This copy of Ghostbusters Proton Pack is one of the best collections of the year

Since 1984, the proton pack has been one of the most sought-after items on Ghostbusters fan wish lists. The main piece of equipment is used to arrange the ghosts, if you can’t afford a smaller sized toy replica that comes with a billiard noodle attachment for the neutrona wand in the late 1980s, then you have to build one yourself. Fast forward to late 2021, toy maker Hasbro announced that it will not only be producing a copy of the proton pack seen in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, but it will crowdfund the project.

The pitch in the elevator is tempting, because for $400 you’ll get a package that looks like the real thing, sounds authentic, is compatible with the Spengler neutrona wand, and is packed with extras supplemented by achieving long-term goals. Over 20,000 people have supported the Hasbro Pulse campaign–including me–and a few weeks ago the proton packs started to be delivered. Is it worth spending nearly the price of a PS5 for a collectible replica that can look good in a corner or be used for an authentic Ghostbusters cosplay?

You bet your Stay-Puft marshmallow that is.

What makes this collection so great is that right out of the box you can use it right away if you’re going to do some Ghostbusters marches. This is not the first 1:1 scale replica of the proton pack as Anovos previously offered a traceable $3,000 fiberglass version of the pack used on the display and Apparel. Halloween is developing its own product copy $500but the Hasbro-developed version hits that sweet spot in terms of authenticity and price.

While some sacrifices must be made for that $400 price tag, this proton pack is easily customizable thanks to some forward thinking from Hasbro and its engineers. The Ghostbusters community wasted no time in makes a great prop look even betterand right now, there’s no shortage of extras you can add to your frame or easy modifications you can make at home.