tap shot afterwards. Besides, as the pump works well to quickly recharge the pressure chamber with just a few strokes, doing half-to-full pressure chamber shots would not leave one defenseless for long. The grip, itself, is nicely moulded, feels sturdy, and is sized proportionately to this blaster. However, as the grip is open, even large hands can be accomodated.

The Reservoir ::

Given the small volume of the pressure chamber, the reservoir offers nearly 22 full shots on a single fill. The reservoir, itself, is only semi-translucent, making it possible to see water level under good lighting conditions, but gauging fill by eye is not that easy. Within the reservoir is the pump intake tubing which allows the majority of water to be used. The reservoir is capped by a threaded, tethered cap.

Overall ::

The Water Warriors Aqua Pulse - Pulse Strike is a definite step in a promising direction in water blaster technology. Mixing spring-loaded firing chambers with the smooth flow of pull valves results in a blaster that is quick to charge and can push out beautifully smooth streams. The main drawback to the Pulse Strike stems from its limited pressure chamber capacity resulting in shorter available shot times. However, shorter shot times does also equate to more shots available, thus potentially extending a player's playing time on the field. Great as a primary blaster for small-to-mid-sized skirmishes or as a mid-weight backup, the Water Warriors Aqua Pulse - Pulse Strike can keep pace with, if not outperform most similarly-sized water blasters out there. Just be wary of larger, true CPS-class weaponry.

Pros

Solid stream with good power. Blaster feels well built and can be pumped easily.

Cons

Small pressure chamber volume means short available shot times.

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Related Links .:

 Product Listing Page | Water Warriors Product Evolution Tree 

Water Warriors Aqua-Pulse Series

Additional Resources

Water Blaster: Basics | Care, Cleaning, and Storage | Soaker Use: Basics|Repair Articles