Compound bows are one of the most versatile archery tools. More sophisticated than the traditional longbow and recurve bow, this bow decreases the pull force needed to draw it. This aspect makes a compound bow ideal for seasoned and novice archers alike.
Although they work in a fairly similar manner, compound bows aren’t created equal. To help you make an informed decision on which one to choose, here’s a detailed review of the best compound bow brands.
Reviews of the Best Compound Bow Brands
If you're interested in what the best compound bow brands are, here are seven of the most reliable and reputable manufacturers.
1. Hoyt Archery
One of the most prominent brands of all things archery is Hoyt.
The company was established back in 1931 by one Earl Hoyt Sr. Like most brands, it didn’t start off as a well-developed archery firm. Rather, it was a small-scale knife store based in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri.
And as the firm slowly expanded, it began manufacturing cedar arrows and wooden bows. 52 years after its debut, the brand was bought by Jas. D. Eston. Who carried on with the brand’s mission and vision.
Throughout the years, we’ve seen Hoyt grow to become one of the most recognized names in the field of archery.
The company is particularly revered for the advanced technology features that it usually incorporates in its products. As such, it’s not surprising to learn that it even makes bows used in Olympic competitions and other sports.
But just what sets Hoyt compound bows apart? Here’s a brief overview of the features you can expect:
Picatinny Sight Mount
This mount is a feature that Hoyt introduced in 2021. At the time, it was meant to align everything while helping to minimize the load and weight of your bow.
This year, Hoyt revamped this sight mount by incorporating it directly into the riser. Essentially, this feature is not an add-on or attachment that has to be purchased individually. Rather, it’s integrated into the actual bow.
HBX Pro Cam
Another feature that sets Hoyt compound bows is the presence of the HBX Pro Cam. This new cam offers several advantages. Not only is the bow easier to draw but also to tune. And, it facilitates a better center shot and sight alignment.
Short Stop Stabilizer
This is one of the features that’s always been incorporated in Hoyt’s range of compound bows.
As implied in the name, Hoyt designed this stabilizer to be positioned lower on the bow. This, in turn, created a lower center of gravity. The outcome is a more stable and efficient hold at full draw.
2. Bowtech Archery
Compared to Hoyt, Bowtech archery is a more recent brand. It began operations in 1999 when it was established by Kevin Strother and John Stasheim. Their goal was to create a bow that would make a difference in the bowhunting sector.
The brand released its first bow in 2000. Since then, it’s grown fairly fast establishing itself as an archery company to contend with.
One thing we like about Bowtech Archery is their quality control. It claims to test every bow they manufacture before selling it to archers. Below, we highlight a few of the features that make their compound bows unique:
Deadlock Pocket
This is a feature that you’ll rarely see in other bows. Its function is to make sure that each part of the bow functions optimally.
At the core, it’s made up of Allen screws that sit on both sides of the pockets locking the limbs into position. In doing so, this mechanism prevents any unwanted shifting or movement.
Deadlock Cam System
Bowtech Archery adapted its Deadlock technology on other bow components too, and one of these is the cam system.
This feature guarantees a permanently-flawless arrow flight. Essentially, it ensures maximum accuracy with every single shot. It achieves this by preventing the arrow from going out of tune mid-way through its course.
Clutch Performance Grip
The grip you’ll find on a Bowtech compound bow is unlike any other. In fact, the manufacturer has declared this to be the most comfortable grip that they’ve ever provided.
Apart from providing extreme comfort, this grip helps to reduce torque using the low-profile concept.
3. Mathews Archery
If you’re big on archery technology, another brand you should keep a close eye on is Mathews.
The company was established back in 1992, under the leadership of Matt McPherson. McPherson is credited with inventing the first ever Solocam tech.
Throughout history, this firm has made big strides in its production of archery-related tech features. Here’s a brief look at what you can expect from their compound bows:
Bridge-Lock Sight Technology
One of the biggest highlights of any Mathews compound bow is its sight technology.
Thanks to this feature, a dovetail sight can be attached directly through the riser mechanism. This means that you don’t have to look for an external sight bracket; thus, streamlining the process of attaching a sight.
