13 June 2007
What Is The Best Bow On The Market?
Posted by Darrell under: Archery; Gear - Tips, Reviews, Wishlist .
If you asked 20 different serious archers what the best bow on the market it, you’d probably get at least 15 different answers. Every person has different criteria for determining what is most important for them. Is it price? Weight? Vibration Level? Noise Level? or if you’re anything like me - its a combination of all of the above with emphasis on price and comfort.
I’ve already told you that I use a Redhead XP-35 and I love it. I just took a huge black bear with it in Alaska and I’m thrilled with how it performs. It certainly isn’t the most expensive bow on the market. Arrow speed with the arrows I shoot is a modest 262, and that’s at the maximum draw of 70#.
I would never begin to suggest that I know enough about bows to make a recommendation. However, Mike, a friend of mine who knows a lot more about bows than I do, just sent me a link to an OBJECTIVE test of 2007 bows. Their tests were based on the following bow characteristics:
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Adaptability/Adjustability
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Efficiency
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Noise Output
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Mechanical Properties
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Vibration
I’ve heard nothing but good about the top 3 bows on their Best Picks list. This should be the case, though, as they each run between $700 and $800. You might guess them (the first 2, at least, weren’t a suprise for me):
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Bowtech Guardian
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Diamond Black Ice
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PSE X-Force
But, they also have a “Best Bang for the Buck” chart where they list some less expensive bows using a formula that includes price as part of the criteria.
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Martin Bengal
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Bear Instinct
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Whisper Creek Stealth LX
These bows are considerably less expensive - all running in the $400 - $450 range. Interesting, a cousin to my Redhead (the Redhead XP-32) made the “Best Bang for the Buck” list at #4!
Anyone that is contemplating purchasing a new bow, from the most serious expert, to a novice beginner, should take a look at this bow comparison report. It is well done - although maybe a little too technical for my simple mind. It will either help you make a decision, or further confuse you.
So What Bow Should You Buy? There is no hard and fast answer to this question. Just remember, their is no substitute to actually shooting bows. A bow that is perfect for your neighbor, may not be the best choice for you. The best bow on the market is simply the bow that you can afford, shoot well, and is comfortable to YOU.
Thanks Mike for sending the link!
18 Comments so far...
Paul Says:
15 July 2007 at 6:20 pm.
I just read the latest Outdoor Life magazine and it’s reviews of 2007.
Mathews Drenalin takes best bow overall with the Diamond Black ice in second. The Guardian and PSE weren’t to far behind but the Hoyt Vectrix was finishing around 8th.
I think after shooting the bows myself I tend to agree.
Darrell Says:
18 July 2007 at 10:51 am.
Paul, thanks for the update.
keith Says:
27 November 2007 at 9:08 pm.
I have a redhead xp35 and its all around the best bow for the money. All my friends would reather have my bow than there high dollar ones. I would recondmend it to any one
Richard Que's Says:
13 March 2008 at 8:00 pm.
I have used every high dollars bow on the market today. All were used in hunting situations. I shoot 10+ arrows a day everyday.
Now I would say the Mathews is the smoothest, but you can’t keep them together. I have had two Mathews crap out on many with under 5 months use on both. They just don’t last.
Bowtech seems to be making very nice equipment and I think you will be happy with it.
The PSE X-Force, this thing rips at a 27” draw, 70#’s, beman ics 400 I’m getting 286 FPS. Very smooth, very light and manuverable. Takes a little while to get used to but once you practice a few times you will be very happy.
Hoyt, they are built to be bullet proof. It seems to me they are kind of behind the game a bit. Year after year they have a new name for their innovation but you don’t see many differences. They aren’t very fast for especially for the smaller draw people.
