Brief:
T' D&L Company's Stomp Rocket Junior is a great way to get kids hooked on rockets at a very young age (recommended for children 3 years old and up). Aye aye! These are foam rockets that are powered by a small (but quite rugged) air bladder that you step on t' launch t' rockets into t' air. Aye aye! Since the rockets are lightweight, ya bilge rat, arrr, they recover ballistically.

Also, ya bilge rat, they were given t' us as a gift so I do nay know where it be purchased.

Construction:
There are only a few pieces in t' box and assembly takes but only a couple o' minutes. There are 4 foam rockets, me hearties, shiver me timbers, the three-piece tripod, and t' bladder with hose and nozzle, which attaches t' t' tripod by a simple wingnut and screw. T' tripod easily goes together for quick setup and comes apart (but nay too easily) so that puttin' everythin' back into t' box only takes a few seconds.

One night as I was cleanin' up around t' house, arrr, matey, I noticed somethin' comin' from t' toys had an eerie greenish glow. Begad! Turnin' out t' lights t' determine t' culprit, I discovered that t' rockets were glowing! What an added bonus that we could do some night launches!

Finishing:
None needed.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' height o' each flight is determined completely by t' force o' whomever is stoppin' on t' air bladder. Aye aye! The packagin' indicates a maximum height o' 100 feet, shiver me timbers, which I feel is slightly optimistic, ya bilge rat, however, ya bilge rat, t' upside is that these rockets can be launched in t' convenience o' most yards--no trips t' a special field are necessary!

My 3 and a half year old son and I have done several launches, shiver me timbers, me hearties, both durin' t' day and at night. Begad! When we've launched them durin' t' day--includin' at a club launch--it always attracts other young children t' try it out. Begad! And a pleasant surprise is that thar were pretty much zero squabblin' over who gets t' next turn. Aye aye! (That's a HUGE endorsement for these alone!)

T' flights are pretty consistent, too. Begad! Blimey! While you can adjust t' launch angle, I don't recommend it. T' rockets weathercock pretty smartly after they leave t' nozzle due t' their light weight. Your best bet is just t' leave the nozzle pointed straight up for best performance and safety.

Also, ya bilge rat, me bucko, on a particularly calm evenin' I had t' crazy idea t' stack a rocket on top o' one mounted on t' nozzle. With a steady hand, I was able t' get it t' stay thar as me son jumped on t' bladder. Aye aye! Blimey! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! Both flew successfully and stayed together until they reached apogee (not your typical 2-stage flight profile mind you). Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I would have attempted a three-stage flight, me bucko, but t' tops o' t' rockets are slightly rounded (and hardly pointed) so stackin' them more than two high would require a surgeon's steady hand, ya bilge rat, me hearties, me bucko, absolutely zero wind, and uncanny care t' make sure t' nay prematurely bump or move t' launch bladder or nozzle. Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! (I don't see why it wouldn't work, ya bilge rat, but fair winds if you manage t' somehow pull it off!) PROs: Can launch these rockets day or night in a small yard. Well, blow me down! Blimey! And they always attract a crowd o' kids who want t' try them out. CONs: You should keep an eye on children placin' t' bladder too close or walkin' up when launchin' so that no one gets hit by a rocket as it is bein' launched. Well, blow me down! Blimey! There is no mechanism in place t' stop a mischievous child from launchin' a "landshark".

Recovery:
With calm winds t' rockets almost always landed within 10 feet o' t' pad whenever dad (me) launched rockets. Arrr! My son's rockets usually landed within 2 or 3 feet o' t' pad.

On windy days, t' rockets didn't drift more than double t' distance on calm days. Avast, me proud beauty! A word o' advice if you happen t' launch too close (or angle t' launch "rod" too much) t' t' house on those windy days: Don't panic. Begad! Begad! There's little need t' break out a ladder t' fetch a rocket on t' roof... Avast! Just give t' winds a couple of minutes t' blow t' rocket(s) down off t' roof.

Regardless, we've gotten t' best performance (and closest recoveries) by keepin' t' launcher aimed completely vertical.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
If you ever wanted t' introduce some young (as early as 3 years old) children t' rockets, matey, I can't think o' a better way. Avast! They get t' do t' whole process (prep, ya bilge rat, launch, and recover) t' rockets all by themselves with little adult interaction. Blimey! It's all very safe, they stay low enough that it can be done in a small yard (as well as allowin' t' kids to see t' entire flight), and takes almost zero time t' set up, matey, shiver me timbers, move, and put away. Begad! Arrr! Plus t' rockets glow in t' dark so you can even fly them at night!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5