I have to admit I really love lasers and have always enjoyed laser tag. Ever since I played laser tag my freshman year in college, I found that this game can be really, really fun. There is something exhilarating about running around chasing each other with fake space age weapon.
I still enjoy playing laser tag, but now I get to play with my kids. Laser tag can be a great active sport for kids of all ages. I am always looking for ways to get my kids outside and to be active.
There are a lot of laser tag sets out there. Many of these sets look and feel similar. How do you know what set to buy for your kids?
Here are the things I look for when purchasing a laser tag gun:
- Gun or Kit. Some laser tag sets have vests, some have targets, and some have electronic spiders.
- Accuracy. How consistently does the laser gun shoot? Some of these guns are very consistent, while others are not as reliable.
- Distance. How far can the gun shoot? You want a gun that can shoot at least 20 feet indoors accurately.
- Game modes. Can the guns play against each other? Can you adjust the amount of lives? Does the game allow for target practice?
- Price. Laser tag guns can cost $10 to over $25 each. Sometimes the difference between the guns is very subtle. You want to make sure that you are getting good value for your hard earned dollars.
- Paring for large groups. Can the guns work together with another 2, 4, 6, 8 or more guns to make a large laser tag game?
- Batteries. What kind of batteries do the guns and vests use and how long do they last?
Top Laser Tag Blasters for Children
Here are our top recommended laser tag blasters for children. These blasters are reasonably priced, and all will give you and your children a good laser tag experience.
| Model | Pros / Cons |
|---|---|
ArmoGear Laser Guns Read Review | Pros: |
Nerf Laser AlphaPoint Read Review | Pros: |
Kidzlane Laser Gun Read Review | Pros: |
Nerf Laser Strike Read Review | Pros: |
Play22 Laser Tag Set Read Review | Pros: |
Squad Hero Light Force Read Review | Pros: |
Histoye Laser Tag Set Read Review | Pros: |
Squad Hero Laser Tag Set Read Review | Pros: |
POKONBOY Sets Read Review | Pros: |
TINOTEEN Laser Tag Set Read Review | Pros: |
Liberty Imports Laser Tag Set Read Review | Pros: |
Vatos Laser Tag Set Read Review | Pros: |
Top NERF Laser Tag Guns
NERF is known for its soft pellet guns, but they also make 3 of the top laser tag guns out there. These 3 laser blasters will let your kids run, laugh, cry, and play without having to do any clean up after.
1. NERF Laser Ops Pro AlphaPoint 2-Pack
My 8-year-old and 10-year-old love to chase each other around the house with the NERF Laser Ops Pro AlphaPoint.This set comes with 2 laser tag guns. The NERF Laser Ops Pro AlphaPoint is the little brother laser system of the bigger laser rifle Combat Blaster. It is much smaller and more compact than its bigger brother making it more desirable for younger kids, while maintaining its good features including the NERF laser Tag App. For around $20 this gun packs a punch and is a good value especially for younger kids. Just like the Combat Blaster, the AlphaPoint is jammed pack with great features especially for the price.
Technical Specifications
The NERF Laser Ops Pro uses IR lasers to fire up to 225 feet away. Like many of the other NERF laser tag guns, the Laser Ops Pro app can be used in combination with the app to allow users to keep track of your stats. This set comes with the 2 laser tag guns and 2 phone holders. Each laser tag gun requires 4 AA batteries. Like with the other laser tag guns, I’d highly recommend rechargeable lithium batteries and a battery charger.
One of the best features on the gun is that you can change from indoor to outdoor game mode to adjust for the different lighting conditions. This gun is great for a one on one battle or for a NERF laser war.
Recommended Ages: The NERF Laser Ops Pro would be perfect for kids ages 4 years old and up.
2. NERF Laser Strike
This set can either be purchased with 2 or 4 guns, depending on your needs. To add a touch of realism, each gun vibrates when shot and comes with a holster for players to wear. There are five shooting modes to choose from, each with its own unique combination of bullet rounds and lives lost per hit, and players are given interactive live notifications and voice-prompted intel as they play.
Technical Specifications: The guns and vests each take 3 AA batteries to operate. The shooting range is 300 feet, and the batteries can provide 4 hours of play.
Recommended Ages: This set can be used by kids 3 years and up.
Top Non-NERF Laser Tag Sets
NERF is definitely not the only game in town when it comes to laser tag guns and sets. These laser tag guns have many great features that the NERF guns do not offer, including different weapon modes. These 4 options will bring any laser tag fanatic hours of fun.
3. ArmoGear Infrared Laser Tag Blasters and Vests
ArmoGear Laser Tag Blasters set may be the most complete laser set we reviewed. The ArmoGear Blasters are a laser tag party in a box. The blasters can be set up in up to four different teams. They can also be set up in 4 different weapon game modes including: pistol, shotgun, machine gun, and rocket launcher. Both girls and boys alike will like the bright colors of this set.