This bridge-lock sight tech provides several advantages. For one, it improves the bow’s balance. Secondly, it minimizes felt vibration after each shot.
Mathews Stay Afield System
The next time you buy one of this brand’s compound bows, pay attention to the cam system.
You’ll notice that each cam includes two tabs, which is where the servicing cable is connected. On the surface, it doesn’t look like there's much to this system. But, it plays a very important role.
It’s designed to allow an archer to remove, fix and reattach the bowstring cables on the spot. This means that you don’t have to start looking for a bow press or other special tools. You can place this servicing cable in your backpack and carry it with you anywhere as it’s very light.
4. Elite Archery
Elite Archery is mostly known for its modernized approaches in the construction of compound bows. The company is pretty recent, having started just a few years ago. However, it’s risen to become a dominant brand in this field, and it’s easy to see why.
When the company was founded in 2005, it set up shop in Walla Walla, Washington. Later on, it relocated its headquarters to Rochester, New York. Over the years, we’ve seen its reputation and net worth increase by leaps and bounds.
Here are a few features that make their compound bows unique:
S.E.T Technology
The one thing you’ll appreciate about Elite’s range of compound bows is that they’re very user-friendly.
One feature that contributes significantly to this is their Simplified Exact Tuning (S.E.T). This mechanism enables an archer to make micro-adjustments on the fly.
The specific aspects that can be adjusted are the limb’s pivot angle and the lateral position. This means that you don’t have to visit an archery shop each time you want your bow tuned.
Asym Tri-Track Cams
This is another mechanism that’s worth pointing out. It’s an improvement on Elite’s original two-track cam system.
What this new feature does, is to facilitate a modular draw-length system that can be adjusted without using a bow press. The best thing about this is that it allows for ¼-inch increments in the draw length, providing better accuracy than the standard ½-inch adjustments.
Bow Grip
If you have experience using other compound bows, you can attest to the fact that Elite bows have a better grip.
Each of their bows boasts an ergonomic design, allowing it to fit nicely in an archer’s hand. This is achieved by using a narrow throat and a wide base.
5. PSE Archery
PSE is the short form for Precision Shooting Equipment. True to its name, PSE’s line of compound bows are revered for their unparalleled accuracy and easy shootability.
The company came to fruition in 1970. It owes its existence to Pete Shepley, an engineer who had a great passion for all things archery. The firms’ current headquarters are in Arizona.
Though PSE started small, it’s gained massive recognition over the years. In fact, it’s now one of the largest manufacturers of bows worldwide.
So what makes PSE unique?
PSE Eccentric System
The integrated cam is a HP single cam that’s characterized by a Posi-Lock inner cam. The greatest benefit an archer gets from this system is the freedom to adjust draw length without using sophisticated tools.
The only thing you’ll need is an Allen wrench, and you’ll be able to tweak it as you want. But unlike the Elite bows that can be adjusted in ¼-inch increments, this one lets you adjust in half-inch increments.
Quiet Operation
If you’ve used a compound bow to hunt before, then you know that the slightest noise can spook your target and probably cost you your game.
PSE Archery understands this, which is why they equip their products with a noise suppression mechanism. Other than the one-time ‘twang’ sound during an arrow’s release, their compound bows don’t vibrate during shots.
Versatile
Another thing that sets this brand apart is the fact that it’s versatile.
While other manufacturers focus only on making compound bows, PSE casts its net further. It produces a ton of other things related to archery, such as arrows, arrow rests, sights, quivers, and even clothing.
6. Bear Archery
This brand has one of the most intriguing histories as it didn’t start as an archery company. Rather, it was an advertising firm established back in 1933.
Fred Bear, the brains behind its invention, was initially interested in automobiles. But overtime, his interest in this industry started waning. It was replaced by one of his favorite hobbies- making bows from scratch.
Since Bear was already a fan of archery sports, he decided to convert his firm into a bow making company. His original hand-crafted bows became the first products that the Bear Archery brand ever sold.
Currently, this brand enjoys a solid reputation as one of the most trusted bow manufacturers. Though its headquarters is located in Gainesville, Florida, the company’s bows are sought after widely. Here’s why:
Ease of Adjusting
The Bear archery line of compound bows are some of the easiest to use, especially when it comes to making adjustments. Often, you won’t need anything more than an Allen wrench to make the adjustments you want.
