By: Jeremy Alden
To the undiscerning eye, the Nerf may appear as a mere plastic toy. But we know better, don’t we?
For all who have experienced the kinetic thrill of firing a Nerf Blaster can testify that it is, in fact, a true feat of engineering – and one that is not complete without the proper ammunition.
Even though Nerf darts have evolved over the years, they are still made from the same material.
Just for you, we have compiled for you a list of the five best aftermarket Nerf darts out there.
The 5 Best Aftermarket Nerf Darts
1. Little Valentine Darts
2. NextX Blaster Darts
3. Dart Zone Sureshot Waffle-Tip Darts
4. BOOMCO. Darts
5. X-Shot Excel Universally Compatible darts
- Refill Pack includes 400 Little Valentine darts(7.2*1.3cm)
- Darts work with any Elite blaster (sold separately)
- WARNING: The tip is made of plastic to ensure shoot farther, so please don't shoot at kids under ten directly. Wear eye protection! Let the battle begin!
- This incredible mega pack contains 300 high-quality foam bullets!
- Compatible with the Nerf N-Strike Elite Rampage/Retaliator Series Blasters and almost all of Nerf guns available!
- Patented Raytheon Tech technology with extreme accuracy and maximum precision!
- Mega 100-Dart Refill Pack
- Compatible With Most Leading Brands And Offer The Best Value With Its Amazing Light Foam Technology!
- Three Years In A Row, X-Shots Darts Have Been Recognized As The Best Darts On The Market
Why Aftermarket?
Nerf is a brand that is not only famous for its engineering ingenuity but also notorious for its premium pricing.
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- Refill Pack includes 400 Little Valentine darts(7.2*1.3cm)
- Darts work with any Elite blaster (sold separately)
- WARNING: The tip is made of plastic to ensure shoot farther, so please don't shoot at kids under ten directly. Wear eye protection! Let the battle begin!
- This incredible mega pack contains 300 high-quality foam bullets!
- Compatible with the Nerf N-Strike Elite Rampage/Retaliator Series Blasters and almost all of Nerf guns available!
- Patented Raytheon Tech technology with extreme accuracy and maximum precision!
- Mega 100-Dart Refill Pack
- Compatible With Most Leading Brands And Offer The Best Value With Its Amazing Light Foam Technology!
- Three Years In A Row, X-Shots Darts Have Been Recognized As The Best Darts On The Market
Its slogan, which has become a source of many a meme, is after all, “It’s Nerf or Nothin!”.
But not all of us can afford to hash out large amounts of money to sustain this hobby of ours. Thus, many turn to aftermarket products as affordable alternatives, albeit sometimes at the expense of quality.
And that’s exactly why this article is here. We’ll make sure you get the most out of your buck with these aftermarket darts, for their quality is, if not better, than comparable at the very least, to that of Nerf’s own product line, while also being significantly more affordable.
With that being said, these aftermarket products may not be suitable for those looking for darts to use with their Nerf Ultra Blasters.
The Wall Street Journal reported that this new line of blasters is designed only to work with Nerf’s new line of darts. No exceptions. Not yet.
However, I wouldn’t worry too much about it if I were you. Third-party producers usually don’t take long before finding a way around such matters. Aftermarket is a wondrous place and a very reactive one at that.
Basic of Selection
In order to sieve through the multitudes of options and present to you only the best of the best, we focused on factors that have been deemed to be of utmost importance to Nerfers around the world – distance, impact, durability, and precision.
Regarding the factor of precision, it is one of nuance, where it differs from the traditional aspect of accuracy. What this means is that it is based not on how closely the darts land to where it is being aimed, but on how tight the grouping of the shots is.
This was done on the stance that you can easily control for inaccuracy by adjusting your personal aim, but when it comes to bad precision, there exists no reliable remedy.
It should also be noted that precision and distance have often been found to be inversely related.
-You might be interested in reading: Are Nerf Darts Harmful to the Environment
The rest of the factors are rather straight-forward. So, without further ado, here are the best aftermarket darts out there:
The 5 Best Aftermarket Nerf Darts
The Little Valentine Darts seem to be the aftermarket staple for many Nerfers.
Distance covered by these darts have been said to be remarkable, and its precision rivals that of Nerf’s own Accustrike Darts.
As for impact, it hits harder than average, which makes for more fun for some but should be avoided by those easily bruised.
-You may be interested in: How Accurate Are Nerf Blasters & Darts?
- Refill Pack includes 100 Little Valentine darts
- Darts work with any N-Strike Elite blaster (sold separately)
- Also work with most original N-Strike blasters (sold separately)
- Tip: The tip is a bit harder than nerf to ensure shoot farther, so please don't shoot at kids under ten directly. Wear eye protection! Let the battle begin!
- Standard Packaging Includes 100 Little Valentine darts
The Little Valentine Dart is best known for its durability, and the words – Little Valentine – are printed on the body of the dart and make for a simple and deceivingly adorable aesthetic. At the current price point, the Little Valentine Darts is definitely a steal.
