Credit:
Reviewed / Lisa Lawrence
Products are chosen independently by our editors. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission.
Credit:
Reviewed / Lisa Lawrence
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
Learn more about our product testing
This Nerf gun is easy to use no matter your age and has great aim. Read More
The Nerf DinoSquad Rex Rampage is the only Nerf gun we tested that required batteries, which really increased the weight of the gun. Read More
The Longstrike is great for teens with easy-to-attach accessories for epic Nerf battles. Read More
This Nerf gun shoots 100 rounds with top-notch precision. Read More
While this Nerf gun is easy to load and shoot, the aim may take some getting used to. Read More
If you'd asked me when I was pregnant with my son if I ever thought that he would end up having a closet full of Nerf guns, I would have laughed right in your face. I envisioned his childhood being full of wooden blocks, organic kale chips, and mommy-and-me meditations visualizing world peace.
As with most things about parenting, nothing has gone as planned, and I do, in fact, have a son whose favorite toys are plastic weapons. Naturally, this makes me—and my son—well-suited to finding the best Nerf gun for players of all ages and sizes. If you're looking for a toy that's going to get them off of their tablets and outside, looking to buy the best Nerf gun is a smart investment.
With the help of my adult colleagues and my kids, I spent the better part of three weeks checking out the best Nerf guns online. Of the 8 Nerf guns that we looked at, the Nerf Elite 2.0 Commander is the easiest to use—and the most fun—for kids and adults alike. This Nerf gun is one of the simplest to load and a cinch to use. Of course, when it comes to the best Nerf guns, it's practically impossible to just choose one, especially when other models offer different features like a cool T. rex design or an added crossbow.
To help you find the best Nerf gun, we explored a variety of options available online, as well as had hands-on testing for a few. From our experience, these are the best Nerf guns available right now.
Our favorite Nerf gun is easy to use for both kids and adults.
Easy to use
Good aim
Easy to load
None that we could find
The Nerf DinoSquad was the first one our kid testers wanted to try.
The Longstrike is great for teens with easy-to-attach accessories for epic Nerf battles.
Easy to load
Simple to shoot
Doesn't have good aim
Nerf darts may be made out of foam, but some Nerf guns are very high-impact, so if you get hit in the eye, you'll probably be headed to the emergency room. Don't let a fun time get ruined by a Nerf-related injury: Keep a pack of safety glasses on hand.
If you're purchasing a Nerf gun for a child, simpler is better. Many models on the market have fancy scopes or fire mechanisms, but the more bells and whistles the Nerf gun has, the heavier and more complicated it's likely to be. Opt for a basic single-shot model that's easy for little fingers to load and shoot; otherwise, you'll be stuck helping prime blasters and load darts.
While it may initially seem that all Nerf guns use the same type of foam darts, that's not the case. Some Nerf blasters use elite darts, others use a wider type, and others have a completely different shape altogether. Using the recommended shape and size of dart results in the best accuracy, force, and shot distance. Research which darts are best suited for your particular Nerf gun, and purchase extras; it will help avoid any tantrums about there not being enough darts for an epic Nerf battle.
Nerf guns are available at several different stores. Whether you want to shop for them in-store or online, you can buy the best Nerf guns at places like Walmart and Target. There are several Nerf gun brands available at these stores, such as Nerf Super Soaker. Amazon is also a great place to shop a wide selection of Nerf gun brands and types—from the Nerf Elite 2.0 Commander to the Nerf DinoSquad Rex-Rampage Motorized Dart Blaster.
Nerf guns were invented by Lonnie Johnson in 1995. Johnson started building toys as a kid and eventually got his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and Master’s in Nuclear Engineering. Joining the U.S. Air Force, he helped design the stealth bomber program. He continued to create his own inventions, eventually leading to the first Super Soaker, a water gun that uses pressurized air to squirt water. To this day, Super Soakers are a popular type of Nerf gun that you can buy.
Simply put, Nerf guns use forced air to shoot out darts. Many different parts play a role in this. The trigger of the Nerf gun is connected to a spring, and when it gets pulled, it hits the vertical slider. When the vertical slider and hooks are engaged, the dart is loaded and the piston is released with forced air. The cylinder rotates after the dart fires, so the next dart in the Nerf gun is ready to go.
Having kids also means having toys all over the house, especially when they’ve got a large Nerf gun collection. No parent wants to have a bunch of accessories laying on the floor. That not only is a mess, but it also increases the chances of pieces going missing. Here are some ways you can store Nerf guns in your home:
In a storage bin: Storage bins are a great way to organize all of the little pieces and keep them out of sight. You can push the storage bin under a bed, in a closet, or a garage. Behind a door: You could hang the Nerf gun pieces from your kid’s bedroom door. This also allows them easy access to the Nerf guns whenever they want to play with them. Hanging from a wall: You could mount a pegboard to your garage wall and store the Nerf guns there. This also makes it easier to see which Nerf guns your kids want to use. In a basket: Although using a toy basket to store Nerf guns may not be as neat, it’s an easy way to put them away and access them.
Anna Lane was formerly Reviewed's parenting editor, covering topics related to pregnancy and kids, from babies to teens and beyond. She's a veteran commerce writer, a West Coast homeowner, and one of our pool experts—swimming, not billiards.
Lane has also worked as a freelance writer and editor. Her published bylines include USA Today, The Washington Post, Refinery29, Playboy Australia, and Motherly, among others. A graduate of New York University, Lane previously worked as a touring stand-up comedian, entertaining audiences throughout the United States.
Lily Hartman
Staff Writer, Search
Lily Hartman is a staff writer who also enjoys writing magazine articles about health and outdoor recreation. In her free time, she likes to hike, camp, run, and lift weights.
Our team is here to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and experts obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
Shoot us an email
