Compound Bow Comparator

The look and feel of the Option 6 is most definitely Elite. However, the new adjustable roller guard system, split limbs, and faster 342 feet per second speeds really challenge what people have gotten used to from Elite in the past. The engineers did a nice job keeping the Option 6 a very shootable bow, and the increased performance is greatly appreciated for shooters wanting something a little quicker than the standard Elite offerings in the past. The price tag of $1199 is perhaps too high for an aluminum riser bow, and that may turn people away from Elite without even shooting the bow against the competition. In addition to the high price tag, there is a ton of competition when looking at a 32-inch axel-to-axel hunting bow shooting over 340 feet per second. The Option 6 is a great shooting bow, but it has a lot of competition, and many of those models are less expensive as well. Elite has marketed the Option 6 as an all around bow, good for all styles of archery, and that may help some shooters justify the price hike. For someone wanting a high end performance bow, the Option 6 is a great choice, but it has stiff competition as well. Read full review...

The Elite Option 7 is a great bow with a favorable axel-to-axel measurement, a forgiving 7-inch brace height, and an IBO rating with 332 feet per second of acceptable performance. For some shooters in love with Elite, the Option 7 has many of the shootability characteristics from previous model years. The split limbs and tunable roller guard system are sure to go through a great deal of scrutiny since it is something Elite has not done in the past. With that being said, shooters looking at the Option 7 as a legitimate bow choice will find it performs well. The $1199 price tag is going to limit the number of shooters even considering the Option 7, and virtually every major bow manufacturer has a bow similar in specifications to the Option 7. So shooters on the market for a bow like the Option 7 will have many really great options, and many with smaller price tags, to choose from. The bottom line is the Elite Option is a flat out shooter for some people. Shooters will just have to be willing to pay a premium amount to shoot the 2017 Option 7. Read full review...

• Elites first attempt at split limbs
• Roller guard system replaces the cable slide
• Modular cam shoots up to 342 feet per second

• New tunable roller system is great in theory
• Forgiving 7-inch brace height still produces 332 feet per second

• Lots of competition for a 32-inch axel to axel bow
• MSRP of $1199 is a big hike up from last year's Elite bows

• MSRP is up to $1199 for a 7075-aluminum riser bow
• Elite undertakes a great deal of change, which can be hard for diehards to swallow.