Reviews of the Best Darts (Steel-Tip and Soft-Tip)
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If you’re looking for a set of darts, there are a lot of factors to consider. First, there are two main categories: steel-tip and soft-tip. Steel-tip darts are used with traditional sisal or bristle dartboards. Soft-tipped darts are used with electronic dartboards.
Darts can be made of several different materials, like wood, brass, nickel, silver, or tungsten. The highest-quality darts, and the most expensive, are made with tungsten. However, the percentage of tungsten can vary, and it will impact the quality and durability of the dart. For example, a dart that is 90% tungsten and 10% nickel will be higher-quality (everything else being equal) than a dart that is 70% tungsten and 30% nickel.
Competitive players typically prefer steep-tip darts and bristle dartboards. Electronic dartboards are very popular too, but they are a little more popular for casual use at home. In fact, we actually recommend electronic dartboards for home use because they are safer and less likely to cause damage to your walls. For more information on this topic, please see our Reviews of the Best Dartboards.
So now let’s take a look at some of the best darts available. First we’ll look at steel-tipped darts and then we’ll look at soft-tipped. In both categories we ave some affordable options in addition to the higher-priced models.
And don’t forget to check out our reviews of the
Best Steel-Tipped Darts:
1. Viper Blitz Darts
Our top-rated set comes from Viper. These darts have barrels made of 95% tungsten and 5% nickel. With a slim design, the darts have knurled bands and deep grooves for ideal grip and control over your throws. The Yukon aluminum shafts are designed to rotate the flight after the dart makes contact with the board, which helps to minimize bounce outs.
The set comes with additional flights, an accessory pouch, and an aluminum case with soft lining. Each dart weighs 24 grams.
As our top-rated darts, as you would expect, these do come at a price. These darts are more ideal for serious players and less ideal for your typical home use.
Pros:
- Professional level of quality.
- Made with high-quality materials.
- Will give you the best accuracy possible.
- Includes a nice carrying case.
Cons:
- Price is high enough that it won’t be an ideal choice for most casual players.
- Only comes with 3 darts.
Find the Best Price on Amazon for the Viper Blitz Darts.
2. Fat Cat Predator Darts
So far we’ve looked at 3 excellent budget-friendly options. Now we step up in price. Our top two rated sets of darts are more ideal for serious players. You can certainly use them in your gameroom, but they are better for your own use as opposed to playing with a bunch of friends and family.
These darts from Fat Cat feature barrels made with 80% tungsten and 20% nickel, designed with a slim profile. The barrels have knurled bands, deep grooves, and rings that allow you to get an excellent grip. Better grip and easier hand and finger placement leads to improved accuracy in your throws.
The diamond-cut aluminum shafts have holes that lead to a tighter fit and better flight without the need to be constantly tightened.
This set comes with flights, flight protectors, a dart mechanic wrench for tightening, and a hard shell case with a soft fabric lining.
Each dart weighs 23 grams.
Pros:
- Professional-level quality.
- Made with high-quality materials.
- Will give you the best accuracy possible.
- Includes a nice carrying case.
Cons:
- Price is high enough that it won’t be an ideal choice for most casual players.
- Only comes with 3 darts.
Find the Best Price on Amazon for the Fat Cat Predator Darts.
3. CC-Exquisite Customizable Configuration Darts Set
[Budget-friendly] This set from CC-Exquisite is another affordable choice for your home gameroom. Unlike the first two options that we looked at, this set gives you some customization options. You can mix and match different combinations of barrel weights, shaft lengths, and flights to get the combination that you like best.
The set includes 6 brass barrels: 3 weigh 18 grams and 3 weigh 22 grams.
It also comes with 6 durable aluminum shafts: 3 are 35mm long and 3 are 48mm long.
There are 12 poly pro flights in two different shapes: 6 are standard and 6 are slim.
This set also comes with 6 rubber o-rings that go between the barrel and the shaft to prevent loosening.
This set from CC-Exquisite is quite affordable, but also offers excellent quality and customization options. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a quality set of darts for yourself without breaking the bank. If you’re looking for a large set of darts to be used by multiple people in your home gameroom, I would recommend going with one of the other options, especially the 24-pack from Bullseye. While this set from CC-Exquisite does come with 6 darts, it may not be ideal for 2 players because you may not be able to find the combinations of barrel/shaft/flight that keep both players satisfied.
This set also comes with a dart sharpener and a carrying case.
