Editors' review
Hoyt's turbo model bows have always been the king of speed in their lineups, clocking in right at 350 feet per second. The Hoyt REDWRX series of bows is designed for hunters demanding the absolute best of every possible category. The RX-1 Turbo is the quickest out of the bunch, features a brand new Hyper ZT Turbo cam with spilt cables, a new roller guard, wider limbs, a new data driven grip, and some of the best finish options offered on a bow in 2018. The 2018 Turbo shrinks in size a bit going from 33-inches axel to axel down to 32-inches, but also adds some weight tipping the scales at 3.9 pounds before dampeners and accessories are added. The brace height shorter than 6-inches may be a little scarier for some, although an eighth of an inch really is not that much shorter. However, the longer valley in the new cam system may be a great trade off for a shorter brace height. The bow is extremely expensive with a sticker price of $1599, and that is going to be tough for many shooters to spend on a bow. Overall, the improvements made for 2018 make the Turbo model an excellent contender for those wanting the absolute best bow for the upcoming season
Finish
The REDWRX series finish options are exceptionally well thought out and make the carbon riser bows look absolutely outstanding! The 2018 Hoyt models offer a look for every kind of shooter, especially those on the market for a hunting bow. Shooters wanting an old industry standby can opt for the brand new Realtree Edge pattern, or if shooters liked the Under Armour choice from last year,Ridge Reaper Barren is an option for 2018. However, many hunters are going with trendier patterns, and Hoyt has expanded their offerings to include some of the more popular ones. Gore Optifade Subapline is an outstanding pattern found in the popular Stika gear lineup. Shooters can also choose the Kuiu Verde 2.0 as well. These four patterns are outstanding and truly give shooters a great deal of variety to pick from. For those wanting a solid colored riser, Buckskin makes a return for 2018, and all black is of course and option as well.Joining the hunting finish options, shooters can also add a little spin on some of these patterns and go with one of the "Custom Hunting" options. The Bone Collector package has been a part of Hoyt a long time, and the Michael Waddell option continues for 2018. Shooters can get Realtree Edge, or an Edge riser with black limbs. As in the past, florescent green accent colors and the show's logo also come standard on the Bone Collector model. In addition to this option, Hoyt has added a Cameron Hanes "Keep Hammering" model. This bow can be all Ridge Reaper Barren, or a Ridge Reaper riser with black limbs. The limbs also feature "Be the Ultimate Predator," limb stickers. Cameron Hanes is one of the largest names in the hardcore hunting industry a to offer a tribute to him really shows how appreciative they are for his voice and support of the archery industry.The finish options do not end with those for the hunting world. Hoyt also offers the RX-1 Turbo in target finish options. For the target options, the riser is black and has colored limbs. The limb colors include blue, green, orange, purple, red, and white.
Riser
There are a couple companies coming to the market with carbon risers for 2018, but Hoyt has been doing carbon for longer than any of them. Hoyt carbon risers are tried and true, and there is a level of trust and quality with their process. If blindly following the company using carbon the longest is not good enough for some, shooters should be confident in the million cycle tests and the riser easily surviving the 1500 dry fire test from Hoyt as well. Hoyt uses hollow carbon tubes to create the riser for the RX-1 Turbo, which includes more than 50 individual carbon layers. In past years, a selling point of the Hoyt carbon riser was the weight difference between carbon and an aluminum riser, which allowed the carbon to be lighter and stronger than aluminum. For the RX-1 Turbo, the bow weighs 3.9-pounds before the added dampening accessories, which will place the bow over 4-pounds before accessories. The difference between aluminum and carbon is virtually non-existent in regards to overall weight. The heavier weight may be a huge deal breaker for some shooters on the market today. The riser will still be carbon warm, and the strength is outstanding, but the weight could be a deal breaker for some. The brand new Hyper ZT cam eliminates the need for a flexible cable containment system with its split cable design. This means the roller for the REDWRX series gets simplified back to two stationary rollers attached to the back of the riser. The previous model cams caused some riser torque, and the Hyper ZT Turbo cam eliminates this torque without needing to rely on the cable containment system to help out. The grip on the 2018 bows has been lowered to create better arrow flight. Lowering the grip created a bit of a top-heavy feel with the balance being off a bit from having the grip in the old position. To remedy this, Hoyt created a wider limb and pocket system on the bottom end of the bow, which balances everything back out again. The riser shelf remains the center point of the bow to keep with a perfectly balanced bow.Hoyt has also taken vibration dampening to a new level as well with the addition of Shock Pods. The Shock Pods are added to the bottom of the riser where the limbs connect to the pockets. They are placed where the most dampening in needing, and they do an awesome job quieting the bow down. Those that want to add some flavor to their bow can also choose a color kit to better match their taste. Hoyt has also added a rear mounting stabilizer location to the string stop system. It is slightly offset as well, similar to the front mounting system to help with counter balancing the added accessories to the other side of the riser. Everything on the RX-1 riser has been looked at and fully optimized for the best shooting experience Hoyt can offer.
Grip
The grip is all-new for 2018 as well based on a big deal of research and development from the Hoyt community and shooter feedback. The width, angle, and shape of the grip have all been reevaluated and adjusted to be the most repeatable and consistent grip Hoyt has produced. For those used to the old wooden 180 grips, or the side plates, the new one-piece composite will have a different feel, but after spending some time with the X-Act grip in hand, shooters will defiantly experience the advantage of a bow with a grip they can stay the most consistent with. The X-Act grip is not longer a wooden grip, which is not a huge deal breaker, but the wooden grip added a quality look the new composite grip no longer has. The grip is comfortable and feels nice, but the wooden grip looks more high class and appropriate for a bow of this price point.
