Top 10 Facts About NERF
#10: Their Ads Featured Some Big Name Stars
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When NERF films a commercial for one of their products, they don’t hold back. Their advertising department knows what kids want. NERF ads from the ‘90s however, remain arguably their most memorable. Not only did they have their finger on the pulse of pop culture trends, but the casting director also had a real eye for talent. NERF commercials that aired in the ‘90s featured a number of actors that would go on to become big stars. One such ad follows actor Seth Green having fun with a NERF slingshot at the mall. Another sees’90s icon Devon Sawa leading an all out NERF war. Of course, NERF has been making memorable commercials dating back to the ‘70s when they brought The Monkees onboard to promote the Nerf Ball.
#9: The Blasters Boast Some Impressive Stats
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These dart guns might be toys, but they’ve still got some serious firepower. Performance varies quite a bit across the range of models, but the relative constant is speed. You’re hard-pressed to find a NERF Blaster that clocks in at lower than 30 miles-per-hour. That’s a pretty impressive baseline. But then you start looking at some of the more powerful models, the stats are downright staggering. Some models can fire darts at speeds of over 50 miles-per-hour! Toys or not, their blasters are true feats of engineering. The N-Strike Elite series fire up to 75 feet, while N-Strike Mega Blasters boast a range of 100 feet. Vortex disks can go even further. As if that’s not impressive enough, the Hail-Fire can shoot 144 darts in 30 seconds.
#8: The Origins of the NERF Name Aren't as Wacky as You Might Think
Turns out that NERF wasn’t always synonymous with bruise-free fun with guns. The general consensus on the internet seems to be that NERF stands for “Non-Expanding Recreational Foam.” While that makes sense, other credible sources (including the creator of the first NERF product), point to more obscure origins: namely the wacky world of racing. In 1950s hot-rodder slang, to “nerf” someone was to nudge them off their course with your bumper. From this,“Nerf bars” became slang for custom bumpers in general, and can now be applied to various types of protective bars, including the foam padding on off-road vehicles. Basically, “nerf” is synonymous with avoiding damage - in this case through the use of foam. Sounds about right!
#7: The Same Dude Who Invented Twister Is Also Responsible for NERF
Apparently creating a game where people rub against one another while trying to match various body parts to coloured circles wasn’t enough for inventor Reyn Guyer. Two years later, in 1969, the Hasbro Hall of Famer created a 4-inch ball that could be thrown at anything and not cause damage. You could pitch it right at your friends’ faces and it even wouldn’t leave a mark! The main selling point of this ball was that it wouldn’t hurt no matter how hard you flung it and this apparently thrilled American children everywhere. Originally, Guyer was using the foam in a game with actual rules, but that inevitably devolved into vigorous ball-chucking. Over time, this evolved into the projectile-focused brand we know today.
#6: NERF Guns Aren't Just for Kids
Though kids might be the target demographic, NERF guns appeal to consumers of all ages. Given the popularity of paintball and shooter video games, it’s not surprising that some people continue to recognize the appeal of these projectile based toys well into adulthood. It turns out that it’s a large enough demographic that the company actually has a line of blasters specifically tailored towards teens and grownups. The NERF Rival blasters boasts top of the line precision and more power, and are intended to be used in the context of competitive play. Considering how pricey NERF guns can get, a paycheck certainly helps. Some of the more powerful NERF products released over the years have retailed around the $100 mark; discontinued models can go for upwards of $500.
#5: NERF Is Making a Fortune
NERF guns have been in production for decades, but the novelty clearly hasn’t worn off. During the 2017-18 holiday season, the Nerf N-Strike Elite Strong-arm Blaster was Amazon’s best-selling toy. Since the introduction of NERF blasters, over 4 billion darts have been sold and counting. And because we live in a world where the internet seemingly has every answer, we now know that that’s enough darts to circle the globe several times over. Those figures are staggering, but those are just the darts. As of 2019, the brand is valued at $411 million dollars, which is nearly double its valuation back in 2015. In 2010, Super Soaker was merged with NERF by Hasbro, essentially giving them a monopoly on the toy gun market.
#4: NERF Wars Are a Thing
Though their existence might not be common knowledge, local NERF wars are regularly held all around the world. These events allow otherwise civilized human beings to come together and fire non-lethal projectiles at each other all while wearing big goofy grins. Participants are typically armed to the gills with soft neon bullets and fire happily at each other all day long. In Texas, one such event involved over 4,000 people and even more NERF blasters! Careful where you point that thing though - a Missouri couple faced assault charges for NERF darting a drive-through worker. The attack likely caused more confusion than it did pain, but then again, guns are no laughing matter, so keep NERF fights to willing participants.
#3: George Clooney: Nerf-Herder
Sorry to inappropriately borrow a term from Star Wars. A-list actor, tequila baron and all-around silver fox George Clooney does not literally herd the herbivores known as “nerfs” in a galaxy far far away. When he’s sitting in the director’s chair, however, he does reportedly use NERF blasters to “herd” his actors, so to speak. When filming “The Ides of March,” Clooney reportedly brought one of the toy guns on-set with him. According to actor Evan Rachel Wood, who admits to having stolen his blaster on occasion, she got shot a few times during the production. Clooney also brought NERF balls to the set of “Up In the Air,” where he similarly used them to keep the mood light.
#2: NERF Guns Have Snuck Into Your Favorite Programs
NERF designs are a big part of their appeal; these toys look like awesome futuristic weapons straight out of a sci-fi movie. As it turns out, the people working behind-the-scenes in the world of television and film agree, as NERF blasters have actually been used in a number of productions. “Terra Nova,” reportedly one of the most expensive shows ever made, used repainted NERF guns to replicate actual firearms. “Megapiranha,” “Hunter Prey” and “The ABC’s of Death” have also used modified NERF guns to stand in for various onscreen weapons. People have also pointed out NERF guns being used in a number for Disney Channel productions, usually as sci-fi weaponry like “ghost blasters” or laser guns. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. NERF Wasn't Always in the Toy Gun Business The Company’s First Product Was the "World's First Official Indoor Ball" The Company Produces Over 445 Million Darts Annually That's a LOT of Darts Nerf Has Struggled to Settle on a Catchphrase “It’s NERF or Nothin’!” & “Enlist, Engage, Enforce” Are Just 2 Examples Hasbro HQ Is a NERF-Friendly Zone There Are Various Testing Environments Modeled After Common Play Areas
#1: There's a Major Modding Community
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Though it’s pretty cool to think of NERF blasters being used on the big screen, prop designers aren’t the only ones getting creative. There’s an entire NERF subculture that does it every day! The NERF modding community takes various blasters and alters them to resemble weapons from real life, popular movies, shows and video games. Aficionados spray paint their firearms, add pieces, lights and sound effects to make really awesome and badass creations. The modifications are more than aesthetic though. Many modders swap out parts to give their blasters more power or extended magazines or create wholly unique custom NERF blasters. The company does not endorse modding given the inherent risks, but that has by no means slowed down the growth of the community.
