Hoyt Powermax Review

Editors' review

The Hoyt Powermax is a new mid-range price point bow for Hoyt replacing the popular Charger in the lineup. Hoyt claims the Powermax "brings the perfect mix of technology, performance, style, and value." This statement is difficult to argue for those wanting a shorter axel to axel bow for around $500 bare bow. The Powermax cam is offered in draw lengths between 24-30-inches without the use of a press or having to purchase modules or new cams. Just rotate the included module to the desired spot and move the draw stop posts to match, and the desired draw is set and ready to go. Shooters just starting out in archery will also enjoy the package deal, which offers everything except arrows and a release straight from the factory. Shooters will also be able to choose a camo pattern that blends in any environment coast to coast, or a color that stands out in the parking lot of the local 3D shoot. No matter what type of shooter, the Powermax should meet the needs of a lot of people on a budget not willing to compromise technology and performance on a lower priced rig.

Finish

The Powermax appeals to a variety of shooters and types of archery. The vast demographic of interested shooters creates a large variety of finish options to choose from to meet the demands of all those potentially interested in a Powermax. Shooters interested in the Powermax for a dedicated target bow can choose between black, blue, pearl white, and red. Those wanting a hunting bow can choose between blackout, Realtree Max-1, Realtree Xtra, AP Snow, AP Pink, BoneCollector and Vixcen special edition packages. Hoyt also offers 9 different accent colors that can be added to the bow for additional customization if desired.

Riser

For a mid-range bow, it is difficult to tell the difference between the riser design of the Powermax versus that of past Hoyt's by looks alone. The Powermax Tec Lite riser takes on a similar shape to the previous Nitrum series bows, which may help add to the appeal for some shooters to be interested in the mid-range bow model. The axel-to-axel measurement is only 31-inches, and the overall weight of the bow is 3.8-pounds, which makes the riser as sturdy as possible while still keeping the overall weight to a relatively low poundage. Like other Hoyt risers, the Powermax has a bridged design for added support against torque at full draw. There is a rear mounted stabilizer, and a front mounting stabilizer hole for shooters wanting to add some counter weight or additional dampening devices.

Grip

The Powermax grip is a molded plastic one-piece grip option, which is a bit different than the flagship Hoyt models in regards to material, but not much different as far as shape and feel. The grip has an engraved Hoyt logo that blends in, but noticeable when up close. The grip does not add much to the overall appearance of the bow, but its fit and function is spot on and feels great in hand. It should also be fairly warm to the touch in cold weather, but a rubber or wooden grip may be warmer. The grip is functional, but far from a high end look or feel. The good news is that shooters are able to swap the factory standard grip for an option of their choice in the Profit lineup Hoyt offers. This will cost money to purchase, but will give a higher end look and feel to the bow.

Limbs

The Powermax is a nice looking bow for the price point range, which means it is a good option for a variety of shooters. A potential group of shooters are those still growing in strength and size, but wanting a higher end bow. The split Powermax limbs are only offered in ten-pound increments, which are an industry standard, but not ideal for shooters still growing. If the limbs were offered in 15-pound increments, the Powermax may appeal to more shooters. With that being said, there are still a variety of choices including: 40, 50, 60, 65, and 70-pound maximum weight limbs. The parallel split ZRX limb technology used to store the Powermax energy creating a pretty wide base to help with reducing stress as the bow is drawn. Parallel limbs are generally great at reducing noise and vibration by design as well. Each pair of limbs are aided in dampening by the Limbshox dampening system. The limb pockets are nothing overly fancy, but still maintain tight tolerances for connecting the riser and the limbs together.

Eccentric System

The cam and a half system designed by Hoyt for the Powermax is replacing the pretty well like Charger of past years, so the draw cycle needs to be a favorable one by comparison. The rotating cam modules are great for allowing shooters to adjust the draw length within the cam specifications without the need for a bow press or additional cams. The draw length is adjustable from 24-25-inches and 25.5-30-inches in half-inch increments. The cam and a half system also shoots decent speeds up to 328 feet per second with an IBO set up and 75% let off. Although this speed is not smoking fast, it is pretty close to the same velocity seen out of the 2016 flagship models from Hoyt.

Draw Cycle/Shootability

The Hoyt Powermax feels pretty great for most shooters. Some short draw shooters favor the shorter axel-to-axel measurement over longer draw shooters, but those interested in a compact bow will like the overall feel of the Powermax. The draw cycle does not take much initial effort to get the cam to start rolling over, and the let off into the valley and pretty firm back wall is a fairly easy transition as well without much hump and dump. While holding on target, the Powermax has minimal pin float for such a lightweight, short axel-to-axel bow, and the feeling after the shot is pretty tame as well. With 75% let off, the bow draw weight does taper off nicely, and the feel while holding on target up against the string stop system is a nice one. The 328 feet per second IBO speed rating is not too shabby either for a bow at the price point, although true speed freaks will be able to find something faster.

Usage Scenarios

The Hoyt Powermax is designed to fit the need of a variety of shooters whether they are brand new, looking to upgrade from a youth bow, on a budget, or perhaps still growing a bit. With a 31-inch axel-to-axel measurement, the bow will not be ideal for everyone in all-shooting styles, but should serve well as a hunting bow or a beginner's 3D bow. The performance and technology included with the Powermax bow is outstanding, especially considering the price point it falls into.

Hoyt Powermax vs. Hoyt Charger

Bow	Hoyt Powermax	Hoyt Charger
Version	2020	2015
Picture
Brace Height	6.75 "	6.75 "
AtA Length	31 "	31 "
Draw Length	24 " - 30 "	24 " - 30 "
Draw Weight	30 lbs - 70 lbs	30 lbs - 70 lbs
IBO Speed	328 fps	325 fps
Weight	3.8 lbs	3.8 lbs
Let-Off	75%	75%
Where to buy Best prices online	$350 to $750 Compare prices	$250 to $660 Compare prices
	compare more bows

The Powermax is stepping into the Hoyt lineup for the previous Charger model. The Powermax will have a bit more favorable of a draw cycle when compared to the Hoyt Charger for most shooters, and the TEC riser on the Powermax has a more mainstream look. Shooters could easily confuse the Powermax with the 2015 Nitrum model based on the riser design alone. For a midrange price point bow, it is hard to find anything wrong with ether bow given it matches the needs and feels nice to the shooter. However, the Powermax is winning the popularity contest for most shooters interested in either model.

Factory Package option

Hoyt has put together a factory accessory package for shooters wanting the bow to shoot straight out of the box. The accessory market can be a bit intense for those not entirely sure what they want, and the factory package eliminates all the guess work and research associated with the massive number of sights, rests, stabilizers, and quivers. The Fuse accessory package offers a QAD Hunter Ultra rest, a Flex blade stabilizer, a wrist sling, peep sight, Vector quick detach quiver, and a Pro fire sight. All this comes for only an additional $100, which is another great deal. New shooters will simply need to add arrows and a release to be all set.

Summary

The Powermax is a budget friendly bow in the medium range of new 2016 models, which should appeal to a large number of shooters and archery styles. The Powermax may make a great 3D bow for a female shooter, a higher end hunting bow for a youth shooter wanting to get a little more serious, or a nice back up bow for someone that likes to be prepared for a variety of circumstances. The Powermax is replacing the Charger, which several shooters felt was a solid combination of high-end technology and price. The MSRP of the Powermax set at $499 is pretty tough to beat, and although the price is relatively low, the bow is a flat out shooter no matter what the price is. To have a compact bow shooting 328 feet per second with the customization the Powermax offers, this model should be a really great seller in the mid-range for Hoyt in 2016.