CRUNCHLABS BY MARK ROBER – HOVER RING BLASTER: Get ready to have a blast with the Hover Ring Blaster. Load, pump and fire the planet’s most mesmerizing projectiles: CrunchLabs’ hover rings, which fly with accuracy and precision, floating through the air effortlessly and gliding with the power of aerodynamics. Working mechanics are on display through a translucent window so kids can see the science, with six hover rings stored on top of the blaster for easy access. Age: 8+; MSRP: $44.99
Moose Toys is going to be at New York Toy Fair, maybe this will be at the booth so I can try it out? Apparently this was at Spielwarenmesse too.
Certainly goes with the larger industry trend of licensed products, and the rings… I need to see more about the rings. Could be Nerf, could be more like that Buzz Bee ring shooter.
The visible internals, foregrip, and NASA style colors make this a very cool product in my book, regardless of the ammo.
Romance and dates in 2026 have changed, away from scripted dinner dates and more toward shared and emotionally charged experiences. Couples looking for something that stands out from the normal meet-cute random encounters seek to connect on a physical and emotional level. Remember in the movie, “Speed” where the main characters decide to start dating because of a shared high-tension situation? It’s like that, but without a literal explosive. By moving away from “conventional” dates, you can connect and create memories that are far more visceral through shared sensations and activities as a couple. More Batman and Catwoman, less Harry and Sally.
Target shooting and competitive Nerf/toy blaster battles can be a great ice breaker/date activity to keep things fun, loose, and a little bit safer than other activities. Check out my list of suggested items here –
For those who want to literally soar through the air with their date, ziplining has become a premier choice for adventurous couples. It is the ultimate way to face a fear together, as the shared adrenaline rush creates a powerful bonding moment. Gliding over forest canopies or urban skylines provides a unique perspective and a heart-pounding experience that makes for an unforgettable story. You can certainly find one at your nearest Adventure Park.
Hiking
While it may seem simple, hiking remains a staple because of its versatility. Whether you are tackling a challenging vertical ascent or a leisurely woodland trail, being in nature allows for distraction-free conversation. In 2026, many couples are pairing their hikes with “nature journaling” or photography to turn a standard walk into a creative mission. Just remember to Leave No Trace.
Dance Class
If you prefer to move to a beat, a dance class is the perfect blend of physical activity and intimacy. Whether it is a high-energy salsa session or a more technical ballroom class, learning a new physical skill together requires teamwork and non-verbal communication. It is a playful way to “get out of your head” and into your body while enjoying the presence of your partner. If you’re there to vibe and move first, talk later, I suggest finding a silent rave. Sounds quirky!
Paintball
For couples who thrive on a bit of healthy competition, paintball offers a high-stakes, tactical environment. This activity emphasizes strategy and collaboration. Working as a team to navigate an obstacle course and “defeat” opponents (or even each other) is a great way to blow off steam and see a different, more strategic side of your partner’s personality. It’s considerably more expensive, messy, and painful than foam blasters, but the adrenaline release is definitely higher.
Find Me Somebody to Love…
If you made it this far, thanks! Make sure to check out the links below (I do earn a commission if you buy after clicking my links) and hope you find something fun to do and an interesting partner to do it with. Go get’em!
As you go off shopping for that blaster fiend you know, be ready for one of the largest selections of ammo out in stores, EVER!
In stores you’ll have your choice of Nerf, Dart Zone, Adventure Force, Buzz Bee, and XShot, and darts, round ball ammo (aka high impact rounds/Rival rounds), gel ammo, Ultra darts, pro darts, short darts, Mega darts, Mega XL darts, demolisher rockets, streamline darts, XL distance darts, and more. I aim to help you keep your stories straight and your ammo choices consistent. When buying a blaster, do make sure to get extra rounds to go past the initial blasting!
I’m sticking with what you’ll see in most major retailers, as Amazon ammo can be literally hit or miss on quality. When buying store brand, you can be sure that certain safety tests are performed and that the ammo you’re buying is safe in construction and materials.
Column A is all the Elite/streamline/ long style darts. You see these the most probably, and all the darts in this box should work with other brands that use similar darts. Your performance using mags may differ based on combination of brand dart/blaster, but they’ll work.
B contains different Rival/high impact round (HIR) ammo you may see in store or on store websites. Non Nerf brands from Adventure Force and XShot will work with Nerf blasters, and vice versa. I’ve heard plenty of not good things about round ammo on Amazon, so while it’s cheap I don’t recommend buying anything unless it’s one of the brands in this box.
C… this box has all the ammo types that don’t work with any blasters except the ones they’re designed for in their specific brand. Yep, Nerf has a diverse collection. Ultra, Mega XL, Mega, all have their own specific ammo type and won’t work with anything else recently released.
“Hasbro announced details of an all-new NERF product in honor of the 35th anniversary of the iconic film Aliens– the Nerf LMTD Aliens M41A Pulse Blaster, which is now available for pre-order via GameStopand Hasbro Pulse in the US, and EB Gamesin Canada. The limited edition blaster features two different kinds of darts – Elite Darts, which can be fast-blasted rapidly in a row, and NERF Mega Darts, with a Pump-Action Blast. The Nerf LMTD Aliens M41A Pulse Blaster includes a removable 10-dart Elite dart clip, 10 Nerf Elite foam darts, 4 Nerf Mega foam darts, and an LCD dart counter.”