Limbs
The limbs on the RX-1 Turbo continue with the split limb design they have been in past model years. They are offered in five total configurations, which adjust down from the maximum poundage ten-pounds. The maximum configurations are available in 40, 50, 60, 65, and 70-pounds. Some shooters may be disappointed in Hoyt remaining true with not offering 80-pound limbs on the Turbo model, but those wanting the added weight can choose either of the other RX-1 models. The limbs have been redesigned with a 3-4-inch limb to widen the overall stance and account for the new split cable design. The wider stance helps to eliminate torque and adds a level of consistency to the shot. The Quadflex limbs are held to the bow using a new Bi-Ax Pocket System as well. This new system has exact points of contact specifically built in to best account for the limb movement as the bow is drawn. These specifically engineered touching points will keep the limbs exactly where they should be from the start of the draw cycle through the arrow being fired. In a perfect world, this leads to increased accuracy and the best arrow flight possible.
Eccentric System
Hoyt has brought several changes to the market in 2018, but perhaps none of them more revolutionary than the Zero Torque Hyper Turbo cam system. The cam has draw length adjustments from 26-30-inches, which can be adjusted by half-inch increments within that range. The let-off is the highest ever offered by Hoyt with the option for 80% or 85%, and speeds up to a blazing 350 feet per second as measured using the ATA speed evaluation. The Hyper ZT Turbo cam system sticks with offering base cams, but Hoyt has moved from three base cams to two base cam systems. To help reduce the weight on the cams, and therefore increase the speed, Hoyt has decided to utilize a standard module system on the Turbo cam instead of a rotating cam system. This means shooters will need to have the exact module for their desired draw length, which is not a major issue unless shooters are still growing. Aside from all these great features, the new XT Hyper cam system utilizes a new split cam design. This creates a more balanced side-to-side system and eliminates cam lean other systems cause with having a traditional yolk system. This design also eliminates the need for a moving cable containment system as well because that is all corrected within the cam system. The new cam design keeps nock travel perfectly in the center of the bow, which will lead to improved accuracy and repeatability. Hoyt engineers have created a system, which allows them to offer the highest let off and fastest speeds to date, while creating better arrow flight for improved accuracy. The RX-1 Turbo is an outstanding bow, and the new cam system is a solid reason why.
Draw Cycle/Shootability
The Turbo models have always been highly sought after for Hoyt based on the increase in speed. Back in the day, the Turbo model got its speed from the trimmed brace height, and the models used the same cam system. Hoyt has since designed a Turbo cam to go along with the shorter brace height to help with the increased speed. In past model years, the Turbo cam has been stiff to draw and the valley is noticeably shorter and less understanding. For 2018, the Hyper ZT Turbo cam is a bit stiffer, but many shooters have claimed it to be the best feeling Turbo cam system Hoyt has produced. The draw cycle is a bit stiff, but the increased speed is worth the stiffer draw cycle. As the weight quickly stacks up, shooters are comfortable as the bow transitions to the higher 80% or 85% let off and the valley does not feel as short as past model years. The Hyper ZT cam system is the fastest, highest let off design ever by Hoyt, and this could be the reason the valley fells so great. With less holding weight on the back end, the valley becomes easier to manage. After the shot, the arrow quickly zips down range, and the shock and noise is hardly noticeable. In hand, it feels perfectly balanced with the new grip position. The X-Act grip does take a little getting used to, but the advantages of the new design are clearly evident in how effortless it is to hold the grip properly.
Usage Scenarios
The Turbo model has always been a great multipurpose model in previous model years. The Turbo has always been comfortable in the hunting woods, and many 3D shooters have taken advantage of the increased speed to eliminate small errors in judging yardage. The Turbo model did get an inch shorter with an overall axel-to-axel measurement of 32-inches instead of 33-inches. However, the inch difference should not be a deal breaker for those wanting to use the RX-1 Turbo as a multipurpose bow. In the past, shooters with a shorter draw cycle have also been interested in the Turbo models for the increased speed, and not as much of a change with the shorter brace height. Overall, the Hoyt RX-1 Turbo is a hunting bow, but many shooters will appreciate the added speed on the 3D course as well.
Summary
The REDWRX series is the stamp of approval from Hoyt meaning the bow is the best of everything Hoyt has to offer. The RX-1 Turbo is the speed demon of the new series, and an ATA rating of 350 feet per second places the Hoyt among many of the fastest bows on the market, especially considering the higher let off of the RX-1 Turbo. Some shooters may be hesitant with the brace height dipping below 6-inches on the new offering, but it will not impact others based on the easy to manage draw cycle. The new axel-to-axel measurement of 32-inches will be great for some shooters, and not ideal for others, but the 32-inch measurement is a sweet spot for many hunters being compact enough to fit in most hunting situations and stable enough to not feel like a compact model. The price is absolutely outrageous at $1599 retail, and even at that price, Hoyt will still sell tons of these. Perhaps the largest negative to the actual bow itself is the overall weight of the bow. 3.9-pounds, realistically over 4-pounds with the dampening accessories added, which every shooter will use, is very heavy for a carbon riser. It may help with being stable on the shot, and it does balance perfectly, but carbon used to have a selling point for being lighter and easier to carry over long hauls. This bow is not necessarily lightweight, and just being a little warmer and a little stronger than aluminum may not be enough for paying the premium price for 2018. The bow shoots outstanding, feels amazing on the draw and shot, and flings arrows extremely fast considering the high let off options. If shooters can move past the price and do not care about the added weight, the Hoyt RX-1 Turbo will make tons of people very happy.