Bubba Says:
14 April 2008 at 8:06 pm.
I use a hoyt and it shoots 300 plus feet per second and it is a very quite bow and i use 1 pin out to 35 yards
kyle Says:
21 September 2008 at 3:29 pm.
i own a 2008 bowtech guardian and love it.. shot it against the bowtech general and mathews drenalin and liked the one i got the best and till today i am very happy with my choice and got a couple of mathews shooters to hop on the bowtech wagon so its all in what you like!
scott Says:
30 October 2008 at 9:28 pm.
The reason your mathews fell apart was you probably didn’t take care of it like you should, if you shot it everyday for 5 months and atleast 10 times a day, thats somewhere close to 1500 shots and thats a bunch if you dont take care of it.
gabriel Says:
5 November 2008 at 12:57 am.
Hey just wondering any advice on what my first bow should be, and what should i actually look for in a bow for my first rounds. btw ill be shooting over 15 bows a day probably 3 or 4 days a week.
Beau Says:
26 November 2008 at 4:38 pm.
Alpine Siverado Sabre
Joey Says:
26 November 2008 at 7:03 pm.
I think it all has to do with comfort i shoot a Hoyt vetrix xl i bought i 07. I live in southern MD and purchased it outside of Baltimore at a place called Macrotech. The owner really stresses to shoot many different bows before purchasing one. I shot 8 different bows before deciding on mine and i am glad i did because the first one i picked up and thought i wanted was the worse for me to shoot.
DAKOTA Says:
8 June 2009 at 8:34 am.
Concept archery 99% let off bows go to www.concept archery.com and check it out
brandon Says:
3 July 2009 at 12:05 am.
i shot all the new bows for 2009 and for the price i chose the bowtech admiral its perfect for treestand hunting and its super fast and quiet it shoots 325fps and i cant wait to pop a deer with it this october
Mel Says:
2 August 2009 at 11:19 am.
I bought a pse dominator3d before pete shepley went wherever he went and that bow was just now replaced with the xforce glad to see pete back! Actually shot the hoyt alpha and liked it also shot several matthews absolutely hated them. Tried and true the PSE designed by mr shepley is the best . the years pete wasnt there I would not have bought a PSE. remember your hunting style when picking your bow and use whatever you fall in love with remember it should feel natural to you when you shot the one you want it will be a no brainer
Ted Gibler Says:
8 August 2009 at 8:42 am.
Do you know if ihttp://www.archeryhistory.com/techevaluation/2007Face-Off_Results_ArcheryTalk.pdff will have a “bow comparison report” for 2009 or if any one else has done one?
Smitty Says:
23 November 2009 at 5:05 am.
I owe my success to having listened respectfully to the very best advice, and then going away and doing the exact opposite.
brock Says:
25 November 2009 at 11:32 pm.
Hey i have have been shooting a matthews mq1 since october of 1998 and i have shot over 40 deer and also shot 3d competition and paper competition(and won).Sometimes
you have to realize that the bow is only a small part of the equation. YOU HAVE TO DO THE WORK AND PRACTICE AND SHOOT THE BOW. ANY BOW WILL SHOOT. DO THE WORK!!!!
jesse james Says:
27 February 2010 at 2:24 am.
Ive been an archery hunter for 17 years and you have to be comfortable with the bow you shoot. I’ve shot just about every bow on the market (that I can get my hands on) and I bought a hoyt katera (my latest bow) because it has everything that I need. But if you are a smaller person you might look for a lighter bow as hoyts are a little heavier that some others. I get an ibo speed of about 325 at 70# its smooth, quiet, and very well built. Just shoot a variety of bows until you find one your comforable with, martin, bowtech, diamond, mathews, and pse all make great products I’m just more comfortable shooting a hoyt. Ive owned 2 hoyts but if you are a first time buyer look at the browning rage, its a great beginer bow. I shot one for 6 years, it has the option to tune the draw # from a youth shooter to a 70# draw so you can start low and work your way up as you progress. My first deer mount was a 8 point that scored 132 and 7/8 and I shot it with my browning rage at a 60# draw 27 yards away.
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