Bear Crux Review

Editors' review

Bear has always done a great job producing budget friendly bows for those that are not wanting to spend money on the industry leading flagship models. The Bear Crux is not just a cheap model, it has decent performance and good shootability as well. When factoring in the price, the Bear Crux becomes very enticing for those wanting to get started in archery or wanting something new with a lower price point. The Bear Crux does not have any company leading technologies, and will not be on the pages of a magazine advertising the next best thing. Despite newer technology, a 320 feet per second rig with an over 7-inch brace height is still a favorable bow worth a look.

Finish

Unlike other bows in the Bear Archery lineup, the Crux is only offered in one pattern. The Realtree Xtra Green camouflage option is the only finishing choice for the Crux bow, which will also come with black limbs. It would be nice for this budget friendly model to be offered in at least the Shadow all black version Bear has for other bows, but it does not. Those interested in the Crux will only have one in Xtra Green unless they send it off to be dipped from an after market dipper.

Ready to Hunt Package Available

The Ready to Hunt Package (RTH) is available for shooters wanting a completely set up bow straight from the factory. This will take out a bit of research and headache looking over everything that is currently on the market in the archery industry. The RTH package does not include the best accessories on the market, but they are Trophy Ridge units, and will perform well. For an additional $100, shooters will get a Trophy Ridge sight, quiver, stabilizer, wrist sling, peep, nock loop, and whisker biscuit rest. The only thing needed in addition to what comes with the RTH package will be arrows, and a release (possibly broad heads if the bow will be used for hunting).

Riser

The Crux riser design is nothing fancy, but has some more flair than the more basic entry level Bear models. It does not have dual string stops like the flagship Bear models either, but the Crux is pretty tame with the one offset string suppressor. The overall weight of the bow tips the scales at an even 4-pounds. This seems to be the magical mark between a bow being too heavy, and allows shooters to add some accessories without it being too much overall. This weight is also arguably more stable on target than a bow with a sub-4-pound mass weight. There is much more that goes into the stability of a bow, but relatively speaking, the 4-pound bare bow option proves to be popular. The overall axel to axel measurement of the Crux is a short 30-5/8-inches, which makes it pretty maneuverable in a tree stand or ground blind. Shooters at the upper end of the draw length range may not like the steep string angle caused from such a relatively short measurement, but for those a bit shorter in height, this measurement should be just about right. The trend in hunting bows for the past several years has been to make bows as short and lightweight as possible. Although many prefer this, the short bow may not be for everyone. Finishing out the riser design is a traditional cable slide system, and a front mounting stabilizer mounting hole. Bear has some more updated technology for the cable slide system, but the under $500 Cruz does not feature it. This system has been used for years, and although it may cause a little more torque on the riser caused from the cables, it is still going to perform well.

Grip

The Crux grip is simply built into the riser with an attached name plate on each side of the grip area. The Bear name plate does not add or subtract to the overall feel of the grip, but it does help to add a level of refinement to the overall design of the bow. The grip is slim and fits nice in the shooter's hand. It is not contoured at all and lacks a bit of shape, but it helps shooters keep their hand in the proper placement shot after shot. Those using the Crux for hunting should be warned the riser and therefore the grip will get cold, but many shooters will be hanging their rig on a hook anyways.

Limbs

The black quad limbs are stressed at rest to get the most performance possible. The all black limbs do not look bad, but many shooters would appreciate a camo dipped limb option as well. Peak draw weight are available in 50, 60, and 70-pound maxes, with the ability to turn back about ten-pounds.

Eccentric System

The driving force behind the Bear Crux is the hybrid A-Cam system. The A-Cam is not the large elliptical shaped cam shooters have gotten accustomed to seeing over the past few years, but the smaller diameter size still offers a lot of performance. The A-Cam has five-inches of adjustability from 25.5-30.5-inches, 75% let off, and 320 feet per second with a forgiving 7.5-inch brace height. The hybrid cam adjusts easily from one draw length setting to the other with the rotating module system as well. The Crux really should fit the majority of shooters interested in the budget minded model.

Draw Cycle/Shootability

The A-cam system is a great cam for smooth drawing hybrid performance. The valley feels great, and the back wall is pretty solid while pulling into the stops. Shooters never get a sense of the string wanting to jump forward, and the A-Cam will even allow for a little creep on the back end. Creeping forward is not advised to maintain good shooting form, but the cam will not ripe the string forward like some models.From a performance standpoint, the Crux is not too shabby either. The arrow is shot without much noise, and vibration is relatively controlled. The 7.5-inch brace height is rather large as well, and when combined with 320 feet per second, the Crux has some pretty great performance as well. The short axel to axel is tough for longer draw shooters to get comfortable with, but for those in the low to mid range of the draw length adjustment, the compact design should not be a major issue.

Usage Scenarios

The Bear Crux is a budget-friendly bow designed to be hunted with. Clearly shooters will have the option to shoot any style of archer they choose, and the bow will perform well in any situation, but hunting was the main idea behind the design of the Crux.

Bear Crux vs. Bear Attitude

Bow	Bear Crux	Bear Attitude
Version	2015	2015
Picture
Brace Height	7.5 "	7.25 "
AtA Length	30.625 "	31 "
Draw Length	25.5 " - 30.5 "	25 " - 32 "
Draw Weight	40 lbs - 70 lbs	40 lbs - 70 lbs
IBO Speed	320 fps	310 fps
Weight	4.0 lbs	3.7 lbs
Let-Off	75%	80%
Where to buy Best prices online	$139.99 to $600 Compare prices	$150 to $320 Compare prices
	compare more bows

These two bows (Bear Crux and Bear Attitude) are really great offerings for shooters on a budget. The Bear Crux offers a bit more performance from the hybrid cam system, but may not be worth the additional $40. The specifications of the two bows are very similar, and the geometry of each should appeal to the same type of shooter. The decision will be a personal choice but may end up coming down to a single cam or hybrid cam system with virtually everything else being a wash.

Summary

Bear Archery products has always offered a wide range of bows with differing price points in an effort to best meet the needs of their customers. The Bear Cruz offers a lot to shooters looking at a new bow under $500. Those interested in a compact designed starter bow may be hard pressed to find a better value. The Crux offers decent performance, a forgiving brace height, and can be outfitted for only $550. Nothing about the Bear Crux will be industry leading, nor top of the line, but at a $449 bare bow price tag no one should expect that. For those with a smaller budget, or someone just wanting to get started, the Crux really is a great option.