Carbon Fiber Shafts
Carbon fiber shafts for a stiffer feel and added durability.
Worth the upgrade if you are bending or snapping aluminum mid-match.
Buying guide
Carbon Fiber Shafts Guide
Carbon fiber shafts use a carbon or graphite core to stay light and stiff, avoiding both the flex of nylon and the bends that end an aluminum shaft. Many add aluminum ends that move a little weight forward. Options include the Harrows Carbon ST, 1.3 in (33 mm) in Short, and Cosmo carbon Fit Shafts in eight lengths.
Are carbon fiber shafts better than aluminum?
For players who keep bending aluminum, usually yes. Carbon is stiffer than nylon and lighter than a comparable aluminum shaft, so it holds its line without adding weight at the back of the dart.
Harrows says the carbon composite in its Carbon ST resists damage and breakage better than standard materials, and the shaft adds a rounded flight lead-in to cut deflections. If you rarely damage shafts, aluminum still does the job for less. Compare both in our dart shafts.
Is polycarbonate the same as carbon fiber?
No. Polycarbonate is a tough plastic, and carbon fiber is a composite of carbon fibers set in resin. Both are light, but carbon is stiffer. This collection carries both, plus shafts that mix materials:
- Winmau Vecta: a polycarbonate body fused to aluminum alloy tips.
- Polycarbonate Shaft: see-through, so the barrel color shows.
- SuperGrip Fusion: two-tone polycarbonate from Horizon Darts, with machined rings that hold the flight.
Why do some carbon shafts have aluminum ends?
Aluminum ends add a touch of weight toward the front of the dart, so you get a light shaft with a slightly more nose-forward balance. The Harrows Carbon Plus uses a graphite rod with an anodized linker and top, and weighs 0.9 g at 1.4 in (35 mm) Short and 1.0 g at 1.9 in (48 mm) Medium. The Viper Carbon Fiber Performance pairs a carbon rod with an aluminum boot and top, comes in 1.1 in (27 mm) and 1.3 in (33 mm), and includes three O-rings and a pin tightener.
Do carbon shafts come in spinning versions?
Yes. The L-Style Silent Carbon Shaft spins with a quieter mechanism in a carbonite body that is more rigid than nylon, with a 2BA thread in Super Short through Medium. If you throw Cosmo Fit Flights, the Cosmo Carbon Slim Spinning Fit Shaft comes in eight lengths from 0.5 in (13 mm) to 1.7 in (42.5 mm), but it accepts only Fit Flights.