Compound Bow Comparator

The Hoyt Fireshot is one of the few youth bows engineered to be kept rather than outgrown, and that single intent defines it. From 2017 through 2020 it served as Hoyt's grow-with-them junior compound, replacing the Ruckus and bringing real Hoyt engineering - the VersaFlex Cam & 1/2 system, the TEC Lite trussed riser, parallel split limbs - down to a 3.0-pound, 29-inch youth package at a 2018 standard-color retail of $289 per Lancaster Archery. The range is the whole story: 18 to 28 inches of draw in one-inch steps and 14 to 51 pounds across two peak-weight models, enough to carry one archer from a 15-pound backyard beginner to a 50-pound whitetail setup on the same bow. What keeps coming through from owners is how it shoots for a young archer - a smooth, easy draw, a deep 75 percent let-off that buys steady aiming time, and a quiet, low-vibration shot that does not rattle a beginner. It is not a one-bow-forever rig for a full-grown adult who needs 70 pounds and a 30-inch draw - that shooter has outgrown it. But for the parent building a young archer's first real bow, it is exactly the right tool. An excellent bow for the family raising a young archer over several years, particularly strong as the single bow that spans a kid's first backyard shots through a real hunting draw weight. Parents who want the widest possible adjustment range and a complete ready-to-hunt kit in one box should also look at the Bear Cruzer. Read full review...

This bow is eager to guide a new archer in the right direction. It's the perfect kids bow for a child that will take it serious. It is very light, comfortable, smooth, and quiet. Combined with its adjustability it is the best bow in its class. It's also fast with its dual cams at all draw weights and speeds. The quality is top notch on this bow and it has the look of adult sized bows in Hoyt's line up along with the same colors available. This in itself is enough get a lot of kids excited to look like dad. The Ruckus' ease to shoot will make the archery experience much better for the first timer. The $299 MSRP is a lot for a youth bow, but quality isn't always cheap. Read full review...

Those looking for the adjustment of the Bear Cruzer elsewhere will have difficulty finding it. The draw length range is a massive 18-inches, and the limbs can be adjusted for 65-pounds. This bow will fit just about anyone, and coming in with a ready to hunt package for a low price of $399 makes the Cruzer a looker for anyone wanting to get started in the archery world. Shooters that are done growing may benefit from a bow that is designed with a smaller adjustability range. However, those with growing left to do will benefit a great deal from having a bow that can grow with them. The Bear Cruzer has the potential to be the only bow a shooter ever owns. Read full review...

• Grows with the archer across years - 18-28 inch draw and a 14-51 pound range on two peak models takes one kid from a backyard 15 pounds to a real hunting setup
• Smooth, versatile VersaFlex Cam & 1/2 draw that parents and owners repeatedly describe as easy to pull and forgiving for a growing shooter
• Quiet and steady in the hand - the TEC Lite trussed riser channels vibration away from the grip, and owners call it a quiet, smooth bow for younger shooters
• Light at 3.0 pounds and short at 29 inches axle-to-axle, so a small-frame young archer can actually hold and aim it without fatigue
• USA-made Hoyt build quality at a youth price - "a true Hoyt, engineered and built in the USA" rather than a budget bundle

• Smooth
• Quiet
• High quality
• Easy to adjust with growth

• Great bow for shooters with growing to do
• Draw length adjusts from 12-30-inches with a rotating module
• 5-70-pounds of draw weight
• Comes decked out with an accessory package

• Hunting camo finishes are locked to the 45 pound model - a parent who wants a true 14-41 pound starting range for a very young archer has to take the Shred target colors, which cover both the 35 and 45 pound models
• Discontinued after 2020 and found on the used market now - parents shopping new should look at Hoyt's current youth bow, the Kobalt, that replaced it
• No bare-bow stabilizer, peep or sling in the box even on the optional FUSE package - budget a few accessories on top, all standard drop-in parts at any pro shop

• Slide type cable guard

• Accessory package does not offer the top of the line items
• Perhaps too much adjustability