From Soda Science To Fortnite Fame: The Hacksmith Supercharges A Classic Mentos Experiment

What happens when Canadian engineering meets one of the internet’s most iconic experiments? You get the Mentos Fizzooka—a high-powered, cola-fueled launcher brought to life by famed Kitchener-based YouTuber The Hacksmith, in partnership with Mentos. As part of a global campaign blending real-world invention with digital gameplay, the Fizzooka is now making waves both in Fortnite Creative and on influencer channels around the world. We caught up with Ian Hillier, co-founder of Hacksmith Entertainment and creator of the Fizzooka, to talk innovation, inspiration, and how a classic science trick got an explosive Canadian upgrade. —Noa Nichol

You’ve taken the classic Mentos and cola experiment to wild new heights with the Fizzooka—what was your first thought when Mentos approached you with this idea?
When Mentos approached us with this idea, we were immediately excited by the possibility of taking something as classic as the Mentos and cola experiment and pushing it to a completely new level. At Hacksmith, we love combining engineering with creativity, and this project felt like a perfect fit.

Can you walk us through the engineering process behind creating the real-life Mentos Fizzooka? What were some of the biggest design or safety challenges you faced?
Safety is always a concern here at Hacksmith. We need to be very safety conscious because we push things to the limits and turn everything up to 11. With this particular project, the pressure and thrust were the largest concerns. We built the system to be rated for 1000psi. The next concern was thrust. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction—thus when you launch cola out of a nozzle at 1000psi, there is a lot of recoil. It is quite literally like holding onto a firehose shaped like a bazooka.
Fortunately, we did not have to start from scratch on this project. We had recently built a water-jetpack and we were able to use a lot of the lessons learned from that project.
The first thing we did was build a prototype to test out some of our thoughts. When that worked the way we expected, we rebuilt the whole system but made it aesthetically accurate to the game.

The Fizzooka measures over a meter long and blasts with the power of a firehose—that’s intense! What was it like testing that kind of pressure for the first time?
It is not just big. It is really heavy too which makes wielding the launcher much more difficult.
The first time I used it, I actually wasn’t prepared—I accidentally hit the trigger and it went off before I was ready. The blast was so strong, it knocked me over. As a result, I was quite nervous the next time.

The campaign is making waves globally, but it’s also rooted in Canadian talent and innovation. How does it feel to represent Canada on a world stage through projects like this?
Representing Canada on the global stage is something we’re incredibly proud of. There is a lot of talent and innovation in Canada, especially in the Waterloo region, and it is great that we are able to showcase this on an international level.
Just to show how Canadian we are, every so often, we throw a jet engine on a canoe or a GT snow racer.

What was it like bringing the Fizzooka into the Fortnite universe? How involved were you in translating the physical build into something that works in a gaming environment?
We were not involved in that part of the crossover. Mentos had already created the digital Fizzooka for Fortnite Creative. They came to us to Make it Real.

You’ve built everything from lightsabers to Iron Man suits—how does the Mentos Fizzooka compare in terms of creativity, complexity, or just sheer fun?
One thing that stood out about this project was the taste. When you pull the trigger, it launches a firehose of cola and Mentos. The jet is so powerful that it atomizes and fills the air with a mist of cola and Mentos. It was delicious but very sticky.

Part of the fun of this project is seeing other creators test out the Fizzooka. What’s the response been like from influencers and fans around the world so far?
The response has been amazing! We’ve seen influencers and creators from all over the world jump in and try the Fizzooka, and the excitement has been contagious. It’s great seeing how many people are inspired to experiment with it and put their own unique spin on the concept.

What do you hope people—especially young inventors or gamers—take away from this campaign when they see your version of a “soda experiment”?
Our goal at Hacksmith is to inspire the next generation of engineers. We hope young inventors and gamers see this as an example of how creativity and engineering can come together in incredible ways. It’s all about taking something simple and making it extraordinary, which is what we try to do at Hacksmith. We want to inspire others to take their wild ideas, build them, and see where they can go—whether it’s something fun like the Fizzooka or an entirely new invention.

Collaboration seems to be a big part of your work. How do brand partnerships like this one fuel your creativity and open up new kinds of builds?
We are usually very picky about the brands that we partner with. Working with Mentos was refreshing. They came to us with a fantastic idea and gave us the creative freedom to do what we do best.
Partnering with brands is an essential part of our business. We specialize in making prototypes that would not otherwise be commercially viable. By partnering with brands, we are able to make fantastic creations like lightsabers, Iron Man tech, and Mechs that would otherwise be far too expensive.

Looking ahead, any other dream projects or experiments you’re hoping to bring to life next? Maybe something else from the gaming world?
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