Pros:
- Excellent price.
- Quality build.
- Customizable options give you a lot of possibilities.
- Includes dart sharpener.
- Includes carrying case.
Cons:
- Not ideal for use by multiple players.
Find the Best Price on Amazon for the CC-Exquisite Customizable Darts Set.
4. Ignat Games Professional Darts Set
[Budget-friendly] This set from Ignat Games comes with 6 darts. These steel-tipped darts feature a brass barrel and an aluminum shaft. The brass barrels are strategically knurled for good grip and control when throwing.
There are 8 poly flights included (2 extra). The flights are designed for ideal air flow. The weight of each dart is 22 grams.
You’ll also get a few extras with this set. First, it comes with a darts sharpener, which is a very nice addition. Keep your steel-tipped darts sharp and ready for play. It also comes with a carrying case that has a magnetic closure.
This set also comes at a great price, although it includes 6 darts as compared to the 24 pack from Bullseye.
Pros:
- Great price.
- Quality build with brass barrel and aluminum shaft.
- Comes with a dart sharpener.
- Comes with a carrying case.
Cons:
- Not professional level of quality like some of the higher-priced options.
Find the Best Price on Amazon for the Ignat Games Professional Darts Set.
5. Bullseye Steel Tip Darts (24 pack)
[Budget-friendly] This set from Bullseye is a great choice for your home gameroom. It comes with 24 darts, so you’ll have 8 sets for those times when you want to play with a lot of family and friends. Darts is a great game for groups, so having a large collection of darts will definitely come in handy.
These darts are made with steel tips and nickel silver plated grips and barrels. The barrels use knurling and grooves for the best grip and control. The shafts are nylon, with a convex design. The darts also have poly pro flights. The flights are designed to reduce drag and improve accuracy. Each dart weighs 21 grams.
You’ll also get a jar / carrying case with this set, which can be helpful for keeping your gameroom clutter-free. Overall, this is an excellent value and a great choice for home use. The quality is more than good enough for home use, and the fact that you get 24 darts makes it a great buy.
Pros:
- Includes 24 darts.
- Comes with a carrying case.
- Quality build, especially for a budget-friendly option.
Cons:
- Not professional level of quality like some of the higher-priced options.
Find the Best Price on Amazon for the Bullseye Steel Tip Darts (24 Pack).
Best Soft-Tipped Darts:
1. Bottelsen GT III 90% Tungsten Soft Tip Dart
The Viper and Arachnid darts that we have ranked at 2 and 3 are excellent options for serious players, but our highest-rated soft-tipped dart is the Bottelsen GT III. This is the highest priced soft-tipped dart that made our list, and it also comes with just one dart, not a set of 3.
This dart features a barrel made of 90% tungsten. The shaft is a durable screw-in shaft that locks tight and won’t loosen while you are playing.
It does come with a case, but other than that there are no extras includes (no extra shafts, flights, or anything like that). There are two different weights to choose from: 16 grams and 20 grams.
This is a very well constructed dart, and that’s what you’re paying for. We do recommend them, but we do feel that the others listed here are a better value for the money.
Pros:
- Excellent quality build.
- 90% tungsten barrel.
- Comes with case.
- Available in 2 different weights.
Cons:
- High price.
- Only includes 1 dart.
- No extra parts included.
Find the Best Price on Amazon for the Bottelsen GT III Darts.
2. Viper Diamond 90% Tungsten Soft Tip Darts
These darts from Viper also feature barrels that are made with 90% tungsten (the remaining 10% is nickel). The barrels have a slim profile with knurled bands and deep groves. The design and excellent materials will give you the best control and accuracy possible.
The shafts are made from diamond-cut aluminum and will lock tightly to prevent the need for constant tightening. The set also includes 3 extra nylon shafts, flights, flight protectors, and dart points. You’ll also get a dart mechanic wrench and a case. The protective case has a hard shell and soft, lined interior.
If you’re a serious player looking for a nice set of soft-tipped darts, this is an excellent option. They are priced higher than the set of Arachnid darts just mentioned. Because of the price, these darts are ideally suited for serious players who are willing to pay a little more for quality equipment. If you’re just looking for a decent set of darts to use at home we recommend one of the sets already mentioned.
Another nice thing about these darts is that you have a few different color options.
Pros:
- Excellent quality.
- 90% Tungsten barrels.
- Trusted brand.
- Comes with extra shafts and flights.
- Comes with carrying case and wrench.
