Super Stomp Rocket Kit

The Stomp Rocket is an absurdly simply concept - there's really nothing to it, the only wonder is no one's ever thought of it before.

Is it educational? Sure - and how: If given the benefit of the full, concentrated force of father's 17 stone frame travelling downwards with gravity (accelerating at 10m/s2, so well worth experimenting by standing on chairs, ladders, launching from trampolines etc.), these little plastic rockets really will go MILES in the air and will (wind permitting) prescribe a perfect parabola, and the rocket flites are rifled, ensuring the cylinder rotates aerodynamically and thus attains greater distance and accuracy. There; you can't get much more educational than that - and this would be one physics lesson I'd happily repeat, day in day out, at least until the rockets had disappeared.

And disappear they will, very quickly, either by attaining escape velocity and never returning to planet earth at all (Beagle 2 scientists, take note), or by falling apart.

This is my only criticism - the whole thing is VERY flimsy indeed, and the rockets in particular will crack, the flites will fall off, and if you should sit on them, they're useless (there's a lesson in that, too!). I have seen a set of three replacement rockets advertised for 6, which is an abusrd price, given that they are just a plastic tube, a glued-on flight and a rubber nose. And there you have a further educational incentive - it would not be hard, and quite a bit of fun, I dare say, to make the rockets (or even the whole thing) yourself.

Outstanding entertainment.


Fabulous Toy   May 6, 2004
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

I can't begin to describe how much fun this toy is. It bridges the age gap between my son (almost 4 years) and my nephew (10 years). The construction is simple and surprisingly the bit you "stomp" on will take a considerable weight (mine) stamping down on it as well as responding encouragingly to the lighter foot of a three-year old. It does reach a good height.