Compound Bow Comparator

The Athens Convixtion is a compact 30-inch, 335 fps IBO hunting bow from Athens' early-2010s lineup, launched at $799 for the standard black or Next Vista finish and $875 for full camo. Its case rests on a combination that is hard to find in one bow: the carry-and-swing ease of a short 3.8-pound frame with the mistake-tolerant hold of a tall 7-inch brace, wrapped in custom-shop fit and finish. It draws smoothly to a brick-solid wall, sits dead in the hand at the shot thanks to the Anchor string stop and Bowjax hardware, and stays quiet without any add-on suppressor - the reasons its forgiveness translates into tight groups so quickly. Real-world speed lands in a realistic 286-to-304 fps window with hunting arrows, and the adjustable 65-to-80-percent let-off lets a shooter tune the valley to their style. What stays with me about this bow is that each one was hand-built to its owner, with a cam cut for their exact draw - a level of personalization the factory lines of the era did not match. Because it is discontinued, it is a used-market find today, but a well-kept one restrung by any pro shop is a lot of light, quiet, forgiving hunting bow. It is an excellent choice for the treestand and blind hunter who wants a maneuverable, forgiving bow inside 40 yards, and it is particularly strong at holding steady in tight quarters. Buyers who want a major-brand compact hunter should also look at the Mathews Creed, while those who want the same speed on a longer, steadier frame should look at the Bowtech Experience. Read full review...

Mathews has created another solid hunting rig based on what shooters are demanding out of a hunting bow. The short axel-to-axel measurement and lightweight package is very appealing to many hunters. With a forgiving 7-inch brace height, smooth draw, and virtually noise free, the Creed has a lot to offer shooters in the market for a hunting bow. Although cams are draw length specific, shooters should be properly set up before leaving the pro shop. Despite being a wonderful hunting bow option, the $999 MSRP price tag may be too steep for many shooters. Those in the market for a new hunting bow should give the Creed a try, even if it means saving up for the purchase of a new bow a little longer. Read full review...

From a shooting standpoint, it is hard to find flaws with the Bowtech Experience. Everything feels great, and the bow performs very well. Hopefully Bowtech has corrected the limb peeling issue for 2013, which would take away a major reason for shooters being hesitant on making the purchase. With a $999 suggested MSRP tag, the archery market definitely offers less expensive bows for shooters on a budget. However, if budget is not a concern, it will be tough to beat what the Experience has to offer. Read full review...

• Smooth, quiet draw that rolls to a firm back wall with no creep - owners and hands-on shooters compare the cam-stop wall to hitting a brick wall
• Dead in the hand at the shot - the built-in Anchor string stop and Bowjax dampening leave no meaningful vibration, no add-on suppressor needed
• Forgiving well beyond its size - the tall 7-inch brace and adjustable let-off on a 30-inch frame give it the steady, mistake-tolerant hold of a much bigger bow
• Light and easy to manage at 3.8 pounds, under the four-pound mark - simple to hold steady from a treestand or swing in a blind
• Hand-built to the individual shooter - a draw-length-specific cam spec'd to your exact draw, with the custom-shop fit and finish Athens is known for

• Forgiving 7-inch brace height
• Lightweight at only 3.85 pounds
• Compact 30-inch axel-to-axel hunting bow
• Balances very well

• Forgiving seven inch brace height
• Easily hits IBO speeds of 335 feet per second
• Module draw length adjustment from 26.5-31-inches
• Quiet and shock free

• Long out of production - a used-market buy with no current Athens warranty, though any pro shop can spin fresh strings and service the sealed EV2x cams
• Draw-length-specific cams reward setting your exact draw at order - changing draw length later means sourcing a new cam through a shop, not a quick module twist

• Draw length is cam specific
• MSRP of $999 may be too expensive for some

• MSRP price of $999
• Bowtech limbs have been known to peel in the past relatively easily