Diamond Edge XT Compound Bow

The Diamond Edge XT is the compact, easy-drawing entry point to Diamond's caged-riser Edge family, and it solves one problem better than anything near its $449 launch price: getting a smaller-framed or beginning shooter comfortable and grouping. Its 19-to-31-inch draw and 20-to-70-pound range adjust at home without a press, so one light 3.7-pound bow follows a shooter from a first backyard session into a full 70-pound hunting weight. The unaggressive dual cam gives it the smoothest draw and let-down in the class, and the caged aluminum riser, aluminum limb pockets and dampened quad limbs build it out of metal where budget bows use plastic. The 300 fps IBO - around 231 fps with a mid-weight arrow at practical settings - marks it as a comfort-first bow rather than a speed machine, which is exactly the point. What I keep coming back to is how deliberately small and smooth it is: the short riser and gentle cam make it the Edge that fits and forgives a new or smaller shooter best, at the lowest price in the line. It is an excellent bow for the beginner, the growing teen, and the value hunter who wants a light, compact, easy-drawing rig that still reaches a real hunting weight. Buyers who want the faster binary-cam draw and a taller brace should look at the step-up Diamond Edge Max, those who need to reach a smaller, lighter beginner should also look at the Bear Legit Maxx, and shooters wanting a taller, more forgiving brace at the same price might prefer the PSE Stinger MAX... read full review