Compound Bow Comparator

The Mathews No Cam HTX arrived in 2016 at $999 as the compact, quietly clever answer to the one knock against the No Cam HTR. It reads slower on the spec sheet - 326 fps IBO, a 30-inch frame, a 6 1/8-inch brace - yet on a chronograph it is the faster of the two, picking up 17 fps on the identical arrow and setup thanks to its 29-inch IBO rating and a more front-loaded draw. Everything that made the concept worth buying survived the redesign: the concentric-wheel draw that owners call the smoothest of its year, the straight nock travel, and a bridged-riser shot that dies in the hand with no vibration and almost no sound. At just under four pounds and two inches shorter than the HTR, it is the No Cam for the hunter who values maneuverability and silence over headline speed. What I keep coming back to is that this is the rare successor that fixed its predecessor's weakness without spoiling its strengths. It is an excellent bow for the compact-rig hunter working tight treestands and blinds, particularly strong where a short, quiet, dead-in-hand setup matters more than a flat long-range trajectory - its longer sibling, the No Cam HTR, remains the pick for 30-inch-draw shooters. Buyers who want more outright speed in the same 30-inch class should also look at the Hoyt Nitrum 30, while those prioritizing the finest draw-weight tuning should consider the Elite Impulse 31. Read full review...

The Nitrum 30 is a well-designed bow that shoots like a dream and supplies a great deal of kinetic energy for hunting situations. The Nitrum's vibration after the shot is corrected with the added weight of accessories and a stabilizer, but when shooting bare bow there will be a little ring in the shooters hand. The Zero Torque Cable Guard System is a neat concept as well, and when paired with the riser cage and a bit of an offset in the top of the riser, the Nitrum should be easy to set up as well. With Hoyt, shooters will always be able to posted speed rating straight out of the box, which is great news for those on the market. Although 332 feet per second (ATA) is a decent speed number, those really wanting blistering speeds may be a little disappointed. Overall, the final decision is a personal choice, but the Nitrum 30 is a great shooter and backed by one of the largest names in archery. Read full review...

The Impulse 31 is what shooters have been begging for from Elite for a while now. The IM cams are a typical Elite drawing cam system, with the majority of the increase in speed coming from a shorter brace height than years past. 343 feet per second will not set any records, but it does make Elite competitive in the speed department with any non-speed bow for 2016. The 31-inch axel to axel may not be short enough for some hunters, but many requested it, and Elite delivered. The new finish options are a welcomed addition as well, but those liking the previous offerings, the option is still there. To be honest, it is very difficult to find anything wrong with the Impulse 31. Everything with archery boils down to personal preference, and the Impulse 31 may not be what every shooter is looking for. However, anyone saying the Impulse 31 has major flaws is not speaking the truth. The Impulse 31 is a job well done by Elite to provide a bow many shooters are interested in. The $999 price tag is fair when compared to other flagship bows, but may not be doable for some shooters. For those wanting a faster, shorter Elite, it has arrived. Read full review...

• Real-world faster than the HTR it succeeds - on a side-by-side chronograph, the same arrow at the same draw and weight picked up 17 fps, all while keeping the No Cam smoothness
• Compact 30-inch frame at just under four pounds - noticeably handier than the 32-inch HTR for tight treestand and ground-blind quarters
• Same effortless No Cam concentric draw that owners repeatedly rank the smoothest of the 2016 field, rolling into a firm, defined back wall
• Dead-in-hand, quiet shot - the new bridged riser pulls out so much vibration the bow stays calm even with a light target arrow
• Proven No Cam reliability - owners ran the concentric system a full season with no string stretch and no re-tuning to keep it in time

• New offset riser and cage design adds strength and stiffness like never before
• Zero Torque cable guard system pivots to reduce cable induced torque
• Weighs in at 3.9-pounds

• A long anticipated shorter axel-to-axel Elite hunting bow
• A quicker IBO speed up to 343 feet per second while
• Trademark shootability and Elite back wall
• New KUIU camo pattern adds an overall custom look

• The 29-inch maximum draw length is a real fit ceiling - hunters who draw 30 inches or more won't fit the HTX and should step to the longer HTR or the faster Halon
• Some shooters managing shoulder wear have noted the draw is a touch more front-loaded than the outgoing HTR, though most still rank it among the smoothest bows they have pulled

• Noticeable hand shock without added accessories
• 332 feet per second may be a little slow for some

• $999 MSRP may be a bit pricey for some shooters
• Some may not appreciate the trimmed 6-inch brace height.
• Diehard speed shooters may still be a little disappointed