Soft dart blasters and multi-packs

Soft dart toys include hand-held pump-action blasters and remote control vehicles that fire darts. This guide compares those choices and explains the available multi-packs. The products below use their listed ammunition; do not assume compatibility with another maker's darts.

What to look for

Start with the play style. A hand-held blaster is aimed and operated by the player. A dart-firing RC vehicle combines driving and firing. Those are different activities, even when both use soft darts.

Check the projectile type. One pump-action model fires both soft darts and soft balls. The mini pistol uses foam darts. These are separate ammunition types, so use only what the instructions specify.

Check the pack selector before ordering. A multi-pack can mean several blasters rather than extra darts for one blaster. Read the selected option and box contents, particularly when buying for a group.

Age suitability must be checked for the exact model. The two RC vehicles below are rated 8+. Do not apply that rating to the hand-held blasters without checking their packaging or instructions.

Soft ammunition still needs sensible handling. Do not aim at faces, eyes or animals. Set up targets and keep other people outside the firing area. Adult supervision is recommended.

The blasters

The two-in-one pump-action blaster fires soft darts and soft balls. It is a hand-held model listed for outdoor play. The product selector offers a single, twin pack or four-pack. Choose by the number of players, then check what ammunition accompanies the selected pack.

The mini pump-action soft dart pistol is pocket-sized and uses foam darts. Its options are three, five or ten pistols. It is a different product from the larger two-in-one blaster. A larger pack is useful only if you need that many individual blasters.

The 4WD soft dart battle tank adds remote control driving, gesture watch control, smoke, lights and sound. It is rated 8+ and its listing includes 12 soft darts, a rechargeable battery and a USB cable. Its firing function uses soft darts.

The transforming dart-firing RC car changes between modes and fires soft darts. It has 2.4GHz control and an off-road buggy style. It is rated 8+. The listed box contents include the car, controller, soft darts, rechargeable battery, USB cable and manual.

How to decide

For hand-held target play, choose between the larger dart-and-ball blaster and the mini foam dart pistol. Match the pack to the number of users. For driving and dart firing together, compare the tank and transforming car, then check age suitability and supplied ammunition.