Which Gel Balls Do You Need? Types, Sizes, and Usage
You buy your Gel Blaster once, but you have to keep buying gel balls. Yet this is exactly the part most players give the least thought to, even though the wrong ammunition causes by far the most malfunctions. In this guide, you’ll learn which size is right for you, the differences between the types, how many you’ll need per game session, and how to properly soak and store them.
What exactly are gel balls?
Gel balls, also known as orbeez, are tiny beads made of a super-absorbent polymer. When dry, they’re not much bigger than a grain of sand. When placed in water, they absorb moisture for hours and swell into soft, bouncy balls that consist mostly of water.
Upon impact, they burst into a small amount of water and a bit of polymer residue. So no plastic is left lying around in the yard, unlike with the hard BBs used in airsoft. We cover that difference in detail in Gel Blasters vs. Airsoft.
What size gel balls do you need?
This is the most important question of all. A Gel Blaster is designed for a single ammunition size: 7 to 8 mm when soaked. At the bottom of the magazine is a small motor that pumps the balls up toward the barrel, and that mechanism only works properly with that diameter.
- Too large: the balls get stuck in the magazine and block the feed.
- Too small or too old: the motor can’t grip them, so your Blaster will click but won’t fire anything.
Note: water beads from a flower shop or sensory toys swell to over 12 mm. These won’t fit and can damage your Blaster. Always use balls specifically made for Gel Blasters.
A breakdown of types of gel balls
All gel balls at GelWeapons.co.uk expand to the same usable size, but they differ in firmness, color, and visibility. Here’s what to choose and why.
| Type | For which Blaster | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Blue or Orange | Entry-level and mid-range models | Highly visible and the most cost-effective per ball |
| Glow in the Dark | All models, for evening and indoor use | Glow in the dark when combined with a tracer |
| Premium | Powerful and high-end models | More robust, fewer misfires, and a more stable flight |
| Premium Black | Powerful models, for outdoor use | Same durability, but less conspicuous in the field |
Standard-colored gel balls
For the vast majority of players, these are the right balls. They’re soft, affordable, and highly visible during play, so you can easily see where your shots land and adjust your aim. If you’re playing with kids or in the backyard, you don’t need anything else.
Premium gel balls
Premium balls have a sturdier composition and are designed for the more powerful models in the lineup. They’re slightly heavier and have a slightly smaller diameter, which ensures a more stable flight and better accuracy at a distance. Because they stay intact better under high firing power, you’ll experience fewer misfires and less debris left in the barrel.
Do you play with a high-end Blaster and notice that standard balls are already falling apart in the gearbox? Then this is the solution.
Glow in the Dark Gel Balls
These BBs absorb UV light and then glow in the dark. Perfect for night games and indoor play, where you can see your own shots flying through the air.
Important: For the full effect, you’ll need a tracer unit. This is an attachment for the barrel that briefly charges each ball with UV light just before it’s fired. Without a tracer, they’ll only glow faintly if you’ve first exposed them to bright light. Check out the tracers under “Attachments.”
How many gel balls do you need?
Count on about 1,000 to 3,000 gel balls per half-hour of play. If you play a lot in full auto mode, you’ll be at the upper end of that estimate. A 300-ball magazine will be empty within a minute under sustained fire.
| Pack Size | Good for approximately | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 | 2 to 3 hours of play | An introductory session or a single afternoon of play |
| 20,000 | 4 to 6 hours of play | A few weekends in the garden |
| 50,000 | 10 to 15 hours of play | The player who goes out to the garden every week |
| 100,000 | 20 to 30 hours of play | Team games, groups, and avid players |
If you play regularly, look at the price per 1,000 balls instead of the package price. Large packages are usually the best value per ball, and they’ll last you the whole season. You can find the current prices and package sizes in the Gel Balls assortment.
Tip: If you’re playing with multiple people at the same time, simply multiply your usage by the number of players. An afternoon with four people can easily use up 15,000 to 20,000 balls.
Soaking Gel Balls in 5 Steps
Soaking is no trivial matter. Properly soaked balls are half the battle when it comes to a trouble-free Blaster.
Step 1: Use lukewarm, clean water
Fill a bucket or container with lukewarm water. Not hot and not ice-cold, as that affects how evenly the balls swell.
Step 2: Use the correct ratio
Allow at least 1 liter of water per 1,000 balls. Too little water means the top layer won’t absorb enough and will remain too small.
