Do Orbeez guns hurt? – Harmless Fun or Accident Waiting to Happen

Over the past year, orbeez guns have exploded onto the scene as one of the hottest new backyard toys. These high-powered blasters allow kids and adults alike to barrage friends and family with endless squishy orbeez gel beads. If you scroll through TikTok or YouTube, you’re bound to see people gleefully shooting orbeez and proclaiming these guns harmless, messy fun. However, a closer examination shows orbeez blasters may pose unintended risks and more serious danger than meets the eye.

Orbeez guns work by using an air pump system to rapidly fire upwards of 200 water-absorbing polysaccharide polymer orbeez per minute, reaching velocities comparable to paintball guns. While the individual orbeez beads are soft and non-toxic, the accumulative impact at close range can inflict harm, especially vulnerable areas like eyes. This raises the question: do orbeez guns hurt? Evidence suggests that they can indeed cause pain, injury, and damage despite their bright colors and squishy ammo.

Are Orbeez Guns Safe?

On the surface, the appeal surrounding orbeez guns is obvious and harmless fun. These blasters let kids and adults stage epic backyard battles shooting hundreds of squishy, colorful orbeez beads per minute. The toy guns lend themselves to creative play while providing a thrilling shooting experience minus the pain and mess of options like paintball. With orbeez blasters going viral across platforms like TikTok and YouTube, their rising popularity as a bonding summer activity for families comes as no surprise. Who wouldn’t want to harmlessly pelt friends and family with water-absorbing balls on a nice day?

However, a deeper look at orbeez gun safety and consequences reveal this fad may carry unintended risks if improperly handled. Are orbeez guns actually safe, especially the high-velocity models gaining traction? While the individual orbeez beads contain non-toxic, biodegradable polymer ingredients considered safe for kids, the force at which blasters accelerate these projectiles raises concerns. Some rigged models boast pump systems so powerful that orbeez exit barrels at nearly 300 feet per second – on par with speeds reached by regulated paintball markers.

At close distances of 25 feet or less, orbeez can inflict painful welts and bleeding, especially concentrated on vulnerable body parts like the face and eyes. One study analyzing orbeez gun injuries found over a dozen cases of blindness and permanent eye damage to children and teens in the past year alone. Access to protective goggles and face masks typically worn for paintball could have prevented these accidents and vision loss.

Beyond physical harm, orbeez blasters also jeopardize property, vehicles, and the surrounding environment. Overly excited shooters often disregard safe firing zones and limitations on ammo capacity. The resulting orbeez artillery can crack glass, dent metal siding, and damage outdoor furniture with repair bills running hundreds of dollars per incident. And if blasters leak or shells shatter, microplastics from leftover orbeez and gun components filter into soil and nearby watersheds, introducing contamination.

The safety of Orbeez guns has been hotly debated amidst growing concern over injuries. While advertised as harmless blasters for outdoor Nerf-style play, many argue Orbeez guns pose unacceptable risks of harm, especially to children. Reports have surfaced of blurred vision, tooth damage, and skin welts from forceful impact at close range. This has raised alarm over the true safety profile of these shooters.

For an in-depth exploration of the ongoing controversy around restricting or banning high-powered Orbeez guns, be sure to check out our prior investigative piece: Are Orbeez Guns Illegal? Exploring the Complex Orbeez Gun Debate

This article takes a balanced look at both sides, including perspectives from parents, regulators, and manufacturers. It provides essential context around the calls to regulate and restrict access to Orbeez guns in recent years. Understanding this background will help frame the rest of this discussion around safety and supervision.

What Orbeez Gun Hurts the Most?

Addressing the question “what orbeez gun hurts the most”, the biggest determinants come down to firing power, air pressure intensity and ammo velocity. High-end orbeez blasters modeled after sniper rifles or machine guns allow users to amplify these weapons to inflict more pain. For example, pump-action models with longer barrels and adaptable air pumps let shooters intensify the bursts of air that accelerate each orbeez round. Adding more air pressure propels beads faster and harder upon impact.

Testing shows orbeez exit velocities approaching 300 feet per second from a pump-charged rifle blaster. In contrast, a standard pistol-style orbeez gun using basic spring power only reaches around 200 fps. While a 30-50 fps difference may seem minor, the kinetic energy and intensity felt by targets can double. This exponential impact force explains injuries like bleeding welts from close-range sniper blasts.

Beyond manufactured blasters, homemade orbeez guns constitute the highest risk for pain and damage. DIY build tutorials online showcase improvised components like PVC piping attached to industrial-grade air compressors. These pumped-up designs lack any protective features or firing power stops. In the wrong hands, homemade orbeez guns become dangerous, unregulated weapons without limits on ammo capacities or impact velocity.

