Hoyt Nitrum 34 Review

Editors' review

The Nitrum 34 is another great installment of the aluminum riser from Hoyt. Although past years have seen a trend toward shorter axel-to-axel hunting bows, Hoyt has continued to offer a longer version, and many greatly appreciate that. The longer design still weighs in at just over 4 pounds, and does not feel too big or bulky. With the well-liked Z5 cams making a comeback for 2015, and the riser getting an entirely new design, there is a lot to talk about on the multipurpose Nitrum 34.

Finish

As a multipurpose bow, Hoyt made it a point to offer the Nitrum 34 in every color they have available. The dip process on the aluminum series risers has been perfected and really looks nice when finished. Those interested in a more traditional looking hunting bow can select RealTree Max 1, RealTree AP Snow, RealTree Pink, or RealTree Xtra. These patterns can also be included with a black riser or a harvest brown riser, which is brand new for 2015. Hoyt also offers the BoneCollector, American Heritage, and Vicxen options, which include a bit different graphics and a little more flair on the color schemes. Hoyt also chose to include tons of choices for those wanting a foam shooter. The target colors are also done very well, but they have a bit of a shinier finish, so it may be helpful to see what that looks like in person before committing to it. The colors include: Victory Violet, Silver Ice, Orange Torch, Mean Green, Jet Black, Electric Teal, Cobalt Blue, and Championship Red.

Riser

Under the riser shelf, where the front mounting stabilizer connects to the bow, Hoyt has designed a riser cage similar to what they have on their target bow models. This cage helps take some torque away and stiffens things up s bit, which both may not be felt by the shooter but should lead to better accuracy. The riser cage is in front of the Stealth Shot rear mounting string stop system. This location also helps with decreasing felt vibration from the arrow being fired down range.Above the sight picture, Hoyt has an offset riser design placed to get a more true center shot. The width of the riser in this location is also increased to add some strength. The riser does have added aluminum to help with this, but the overall weight is still a respectable 4.2 pounds before adding accessories. This may not be the lightest bow available, but again, it never feels too big or bulky.The Nitrum 34 also features the return of the silent shelf. This adds rubber to the area around where the rest attaches straight from the factory to help with any noise the rest or arrow may cause when contacting the riser shelf.

Grip

Hoyt grips are great, but they also have four choices straight from the factory with side plates or a one-piece design. Grips are entirely personal preference and having several options to choose from straight from the factory is a nice idea from the engineers at Hoyt.

Limbs

The limbs on the Nitrum 34 come in maximum poundages of 40, 50, 60, 65, 70, and 80- pounds and can be adjusted by about ten-pounds under that number. For a flagship bow, the Nitrum being offered in 50-pounds of adjustment should be great for business, especially with 65 and 80-pounds being available. The Multilayered laminated split limbs are past parallel and make the bow look rather aggressive both at rest and at full draw. They are held to the riser with the Pro Lock Limb Pockets, which provide and maintain near zero tolerances throughout the entire draw force curve.Hoyt has also decided to stick with the AirShox system for another year to help dampening limb vibration and noise after the shot. They system is basically unchanged from 2014, with the exception of a bit of adjustability. The AirShox system attaches between the split limbs, and the limbs rest on the rubber. When the bow is drawn, the limbs collapse in to each other and they leave the dampener. After the shot, the limbs return to rest and contact the dampeners, which then disperse the vibration. Although not traditional in terms of limb dampeners, they do a great job and can be updated to match the color scheme of the wooden grip and Shock-Rods.

Eccentric System

The Z5 cams are no different than those featured on the Spyder series in 2014, but with everything else getting an upgrade, the familiar feel of the Z5 cam is fine. The Nitrum 34 can be adjusted in half-inch increments from 25-31 inches. The first cam takes modules for 25-26.5, the second from 27-29, and the third from 29-31. Hoyt has gone with the ATA speed calculations, and advertises 330 feet per second. This speed is not blistering fast, but shooters will have no trouble hitting the advertised numbers straight out of the box without the need for a super tuner.

Draw Cycle/Shootability

The Nitrum 34 has a really great feel even for shooters transitioning from a shorter axel-to-axel bow. The 34 is simply stable, holds well, performs well, and is fun to shoot. With the Z5 cams, speed is not the top priority, although they perform fine at 330 feet per second. The back wall is pretty good on the Z5 cams, and the valley will allow a little room for error if shooters try to cheat forward a bit trying to get a better look at the target. Floating the pin on target is basically effortless with the 34, in part because of the long riser, but also because the string angle just seems to fit very well. After the shot, there is a bit of vibration, but a stabilizer or even some added accessories of course can tame that. As a hunting bow, the Nitrum 34 is not too bulky in most hunting situations, and as a target bow, the specifications really scream forgiveness and shootability. The 34 is worth a test shot not doubt.

Usage Scenarios

Many bows are powerful enough in hunting situations, but few combine that power with the specifications for a competition rig as well. The Nitrum 34 is a bow fully capable of use in any archery situation.

Nitrum 34 vs. Carbon Spyder ZT 34

Bow	Hoyt Nitrum 34	Hoyt Carbon Spyder ZT 34
Version	2015	2016 Long Draw (LD)
Picture
Brace Height	6.75 "	7.5 "
AtA Length	34 "	34.5 "
Draw Length	25 " - 31 "	31.5 " - 32 "
Draw Weight	30 lbs - 80 lbs	40 lbs - 80 lbs
IBO Speed	330 fps	340 fps
Weight	4.2 lbs	4.0 lbs
Let-Off	75%	75%
Where to buy Best prices online	$750 Compare prices	$150 Compare prices
	compare more bows

The biggest difference between these two bows (Nitrum 34 vs. Hoyt Carbon Spyder ZT 34) is the riser design and the impact a purchase will have on the wallet. Hoyt claims both riser styles are the best they have ever designed, so there really is not a wrong answer when choosing between these two models. The Carbon riser has less hand shock and weighs in lighter it those are important features to have; the decision may be an easy one. For others, the final decision may simply come down to price.

Summary

The Nitrum 34 is a longer axel-to-axel bow, but even feels a bit sturdier with how long the riser actually is. The zero torque cable guard system and upgrades to the risers stiffness and strength may not be noticeable in terms of how the bow feels, but it should prove to be more accurate. For those at the longer side of the draw length range, the 34 string angle is much nicer when compared to the 30. It is easy to shoot the 34 with how well it holds. The noise after the arrow is released is very minimal, and the bit of felt vibration is easily taken care of with a stabilizer. Other than a boy shooting 330 feet per second, it is very tough to find anything wrong with the Nitrum 34.