Editors' review
For anyone on the market in 2020 for a new hunting bow, the number of options from the Bear lineup is impressive. They literally have a bow in their lineup for every shooter, and virtually every single price point. If a shooter has a tough time finding a Hunting bow in the bear lineup chances are it does not exist. The Trace HC stands for a hybrid cam offering that has amazing specifications when compared to the most popular rigs on the market in 2020. For some shooters, the features of the budget friendly rig are going to be well worth the look. Other shooters without as tight of a budget may be drawn to a bow with similar specifications, with a bit more refined technology or design features. The Trace HC shoots speeds up to 340 feet per second with a 70% let-off and a 32-inch axle-to-axle measurement. The Ready to Hunt package sells for $599, which may be one of the best deals in archery period. However, for those with their own accessories, or thinking of something different the Ready to Hunt package may not be all that enticing. For shooters just getting started though, the number of accessories is overwhelming, and it can be difficult to choose what may work best having no experience to base decisions off. For the price, shooters are getting a great bow, and those on a budget will love the high performance equipment they get with the Trace HC.
Finish
The Bear finish looks nice enough, but it is really limited in regards to options. Those wanting to choose a particular pattern will more than likely need to look elsewhere because the Trace HC comes in two options, the TrueTimber Strata pattern, and the RealTree Edge. Both patterns look good, and it is applied well, but the limited options kind of stinks. For a budget bow though, it is to be expected. The STrata pattern did seem to be a bit more available online for shooters to order, but more than likely not the camo pattern hunters are using in their clothing lineup. For both patterns, the riser comes in camo, and the limbs are black.
Riser
The riser looks alright on the Trace HC as well, and gives it a similar look to the rest of the Bear lineup, which is a really nice design feature. Being able to pick out a bow brand based on the riser design in comparison to the rest of that manufacturer's lineup is a great idea. The overall axle-to-axle measurement is 32-inches, which is a pretty good compromise between stability and maneuverability for a treestand or ground blind. The riser is carved out to give the bow a cool design adding stability and structure where it is needed the most, and also helps keep the bow at a measured weight of 4.3-pounds. This is not lightweight, but does seem to be right where most bows have gone recently.The technology integrated into the riser is a bit simplistic as well, but tried and true in the compound bow world for years. The cable containment system is a standard cable slide on a rod. Although these cause a bit more pressure on the riser than some other systems, the torque is the same shot after shot so it should not impact accuracy. There are the standard mounting holes for the sight, rest, and front mounting stabilizer as to be expected as well. Bear even has the double string stop system added above and below the arrow nocking to keep the string noise and vibration down. The string being stopped only on the bottom, like more traditional string stop systems, causes the top of the string to react a bit differently when compared to a dual stop like Bear uses. Some of the Bear budget bows have only had one stop in the past, so it is nice to see that incorporated into the more budget friendly Trace HC this year to make it more similar to the rest of the lineup.
Grip
The Bear grip on the Trace HC is the same grip as some of the rest of the Bear lineup keeping things consistent for shooters. This is a nice design as well. Bear makes a bunch of different models from high end hunting bows, all the way down to pretty simplistic starter bows from every price point and specification. To have the same grip through the entire lineup is an awesome deal because it allows shooters to stay in the Bear family if they ever choose to upgrade or replace their current model without having to adjust to a new grip. It also allows shooters to better compare bows within the lineup as well because the grip is not different from one rig to the next. With that being said, the Bear grip on the Trace HC is fine enough. There is not much to get excited about, and it feels fine as a grip. It is thin like most are in the 2020 hunting bow market, integrated into the riser, and has slightly rounded edges to fit well in the shooter's hand. For those with larger hands, it may feel like the Bear grip is a bit on the tiny side, but from a comfort and repeatability standpoint it will work well.
