Stats=
Output per shot: 1.3X/39 ml
Shot time: 1 second per shot
Pumps: 0
Tank size 1500 ml
Shot Distance: 35-37 feet
Build
The Durability is medium-good in quality. What most people don't like about the Blaster is something that I do like about it, which is the shape. Yes, it doesn't look like a gun. Then again, so don't the Blazer and Flash Flood or 98% of all other soaker out there. Exept that the Shieldblaster 5000 introduces a more original and also inovative design. And I like that. I either like very realistic looking toy guns, or creative looking ones. No in between stuff.
But back to practical inovation. The tanks double as grips, while what connects the two handles is a piston chamber. As I thought, this is a cleverly disguised version of a pump cannon. The design uses leverage to get added sqeezing power.
Performance
Again, what most complained about by jumping conclusions is the performance. The suprise is, compared to other competitors in contemporary retail including SS and WW, the ShieldBlaster 5000 does fairly well keeping up. Output is similar to medium sized XPs, while I got a distance of 35-37 feet out of it. 37 if you give it a realy good squeeze. The intersting thing is, that the impact power from a closer distance is far greater than from my XP 105, which already has a fairly good pressure compared to todays soakers. Very likely after the Blastermaster 660, the ShieldBlaster 5000 has the highest stream force in contemporray retail if your arms are strong enough. On the other hand, the stream breaks up relatively early do to not so good lamination resulting in the 35 feet distance. The SB 5000 is in many ways the oposite of the Blazer.
Blaser: weak stream+good lamination=40 feet
SB 5000: strong stream+bad lamination =35 feet
Aim whise, since you aim with your hips(which you should do technicaly with all soakers) you can hit what you point at. So aiming is no problem
Shield
Another jump to a conclusion complaint was the usefullness of the shield. That is partialy justified. The green shild parts themselves won't stop a stream over 2X. However I noticed that those shilde parts are not meant to block, but to redirect. The actual blocking is done with the centre of the shield where the nozzle is. That way even larger streams like a 5x can be blocked with the centre and redirected with the sides. It will use a good nad eye coordination, but that should not be to difficult.
Conclusion
I have to hand it to the Mattel design team. They found a way to improve the ShieldBlaster line in a huge way. They actualy have a Blaster now that can easyly keep up with the competition. An XP output type blaster with satisfactory distance, very good impact power and no pumping. Its odd that the most powerfull Blasters(impact power) this year are Pistons(Blastmaster 660+ ShieldBlaster 5000). Well, not that odd if you look what retail is selling. The only major downside with the ShieldBlaster 5000 is the price which is $34.99CAN+Tax. Thats way to high, and it should cost more around $20 CAN. I payed $17CAn+Tax due to the 40% reduction clearance sale.
If mattel would next year increase the tanks size and piston size, resulting in a larger output, ShieldBlaster might would actualy have a chance to dominate the market. Now is the right moment since the bar is set incredibly low in retail.
Edited By ZOCCOZ on 1155148091
