Nerf Nitro Foam Cars

Fast Flying Foam Cars

• What: Nerf Nitro Foam Cards
• When: Two years and up
• Why: Lightweight, affordable, durable
• Where: Amazon

Looking for lightweight entertainment for your kids on the go? Pick up a set of these Nerf racing cars.

Nerf, the same company famous for foam sports equipment, now makes vehicles. Unlike heavier Matchbox and Hot Wheels brands, they weigh next to nothing. Made of the same foam that brought Nerf fame in the sports department, these cars race, fly, jump, and soar through the air and over obstacles.

But you don’t need the launcher to enjoy them. You can get a pack of three cars and enjoy them all on their own. My son got his first pack more than a year ago, and has enjoyed them without any other accessories. I enjoyed being able to toss a lightweight car in bright colors into any bag, including his, without it adding any significant weight. The bright colors make it easy to pick out inside a bag, on the playground, the floor of the car, the restaurant table, and almost anywhere else.

While younger kids enjoy driving them around and loading them onto various creations, once the cars lose some of their appeal, you can easily upgrade to the launching accessories. My eight year old son gravitates to the stunt sets and competing to see who can go the furthest.

The four wheels spin freely, so these cars can really pick up speed when launched. If you do end up with a launcher, watch out. The cars can travel more than 20 feet, and they fit under the furniture as well as in other nooks and crannies. That’s probably why Nerf sells replacement packs in batches of 3.