Step 3: Soak for 5 to 7 hours
Let the balls soak for at least 5 hours and no more than 7 hours. Any shorter and they’ll be too small; much longer and they’ll become soft and break more easily.
Step 4: Make sure they’re completely submerged
The balls must remain submerged throughout the entire process. Stir them halfway through to ensure no dry layer protrudes above the water.
Step 5: Drain briefly
Drain them and let the outside dry briefly. Only put dry, not wet, pellets into the magazine. Wet filler material causes the pellets to stick together and blocks the feed.
A speedloader will save you a lot of time when loading your magazines.
Storing Gel Balls and Shelf Life
Dry gel balls in a sealed bag will keep for years. Once they’ve been soaked, the clock starts ticking.
- Store in an airtight, cool place: soaked balls will remain usable for a few days in a sealed container.
- Never leave them exposed: in the open air, the moisture evaporates, causing the balls to shrink and become too small for the magazine.
- Avoid direct sunlight: heat significantly accelerates drying.
- Soak one batch at a time: soak a fresh batch just before playing instead of preparing a large supply in advance.
5 Common Mistakes with Gel Balls
- Soaking for too short a time: After 2 hours, they’re not yet the right size and cause misfires.
- Leaving them out for days: Shrunken balls are no longer picked up by the motor in the magazine.
- Putting wet balls in the magazine: they stick together and block the feed.
- Using water beads or toy orbeez: They’re way too big and will damage your Blaster.
- Using premium balls in an entry-level model: unnecessarily expensive, when standard balls work just fine there.
Is your Blaster still jamming despite using good ammunition? Then check out our maintenance guide for a step-by-step overview of the seven most common causes.
Are gel balls environmentally friendly?
Gel balls consist mostly of water. What remains after a hit is a small residue of polymer that dries up and breaks down in the soil. No plastic pellets are left behind, as with airsoft, so you don’t have to clean anything up after a session in the yard.
If you’re playing on a patio or indoors, be sure to sweep up the remnants once they’ve dried. On smooth floors, unhit balls can become slippery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gel Balls
What size gel balls fit in a Gel Blaster?
Soaked gel balls should have a diameter of 7 to 8 mm. Larger balls, such as water beads or sensory toys, will get stuck in the magazine and can damage the motor or the barrel.
How long should you soak gel balls?
Soak gel balls for at least 5 hours and no more than 7 hours in lukewarm, clean water, using at least 1 liter of water per 1,000 balls. Make sure they remain completely submerged throughout the process, then let them drain briefly.
How many gel balls do I need?
Allow for 1,000 to 3,000 gel balls per half-hour of play. A pack of 10,000 is good for 2 to 3 hours, and a pack of 100,000 for 20 to 30 hours. If you’re playing with multiple people, multiply that number by the number of players.
What’s the difference between standard and premium gel balls?
Premium gel balls have a sturdier composition, are slightly heavier, and have a slightly smaller diameter. As a result, they hold up better under high firing power, fly more steadily, and have fewer misfires. They’re designed for powerful and high-end models. For entry-level models, standard colored gel balls are sufficient.
Why don’t my glow in the dark gel balls glow?
Glow in the dark gel balls must first absorb UV light before they glow. For the full effect, use a tracer unit on the barrel, which charges each ball just before firing. Without a tracer, they will only glow faintly if you’ve exposed them to bright light beforehand.
How long do soaked gel balls stay usable?
When stored in an airtight container in a cool place, soaked gel balls remain usable for several days. If you leave them out in the open, the moisture will evaporate and they’ll shrink, causing them to no longer feed through the magazine.
Can I use regular water beads or orbeez from the store?
No. Water beads for floral arrangements and sensory toys swell to over 12 mm, while a Gel Blaster requires beads measuring 7 to 8 mm. They’ll get stuck and can damage the magazine and the barrel.
Conclusion
Gel balls may seem like a minor detail, but they largely determine how reliably and accurately your Blaster shoots. Keep it simple: choose standard colored balls for entry-level and mid-range models, premium balls for powerful Blasters, and glow in the dark balls with a tracer for night games. Soak them for 5 to 7 hours, store them in an airtight container, and soak a fresh batch right before playing.
At GelWeapons.co.uk, you’ll find all types of gel balls in packs ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 pieces, plus the tracers, magazines, and gear you’ll need to go with them.