Compound Bow Reviews

The Bottom Line:The Hoyt REDWRX Carbon RX-5, launched at $1,699 for 2021, was the year Hoyt stopped refining the REDWRX formula and rebuilt its engine. The all-new HBX Cam - a Tri-Track binary that finally retired the old split-yoke layout - gave this compact 30-inch carbon hunter the one thing earlier RedWRX bows lacked:... read full review

The Bottom Line:The Hoyt Eclipse, launched at roughly $1,099 in 2021 and carried over unchanged through 2024, answers a real frustration: it is a premier hunting bow built for the short-draw and smaller-framed hunter, not a full-size flagship shrunk down and cheapened. It pairs a machined TEC aluminum riser, zero-tolerance... read full review

The Bottom Line:The Hoyt Torrex is one of the most capable bows you can buy for under $600 - a $599 bow-only ($699 ready-to-hunt) value hunter that borrows the X-Act grip and Cam & 1/2 system from Hoyt's carbon flagships and only gives up the things a hunter rarely misses: a machined riser and aluminum limb pockets.... read full review

The Bottom Line:The Hoyt Torrex XT is the fast, refined half of Hoyt's value lineup - a $749 bow-only hunter that takes the bargain-flagship Torrex formula, drops the brace height an inch for 9 fps more on its 336 IBO rating, and adds the roller cable guard and Shock Pods dampers the base bow does without. It keeps... read full review

The Bottom Line:The Hoyt Torrex XT LD is the long-draw answer in Hoyt's value lineup - a $749 bow-only hunter that takes the Torrex XT's fast, refined chassis, fits a long-draw module for a 30-to-31-inch window, and opens the brace height back up to a forgiving 7 inches so the tall shooter gets clearance and margin... read full review

The Bottom Line:The Trace HC is a really great offering for shooters just getting started in the world of archery, or those without much money to spend on a new bow. On paper, the Trace HC is as competitive as they come, pretty easily able to size itself up against the best of the best in the archery world. There is... read full review

The Bottom Line:The Bear Whitetail Legend is a study in doing one thing deliberately: it puts a smooth single cam and a firm Draw Stop into a complete ready-to-hunt package that launched at $479.99 in 2021 and $499.99 by 2022. The headline IBO is 320 fps, but the honest hunting-arrow numbers of 265-291 fps tell the... read full review

The Bottom Line:At a $999 bow-only launch MSRP, the 2026 Bowtech Ascend does something the brand has not done before - it puts a forged 6061 aluminum riser, metal limb pockets, and press-free DeadLock Lite cam tuning under $1,000. Its IBO rating is 340 fps, and the real-world numbers back it up: a 350-grain arrow chronographs... read full review

The Bottom Line:Mathews' Title 38 polishes the target archetype with Limb Shift precision and deflexed poise, carving a niche for competitors chasing incremental edges in stability. Evolutions from the inaugural Title-refined damping and grip modularity-accumulate into a cohesive performer, yet persistent grip gripes... read full review

The Bottom Line:The AMS Fire Eagle was, in its day, one of the more refined bowfishing compounds on the water - a $369.95 bow that paired a smooth constant-force draw with perimeter-weighted cams hard-hitting enough that a 50-pound setup could out-penetrate a heavier recurve. Its long 35.5-inch riser keeps finger pinch... read full review

The Bottom Line:The AMS Hooligan is a bowfishing bow built as a bowfishing bow - a $399.99 launch-MSRP rig on a machined aluminum riser with stainless hardware, zero let-off for instant snap-shooting, and the WRAP cam's two draw-weight posts that make it a genuine 40-pound bow and 50-pound bow in one. Its long 34 3/4-inch... read full review

The Bottom Line:At a launch MSRP of $1,399.99, the Bowtech SX80 is a specialist worth its price for the hunter it fits: it takes the smooth, stable SS34 platform and builds it around a single 80-pound peak, delivering the deep-penetration momentum of a true heavy bow without the punishing draw that usually comes with... read full review

The Bottom Line:The Bear Whitetail II is not a bow you buy for performance - it is one you appreciate for what it started and how well it has lasted. Across roughly 1985 to 1995 it delivered the long, forgiving, endlessly adjustable, finger-friendly hunting bow that made Bear synonymous with affordable capability, and... read full review

The Bottom Line:The Bear Alaskan is a lot of hunting bow for its $529.99 launch price, and it holds up well as a used or closeout buy years after its 2022-2023 run. It pairs a 335 fps IBO rating with a draw that pulls like a lighter bow, a shot that reads a hair over 95 decibels and goes nearly dead in the hand with... read full review

The Bottom Line:Bear Archery has nailed the mid-range market with the Gamekeeper, refining affordable tech through smart collaborations. Subtle yearly improvements add up, creating a bow that's more than the sum of its parts. The hybrid cams, integrated mounts, and versatile adjustments make it a standout for value... read full review