During the last decade we’ve watched the prices of flagship bows creep up to and beyond $1,000. That is no small chunk of change, and quite frankly, it is out of the realm of good sense for many bowhunters. Fortunately, the manufacturers who are cranking out those top-dollar bows are also producing some less expensive models.
Even better than the price tag on value-priced bows, however, is that they’re often designed with many of the features of the higher-end models. This is one of the beautiful things about ever-evolving bow technology – it tends to trickle down quickly. That means that the latest cams, limbs, risers and other goodies that are found only on certain models will migrate their way through a product lineup within a few seasons.
If you’re in the market for a budget-priced offering, look no further than the following 11 bows. Each will have you shooting extremely well, and each wears a price tag that won’t require the sale of a kidney.
Вear Archery Crux
Compound shooters and traditional bowhunters alike can find a bow that truly works for them if they dig into Bear Archery’s lineup (and if they can’t, they are far too picky). For shooters long on archery ambition but a little short on funds, look no further than the 4-pound Crux ($450). The two-cam Crux can send arrows downrange at up to 320 fps while still maintaining a smooth draw thanks in part to the generous 7 1/2-inch brace height. Draw weights of 50, 60 and 70 pounds are available, as is a draw-length range of 25-1/2 to 30-1/2 inches. For the one-stop-shopper crowd, the Crux is available in a Ready-To-Hunt package ($550). This package includes Trophy Ridge accessories like a sight and quiver as well as a wrist sling and stabilizer.
Mission Archery Hype
Made in the U.S.A. and wearing a price tag of only $359, Mission Archery’s latest release is ideal for a wide range of shooters looking for a mix of value and quality. To fit those shooters, the 31-inch axle-to-axle Hype is adjustable from 15 to 70 pounds of draw weight and 19 to 30 inches of draw length. This means that not only can nearly everyone tweak the Hype to their ideal specs, but youngsters with some growing left to do can use this 3.7-pound bow from middle school on up. To launch arrows at 310 fps and still provide a comfortable draw cycle, Mission developed the Focused Inertia Technology (F.I.T.) Cam System. Factor in the Zebra Hybrid bowstring and new ergonomic grip, and you’ll quickly realize that the Hype is easily one of the best deals on the market.
Quest Storm
The minds behind G5 Outdoors have brought to market a bevy of bowhunter-friendly products, including the Quest bow line. This year’s Storm was designed specifically for all the wives and daughters who are sick of sitting on the sidelines. A bare Storm will run you $399, while the DT package, which contains all of the necessary accessories, costs only $499. To keep shoulders intact, the 31-inch Storm is designed with a 7-inch brace height, but don’t let that fool you - maxed out this bow can generate 290 fps of arrow speed. Still not sold? Consider that the Storm is adjustable from 23 to 27 inches of draw length and 30 to 60 pounds of draw weight, meaning that if she has an interest in shooting, the Storm will fit her just fine.
New Вreed Archery Spawn
Bob Farley/f8Photo - Corey Harbison
New Breed has hit the archery scene in a major way over the last few years. If you’re curious why, look no further than the Spawn ($399). The 3-pound Spawn is a youth offering that is capable of firing arrows in the 240-fps range, offers 16 to 26 inches of draw-length adjustability and is available with draw weights of as light as 20 and as heavy as 50 pounds. Since the Spawn measures only 26 1/2 inches between axles, your little hunting buddy will be able to accompany you into blinds and treestands this season and, thanks to innovative New Breed technologies, may just outshoot you when the moment of truth arrives.
Hoyt Ignite
Adjustability is the name of the Hoyt Ignite’s ($399) game. From pint-sized shooters to those closely resembling NFL linemen, rest assured that the Ignite will fit you just fine thanks to its draw-length range of 19 to 30 inches and draw weights of 15 to 70 pounds. Weighing only 3.6 pounds, the Ignite is lightweight enough to carry up a mountain and, due to the ZR125 limbs and Ignite Cam, is capable of producing arrow speeds up to 300 fps, which will blow arrows through any elk you may find on top of said mountain. An 8-inch brace height ensures that your shoulders will not need the assistance of medical professionals, and the entire rig measures 28 inches between axles. Better yet, the Ignite is offered in a package deal ($499) that includes all of the Fuse accessories you’ll need to be set up and drilling bull’s-eyes in no time.
