Gel Blasters

Gel blasters are toy blasters that fire tiny, soft gel beads. The beads start out as hard little grains and grow when they soak in water, so each one is mostly water. They burst on impact, leave no paint and sting far less than paintball. That makes gel blasters a fun, low-impact way for families to play action games together outdoors.

Most gel blasters are battery powered. A small motor pulls back a spring and a piston, which pushes a puff of air that sends the bead on its way. The beads sit in a hopper or magazine on top of the blaster and feed in one at a time.

Some blasters are spring powered, which means you pull a handle back before every shot. Others fire in bursts. Whatever the type, the beads are soft, so the game is about quick thinking and good teamwork rather than power.

Gel blaster games are team games, and there are lots to choose from. In team battles, two sides try to tag each other out. In capture the flag, you sneak into the other team's base and bring their flag home. King of the hill means holding a spot for as long as you can, and a battle royale ends with the last players standing.

A woodland is perfect for all of them. Trees, logs and dips in the ground give you cover to hide behind, and there's always a new way to sneak round the side, which players call flanking.

Yes, and it's a brilliant way to burn off some energy together. Your Activity Leader starts with a safety briefing and the rules of each game, then helps everyone get their goggles and mask fitted. Children soon learn to talk to their team, make a plan and change it when things go wrong. Grown-ups often find they are the ones being outfoxed, and that's half the fun.

Comfortable clothes you can run and crouch in, and sturdy closed-toe shoes for roots and uneven ground. Long sleeves and trousers help soften any hits. Everyone wears eye and face protection throughout the game, and it's provided.

You might also like Nerf Battles, Capture the Flag and Laser Clay.

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