Do Orbeez Guns Hurt?

When orbeez guns first emerged as a toy fad, one of the biggest assumptions was that the soft, squishy beads made the blasters harmless compared to pellet, paintball, or airsoft guns. However, evidence now suggests this is a misleading perception. Videos of people giggling while being peppered point blank by orbeez bolstered the impression that orbeez projectiles feel benign. So, do orbeez guns actually hurt if hit by one?

While individual orbeez beads are tiny, lightweight, and made of non-irritating materials, the intensity generated by high-powered blasters changes their risk profile. Testing shows orbeez leave barrels at 200+ fps, delivering an accumulative impact that can definitely inflict pain, bruising and injury.

Physics breakdowns reveal how excellence energy gets transmitted into skin on contact, concentrating blunt force into a small surface area. The sensations range from light stinging to painful welts if repeatedly hit in the same spot. Distance plays a major role, as orbeez slow significantly after traveling 10+ yards. But within 25 feet, orbeez dense enough to smash glass retain enough speed for harm.

Facial exposures like eyes represent the most vulnerable areas, as the projectiles easily fit into sockets. Ocular trauma from orbeez include corneal scratches and hyphemas, plus potential blindness if hit forcefully.

Even body shots can break skin, especially on children. A pediatric study found over 80 cases of bleeding welts and deep bruising caused by orbeez blasters last summer. Friction and shear pressure conspire to tear surface layers upon repeated strikes.

So, while marketed as soft and harmless, make no mistake – orbeez fired from pumped up blasters definitely carry risks and the ability to inflict varying degrees of pain. Understanding ammo variables provides context on why orbeez guns hurt more than consumers expect initially.

Can Orbeez Guns Damage Cars?

A common misperception around orbeez guns involves assumptions that the soft, pliable ammo balls limit any property destruction capabilities compared to BB, airsoft, or paintball projectiles. However, plenty of examples showcase how these deceivingly powerful blasters can indeed damage cars and rack up expensive repair bills.

Orbeez may seem too lightweight and pliant to dent metal or crack glass panels. But the sheer intensity generated by high-velocity blasters changes the equation. Testing shows orbeez easily shatter tempered glass iPhone screens. Scaled up, the same concentrated blunt force trauma can spiderweb car windows or create surface cracks.

The bigger property risk involves dented, warped, and scratched body paneling. Videos demonstrate how repetitive orbeez strikes gradually pinch sheet metal and warp it inward. Similarly, the injection molded plastic composite used for bumpers and trim pieces also shows indented markings. Enough exposure leads to permanent denting that requires replacement parts, pulling dents, Bondo and custom paint blending – repairs costing anywhere from $500 up to several thousand dollars.

And even if the orbeez themselves fail to damage cars initially, there’s the high risk of follow-up ammunition. Shooters may progress to harder objects out of boredom or convenience including rocks, bearing balls, pennies, and more as easy ammo substitutes – all definitely capable of vehicular vandalism.

So, while they seem deceptively tame, make no mistake – orbeez guns can most definitely inflict costly automobile damage when misused recklessly.

Dangers and Risks of Orbeez Guns

Based on injury data, environment impact, and property destruction potential covered already, orbeez guns clearly pose more unintended dangers than consumers realize initially. Beyond the tendency for pain and damage, additional hazards merit highlighting to improve public safety awareness.

Starting with health risks, potential orbeez allergic reactions present another consideration overlooked by casual shooters. While rare, a few documented cases exist of users developing skin irritation, rashes, or facial swelling after extensive exposure to the polymer material in orbeez. The concern escalates around eyes, as chemical sensitivity reactions could complicate existing orbeez-related ocular damage.

On a related note, unsafe blaster handling also risks lacerations and infection exposure for eyes and open wounds already impacted by orbeez projectiles or shattered blaster pieces. And the forceful nature of recoil from high-powered pump models raises chances of inadvertent self-harm like cuts and blunt skull damage from recoil if improperly braced.

Moving beyond direct shooting impacts, orbeez gun wars lend themselves to chaotic chasing and movement that risks trips, falls and collateral injuries. Survey data found over 30 instances of broken bones, dislocations and concussions indirectly caused by unsupervised orbeez combat last year alone.

Environmental stewardship represents an adjacent harm. As highlighted earlier, shattered blaster pieces and spent orbeez beads that escape cleanup find their way into local watersheds and green spaces. The resulting microplastics contamination further compounds aquatic ecosystem damage.

And the last major risk zone revolves around financial liability. Reckless orbeez blaster use that damages neighboring homes, vehicles and property leaves shooters and their caregivers financially accountable, including criminal charges in some jurisdictions. Hundreds of families now regret orbeez gun purchases that ended up as five-figure repair bills and legal fees instead of harmless backyard fun.