Technical Specifications
This set is an incredible value, coming with not only 4 laser tag guns, but 4 vests to go with it. If you have ever gone to play laser tag at a laser tag arena, you know that it can be easy for people to cover up their laser tag gun sensor. Without a vest laser tag play is good, but with a vest or a chest sensor it is much better. ArmoGear provides both in this value packed set.
As a word of warning ,the vests that are included in this are not very big and don’t fit adults or even teens very well. That being said, adults and kids can wear them and even with the awkward look, the vests are still better than not having one in a more competitive laser battle. These guns have infrared lasers that can fire up to 150 feet. The vests and guns each require 3 AA batteries each. The only negative to these guns is indoors you don’t have to aim much in close combat. The lasers seem to bounce off walls and hit just with a close shot.
Our Recommended Ages: I’d recommend this set for ages 4 years old and up. My only caveat on the upper age limit is that the vests are not very comfortable once your kids get heavier than about 75 pounds.
4. Kidzlane Infared Laser Tag
Kidzlane makes a very high quality laser tag gun. This laser blaster set comes in blue, green, red, and orange and would make an excellent birthday gift. Although it is not a NERF brand, this is a great set made of high quality materials. Plus, at this price you don’t mind if your kids are a little aggressive and break one.
Technical Specifications
Kidzlane uses high quality infrared lasers that run at .9mW, allowing for a great signal. The Kidzlane laser tag blasters come in a 2 set or 4 set. Both cost around $15 per laser tag gun. The Kidzlane lasers allow you to pick your ammo type. With each game mode the guns fire like the ammo they are firing. The four game modes are pistol, shotgun, machine gun, and rocket. Depending on the type of ammo, the gun will allow you take more lives away from the opponent based on the power of the weapon, but the number of shots go down on the greater damage weapons. Shoot your opponents accurately at up to 130 feet away. The Kidzlane lasers allow you to play a game with up to 4 teams.
Recommended Ages: This is a great gun set for kids ages 5 years old and up.
5. Play22 Laser Tag Set with Gun Vest
The Play22 set is probably best value of the higher quality laser tag sets available online. This set comes with 4 laser tag guns as well as 4 laser tag vests. The Play22 laser blasters and vests come in bright blue, red, green, white, and blue colors. The laser tag guns light up during laser tag battles and add to the laser tag experience. At around $75, this set is a great overall value. I would consider this set a lower priced alternate to the ArmorGear set up above. It is less expensive, but isn’t quite as high quality.
Technical Specifications
The Play22 set has a range of about 130 feet. Like many of the NERF-alternative laser guns, this set comes with four different types of weapon options. The weapons can be changed in game, and they affect how many remaining lives you take from your opponent when you get an accurate shot off. Each laser comes with 3 lives, and the number of lives lost depends on the weapon type used. Each laser tag set takes 7 AA batteries, or 28 for the set of 4. Batteries are not included in any of these sets. Multiple sets of these can be purchased and linked together to create large laser tag battles. All guns are made of high quality ABS plastic and are easy for kids of all ages to fire.
Recommended Ages: I’d recommend this set for ages 5 years old and up.
6. Squad Hero Light Force
In this set, the 4 guns and vests are connected by a wire, so there’s no need to waste time pairing before the fun begins. Players can either shoot each other’s vests or guns, and all Squad Hero Light Force Laser Tag sets are compatible, so you can add unlimited players with multiple sets. In addition to two gun modes to choose from—Automatic and Pistol—you can also choose between Team or Solo play. Stealth Mode is another fun feature to experiment with.
Technical Specifications: This set uses safe infrared laser technology and has a 150-foot shooting range. The vests and guns are rechargeable and come with a 4-in-1 charging cable. It is possible to play about 8 games per charge.
Recommended Ages: This set can be used by anyone from 8 years old to adult.
7. Histoye Laser Tag Set
If your kids are sci-fi fans, they will love this uniquely designed laser gun! This gun can do single shot, shot gun, machine gun, or rocket with sounds and lights and vibrating vests. It comes in a set of four with four colors for team playing!
Technical Specifications
The gun has 6 preloaded shots, 2 points taken per shot. When shooting as a rocket, it’s one shot and 3 points! The max shooting distance is 130 ft. It requires 28 batteries total, and will come with a screwdriver and instructions. It needs 4 X 1.5V AA batteries for each gun and 3 X 1.5V AA batteries for each vest, which are not included. With this, you’ll have 2 hours of play time.
Recommended Ages: This is recommended for kids ages 3 and up!
8. Squad Hero Rechargeable Laser Tag Set
Squad Hero produced an innovative, rechargeable laser tag set the whole family is sure to love! The best part is that it comes with a charging station where you can charge all the gear at once. This is a big deal since it eliminates the need to stock up on batteries. You should be able to play about 8 30-minute games between charges. Everyone will agree that this is the most exciting game around!
