Athens Summit 6 Compound Bow

The Athens Summit 6 launched in 2020 at $824 for the base finish, rising to $874 across the standard finishes, with the 2021 edition moving up to the $949 to $999 range - direct-shop pricing for a hand-built, deeply configurable hunting bow. What the money buys is unusual for the tier: a 345 IBO that a chronograph actually confirms, 75 foot-pounds of energy at a 70-pound hunting setup, and a 30.5-inch bow that stays quiet and dead in the hand through beyond-parallel solid limbs and factory LimbSavers. Drawing and shooting it, what stays with me is the calm - a fast bow that does not roll over hard, holds long on a firm back wall, and forgives the wait on a deer that will not step clear. Back that up with Athens's transferable lifetime warranty and the Save the Hunt program, which ships a set-up replacement bow to a hunter whose bow fails mid-hunt, and the small-builder ownership case is strong. This is an excellent bow for the short-draw whitetail and mule deer hunter who wants real speed and a genuinely quiet, low-vibration shot from a custom-built rig, particularly strong from a tight treestand where its short length and maneuverability pay off. Buyers who draw longer or who prioritize maximum forgiveness for spot and 3D shooting should look at its 7-inch-brace sibling the Athens Summit 7, and those wanting the widest adjustability just under the price at a major dealer network should also look at the Bear Divergent EKO... read full review