Foam-Tip vs Suction-Cup Arrows: Which to Buy and When

Walk down a toy aisle and you will find bow sets with suction-cup arrows. Read about archery tag and you will find foam-tipped arrows. They look like two versions of the same thing. They aren’t: they are built for different ages, different bows and different games, and buying the wrong one is the most common mistake we see parents make.

Here is how they differ, which one to pick for your situation, and the handful of mistakes worth avoiding.

The short answer

Suction-cup arrows are toys for target games. They are light, slow and short, shot from a toy bow with almost no draw weight, and they are made to stick to a smooth target. They suit ages 3 to 8.

Foam-tip arrows are sports equipment for shooting at people. They are full-length arrows with a wide, padded head, shot from a real but light bow (around 15 to 25 lb), and they are made to be safe enough to hit a player wearing a full-face mask. They suit players from about 9 up, with supervision.

If the plan is target practice for a young child, buy suction cups. If the plan is a game where players shoot at each other, buy foam tips, bows to match and masks.

Side by side

When to pick suction cups

• The archer is under 8. Toy bows are the right size and weight for small hands, and suction cups are as gentle as an arrow gets.
• You’re playing indoors. They are slow and short-ranged enough for a living room or a hallway.
• The game is target practice. Pop-up and point-scoring targets keep young children playing far longer than a plain bullseye.
• You want a first taste of archery. A light-up set with a pop-up target is the best way to find out whether a child enjoys it before buying anything more serious.

See our full guide to the best kids’ bow and arrow sets.

When to pick foam tips

• Players will shoot at each other. Foam tips are designed for exactly that, paired with light bows and full-face masks.
• The players are 9 or older and can follow a “masks on” rule and stop instantly on a whistle.
• You’re playing outside, in a backyard, park or field, where the extra range is part of the fun.
• You’re running a group. Birthday parties, camps and youth groups need gear that survives a season of hard use.

Our guides to the best foam-tip arrows and the best bows for archery tag cover the gear, and our safety standard covers the rules.

What to avoid

• Suction-cup arrows in a real bow. They are far too light and short for a real bow’s draw, fly unpredictably, and can snap.
• Screwing foam heads onto ordinary target arrows. Target arrows are heavier and stiffer than combat arrows, and a screw-on head can come off mid-game, leaving a bare shaft.
• A heavy bow with foam arrows. Stay at or under the rating printed on your arrows, typically 20 to 25 lb. Hunting bows are never suitable.
• Suction-cup arrows with the cup missing. Children sometimes pull the cups off. A bare toy shaft is a poke hazard; throw it away.
• Toy goggles for foam-tip games. Nerf-style goggles are fine for suction-cup play, but foam-tip games need full-face, paintball-rated masks.
• Mixing the two in one game. Toy bows can’t throw a foam arrow far enough to be fair, and a real bow makes a suction-cup arrow unsafe. Pick one kind of game and gear up for it.

Our picks

Frequently asked questions