Don't shoot at point blank range – foam darts are soft, but if you get hit by them at very close range they might sting a little. The darts won't have any chance to slow down in the air, so at that range they'll be hitting you as hard as they can. They're based in convenient locations including supermarkets, newsagents and train stations. Plus they're often open late and on Sundays. Nobody wants to spend more time fiddling around with their toy gun than playing with it, so we assessed how straightforward each toy was to handle, fire, and reload, and we considered how convenient its capacity was. Fun factor Be mindful of your surroundings – in the chaos of a Nerf vs X Shot battle, it's all too easy to lose sight of trip hazards and other dangers. Be mindful of what's around you during play, and take care to remove as many hazards as possible before you start. Items that are not available in store will take 3-5 working days (excluding weekends and bank holidays) to be delivered to your nominated store.

We put up a target and used each toy gun to fire several rounds of foam darts, judging them on how firmly the darts hit the target, and how easily we were able to hit the same spot consistently. Ease of use Don't aim for the head – even if you're wearing protection over your eyes, it can still be quite uncomfortable to get hit by a foam dart around sensitive spots such as your ears or mouth, and your opponents won't thank you for it. Aiming for the torso is the best way to avoid spoiling play, and gives you the best chance of landing a hit.