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Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 2:30 pm
by WaterWolf
Whenever I use water-balloons in battles, it seems that most or all of them tend to break when I'm moving around, most noticeable when I crouch or go prone quickly. I'd like to find a good way for people on my team to be able to carry filled balloons without giving one of their hands up to carry a bag or such. The ideal would be something that you could clip onto a belt or backpack strap, that would protect the balloon from rupturing and allow you to easily grab one.
Discuss any ideas you might have on the topic.
Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:29 pm
by HBWW
I think people use bags, bins, etc. and carry smaller containers so they can be used on hand. I may have tried using my pockets once but obviously not a good idea.
Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:36 pm
by SilentGuy
Tennis ball cans. That's what a lot of people use, and it makes sense. Plus, a clamp or belt loop of some sort can clip it to an ammo belt. I really don't use water balloons, but that is what I would use.
Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:40 pm
by WaterWolf
@C-A 99:
Something that I would like in the solution is that its hands free.
If you have a person designated as a grenadier, then it would make sense for them to carry something like a bag. But designating one person to that task seems somewhat limiting.
@SilentGuy, I like that idea, but are the tennis-ball cans big enough to store them? I'll have to get some and try that out.
Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 6:25 pm
by Rook
Depends on what size balloon you use. If you buy packs with smaller balloons about 2" long (usually found at places like Dollar General, Five Below, or on a side rack at Food Lion :;): ) it'll fit fine. They're small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. They're a little smaller than this. This is an exam glove's finger filled up. Yeah, I know. My hand looks weird. It's the balloon.
You could also use Pringles cans or even 3" PVC with endcaps.
If you want a belt clip, get some twine or something, tie it in a loop, and Duct Tape it to your carrier of choice. Then get a belt clip.
Personally, I'd rather just toss it in a backpack, isolated in a pocket of its own so you can find it easier.
Edited By Rook on 1161732446
Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 7:53 pm
by DX
Both local teams use[d] tennis ball cans and pringles cans, with string attached. PVC is a bit heavier than necessary, though you could give it a better quality strap by sawing a groove for the string.
3-5 balloons fit in one can, provided that you use quality balloons and fill them to a fairly small size. Never use those crappy tiny balloons which break at the sink, get good ones which were designed to actually hold water.
Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:03 pm
by WaterWolf
Thnks for the ideas everybody.
@Duxburian:
Their are many different thickness levels of PVC, some of the thiner ones are pretty light, so I might try some of those.
In terms of the tennis ball cans, how easy is it to get the balloons back out of them?
Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:15 pm
by SilentGuy
From what I've heard, those are 3" balloons that fit in the tennis ball cans, usually for WBLs. A bit too small for me too. A single grenadier is indeed a bad idea, but considering that he has surprisingly good range, might actually be effective with a gun and/or with an "escort." But IMO, don't assign positions--let him carry whatever he feels he is most effective with.
Yes, a backpack would be an initiative to use a gun with a backpack mod, but trust me: you will not have the chance to take the balloons out. Not when you really need them.
Pringles cans also work, and both are fairly effective 3" WBL sabots (Pringles cans are better, though) and combine storage with sabots if you can pull it off. But PVC is way too heavy.
EDIT: Didn't see the above posts. I was having dinner. 
With the tennis ball cans, as long as the balloon diameters are smaller than the diameters of the cans, you should have no trouble getting the balloons out. If you really want to use PVC, use cellular core or non pressure rated PVC--it's lighter. I would want to use large balloons, especially only as a sidearm, so the Pringles/tennis ball cans won't work.
Edited By SilentGuy on 1161739115
Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:17 pm
by DX
Oh yeah, drain pipe is really light. I completely forgot that non pressure-rated pipe exists. Shows how spoiled this area is in terms of what we've got available. :p
Tip the can forward and pull out the balloon. Easy and quick. Unless you make balloons too large. Then you'll have to spend an additional second getting it out. Either way, access is nice and they rarely break. I've got a full can from a war back in April, with all its balloons still intact.
Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:21 pm
by SilentGuy
Argh...didn't see the above post either!
Yeah, I guess cans of any kind are vastly superior to bags. You can be almost completely assured that a hard fall or squeezing through a tight area, or just a high-velocity stream if possible, won't pop the balloons.
Once I snuck up and dumped some rocks inside a bag full of large balloons that somebody had next to them. I think I burst them, but I'm not sure. And it was relatively subtle.
Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:08 pm
by DX
I would want to use large balloons, especially only as a sidearm, so the Pringles/tennis ball cans won't work.
Large balloons don't go very far. You can't shoot them, and you can't throw them accurately more than a hundred feet at the most. Small ones are tougher, can be shot, and can be thrown accurately over 150ft, over 200 if you've got a strong arm. My first water wars were water balloon only [I've worked with them longer than I've fought hardcore [6 years vs 3 so far]. I ditched large balloons as a 9 year old, recognizing that you've got a better shot with smaller ones.
Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:43 pm
by Dacca
well, its been talked about to death but....
waterballoons are best stored in tennisball cans or a pipe. this way they can be clipped to the belt so the someone can carry many on a belt or in a backpack. this is also good because in case it breaks, it won't get on you or your stuff. also if the person with the balloons plays as a grenadier they have their hands free for other uses and such. also some people just could be better with balloons then soakers.
Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:15 pm
by SilentGuy
@ DX: I guess that makes sense, I just have rarely used them compared to everybody and especially to you. I don't feel so exhilarated unless I'm using ~4" balloons, and 3" is too small. For me, the slight range and accuracy losses are worth it if you want to see the target get really soaked. Face it, if you were looking for effectiveness, you'd get either a soaker or perhaps a WBL.
My range is pretty bad anyway but for me it doesn't get hampered too much by size. Plus my accuracy is decent, but the precision is bad--once again, not really favoring a smaller balloon. If an enemy were smart enough, he'd just dodge the balloons and advanced, and charge if I took the time to put a hand on my soaker.
Edited By SilentGuy on 1161746261
Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:13 pm
by Crashdummy
I use a piece of pvc with an endcap on one end, and a screwable endcap on the other end. Holds water balloons really well.
I should use water balloons more because I am really good with them. I've got an arm, and I'm dead accurate now from being a waterpolo goalie. :p
Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:32 am
by Dacca
waterpolo eh? i havent heard of to many people that play. it always seemed like an interesting game and youd think youd get a good arm from it.
Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 2:02 pm
by WaterWolf
Well, I've been searching around my house and found these.
They hold two fist-sized balloons snugly enough not to let them pop, but loose enough that you can grab them easily. They fit well into my army-pants pockets and into my backpacks side pockets.
Edited By WaterWolf on 1163684273
