Darton Tempest E 3D LD Review

Editors' review

The other two Tempests stop at 30 and 31 inches of draw. This one keeps going to 32.5 - and does it more than a pound lighter. The Tempest E 3D LD is the long-draw member of Darton's 2021 Tempest E target line, and the easiest way to understand it is by what Darton changed: it takes the same machined 7075 riser, E-System cable roller, and split limbs as the standard 3D bow, then swaps in the adjustable Maverick-XT cam to stretch the draw range out past where the others end. Darton and its dealers also market it as the "Tempest XT 3D/LD," the XT nodding to that Maverick-XT cam. The result is a 3D and field bow aimed squarely at long-draw archers - the tall shooter who has spent years topping out other bows' draw ranges - with a notably light build that sets it apart from its heavier siblings. It is a narrow, specific answer, but for the archer it is built for, nothing else in the family fits.

Finish

The Tempest E 3D LD is offered in Darton's Target Colors and matte finishes, with black paint as the base and camouflage or colored-limb options stepping up in price. As across the whole Tempest E line, the coating is paint rather than a hard anodize, so the same handling notes apply: seat sight and rest screws cleanly on setup, check the mounting holes for paint intrusion, and leave grip wrap in place once it is on, since a painted riser is more prone to lifting under repeatedly peeled tape than an anodized one would be. It is a cosmetic and handling consideration only and does not touch how the bow performs. On a 3D course, the color-limb options give the long bar a bit of personality.

Riser

The riser is the same machined 7075 aluminum bar the standard Tempest E 3D uses - the harder, higher-strength alloy, cut for rigidity and built to resist flex under load. At 36 inches axle-to-axle it keeps the compact, course-friendly length of its 3D sibling rather than stretching to a 40-inch spot bar, which suits a long-draw archer who still wants to walk a 3D or field range. Where the bow departs from its siblings is in overall mass: at a published 3.9 pounds it is well under the five-pound-class e-3D and e-T, a difference that comes largely from the lighter Maverick-XT cam and limb setup. The stiffness and geometry are shared target-platform traits; the light weight is the LD's own, and it is the single number that most changes how this bow handles compared to the rest of the line.

Grip

The grip is the family's machined medium wrist-height section, cut directly into the riser rather than bolted on. It carries the squared profile the standard 3D bow uses, which is a more divisive shape than the thinner angled grip on the indoor E T - some shooters settle into the flat reference immediately, others take a session to decide. Because it is part of the riser there is nothing to swap, but thin grip tape or stick-on side plates reshape the contact surface cheaply if the bare machined feel does not suit. For a long-draw archer, who tends to run a longer, more extended front-arm posture, a consistent torque-resistant grip reference is worth more than a soft one, and the machined shape delivers that repeatability.

Limbs

The limb package is shared with the rest of the Tempest E line: split limbs in a wide stance, starting more vertical at the pocket and easing toward parallel at the tips, in Gordon glass - the industry-standard limb material - on a 0.790-inch wide machined pocket with locking screws to keep the pocket from shifting. The wide stance and long pocket give the limbs a broad, supported base, which matters on a long-draw bow where the limbs travel through a longer power stroke. Peak draw weight comes in the usual 40, 50, 60, and 70-pound options. The limbs are a known quantity across the family; what makes this variant distinct sits in the cam, not the limbs.

Eccentric System

The cam is what defines this bow. In place of the standard E-System target cam, the Tempest E 3D LD runs the Maverick-XT cam, adapted from Darton's Maverick-XT hunting bow, and its headline feature is adjustable draw length - the draw can be set and changed on the cam itself across the long 27 to 32.5-inch range, without ordering and installing a new module the way a mod-specific cam requires. That reach is the entire point: it extends the Tempest platform past the 30-inch ceiling of the standard 3D and the 31-inch ceiling of the E T, into true long-draw territory. The published speed rating stays at 320 to 325 fps IBO, matching the standard 3D, and the Maverick-family cam carries a firm, well-defined draw stop - a solid wall to pull into, which the same cam family earns praise for on the 3D side. Let-off is 85 percent and adjustable, and as with the rest of the line the back wall can be tuned with the cable stop and an optional limb stop. The E-System cable roller remains, equalizing limb stress and offloading the cam bearings for the family's trademark forgiveness.

Draw Cycle/Shootability

Because the chassis, limbs, E-System, and grip are shared with the standard 3D bow, the shot character starts from the same place: a draw that builds steadily to the wall rather than snapping over a hump, a forgiving platform that settles under the pin, and a firm cable-stop back wall. Drawing it out to the long end of the range, I found the Maverick-XT cam's solid, defined draw stop gives a definite reference to anchor against - valuable when a longer draw can otherwise feel vague at full extension. The biggest felt difference from the siblings is the light 3.9-pound mass, and in my experience that cuts both ways: the bow is easier to hold up and carry across a long field or 3D round, but it also holds with less of the dead-weight steadiness that the heavier e-3D and e-T lean on, so a shooter who wants that planted feel will want to add it back through a heavier stabilizer setup. Set up that way, it balances into a stable, forgiving long-draw platform.

