Sno-Baller Snow Ball Maker
The thing about snowballs is that the shape doesn't matter so much as the density. That makes this Sno-baller, a scissoring snowball scooper, a bit suspect. I can't imagine that you'd be able to pack them down as tightly as you'd want for the to retain their shape in air (but still explode in a cloud when they hit your target).
It's only $9, but you can buy a lot of snow for $9. Anyone used one? I'll willing to believe these could work, even if they do seem ridiculous.
SNO-BALLER - PERFECT SNOWBALL MAKER [TheGreenHead.com via Oh Gizmo]
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I've used one and was delighted to find out they work quite fabulously. Just be sure to get a nice big scoop for a dense snowball. Additional packing by hand is, of course, optional.
its about speed, not shape. This would allow you to make a ton of snowballs really fast and keep your gloves dry in the process. More time spent throwing at your targets, less time making the snowballs!
My experience has been 100% the opposite. They're slow, make poor snowballs and when it comes right down to it, a pair of mittens just shoveling snow as fast as they can at the "enemy" is better.
The great thing to have is the styrofoam boxes people ship meat in, they make great igloo blocks!
Just the thing for your fort...
I used something nearly identical as a kid - the big plus side is you can make a perfectly shaped snowball and dip it in water (without getting your hands wet, of course) and make an especially evil ice coated ball of terror. In the ultra-frigid tundra of upstate New York, those suckers would freeze in about one minute. In hindsight, it was probably a touch dangerous, but doesn't one kid always get a nosebleed during any type of neighborhood battle?
I think what it's really all about is going to be what type of snow falls where you live. Some places get very heavy, wet snow, the kind that's perfect for snowballs, and I could see this working very well.
Some places get very light, dry snow, where you couldn't pack a snowball to save your life no matter what method you choose. If you're lucky enough to live here, stop fucking around with snowballs and get your skis on already.
I went out to visit my niece and nephew in New York and they had just gotten a pair of these as gifts. We ran outside very excited to use them and they truly did not work at all. Completely useless. Well...almost completely; after ten minutes of trying to make snow balls with them, the kids got fed up with them and started to push them around in the snow pretending that they were cars and snow plows.
If this was combined with some kind of loading and launching device, my childhood dreams of snow fort conquest would be complete.
Why oh why did I move to the south east?
You wussies. Anyone who can't make their damn snowballs by hand deserves snow down the back of their shirt. Yellow snow.
I got one at a tag sale for 25 cents when i was 7 or 8. i loved it. it makes very perfect snowballs. the only problem is that they can be hard to get out of the mold. but i always loved making piles of snowballs just to have handy. great toy.
Sorry - it's speed that counts. That's why you want the SnoFling. It's a loader AND a launcher.
These have been around forever, which is my way of saying "since I was a kid". I actually thought they were no longer available.
With reasonable packing snow, you can get a round off between 'once per second' and 'once every two seconds'.
http://www.snofling.com/
Wow that snowfling add needs a warning of some sort.
I rented a cabin in Tahoe, and this thing was thrown into the deal. it worked FABULOUSLY. i just scissored right into the snow and made tons of snowballs in a minute. the balls were of perfect weight and shape, which helped its throwing accuracy. I can't imagine why it didn't work for some others.
...also good for making gigantic melon balls!
I got one of these for a wedding present. It snapped the first time we used it. :( (For the record, snow was wet + heavy - great snowball snow, if you're actually making them yourself, not so great if you're trying to smush them with brittle plastic.)
This is the best outdoor winter dog toy I've found yet. Cartoon-perfect snowballs ready for chasing in the air or ground.
I used one today and it worked great....It even made a perfect snowball from "powdered" snow....I threw a few at my boss and they held up pretty well...I would like to see how they would do with some wet snow **NOTE** I didn't use the ends to pack the snow in the mold....I actually grabbed it by the outside of the mold and then packed it....The ends seem flimsy