LARP arrows and bows

This page has safety advice that hasn't yet been checked by our safety reviewer. Treat it as general guidance, and follow your game's, venue's or product's own safety rules first.

An overview of LARP-safe arrows and bows for newcomers, covering foam-tipped construction, low draw weights, and the safety checks marshals commonly apply.

LARP arrows are purpose-built to be much safer than real archery equipment, but they are still projectiles and deserve serious respect. A typical LARP arrow has a fibreglass or carbon rod core, a wide foam head that is soft enough to compress on impact, and a blunt or rounded tip covered in a smooth outer skin. The foam used for the head is often the same closed-cell EVA foam found in other LARP weapons, chosen because it gives a little on contact rather than concentrating force on a small point. Fletching is usually made from soft foam or thin flexible plastic rather than real feathers or stiff vanes, so there are no sharp edges flying toward other players. The bow matters just as much as the arrow. Most LARP games set an upper limit on draw weight, and that limit is often quite low compared with target archery or hunting bows. A lighter draw weight means less energy behind the shot, which keeps impacts manageable even if an arrow strikes an unpadded area. Always check your specific game's rulebook or weapon standard before buying or bringing a bow, because the permitted draw weight varies from event to event and some games ban certain bow styles altogether. Firing at the head is not permitted in the vast majority of LARP systems, and many games extend that restriction to the neck and throat as well. Even a foam-tipped arrow travelling at low speed can cause injury to the face or eyes. Treat this rule as absolute: it is not a suggestion that shifts based on how exciting the moment feels in the fiction. Safety is an ongoing responsibility, not a one-time check. Work in a well-ventilated space if you are building or repairing arrows, wear appropriate eye protection when cutting foam or rod materials, and keep sharp tools away from unsupervised younger makers. At the event itself, never dry-fire a bow, never nock an arrow unless you are in an active combat zone, and report any arrow that feels wrong — a crack in the core, a loose head, or a tear in the outer skin — to a marshal immediately rather than continuing to use it. Before any LARP arrow or bow enters play it goes through a weapon check run by a marshal or referee. The things a marshal commonly looks at include whether the foam head is securely attached and shows no signs of separation, whether the tip covering is smooth and free of punctures or hard spots, whether the rod core is intact with no cracks or splinters, whether the fletching has no sharp or rigid edges, and whether the bow's draw weight falls within the game's permitted range. Your game's own safety brief and weapon standards are the final authority on all of these points.