Usage Scenarios

The Tempest E 3D LD is a 3D and field target bow for long-draw archers first and foremost. The reason to choose it over the standard Tempest E 3D is draw length: if your draw runs past 30 inches, the standard 3D and the indoor E T simply will not fit you, and this is the member of the family that will. The compact 36-inch length and light 3.9-pound build make it genuinely easy to carry between stakes on a long 3D course or across a field round, which is where the lighter mass pays off. The adjustable Maverick-XT cam also makes it a sensible pick for an archer who is still settling on a final long-draw length, or who shares the bow among shooters of different long draws. It is not a hunting bow despite the hunting-derived cam, and it is not the choice for an average-draw archer who would be better served by the standard 3D. For the tall, long-draw 3D or field shooter on a budget, though, it is a rare fit.

Versions

The Tempest E 3D LD is one of three bows in Darton's 2021-2022 Tempest E target line, each a separate model on the shared E-System platform, machined 7075 riser, split limbs, and machined grip. It is marketed interchangeably as the "Tempest XT 3D/LD," after its Maverick-XT cam:- Tempest E 3D LD / "Tempest XT 3D/LD" - the long-draw member reviewed here: 36-inch ATA, 6 5/8-inch brace, 320-325 fps, a long 27-32.5-inch draw on the adjustable Maverick-XT cam, a light 3.9 lb, $799.99 launch (target colors).- Tempest E 3D - the standard 3D member: same 36-inch chassis but the E-System cam, a 25-30-inch draw, and a heavier 5.1 lb, $799.99 launch.- Tempest E T - the indoor/spot member: a longer 37.25-inch ATA and taller 7 5/16-inch brace for maximum forgiveness, 310-315 fps, 26-31-inch draw, $1,249.99 launch.For the LD itself, the buyer's choices are peak draw weight (40/50/60/70), right or left hand, and target versus matte color schemes. The draw length is set on the cam rather than by separate SKU.

Darton Tempest E 3D LD vs Hoyt Invicta 40 SVX, PSE Supra Focus XL

Bow	Darton Tempest E 3D LD	Hoyt Invicta 40 SVX	PSE Supra Focus XL
Version	2022	2022	2021 SE
Picture
Brace Height	6.625 "	7.25 "	8 "
AtA Length	36 "	40.25 "	40 "
Draw Length	27 " - 32.5 "	27 " - 32 "	28 " - 33.5 "
Draw Weight	40 lbs - 70 lbs	30 lbs - 70 lbs	40 lbs - 60 lbs
IBO Speed	320 fps - 325 fps	325 fps	304 fps - 312 fps
Weight	3.9 lbs	4.9 lbs	5.3 lbs
Let-Off	85%	65%	65% - 75%
Where to buy Best prices online	Not available now. Please check later.	$604.99 Compare prices	$1050 Compare prices
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Among long-draw-capable target bows, the Tempest E 3D LD competes on reach and price against flagships that cost far more. The Hoyt Invicta 40 SVX is a 40.25-inch target platform rated at 325 fps with a 27 to 32-inch draw, a longer, heavier bar built for maximum stability on the line - at a premium launch price. The PSE Supra Focus XL stretches a 40-inch bar to a 28 to 33.5-inch draw at 304 to 312 fps, the longest-draw option of the three and a favorite for tall spot and field archers, also priced well above the Darton. The Tempest E 3D LD keeps a much more compact 36-inch length and comes in dramatically lighter at 3.9 pounds, which flips the usual trade: the Hoyt and PSE buy stability through length and mass, while the Darton buys portability and long-draw reach at a fraction of the cost. The decision comes down to priorities: the Hoyt Invicta 40 SVX or the PSE Supra Focus XL for the long-draw archer who wants a long, heavy, flagship-finished bar and will pay for it, the Darton Tempest E 3D LD for the one who wants long-draw reach in a light, compact, affordable package.

Summary

The Tempest E 3D LD launched at $799.99 in target colors as the long-draw member of Darton's 2021 Tempest E line, built on the same forgiving 7075 and E-System chassis as the standard 3D bow but fitted with the adjustable Maverick-XT cam to reach a true 27 to 32.5-inch draw. Its reason to exist is specific and real: it fits the long-draw 3D and field archer the rest of the family cannot, and it does so in a notably light 3.9-pound package that is easy to carry across a long round. In my experience the firm Maverick-XT draw stop is what keeps that long draw from feeling vague, and the shared E-System keeps the platform forgiving. The light mass is the one thing to plan around - add stabilizer weight if you want a heavier hold - and the painted finish asks for ordinary care. An excellent bow for the tall, long-draw 3D and field archer on a budget, particularly strong where its compact length and light weight make a long course easy to walk. Buyers who want a longer, heavier, flagship-finished long-draw bar should also look at the Hoyt Invicta 40 SVX or the PSE Supra Focus XL.