Dramm ColorStorm Impulse Sprinkler featured image Watering & Irrigation

Dramm ColorStorm Impulse Sprinkler: Product Review

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GPR Recommendation

Ease of Use
Quality
Performance
Final Thoughts

A sturdy, powerful impact sprinkler that works well even at low water pressure

Overall Score 4.5

Available on Amazon

Buy It

The Dramm ColorStorm Impulse Sprinkler with base is a standard impact sprinkler with a heavy metal base that can be pinned down if needed. The base is similar to other Dramm ColorStorm sprinklers, such as the Dramm ColorStorm Spinning sprinkler and the Dramm ColorStorm 9-Pattern Turret Sprinkler.

The sprinkler comes disassembled, but it’s easy to cut off the plastic strap holding the top (the sprinkler head) to the base and then screw the sprinkler head into the base.

Dramm impulse sprinkler assembly

The Dramm ColorStorm Impulse sprinkler is easy to assemble

Note that this sprinkler does use brass, which some prefer not to use in organic food gardens. Brass usually contains lead, which could potentially make its way into your food garden.

Dramm ColorStorm impulse sprinkler sticker

A sticker on the underside of the sprinkler gives information about the use of brass (California Proposition 65 warning)

Specifications

Metal or Plastic: Brass sprinkler head, powder coated metal base
Adjustable length: No
Adjustable width: No
Adjustable flow:  No
Adjustable pattern(s): No
On/off switch: No
Advertised coverage area: 70 ft diameter
Tested coverage area: 80 ft diameter (at 20 psi)
Work with low water pressure? Yes
Extras Also available with wheels

Video

See the Dramm ColorStorm Impulse sprinkler in use and learn how to adjust the moving parts in the video below.

What we liked

Works at Low Water Pressure – This impact sprinkler from Dramm worked really well with low water pressure, so it’s a good option if you’re looking for something that will work with well water. At just 20 psi, we measured the water spray at 40 feet – or an 80-foot diameter. That’s even further than the advertised diameter of 70 feet!

Solid Construction & Easy Adjustment – As you’ll see in the video above, you can adjust the sprinkler spray distance with the diffuser pin and/or the deflector shield. Both are sturdy and easy to move. The diffuser pin head has grooves that make it easier to grasp without slipping (many we’ve seen are smooth, making them more difficult to turn).

The collar clamps work well, although it can get a little confusing and difficult to separate them if they’re too close (or overlapping). The trip pin (the part you flip up to allow the sprinkler head to rotate a full 360 degrees) is well-built but hard to access if you have larger fingers.

Heavy Duty Base – The weighted base is a nice change from the spike base found on many other impact sprinklers. Not only does it save your lawn from unsightly holes, but the weight also ensures that it won’t move all over the place either.

Dramm ColorStorm impulse sprinkler pins

The collar clamps on the Dramm ColorStorm Impulse Sprinkler are adjustable by pinching them inwards

What we didn’t like

Puddling Around the Base – If you’re looking purely for a sprinkler for the kids to run through, we wouldn’t recommend this one, as the water spray is awfully strong and could prove somewhat painful if the spray hits you in the face. Also of note was that some water leaked from the side of this sprinkler, so some puddling could occur after extended use.

Hose Connector – While there’s a lot to like about the Dramm hose connectors – they’re solid, machined metal, include a washer and metal debris filter, and spin in place when the hose it attached – we still find them difficult to grasp and attach to a hose. Something that protrudes farther from the sprinkler base and/or has a non-slip surface would be much easier to use.

Inconsistent Coverage – Like most impact sprinklers, the water distribution was not consistent. The majority of the water was tracked at 25-40 feet away from the sprinkler, with negligible quantities closer.

Dramm ColorStorm impulse sprinkler from above

The Dramm ColorStorm Impulse sprinkler with the diffuser pin screwed out and the deflector shield pushed to the side

Warranty

Dramm has a limited lifetime warranty on all its products against defects in material and workmanship.

Recommendation

The Dramm ColorStorm impulse sprinkler is a powerful impact sprinkler (even at low water pressure) with a sturdy base that stays put when in use. It’s well-made and relatively easy to adjust, although it does suffer from the “water donut” problem common to impact sprinklers.

Where to Buy

The Dramm ColorStorm 4-Pattern Gear Drive sprinkler is available on Amazon in six different color options. You may also find it at a garden center or home improvement store near you, although it doesn’t seem to be one of the more commonly stocked Dramm sprinklers.

Price Reduction
Price Reduction
Price Reduction

 

Also available with a wheeled base:

 

Last update on 2024-03-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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Disclaimer – GPReview would like to thank Dramm for giving us a free sample to review. There was no expectation that it would be a positive review and we received no compensation for writing it. All opinions expressed here are those of the author based on personal experience using the product.

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