Diamond Radian Compound Bow

The Diamond Radian is the most youth-focused bow in the grow-with-me category and the one that best solves the problem of a very young beginner. At a $399.99 launch MSRP it undercuts the obvious alternatives while delivering the thing that actually matters at this tier: adult-grade aluminum hardware, a machined caged riser, aluminum cams and aluminum limb pockets, where competitors save money with plastic. Its 16.5 to 29.5 inch draw and 10 to 55 lb range, all adjustable at home without a press, let one 2.9 lb bow follow a shooter from a nine-year-old's first backyard arrows through a scholastic program and into an entry-level hunting weight past the 40 lb most states require. The 305 fps IBO figure and the 6 inch brace mark it as a light, short, forgiving learner's bow rather than a speed machine, and the 70 to 75 percent let-off keeps a child comfortable at full draw. What I keep coming back to is the hardware decision: on a bow that is going to be dropped, shared and left out in the yard, building it out of aluminum instead of plastic is the choice that keeps it shooting for years. It is an excellent bow for the parent putting a real, durable first bow in a small child's hands with room to grow, particularly strong for households sharing one bow between siblings. Buyers who need the range to reach a full 70 lb adult hunting weight should also look at the Bear Legit Maxx, and older beginners already past a 21.5 inch draw who want the most forgiving brace height might prefer the PSE Stinger MAX... read full review