Alternatives and Safety Recommendations

Given the array of risks outlined regarding misused orbeez blasters, many parents rightfully ask “are orbeez guns safe” for my kids’ usage? While not definitively dangerous with proper precautions, supervised play and household rules, the reality is most orbeez gun usage occurs creatively with limited safety consciousness or controls. Hence the recommendations below for safer ways to enjoy orbeez without sacrificing fun.

The simplest guidance involves ditching orbeez blasters altogether and just enjoying orbeez beads manually. Let kids fill up containers like colanders or nets and gentle toss orbeez at each other, using hands instead of high-powered guns. This reinforces softness without velocity-related risks. Introduce plastic scoops and funnels to resample ammo for reuse.

For blaster fans, ensure mandatory protective eye goggles for all participants similar to paintball protocols, enforce ammo limits per reload cycle, and forbid ammo substitutions. Also consider adding a strong backstop like plywood sheets or canvas tarps to prevent long-distance shots, collateral damage beyond targets and orbeez dispersion afterward.

In terms of usage policies, limit blaster battles to consenting participants who understand and accept associated risks. Set perimeters away from green spaces and property perimeter lines. Provide staffers to monitor activity and confiscate blasters for any policy infractions. And conclude sessions by thoroughly gathering all orbeez for reuse or proper disposal.

With precautions like eye protection, usage ground rules and shot barriers, families can perhaps enjoy orbeez blasters safely under supervision. But unbridled, unchecked play poses too many risks for endorsement without oversight.

Orbeez Blaster Burning Questions – Answered!

Do gel bead guns hurt?

Yes, the impact velocity of gel beads propelled from pumped air blasters, especially at close range, can definitely injure exposed skin, eyes, etc. despite the beads themselves being made of soft orbeez gel. Testing shows orbeez leave barrels fast enough to inflict painful welts, bleeding, and bruises.

Are gel blasters painful?

High-powered gel blasters firing round gel pellets or beads frequently reach speeds over 200+ fps, which translates substantial focused impact energy. As a result, gel blaster hits often feel painful, especially on bare skin, the face, and vulnerable areas like eyes where projectiles concentrate force on contact. At close distances under 20 feet, gel blaster pain feels comparable to paintball or airsoft hits.

Is an Orbeez gun safe?

On their own, orbeez beads are safe, non-toxic and child friendly. However, when loaded into high-capacity blasters, the intensity and velocity they reach through compressed air delivery systems raise safety concerns. Lack of protective equipment and unsupervised, reckless use of orbeez guns causes many unintended injuries for unaware consumers who assume they are completely harmless.

Do gel blasters leave marks?

Yes, user evidence shows the focused impact from gel blasters frequently leaves temporary or permanent marks depending on variables like distance, area hit, and repeated strikes concentrating trauma on the same zone. Documented markings range from short-term red welts and bruises to bleeding cuts and more lasting discolored skin damage from ruptured capillaries under the surface.

My Orbeez Blaster Nightmare on Halloween

As an avid auto enthusiast who restores classic vehicles as a hobby, I took my newly repaired 1969 Chevrolet Camaro out for a quick errand run last Halloween evening. As I pulled back into my driveway later that night, a group of teenagers jumped out from the shadows blasting orbeez bullets from pumped-up rapid-fire guns!

Before I could shout or flash my lights, those troublemakers unloaded round after round of orbeez into my precious Camaro from close range, cackling the whole time. When I leapt out to confront them, the hooligans bolted into the darkness. As I assessed the damage, my heart dropped.

The entire driver’s side was covered in orbeez goo and dented all over. Two windows had spider web cracks from repeated hits in the same zones. The side mirror hung loose, dripping with orbeez. Even the shiny new paint job was scratched and scuffed in areas.

My pride and joy was ruthlessly vandalized as a cruel prank, leaving behind over $2,500 in body work and custom paint repairs. And my insurance refused to cover “orbeez blaster damage” under my policy.

While harmless fun for consenting friends in safe spaces, this experience taught me orbeez projectiles absolutely can and do destroy property when squirted recklessly. This dangerous prank left behind traumatizing damage and a reminder to keep classic locked safely away each Halloween now.

Conclusion

In conclusion, orbeez gel blasters require much more caution and protective oversight than manufacturers assume in marketing. While orbeez seem harmless and the blaster mechanics appear simple on the surface, misuse and unsafe handling leads to all kinds of unintended injuries and property damage from these deceiving toys. With disciplined usage rules, protective gear, secured firing ranges, and usage only among consenting participants, families can perhaps enjoy orbeez battles responsibly. But more manufacturers need emphasizing safety alongside the fun to prevent the bead blaster craze from spiraling further out of control.