It is also renowned for its compatibility with most Nerf Blasters and grants the smoothest firing. Jamming rates report at about once per 200 shots, with some users claiming that it has not jammed their slingfire even once, and that’s saying something.
These blaster darts from NextX have been said to be indistinguishable from those produced by Nerf, both in quality and in its aesthetics.
Distance and impact of NextX darts are said to be on par with that of Nerf’s Elite Darts, with durability that surpasses it.
They are heavier, harder, and more streamlined, which makes for longer distances, higher impact, and better durability.
- Lets Start A Battle Game: Before a big battle, stock up with plenty of refill darts to ensure the fun continues all day! You'll always have enough ammo to reload your weapons. Watch your competitors struggle as they run out of darts!
- 200 Refill Darts You'll Get: 200PCS bullets darts per package, 10 different colors 7.2*1.2cm Soft foam Darts work with Elite blasters and most original Blasters(sold separately)
- Soft Foam Darts More Safety: The dart body is made from EVA foam material and feature an innovatively designed head that is softer and safer than a common dart
- High Quality Design: Our gun refill darts is built with good tenacity can be used repeatedly.The material is also
- 😀【90 DAY AFTER-SALE SERVICE】At There For You, our #1 priority is to bring happiness to our guest! If you have any quality problems with our products, please contact us!
Although these darts are said to be slightly less precise than those from Nerf, what it lacks in precision it makes up for in great affordability.
If you’re looking to supply a Nerf war, NextX is a perfect choice.
The Dart Zone Sureshot Waffle-Tip Darts differ from the former two products in its lack of recognition.
These darts, as its name suggests, is known for its immaculate precision. In terms of distance, these darts do not lose out to those of Little Valentine’s or NextX’s, covering distances of up to 90ft.
- (300) Dart Zone Official Waffle-Tip Super Darts
- Super Darts Fly up to 90 Feet!
- Universal Darts work with Dart Zone blasters and most blasters from major brands
- Ages 8+
It is also made to be more child-friendly and has a softer impact than the average dart. Its relative lack of acclaim is likely due to its slightly higher price when compared to the usual Accufakes and Waffles.
Dart Zone Sureshot Waffle-Tip Darts still provide the buyer with great value, fitting and firing smoothly in all blasters and ensuring a consistency in spread and precision that is unrivaled by any other, be it Nerf or other aftermarket brands.
The BOOMCO. Darts are designed to be simple and all-rounded in nature. They have been found to be more precise and a lot more durable than those produced by Nerf.
The BOOMCO. Darts are not known for performing particularly well in any one given area, but the consensus is that they are simply more cost-effective versions of Nerf Darts due to both a lower price and a higher quality.
- The tip of each dart features Smart Stick so you see exactly where you nailed it!
- Every dart sticks to all BOOMco. Smart Stick targets and blaster shields.
- With 40 Smart Stick darts at your fingertips, it’s easy to reload and keep the blaster play going and going!
- The full assortment features 3 cool colors, so you can pick a favorite and know which darts are yours on the battlefield! Each 40-Pack sold separately.
These darts also stick to certain surfaces and thus, make good darts for target practice. They have been reported by to travel slightly longer distances than Nerf Darts while also having a softer impact.
Though these darts are not compatible with several models of Nerf Blasters due to its shorter length, it’d be a sin not to include it in this list. These Darts have won the Best Dart Range Award for three consecutive years.
The X-Shot Darts are engineered to shoot further, faster, and more accurately. Durability is an area where it does not, pun intended, excel in. But it is a small price to pay for experiencing just how quickly these darts fly through the air.
- X-Shot Dart Refill: Never Lose Out On The Action With This Handy Mega 100-Dart Refill Pack
- Compatible With Major Leading Brands: X-Shot Darts Are Compatible With Most Leading Brands And Offer The Best Value With Its Amazing Light Foam Technology! Use The Ammo-Box To Collect, Store And Carry Your Darts Anywhere
- Dart-Range Award: For Three Years In A Row, X-Shots Darts Have Been Recognized By Dartzone As The Best Darts On The Market
- Batteries Not Required
The X-Shot Darts are slightly pricier than the other mentioned brands. But at the same time, it presents something that the other alternatives do not possess, and will be a great addition to your ammunition if you’re looking to spice things up a little.
Conclusion: The 5 Best Aftermarket Nerf Darts
And that’s a wrap! These are the five best aftermarket Nerf darts out there.
So get your blast on, fellow Nerfers. And have a blast while you’re at it
Jeremy A
Dart Dudes
About the Author
Jeremy is the founder of Dart Dudes, the leading resource for parents looking to pick up a Nerf toy for a child. He grew up with his four brothers and two sisters where there was always a Nerf war taking place.
With a focus on safety, Jeremy has helped thousands of parents help chose the right Nerf toy for their kids or grandkids. He lives in California with his wife and family. Learn more about me. - You can email me jeremy@dartdudes.com