PSE Archery Вow Madness 32
It doesn’t matter which tax bracket you fall into, you can find something in PSE Archery’s extensive lineup that will fit your bow budget. A great place to start is the Bow Madness 32 ($600). This bow makes good use of the Madness Hybrid Cam, which adjusts like a single cam but produces like a hybrid cam to the tune of 338 fps of arrow speed. At 4.1 pounds and measuring 32 3/8 inches, the Bow Madness 32 is a lot of bow for the price. Choose from Black, Infinity or Skullworks finish options to round out your highly adjustable Bow Madness 32, and it’s very likely you’ll be the envy of the range…and the deer woods.
Bowtech Carbon Icon
Wearing a $649 price tag the Carbon Icon is definitely not as inexpensive as some of the competition, but when you consider that you’re getting a carbon-riser bow for that price, it puts things into perspective. Good luck finding a carbon-riser bow anywhere else for anywhere near that price on a bare bow, let alone a fully decked-out bow like the R.A.K.-equipped Carbon Icon ($749). Measuring 31 inches and designed with a 7-inch brace height, the Carbon Icon utilizes Binary Cams to produce blistering arrow speeds up to 335 fps. It would be reasonable to assume that the bank-account-friendly Carbon Icon wouldn’t feature Bowtech’s latest PowerShift Technology, but we all know what they say about making assumptions. PowerShift Technology allows you, through repositioning a few Allen bolts, the option to choose between two different draw cycles in order to nail down the perfect setting for your preferred style.
Darton Archery DS-600
It is safe to say that any company that has been producing bows for over six decades has got things figured out. This is further evidenced by Darton’s product line, which includes the 4-pound DS-600 ($483). This bow combines a machined-alloy riser, the Dualsync Cam System and E-Flex limbs to produce a buttery-smooth draw cycle and arrow speeds well in excess of 300 fps. Measuring just a shade under 31 1/2 inches from axle to axle, the DS-600 features 80 percent letoff and peak draw weights of 40, 50, 60 and 70 pounds. Draw lengths of 25 to 30 inches are standard, and a couple of eye-catching finishes are available, including Next VISTA, Shadow Black and, for the ladies, Muddy Girl Camouflage.
Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro
The original Infinite Edge from Diamond Archery was responsible for the procurement of countless backstraps, and the latest incarnation - the Infinite Edge Pro ($399) - promises much more of the same. For shooters with truly long arms, the Infinite Edge Pro boasts an adjustable draw length out to 31 inches (starting at only 13). Draw weights of 5 to 70 pounds are possible, with the upper end producing shoulder-busting arrow speeds up to 310 fps. While the Infinite Edge Pro is wallet-friendly, it is still a high-performance, 3.2-pound bow that is truly smooth throughout the draw cycle and designed with a much-appreciated ultra-solid back wall. If you’re not fully convinced this is the bow for you, consider the fact that the Infinite Edge Pro is sold as a Boondocks Package, which contains all of the accessories you’ll need to start flinging arrows as soon as you leave the pro shop.
Cabela’s Credence
Take two quality companies like Bowtech and Cabela’s and put them together and what do you get? The Credence ($550). Capable of generating 82 foot-pounds of kinetic energy and arrow speeds of 325 fps, the 3.9-pound Credence is no joke. To fit shooters with draw lengths of 26 to 30 inches, the single-cam Credence is designed with a rotating module system. Further fine-tuning is offered via draw-weight adjustability of 50 to 70 pounds. A pile of Bowtech’s technologies like the Bio-Shock riser-mounted dampeners and Octane strings and cables make the Credence a quiet, tight-grouping rig. Better yet, this bow is sold as a package deal that includes Apex and Octane accessories to ensure you’ll be fully set up before leaving the Cabela’s archery counter. Lastly, to keep you from getting busted by sharp-eyed game animals, the Credence is finished in Cabela’s Zonz camouflage.
Martin Archery Krypton
If you were to do a teardown all of the $300 bows on the market, you’d start to notice that many of them are designed with clipped-on limbs and plastic limb pockets. The reason for this is pretty obvious, and this exercise serves as a good reminder to check out trend-bucking bows like Martin Archery’s Krypton. The 3.2-pound Krypton is a smooth-drawing bow that can generate arrow speeds in the 315 fps range. At exactly 31 inches from axle to axle, the Krypton is sized perfectly for treestands, ground blinds and just about any hunting scenario you can conjure up. Peak draw weights up to 70 pounds are offered on this bow, which can be adjusted for draw lengths as short as 17 inches or as long as 30.