Limbs
The limbs are the Trace HC match the rest of the bows with the split limb technology. There is only one factory configuration with the TRace HC having a 15-pound adjustment range from 55-70-pounds. The limbs are finished black, regardless of the camo pattern chosen, and have some pretty simplistic stickers added to brand the bow a bit. Shooters do get a set of Shockwaves limb dampeners installed on the limbs to help with noise and vibration as well. They are not the standard dampeners, which wrap around or fit between the limbs, but rather stick on to the underside of the limbs to dissipate noise and vibration away from the shooter's hand. The polymer style pockets do their job well and blend in nicely with the bow considering the black limbs. Overall, there is not a great deal of new technology in the limbs and pocket system either, just tried and true technology that will perform well and get people involved in archery. Those wanting the latest and greatest technology will need to go up a bit in price within the Bear lineup to have access to the best Bear has to offer in the current model year.
Eccentric System
The Trace HC is outfitted with a hybrid cam system to give a really great shooting experience. Hybrid cams are historically a bit easier to generate a decent amount of speed while still keeping the shootability characteristics of the bow where most shooters will still have a great user experience. There is a 6-inch brace height with a speed rating of 340 feet per second, which makes the Trace HC a pretty competitive bow in the entire hunting bow market, amongst even the highest priced offerings. The cams are modular specific and can be changed from 25.5-30-inches, in half-inch increments. The hybrid cam system also has a non-adjustable let-off of 75%. Although this is not the high let-off offerings available by some companies, the 75% is a nice feeling let-off, while still keeping the performance up as well.
Draw Cycle/Shootability
The Trace HC has a nice feeling draw cycle from start to finish also. The cams are a bit stiff up front seeming to reach peak weight pretty early on in the draw cycle. From there, the peak weight is held a bit, and then rolls over nicely into the valley and back wall. Now, it is worth noting, that when compared to higher let-off cam systems, the Trace HC will be holding more weight with a reduced 75% let-off. For some, it may feel like the bow is drawing a heavier poundage because the holding weight is more. However, for others, it may feel better having a higher holding weight to pull into the shot with. After the arrow is released, there is some felt hand shock, but for most shooters it will not be a reason keeping them from purchasing the bow. The bow does hold on target pretty well with a standard amount of pin float on target. For being a 32-inch rig, it does seem to be pretty stable as well, and not overly receptive to hand torque.
RTH Package
The Bear Ready to Hunt (RTH) packages give shooters a nice starting point to leave the store with a fully set up bow. Shooters will still need to add a release, arrows, and broadheads, but in terms of accessories getting fised to the bow, shooters will have everything they need with the RTH package. This option includes all Trophy Ridge accessories including: a 5 pin sight, a whisker biscuit arrow rest, a 6-inch stabilizer, a quiver and a peep, and D-loop. None of the accessories are the best of the best, but they all properly function and will do a great job getting people started in the world of compound archery at a low price point.
Usage Scenarios
The Trace HC is a bow designed for hunting. Oftentimes, bows with accessory packages for budget friendly prices are said to be designed for beginners or those new to bow hunting, and that may very well be the case. However, with the performance this model has, it may not be the best bow for beginning archers. This bow would serve as a great back up bow, or for anyone just wanting to upgrade an older model without getting caught up in the marketing hype new bows produce each year. For those wanting to spend as little as possible, without sacrificing performance, the Trace HC is worth a look.
Summary
The Trace HC is a really great offering for shooters just getting started in the world of archery, or those without much money to spend on a new bow. On paper, the Trace HC is as competitive as they come, pretty easily able to size itself up against the best of the best in the archery world. There is no technology on the Trace HC which is industry leading or cutting edge, but everything on the bow functions well and offers a really great package with everything considered. For those looking to upgrade what they currently have, or perhaps those looking to get a bit more serious about their bow hunting and archery skills, there may be better options available in the Bear lineup, or elsewhere on the market. There is not much adjustability or customization offered on the Trace HC, which for the intended consumer of the Trace HC is fine; but for those wanting to get a bit more serious, it may be better to get a rig that can be tweaked a bit more than this one. However, those wanting to spend as little as possible to start enjoying the great sport of archery, the Trace HC is worth a serious consideration. For $599 fully rigged out, it would be tough to find a bow with better value than the Trace HC considering its performance and shootability.
