Foam From Above: TOY Review: Zing Toys Sky Gliderz!

Ok! Let's take a look at some high-flying insanity from Zing Toys in the form of their Blast Off Sky Gliderz! Similar to the Sky Ripperz in launching mechanics, but vastly different in ammo. Where the Sky Rippers have that front heavy foam head attached to a plastic/paper shaft, the Sky Gliderz are foam-winged.... well, gliderz. They're shaped like planes (and the wings are adjustable, you DID watch the video at the beginning, right?) but launch off the Rip Zip Launcher the same; simply hook in, pull back, a little elevation helps, and let go.

This review is a little different than most of the ones for this blog, because the toy in question shoots but for a vastly different purpose. It's a glider, a model(ish) plane, something that simulates the fun you'd have out of flying a paper airplane and then some (maybe.) It's not for target shooting, and the design makes it so that isn't something to expect you can do. You just pull back, let go, and enjoy the show.

I set out a target to check the range, but with all the looping/zooming around in a variety of directions, it just wasn't the right criteria to look for. As the box instructs, elevation, firing technique, and wing position can all dictate how/where your gliderz fly. In my case, the gliderz would loop around once (whistling through the air) and take a flight path that landed it about 90-180 degrees from where I originally aimed. As you can tell in the video, it was tough to capture on film. And I made sure, given the unpredictable nature of gliders in general + the power zing uses for most of their toys, this particular toy needed space. Like an open field.

Like I said, predicting where the Zing Sky Gliderz is one of the more fun/whimsical (depending on your perspective) aspects of the toy. It gets long range for sure (after some wing bending) but where you're going to have to walk to pick it up is another question. Maybe you'll figure out how to launch the Sky Gliderz in such a way you can fly between bottles, but in my opinion, the most fun to be had is just to keep it simple and let the gliderz fly where they may.

Depending on how far you pull back on the Rip Zip Handle, that will determine the distance and speed of your launch, and whether you'll hear that amazing whistle as it zips around you, or a slow, easygoing cruise down to the ground.

So yeah, while the Sky Ripperz have range, they behave in a predictable linear pattern. They're satisfying to pull back and see how far they go. The Sky Gliderz are plenty of fun watching just how nuts they go, and worth a look when you're outside this summer. Just make sure if you take'em to a picnic that you have A LOT OF SPACE around you, and do be careful if you make it circle around yourself, in case the Gliderz get a little close. However, that is definitely a trick shot you can't claim with a lot of other toys.