Technical Specifications
You’ll see that this laser tag set was impressively engineered. First and foremost, child-safe infrared emissions are used instead of laser rays resulting in safety but also accuracy and precision. HEROSYNC and LCD HUD technologies allow the guns and vests to pair together. Since lives and team data are automatically synced players can check all the stats on their gear during play. Also, there are various settings you can adjust such as stealth mode, weapon modes (pistol, automatic, laser, and rocket), how many lives players get per game, and a night flashlight to illuminate dark areas.
Recommended Ages: This is recommended for children 8 years old and up.
9. POKONBOY Infrared Laser Tag Guns and Vests
Like other sets, POKONBOY vibrates when hit and has exciting sound effects – features our kids insist on! The ergonomic design makes these blasters easy to grip, even for young children. And if you’re like me, you’ll appreciate the storage bag that is included in this set. However, twenty eight batteries are needed but are not included.
Technical Specifications
These laser guns are certified safe as they meet the Class 1 laser radiation power limit requirements. This means that the radiation power is low enough that it won’t cause any damage to the human body.
Recommended Ages: I recommend this set for anyone 5 years or older.
10. TINOTEEN Laser Tag Guns with Vests Set
Your kids will feel like real warriors with these laser tag guns and vests! They’ll be so excited to use them that they’ll set aside their devices to engage with family and friends in a game of laser tag! Not only do the vests vibrate when attacked, but the guns emit fun sound effects. There are several modes you can choose from: pistol, shotgun, machine gun, and rocket. Use them anytime and anywhere, regardless of the weather.
Technical Specifications
While the manufacturer claims these laser tag guns have a range up to 150 feet, experience shows that they work best within 10 feet. And keep in mind that this set requires AA batteries which are not included: each gun and vest needs 3, so you’ll need 24 batteries total.
11. Liberty Imports Laser Tag Set
This is an awesome set for large groups and competitive playing! It’s a four player set with different team settings. You can choose between blue, orange, green, or white team. The team size can be as few as one or as many for every blaster you have! This set is simple, it forgoes vests. Your blaster is your target.
It also has four different weapon settings: pistol, shotgun, machine gun, and rocket launcher, each with its own realistic shootings sounds. You can switch between settings mid-battle and each setting will have a different hit intensity and release a different amount of ammunition. Players start with 9 lives, with lights indicating how many you have left. This is a great set for playing at night, as the light up effects show best in low light.
Technical Specifications
Each gun uses three AA batteries (12 total), and are not included. The max striking distance is 132 feet. The infrared lights are safety tested and non visible, so no eye protection is needed. It comes with a convenient carrying case for the guns.
Recommended Ages: This is intended for kids aged 6 years and up.
12. Vatos Laser Tag Set
This set can accommodate up to four teams—red, blue, green, and white—though they can only be single-player teams unless you buy another set. There are also four firing modes to choose from during play. In Pistol mode, players get 12 bullets and lose 1 life (of 9) per hit. In Shotgun and Machine Gun modes, players get 6 bullets and lose 2 lives per hit. In Rocket Launcher mode, players get 1 missle and lose 3 lives per shot.
The guns in this set have highly simulated shooting sounds and vibrate when shot, adding more fun to the experience, and the vests are very adjustable to fit kids of all shapes and sizes.
Technical Specifications: Each gun and vest requires 3 AA batteries, which are not included. The infrared signal emissions are less than 1mW, making them safe for little eyes. The guns work up to 100 feet.
Recommended Ages: This set is designed for kids 6 to 14 years old.
FAQs
What are the Recommended Ages for a Laser Tag Gun?
Due to their smaller size and how simple they are to use, most laser tag guns are suitable for anyone age 3 and up.
How Do Lasers Work?
According to Wikipedia, laser stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation and is a device that will emit light through amplifying light optically based on the stimulation of electromagnetic radiation. Albert Einstein explored the concept of lasers in 1917. Actual functioning lasers have been around for over 50 years. Lasers can be used in a variety of different ways including laser cutting, encoding data, bar code scanners, fiber optics, and in surgery.
Are Laser Tag Guns Safe?
Lasers can vary substantially in strength and function depending on how much the light is amplified from electromagnetic radiation. Laser tag guns use infrared light at a low amplitude and power so that it is harmless to kids and adults alike.
Generally the FDA recommends lasers with a strength greater than 5mW should not be used anywhere near human eyes. These laser tag guns use less than .9mW, which is far less than the 5mW the FDA recommends. I’d still recommend telling kids not to intentionally fire laser tag guns into each other’s eyes.
Recommended Laser Tag Gun Set
The NERF Laser Ops Pro Burst Fire Combat Blaster is great for serious adults, teens, and tweens looking for a laser tag set. These guns just look and feel great, and the stats that are available with the NERF Laser Ops Pro App make the game so much more enjoyable. The ArmoGear Laser set is great for kids and those that want a set with a vest.
