Bear Approach Review

Editors' review

Bear archery is one of the few companies producing bows to match every shooter's budget.They have high end bows with a high end price, and they have budget friendly models with a small price tag.The Bear Approach may be one of the best valued bows on the market for 2018 with a ton of shootability characteristics shooters demand from their rigs.The Approach has single cam smoothness and decent performance with an IBO rating of 330 feet per second.The 32-inch axle-to-axle measurement is right at the hunting bow sweet spot of compact and stable, and the 6 1/4-inch brace height is over the 6-inch number that tends to scare some shooters away.The aluminum riser tips the scales right at the 4-pound mark as well making it a pretty lightweight model all things considered.The single cam Approach offers almost everything single cam shooters want in a hunting bow, and is sold for an MSRP of only $399.Shooters interested in a ready to hunt package can add $100 and get a fully rigged hunting bow!It is true, the Approach does not feature any new technology shooters read about in magazines, but for those on a budget or just getting started in the sport of archery, it is going to be extremely difficult to find a better value.Bear even offers the Approach in three really awesome finishes, which is rare in the budget bow market to find finish options.Bear Archery is a solid company, and this budget minded single cam bow is worth a serious look for those on the market to buy a new rig in 2018.

Finish

As bows get cheaper, one of the first cost savings measure is to cut the number of finish options offered.Some budget friendly models do not come with a finish option, shooters get what they get, and there is not available option.This is not the case with the Bear Approach, which is offered in a total of three patterns.The three finish options include Realtree Edge, Kryptek Highlander, and Truetimber Kanati. Not only does Bear give shooters choices, they also offer the Kanati pattern on this mainline bow, which is not offered on their flagship model.For shooters wanting the freedom to choose what their bow looks like, the Approach has three different, yet really nice choices to pick from.The finish is applied well, shows no blemishes in quality, and feels durable enough to last for years to come.It can not be overstated how neat it is to have such a variety of finish options on a bow that only costs $399.

Riser 

The designed riser for the Approach has a little different feel than the standard issue Bear risers of past years, but the dual string stops keep it connected to the overall look and feel of the other Bear bow models.Engineers were able to keep the overall bare bow weight to the 4-pound mark, which is fairly lightweight for an aluminum riser.As to be expected for a less expensive option, some of the technology incorporated into the riser is a bit outdated for 2018.That is not to say it will not perform well, but it does not have some of the most recent technology advancements the Bear flagship model is outfitted with.The cable containment system is a standard issue cable slide.This technology worked for years, and will continue to perform well, but it is different than the flexible roller systems now available on compound bows.The Approach riser has dual string stops, but the straight bars they are fixed to seem a little less special given the lack of shape and finish.The black bars look similar to the black cable slide system, and will again function well, it just has a different look.Shooters will enjoy the front mounting stabilizer bushing, for help with balancing the bow or minimizing some of the vibration caused after the arrow is released.Everything about the riser design is functional and well executed, but for those looking to brag about owning a bow with the latest and greatest technology, this may not be the best bow for them.

Grip

Like all Bear grips, the Approach has an integrated grip directly into the riser design.This grip is similar in shape and feel to the rest of the Bear lineup, which happens to be pretty comfortable for most shooters. The grip is so personal for many shooters, but the Bear grip does not take much to get used to.It has a flat back, which fits well in the shooters hand, feels just about perfect in regards to the thickness of the grip, and is very easy to repeat hand placement even with gloves on.The grip has removable side plates, but to be honest these do not serve much of a purpose outside of displaying the block letter Bear logo.Again, the Bear grip has a great feel, and functions well, but there is nothing noteworthy or Earth shattering in the design and shape.It simply works and feels great, which in reality is all that should matter when choosing a comfortable bow grip anyways.

Limbs

Bear has offered split limbs for quite some time now, and the Approach single cam stays with the rest of the lineup with that engineering decision.The Approach split limbs are available in two configurations with 15-pound increments instead of the industry standard 10-pound increments.This is a nice feature for some rigs, especially one like the Approach, which may be the first bow a shooter purchases.When shooters just start out, it is possible they are not able to draw as much weight as they can after some time spent learning how to shoot.For this reason, the additional draw weight range is a neat idea and should help shooters really settle into the most comfortable draw weight for them.The two limb offerings are available ina 55-70 or 45-60 pound draw weight range. The orange limb stickers match the strings, and helps add a cool factor to the look of the bow as well.The color is tastefully done, and does not distract from the rest of the bow in any way. The limbs themselves feature a contour to better distribute the draw weight across the entire limbs, which helps add to their longevity as well.Bear engineers also utilize a Lock Down Pocket for securing the limbs to the riser the best possible way. Bear's pocket system has four major components engineered to keep the limbs in alignment, and weight well-distributed during the entire draw force curve.The limb boot keeps the butt of the limb in position, the half round clamps the limb in place and keeps it there, the lock down riser secures the front of the limb to the pocket, and the tangs secure the pocket to the riser for the whole draw cycle.The limbs also feature the shock waves technology to dampening the limb noise and vibration after the shot.