- 3 color options.
Cons:
- Priced higher than the entry level options.
- Only includes 3 darts.
Find the Best Price on Amazon for the Viper Diamond Tungsten Soft Tip Darts.
3. Arachnid Tungsten Soft Tip Darts
Arachnid makes some of the most popular electronic dartboards, and so, of course, they also make darts. These darts come in two different versions. The barrels are either 80% tungsten or 90% tungsten. Of course, the variation with 90% tungsten is a little more expensive. The tungsten material allows the barrels to be slim and great for throwing.
The set comes with 3 darts,but there are 3 spare flights, 3 spare shafts, and 7 spare points. The shafts are made with striped aluminum, and each dart weighs 18 grams. The package also comes with a SideRider case.
These tungsten darts from Arachnid are an excellent option if you want high-quality soft-tipped darts. The price is higher than the previous options, but still reasonable.
Pros:
- Excellent quality.
- Tungsten barrels.
- Trusted brand.
- Comes with extra points, shafts, and flights.
- Comes with carrying case.
Cons:
- Priced higher than the entry level options.
- Only includes 3 darts.
Find the Best Price on Amazon for the Arachnid Tungsten Soft Tip Darts.
4. Viper Desert Rose Soft Tip Darts
[Budget-friendly] This set of 3 soft-tipped darts from Viper is also available at a great price. The barrels are made of nickel-plated silver with knurled bands and deep groves to allow for the best grip.
The shafts are made of diamond-cut aluminum, with locking holes to allow a tighter fit that won’t need to be tightened frequently. It also comes with an extra set of nylon shafts. Flights, flight protectors, and a dart mechanic wrench are also a part of the kit.
It comes with a protective case that features a hard outer shell and a soft, lined interior. All in all, this is a great set of darts that won’t break the budget.
Pros:
- Great price.
- Good quality considering the entry-level price.
- Comes with a protective case and wrench.
Cons:
- Not the same level of quality that you would get with a higher-priced set.
- Only includes 3 darts.
Find the Best Price on Amazon for the Viper Desert Rose Soft Tip Darts.
5. W.M Darts Set
[Budget-friendly] This inexpensive set is great for use at home if you are looking for an affordable set of soft-tipped darts. It comes with 3 darts, so you may want to get more than one set.It comes with dart barrels, shafts, and dart flights. There are a total of 9 different flights (3 different shapes). There are also extra nylon shafts included.
The darts will weight either 18 or 20 grams, depending on the configuration that you choose. Although these are soft-tipped darts, they can be converted to steel-tip. The barrels are made with brass, and offer a good grip.
This set comes with a nice protective carrying case.
Pros:
- Great price.
- Comes with soft-tip and steel-tip options.
- Includes a nice carrying case.
Cons:
- Entry-level quality.
- Only includes 3 darts.
Find the Best Price on Amazon for the W.M. Darts Set.
How to Choose the Right Darts for You
When you are choosing darts there are a lot of factors to consider, but there are three main criteria that should always be a factor:
1. Do You Want Steel-Tipped or Soft-Tipped Darts?
Before you spend a lot of time reading reviews and trying to make up your mind what to buy, first narrow it down to either steel-tip or soft-tip. Making this decision first will cut your choices in half, making the decision a lot easier.
2. What is Your Budget?
Budget is always a factor for any buying decision. On this page, we’ve ranked some of the best darts, but there is a very wide range in prices. We’ve included darts in all different price ranges, rather than only focusing on the high-cost, professional-quality options. We know many people reading this page will be simply looking for some decent darts that will be good for home use.
However, some buyers will be looking for top-of-the-line quality. So you’ll need to decide what you are willing to spend. If you’re just a casual player there are some really good budget-friendly options listed above. We recommend going with one of those unless you’re a serious, competitive player.
3. How Many Darts Do You Need?
Are you buying a set of darts for yourself, or are you looking to buy enough that you can have several teams or players playing at once? In the steep-tipped variety we featured a few packs that are great for stocking your gameroom with enough darts so several friends can play at once. Those are the darts that we recommend if you’re buying for use in your home gameroom with family and friends.
But if you’re a competitive player and you’re just looking for a set of darts to use yourself, you may opt for one of the packs that only includes 3 darts.
About the Author Alberto Restrepo
I live in Pennsylvania with my wife and four children. Time with family is very important to me, so I started Gameroom Vault to help others find fun ways to spend time with their families at home.