ADDITIONALLY:
“The blaster will make sounds for: firing when loaded, firing when empty, adjusting the dart count, and blasting mega.”
GET HYPE! I didn’t see this happening. Apparently there’s a branch at Nerf called “Nerf LMTD”, and given it was their department that made this happen, where does it end? What intellectual properties are next? NECA to my knowledge still has Aliens related properties, so what kinda magic did the legal team manage, and what’s next?
Blade Runner, Gears of War, Dead Space…. what else? Does a deal with Call of Duty mean getting a Nerf M1 Garand? Much like the multiverse, seeing this just opened a lot of other doors! One of the most popular expressions I ever get from the Hasbro team was “not outside the realm of possibility”, and the realm of possibilities just got bigger. The Aliens announcement is one of the craziest most hype things I’ve ever seen from Nerf yet, and that it’s a blaster is fantastic. Not sneakers, not a video game, but a blaster.
And the blaster might not be anything spectacular in terms of performance. It’s flywheeled, potentially full auto, so it might be on par with a Rapidstrike or Hyperfire. The magwell might not accommodate anything beyond stick mags (no drums!) and stock performance of elite darts lately gets to be 40′-50′. The mega launcher may hit 30′-40′.
And that’s ok. I usually don’t fall for the “but it looks cool, right?” mentality in blasters, but it gets a pass here. Because it’s the FREAKIN’ ALIENS SPACE MARINE CARBINE. WITH SOUNDS. So yes, Hasbro, take my money.
It’s funny, because the day this got announced there were the usual “ho hum, cool it’s a rapidstrike with a master key. We’ve already BEEN DOING THIS. TRY AGAIN” comments in the ether.
To those folks, uh, have some fun. Not everyone is buying 3D parts or spending hours modding in their workshops, if they even have one. This blaster saves me about $200 by NOT buying the airsoft version, and I get the Aliens carbine I always wanted. Not all of us surf through YouTube to get news and mods because we have other things we’re doing. Here, we have an out of the box, sound making, licensed rifle that connects us to one of our favorite films. You don’t like it, move on, don’t buy it, but don’t try to kill my buzz.
Either way, I’m excited and it sucks that this won’t be out ’til 2022. In the meantime, we have the Amban Phase Rifle from The Mandalorian to look forward to.
This was bound to happen. #RyansWorld has foam blasters coming out! These hit Australia already, and the US is getting them in June as a Target exclusive (another exclusive grab by Target! Dang!)
The Toy Book has more info on the American release and the products in general, and videos are available at the Headstart Toys YouTube page – https://youtube.com/c/HeadstartToys
A few things –
I wonder if all blasters in the line will have functional triggers.
Range claims are around 65′-90′ for blasters in the range. The dual single/full auto trigger setup is pretty original.
Some of the blasters do use mags. I would bet proprietary.
How about that blaster that comes with its own CASE. Really interested to see the pricing.
The dual single/full auto trigger setup is pretty original.
Some of the blasters do use mags. I would bet proprietary.
How about that blaster that comes with its own CASE. Really interested to see the pricing. (The Renegade pictured is $24.99)
(Some images taken from YouTube, the header image is from The Toy Book.)
$19.99, available at Target now! The Buzz Bee Air Warriors Agitator allows you to hit your target every time! With the capability to blast targets from up to 100 feet away, this three foot blaster keeps the fun going with a flip clip so you don’t run out mid-battle. When one is empty, simply flip it around for another 10 count clip. Never lose sight of your target with the detachable barrel, which also doubles as a scope! [MSRP: $19.99; Ages 6+] $20, comes with a flip clip, and detachable barrel attaches to the top as a scope/sight.
See how my testing went, looking at mobility, mechanics, firing, and loading. Overall a pretty solid blaster at a great price. Comes with 20 XL Distance darts, but I recommend the PrecisePro instead.
Thanks to Buzz Bee Toys for the sample, and Wicked Ball Chicago for letting me use your space! Check them out for parties, including archery tag, Nerf Wars, Laser Tag, and Bubble Soccer. Wicked Ball Chicago is in Yorktown Mall, in Lombard, IL.
Dart Zone Destructor! Exclusive First Look, First Reveal!
Basic Stats
Price: $29.97
Available: Fall – TARGET EXCLUSIVE
Capacity: 30 darts (that’s how many it comes with) but able to hold more.
Full-Auto: YES
Rev Trigger: YES
FPS readings: Initial reads seem to indicate at least 100 FPS on occasion
Tactical Rails: Aesthetic
Sling Points: YES
Batteries: 6 AA (Not included)
HUGE THANKS to Dart Zone Blasters for the exclusive first look! And for such a great blaster, too! Easy on the wallet, high on impact. There were some minor, tiny, issues with feeding but nothing that you didn’t see out of the CommandFire. I have a few more mobility tests to do for my own reasons, but fresh out of the box this thing is pretty sweet at first impression. And for that price it’s definitely worth a look. Watch this space for more on this blaster!
EXCLUSIVE reveal coming this week to foamfromabove! Dart Zone has a new look arriving exclusively to Target! I don’t know exactly what it is, but it’s coming 🙂
Original live broadcast on 2/19/2019, after New York Toy Fair. Panelists include Vas from FoamFromaAbove.com, Nerfers101 from Instagram, and Nikki from NY Dart Zone. Producer is Gabe E. of NY Dart Zone.
Foam From Above 