Martin Exile Review
from $298
Pros
- Very affordable
- Great for ground blinds or tree stands
- Smooth draw cycle
- Bow comes with all the draw mods to change draw length
Cons
- Not the smoothest shooting bow
- Need a bowpress to change draw length
Video
content from YouTube
Editors' review
The Martin Exile is one of Martins lower end bows when it comes to the MSRP. The bow however has many pieces of equipment on it that makes it a very capable shooter. A smooth draw single cam bow that has just about everything on it that the higher end bows that Martin puts together; pretty much the only thing that is different on the Exile is the lack of a factory string suppressor.
Limbs/Riser
The Exile has the same Power Tough limbs that the entire 2011 lineup has; these limbs are a powerful and accurate. These limbs are strong because the stress is spread over a wide area making it very strong and also leads to a reduction in limb torque. The Limbs are attached to the CNC machined aluminum riser using a Roto Cup pivoting limb system just like its bigger brothers. The riser is a pretty compact which goes without saying seeing the axle to axle on the Exile is only 30.25" making this one of the shortest ATA bows from Martin. Even with the compact ATA this bow has a fairly forgiving 7.25" brace height. An added bonus of the Exile is the Quick-Lock system which acts as a quick disconnect because of threading a stabilizer directly into the riser it threads into a barrel nut. The downside to this system is the possibility of paint damage from the stabilizer tightening against the riser. Also the Silent Hunter Arrow Shelf is a standard piece of equipment on the Exile. A very convenient feature for an avid hunter; the Silent Hunter Arrow Shelf deadens the sound of an arrow that falls of its rest and also reduces vibration to the shooter.Grip
The Saddleback thermal grip is a great grip on any bow and the Exile is a good home for it. This is a very comfortable grip that feels natural in the hand; it is made up of a piece of rubbery leather material on the back of the riser with carbon fiber inlays on the sides. It is good for reducing hand torque and also protects the shooter against a lot of shock and colder temperatures.Finish/ Color Options
The Exile is another one of Martin's bows that is cut from solid block aluminum; taking a close look at this bow it is noticeable that there are marks in the riser from the CNC process. A little bit more noticeable on the Exile than on the higher end Martin bows are the runs in the painting process, but for the money the bow looks pretty good. The bow is offered in Next Camo, Bonz Camo, Skulz Camo, Hunter Black, Crimson Red, and Leopard Skin.Eccentric System
The Eccentric system of the Martin Exile makes for a very solid bow. It utilizes an Acu-Trak 2.0 single cam which can turn out speeds of up to 320fps IBO. A very smooth cam that is easily tuned and maintained. With an adjustable 80% let off this system is comfortable at full draw but still speedy. Also Martin uses their Hammerhead strings which Martin boasts as the best stock strings that money can buy; they are pre-stretched so there is no break in or peep turn. The draw length is adjustable from 25-30" but each draw length requires a different cam which will come with the bow when it's purchased.The Exile is equipped with the Torque Reducing Cable Guard which allows for the natural movement of the cables during the draw cycle. The TRG practically eliminates cam lean and riser torque at full draw and this turns the bow into an efficient shooter.Draw Cycle
The Exile has a pretty smooth draw cycle that is very quiet when you release. No harsh break over like some single cam bows have, this pull is smooth and steady all the way back to full draw. The draw stop is adjustable so you can shape the draw into whatever you may like from 60-80% let off and everywhere in between. The bow is quiet as well; having the SOS (String Oscillation Suppressor) would have made this an extremely quiet bow. Even without the SOS it is quiet enough not to complain; some shooters say that this is one of the smoothest and quietest bows from Martin.The Exile Vs. Onza 3
| Bow | Martin Exile | Martin Onza 3 |
| Version | 2012 Pro | 2013 XT |
| Picture |  |  |
| Brace Height | 7 " | 7 " |
| AtA Length | 30 " | 33.25 " |
| Draw Length | 24.5 " - 30.75 " | 25.5 " - 31 " |
| Draw Weight | 35 lbs - 70 lbs | 35 lbs - 70 lbs |
| IBO Speed | 320 fps - 330 fps | 330 fps |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs | 4.0 lbs |
| Let-Off | 80% (adjustable) | 80% |
| Where to buy Best prices online |
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Most people would think that the Exile and the Martin Onza 3 aren't really that comparable but when you get down to the nuts and bolts they really are quite comparable. They practically have all of the same equipment; the biggest difference would be the lack of the SOS (string oscillation suppressor) on the Exile. There are differences between the two that are large; like the bridged riser and the Nitro Cams, but for the most part they have more similarities than differences. The Exile is a clear leader if a person is looking for a strictly hunting bow that will spend most of its time in a tree stand or ground blind; mostly due to its 30.25" axle to axle. The brace heights are the same and the speeds aren't all that different, the Onza advertises 330-340 but that is tough to hit and the Exile advertises 315-320fps. So for the money The Exile is definitely worth a look when you figure that it has the specs of most $700 bows.