All-inclusive Products
This is another aspect that helps to set the Bear Archery brand apart. We’re referring to its practice of providing a ton of other accessories, alongside their bows.
Essentially, their compound bows come ready to use straight out of the box. Some of the attachments you’re likely to find are: arrow rests, sights, and quivers.
7. Quest Bowhunting
Quest can be traced back to 1966, back when Leo Grace Sr. founded Grace Engineering. 20 years after its establishment, Lou Grace - who was Leo’s son- took over the company’s management.
The company was managed by different individuals in the years that followed. However, it wasn’t until 2009 that the firm created its first purely-steel broadhead. Later on, the Quest took up the production of other equipment, including bows, arrows, sights, quivers and rests.
So what makes the Quest line of bows exceptional?
Riser
The main thing that makes Quest’s riser unique is the material used in its build.
It’s made of 82X aluminum, which is said to possess as much strengt as the 7000 series aluminum. However, the 82X is slightly stiffer- a feature that translates to a more steady platform.
Ghost Grip
The grip offered by the Quest compound bow is another impressive feature. It’s made up of two elements: a machined handle and rubber-like side plates. Better yet, this handle is designed in a specific shape and angle so as to boost its functionality and comfort.
Minimal Vibrations
Quest’s range of bows are perfect for both target shooting and hunting because they don’t generate excessive vibrations.
Each bow is equipped with a riser-mounted String stopper that employs a rubber accessory to dampen the string’s oscillation.
Most of their bows also feature the brand’s Broadhand Solid Limbsavers that serve the same function of minimizing vibrations.
What to Look for When Choosing a Compound Bow Brand
Quality
Above everything else, you should consider the quality of the compound bow manufactured by a given brand. Ideally, the bow should be made of premium-quality materials, be easy to shoot and durable.
On average, a compound bow costs $1000 or more. So checking the bow’s quality ensures that you don’t spend your hard-earned money on a sub-par bow. Question is, “how can you determine the quality of a compound bow that you haven’t used?” Well, if you’re buying online, it’s good to check other buyers’ reviews.
If a product has many positive reviews, there’s a good chance that it performs well. However, if the compound bow has a couple of negative reviews, consider doing a little more research or choosing another.
Ethics
A reputable compound bow brand not only cares about the quality of its products but its ethics too.
Every brand will have a set of rules and policies that it follows. Oftentimes, these policies are listed on their website. So it’s always good to research and check whether the archery brand stays true to its policies.
Customer Service
A particular archery company could be making premium-quality compound bows. But if it has poor customer service, then it’s no good.
Does the company follow up once you’ve made a purchase? Do they respond to your inquiries? And if they do, how long does it take them to provide feedback?
Remember that making a purchase does not mark the end of your journey as a buyer. You may encounter issues down the road that you’ll need help with.
Versatility
Another trait that you’ll discover in the majority of reputable bow brands is that they offer a wide range of products.
Rarely do they cater to just one segment of the market. This means that they produce some compound bows tailored for beginners, other bows are customized for intermediate archers, and yet others are meant for professional archers. Also, good brands usually cater to all ages, offering youth compound bows for kids as well as adults.
So regardless of whether you’re looking for an entry-level bow, or one that will take your bowhunting skills to the next level, you’re guaranteed of finding something.
Intended Use
Although most renowned brands make compound bows for different skill sets, one thing you should be mindful of is the intended application.
While one compound bow may be suitable for target shooting, it might not be the best for bowhunting. So when you’re looking for a brand, check whether it specializes in making bows for a specific activity.
Conclusion
If you’ve done some window shopping, then you might have realized that there are thousands of companies that sell compound bows. Due to this, you may find it challenging to choose from the plethora of options available.
One aspect that can help to narrow down your options is focusing on the brand. Even though there are hundreds of companies that manufacture compound bows, only a few have a good reputation.
So what are some of the best compound bow brands? The most prominent ones are PSE Archery, Bear Archery, Mathews, Elite, Bowtech, Hoyt and Quest Bowhunting.
If you buy your bow from any of these brands, you’re almost guaranteed of getting a high-quality product that will also last.