I have always been a Unicorn user for many years and have always felt they offered good value for money and great equipment. Some months ago I bought myself my usual replacements only to find that the standard of the finish as well as the quality had dropped tremendously. I engaged in a written conversation with Unicorn's MD as he explained that there were no faults or sub-standard equipment although they were now having everything made overseas. I took some photo's of the case and other equipment and although he agreed he would replace them he would not admit that there was anything wrong with the equipment and even suggested I was using the case wrong and insulted me by calling me a bit picky as well as being rather rude!! However they did send me a new case and another that was in compensation but i had to throw it in the bin as the magnetic areas to hold the case shut were out of line by a centimetre so it wouldn't hold shut which again proved my point it was sub standard rubbish they were churning out.

I vowed from that day that i would never use Unicorn again for my darts equipment but have just not found a suitable replacement for my Beloved Purists phase 2. I have tried Target, Harrows and Winmau but nothing feels right and I an spending a fortune in the process. I feel a real hypocrite if I continue to use Unicorn but feel I may have to eat humble pie here and continue to use what I know works for me but it's not sitting right, so my dilemma is Do I put it behind me and buy substandard tosh so i can still be true to my Purists or keep spending a fortune to find my replacement. Or do I only use their darts and never buy anything else from them accessory wise, but again is that being a hypocrite?

Tell me what you think as I have strong morals but don't want to cut my nose off to spite my face as is often said and done by many.

Below is a pic of the case and the area you are supposed to keep your stems in but the material was so tight it warmed and pulled the flat middle section in to a curve so when you shut the case it tore the stem holders and damaged the middle flap. Unicorn said that this was not a fault and that it was because I was taking to many stems with me when I played but I only put 1 in each holder and it held 9 stems.

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I dislike all Unicorn products. They just feel cheap and not well made to me. But if I was throwing best with Unicorn darts and couldn't find something similar I would def go back to using them

Cheers buddy I think I may have to take that route.

I use Lewis darts and have both Unicorn and Target, I would say the Unicorn ones feel nicer in the hand but the Target darts seem to me more robust, less chips and dinks.
Also I have gold Unicorn and Zirconium Target ones and have to say, after about the same level of use, the Unicorn gold has worn off the nose, whereas the Targets are still gleaming, no greying whatsoever.

So its personal preference, I still think Unicorn make great darts, however I think Target darts are of better quality, also when I say the Unicorn darts chip and pit after knocks, I find it adds to the grip, which I also like.

Also looking at that case, I had a Target Pure case that lasted 3 weeks due to the stitching breaking rendering the internal pockets useless - maybe it was just one of a bad batch, I'm on my 2nd one and its holding up a bit better with care.

So maybe its hit and miss, BTW have you tried the McCoys Max, I found them a good alternative to the Purists at half the price:

http://www.puredarts.co.uk/mccoy-max-darts/mccoy-1-mccoy-90-max-22g.html

Also I agree with Mac, if that's what you throw best then there is no shame in going back on your vow, it will not matter to Unicorn whether you boycott their products however it could be detrimental to your game if you ditch them.

Red Dragon Bronzers any good to you??

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I agree with the above - if you are comfortable with your throw using the purists (which you obviously are) then keep on using them. From memory you use trulon rev grips so you aren't 100% loyal to Unicorn anyway - so no moral dilemma there in continuing to use the purists.

As far as the cases go have you tried the Harrows Royal or even the smaller of the Unicorn Contender cases - both of these are decent cases and have little zipper pockets where you can store some spare stems or flights. You can also carry your darts fully loaded in them:

http://www.dartscorner.co.uk/Accessories-Dart-Cases/c340_495/p67079/Dart-Case---Harrows---%3Cb%3ERoyal-Case%3C/b%3E---High-Quality-Double-Zip-Darts-Wallet---%3Cb%3EBlue%3C/b%3E/product_info.html

http://www.dartscorner.co.uk/Accessories-Dart-Cases/c340_495/p60016/Dart-Case---Unicorn---%3Cb%3EContender%3C/b%3E---Total-Protection-Hard-Case---with-2-detachable-zipped-pockets/product_info.html

I just started throwing Unicorn darts, but I don't feel that I am now required to use everything Unicorn. I hate their flights and have never tried their cases. I will use whatever brand components and equipment work for me regardless of what brand barrel I use. The only way you would be a hypocrite is if you regularly run down the brand and continue to use their barrels. If you feel that they wronged you somehow then you may have to change, but that doesn't make you a hypocrite if you don't. You will just have to determine if you can live with it.

Regarding your pics...

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Ive used Unicorn products for many many years and not had any great problems apart from a board which was quickly replaced foc with no problems at all. Ive bought products from most manufacturers and at times had slight issues with things being faulty or not as well finished but you get this with every brand but i find its very minimal.

If you have found something which works then why change, we all at times say certain things which others actually don't like despite them being entirely innocent in there meaning.

More and more brands have goods made outside the UK so at times quality can be an issue but in general most things are still of a very high standard.

Kev why don't you have Mad house just make you a set mate???

BG, if they are your equipment sponsor, then you have an obligation to them. If not, you are free to use whoever's equipment you like. I understand your loyalty to a brand, but I see no problem with you still using their darts and someone else's accessories. I think you will not be going against your morals like that.

Those Bronzers look a good match, there is also the ruthless darts at Pure:

http://www.puredarts.co.uk/ruthless-darts/rrg-24-ruthless-ring-grip-90-24g.html

and Shot 803: http://www.dartswarehouse.com/shop/Darts/Steel+Tip+Darts/Darts+By+Range/Shot+803+Darts/803+23gm+Steel+Tip+Dart.html

Nice finds there Grip, this ruthless look like the Taylor World Champion darts (Phase 1?) and for £12 worth every penny!
Them Shot's look nice too.

There are a lot of alternatives to the P2's then by the looks of it.

I am a fan of my unicorn darts, and swear by their Ti and Magnesium stilk stik stems, but their other accessories are crap. I bought one of their maestro cases and it was total garbage, the unicorn case i got with a set of $5 mass market darts was better.

So there ya go, thats my opinion. Not bad darts, and their pro sigma versions in all of their incarnations and adaptions are good too if you like that sort of thing.

Their darts shirts are also twenty years out of date in style.

The sigma darts are very good I think.

Have you tried McCoys? The Max 90% are essentially the same darts, also Puma makes some nice alternatives

http://www.dartingaround.com/contents/en-us/d406_McCoy_Max_90_Steel_Tip_Darts.html

http://www.pumadarts.com/shop/Darts/Steel+Tip+Darts/Darts+By+Range/Puma+Invader+80+Ringed+Darts/Invader+23gm+Ringed+Steel+Tip+Dart.html

http://www.pumadarts.com/shop/Darts/Steel+Tip+Darts/Darts+By+Range/Puma+King+95+Tungsten+Darts/King+23gm+Steel+Tip+Dart.html

Cheers guys appreciate all the comments I will stick with the Purists as they are doing the job but will not buy any of their other sub standard rubbish, I feel better now.

Thank you all

Big Gun wrote:

Cheers guys appreciate all the comments I will stick with the Purists as they are doing the job but will not buy any of their other sub standard rubbish, I feel better now.

Thank you all

You can't say fairer than that mate

Thats the way BG. Stick with their darts because they are what works for you. As for the rest of your equipment, there are dozens of other options available to you. Most of which still take pride in their items.