By Kurt Bevan - Founder of Matador Darts
Harrows Darts have just launched the new Trilight dartboard system, a new alternative to the standard ring light system we have seen from a few brands over the past years.
The main thing people will be wondering is - "is it worth the upgrade on my current light system?" In this review I will go through some of the differences in the system compared to others as well as giving my general thoughts and opinions.
Installation
The system was easy to install and I didn't require the given instructions to put it up. It doesn't require any tools and parts simply click into place. Despite the lack of tools, the system is very secure and the magnets are very strong so the system can't fall off your board as has been seem with some other systems.
Firstly the plastic ring, which has internal wires to provide power to each light, is attached around the board with magnets which are very strong and didn't move once they were on the board.
The system did require me to remove my surround which is an extra step in comparison to some systems but it takes no longer than an extra 5-10 seconds for this - some people may not have to worry about this. The system features three brackets which the LED lights attach to alongside a power outlet which means there is only one visible wire protruding from the system.
Once these are all attached it's a simple case of plugging in the power lead and switching it on. Really easy and quick - I have been told some of the Harrows team have been able to install the system in around 30-40 seconds!
Is the Harrows Trilight a Good Dartboard Lighting System?
So one thing I'm always wondering when it comes to new lights, is how can it improve on what's currently on the market? I think nowadays in about 90% of pubs, clubs and home setups you're going to see some sort of ring light. So what makes the Harrows Trilight different?
Firstly, the lights themselves are the perfect balance of bright but not harsh. As well as being the right tone of white. Sometimes I feel some light systems are a bit blue in tone and can be straining on the eyes for the longer practice sessions. And yellow lights are just ugly and remind me of playing darts in an old pub. The below picture is an image I have adjusted the colour on so that it best matches what i could see with my own eyes.
The gap in the light at the bottom makes retrieving darts very easy and the lights are also angled inwards towards the board and feature a wide cover which means there is no glare from the light coming back into the eyes when standing at the oche.
The lights do cause a very minimal shadow but nothing you can actually see if you're not scrutinising it. It may also be because the only light I had on at the time was the dartboard light and none of the lights from the room were filling in the shadows.
The system is very lightweight and is easy to take down and store. I would like to have seen an alternative way of fixing the three lights to the board as the plastic ring is large and can't be folded or wrapped into a coil which makes it difficult to fit into a backpack, which is a key feature for me, if I wanted a travel light. Saying this however, it is still smaller than other systems and if travelling by car somewhere, it doesn't take up much space at all.
The one slight negative for me with the system is that I really notice the gap between the two bottom lights and the one top light on the left and right hand side. For me it means my focus isn't as strong as there's an inconsistency in my eyeline but, I have only been able to use the system for about 25 minutes, so this may be resolved with more play.
Overall, I think the system is a good alternative to what's currently on the market especially for those who perhaps have boards that need to be on a stand in rented accommodation or need to take their lights down due to a lack of space.
As of launch day, the system is priced at £62.95 which is similar to other lighting systems on the market. I would like to have seen it be slightly cheaper just as a foot in over competitors lights and really make people consider making the switch, however I don't think it's overpriced by any means.
Thank you to Harrows for sending me this product to review, I will be testing it out on a video on my YouTube channel and TikTok in the coming week. If you have any questions about the product you want to ask me get in touch, I can be found on most social platforms under the handle @MatadorDarts.