Compound Bow Comparator

Athens launched the Ridge 32 in 2019 at a $799 base MSRP - direct, small-shop pricing for a hand-built hunting bow that looks and shoots like it costs more. For that money the buyer gets a 32-inch, 340 IBO hunter whose chronograph numbers hold up honestly - 309 to 312 fps with a 350-grain arrow at a 70-pound setup - a machined grip that shooters single out as the best part of the bow, a smooth draw onto a solid wall, and a quiet, well-damped shot. Add the factory GAS strings, dual sight and rest mounts, the first free cam swap, and a lifetime transferable warranty, and the ownership case from a small maker gets strong. The 2020 MT-cam version is the one to find if you want to adjust draw length and let-off without swapping a cam. What stays with me after handling it is the composure - a quick bow that stays calm in the hand and easy to shoot well, which is exactly what turns a good range session into a confident shot on an animal. This is an excellent bow for the whitetail or mule-deer hunter who wants small-shop machining and a standout grip without paying flagship money, particularly strong for the shooter who values a repeatable grip and a quiet shot from a treestand. Buyers who want the widest adjustability at the lowest price should also look at the Diamond Edge 320, while those wanting a compact adjustable hunter from a major brand should also weigh the Bear Divergent EKO. Read full review...

The Diamond Edge 320 earned its place as one of the best-selling grow-with-you hunting bows of its run for a simple reason: it does more things well at once than a $449 launch price has any right to. It is the longest and steadiest-aiming bow in Diamond's Edge family, adjusts across a class-leading 7-to-70-pound weight range and 15-to-31-inch draw entirely without a press, and holds a high 85 percent let-off for a light, long aim. The Synchronized Binary Cam System delivers real speed to match the name - a true 320 fps at the top setting and 309 at the 30-inch IBO mark on a chronograph - and the shot is quiet and calm in the hand in a way that usually costs more. What I keep coming back to is how little this bow asks of the shooter: an even draw, a wall that holds, a light hold, and a clean release, all on a frame forgiving enough to teach good form. Produced from 2019 to 2022 and now found on the used and closeout market, it was succeeded by the current Diamond Pro 320, so the platform lives on. It is an excellent bow for the grow-with-you household, the beginner who wants a bow they will not outgrow, and the value hunter who still wants genuine speed and a steady frame. Buyers who need to start a smaller, lighter beginner should also look at the Bear Legit Maxx, and those who prefer a tall, forgiving brace at the same tier should look at the PSE Stinger MAX. Read full review...

The Bear Divergent EKO is a limited frills hunting bow, which does everything it is designed to do. Shorter axle to axle bows are not for all bow hunters, but those on the market for something a bit more compact are already aware of what a smaller bow performs like, and should have no issues with the steeper string angle or perhaps added pin float depending on the draw length needed. The changing let off option is a great addition to the Divergent EKO, and will allow shooters to get the best feeling back wall for their personal taste. The Divergent EKO does everything a compact hunting bow is designed to do, but does not necessarily stand out in any one area or with any industry leading technology. Because of that, the MSRP is only $700. For that price, shooters could outfit their rig with some lower priced accessories and be fully set up for the cost of a high end hunting rig. For shooters just wanting a good shooting hunting bow, without needing the parking lot bragging rights to owning the latest and greatest bow with the most advanced technology, the Divergent EKO may be the right choice. There is some felt vibration on the shot, the camo patterns are not as fancy as some others, and may have less choices than some flagship models, but for the price it is really hard to find a bow with better performance. Shooters wanting a compact hunting bow, without paying a premium price tag have a lot to look forward to in regards to the 2020 Bear Divergent EKO. Read full review...

• Fit and finish that reads a full price tier up - clean machining, distortion-free dip-camo, and a build that feels tight rather than mass-produced, from a shop whose roots are in precision machining
• The machined grip is the standout - a narrow throat with a small palm swell that seats the hand the same way every shot and pulls torque out of the release
• Smooth, even draw that builds without a hump and drops onto a genuinely solid back wall - easy to shoot well straight out of the box
• Quiet shot with LimbSaver limb dampeners and a string stop fitted from the factory - owners notice it running quieter than the bow they came from
• Ownership value is real - factory GAS High Octane strings need no aftermarket swap, dual sight and rest mounts ease setup, the first cam swap is free, and the warranty is lifetime and transferable

• The name is the speed and it nearly holds up - 320 fps IBO on paper, and a real chronograph reads 320 at the top draw setting and 309 at the 30-inch mark, fast enough for any whitetail range
• One bow spans a child to a grown hunter - 7 to 70 pounds and 15 to 31 inches, all set on the limb bolts and a rotating module with an Allen wrench, no press required
• Smooth draw into a back wall that holds - the cam rises evenly to peak and settles into a wall firm enough to anchor against, easy to let down
• Quiet and dead in the hand - minimal post-shot vibration and hand shock for a budget bow, the kind of calm shot that usually costs more
• Complete R.A.K. ready-to-hunt package plus a high 85% let-off - everything to start hunting in the box and a light holding weight at full draw

• EKO cam has four different let-off settings, 75, 80, 85, and 90%
• Speeds up to 338 feet per second with a 6.5-inch brace height
• MSRP of only $700

• The 2019 bow uses draw-length-specific cams, so changing draw length means swapping the cam (first swap free) - a shooter who wants to dial draw length at home should choose the 2020 version with the adjustable MT modular cam
• With a 6.75-inch brace and a quick 340 IBO the 32 leans toward speed over maximum forgiveness - a new shooter who wants the steadiest hold in the family may prefer the longer Ridge 34

• At peak weight it draws about a half-inch short of the marked length, and the 15-inch floor sits on the cam's B cable setting rather than the default A - back the draw weight off or move to the B setting and the full range opens up
• Plastic limb pockets and a barebones Tundra sight mark the price point - the whisker-biscuit rest and 3-pin sight get you hunting, but shooters who grow into the bow often swap the sight for a brighter multi-pin later

• 30-inch axle to axle bow may be a bit too short for some
• Limited finish options