Eccentric System

The Bear Approach is outfitted with single cam technology, which has lost some popularity in recent years to hybrid systems.Single cams use the top wheel to basically track the string, while the bottom wheel does the actual cam work.Because of this, single cams are relatively easy to tune, and are typically very smooth drawing cam systems, which is why many shooters are won over by them to begin with.The Bear Approach also has some pretty great performance for a single cam with an IBO rating of 330 feet per second.Although, to be fair, it is worth noting the 6 1/4-inch brace height accounts for some of the arrow quickness as well.The cams are offered in draw lengths of 23.5-30.5-inches, and can be adjusted in half-inch increments.The 75% let off also feels really great, and used to be the standard for the compound archery world prior to the high let off days of 2018.

Draw Cycle/Shootability

The draw cycle on the Approach is typical of single cam bows, which is why they gained so much popularity years ago.The Approach cam is flat out smooth.It pulls nice from start to finish, has no humps or dumps in the draw cycle, and is easy to hold on target with the 75% let-off.The bow transitions super well from peak weight to the valley, and the wall is pretty solid for a single cam.Floating the pin on target is easy to do, and the valley is very manageable if shooters have to readjust of even let down.The cam never feels aggressive of like it wants to rip shooters through the peep sight, and the single cam comfort will lead to increased comfort and accuracy as a result.After the shot, there is minimal feedback, and the arrow is pretty zippy for a single cam.For a bow at any price point, the Approach feels great, for a bow under $400, it is almost unreal how great it feels.Anything shooters claim to not like would be nitpicking or based on something related to a personal preference, not actual feel or performance.

Usage Scenarios

The Approach is going to be an outstanding hunting bow, or fun backyard bow.This bow may even appeal to newer shooters given the inexpensive price tag.It is difficult saying this bow would not do well as a 3D bow, because for those owning an Approach, shooters will more than likely want to go on weekend shoots with friends and family.However, for shooters solely interested in 3D shooting, or competitive archery, they may be drawn to other models.

Bear Approach vs. Bear Approach HC

Bow	Bear Approach	Bear Approach HC
Version	2018	2018
Picture
Brace Height	6.25 "	6 "
AtA Length	32 "	32 "
Draw Length	23.5 " - 30.5 "	25.5 " - 30 "
Draw Weight	45 lbs - 70 lbs	45 lbs - 70 lbs
IBO Speed	330 fps	340 fps
Weight	4.0 lbs	4.0 lbs
Let-Off	75%	75%
Where to buy Best prices online	$575 Compare prices	$349.99 to $417.86 Compare prices
	compare more bows

These bows are very similar in design and price, with the main difference being the cam system.The Bear Approach HC is a Legend series model, which has some higher end features when compared to the Approach mainline, but both should appeal to similar shooters.Those looking for a smoother drawing bow, will more than likely look at the single cam, while those interested in the highest performance they can get will possibly be more interested in the HC.Both are great options, but personal preference will dictate which bow wins in the end.

Ready to Hunt (RTH) package

Bear offers the Approach is a Ready to Hunt package for only $100.Shooters interested in having a fully rigged out hunting bow for only $499, will get the RTH package equipped with a quiver, sight, whisker biscuit arrow rest, stabilizer, peep, and D-loop all for a price cheaper than most bows on the market sell for.Some shooter may want to outfit their rig with accessories they choose, but for new shooters, the accessory world can be intimidating and having the option for a factory package can get shooters on the range and getting comfortable without sorting through the choices available for archers in the compound world today.

Summary

In an industry that is becoming increasingly dependent on advertisement telling shooters what they like, it is refreshing to see a bow like the Approach that steers away from all that, and simply performs well. If the Approach was designed several years ago, when single cam bows were at their peak of popularity, it would have been a highly sought after rig.Several years later, the things making single cam bows so great are now dated and replaced with newer technology.Luckily, for 2018, the same great things shooters demanded years ago is now packaged in a budget friendly way.Bear is absolutely correct when they say, "The Approach disrupts the price to performance ratio."For a single cam bow, the Approach is an outstanding offering, when the MSRP of $399 is considered, it is difficult to find a better value in 2018.This bow is sure to get a large number of archers in the world of archery, and perhaps hunting for the first time.With Bear's heritage being so connected to Mr. Fred Bear himself, this bow, offered at this price, is sure to get people who would not be able to hunt because of cost, enjoying time in the great outdoors.For a beginning hunting bow, or a bow for shooters on a budget, the Approach should be at the top of the list of equipment to try out.