Compound Bow Comparator

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: a solid, defined back wall that owners who had shot every carbon Hoyt since the Defiant rate as the bow's standout trait. Around it sits a 342 fps IBO rating that translates to real hunting-arrow speeds in the 270-to-302 fps band for 440-to-508 grain shafts, a selectable 80/85% let-off you change with one screw, a hollow-carbon riser that stays warm in a December stand, and the In-Line sight, Integrate rest, and included Short Stop stabilizer the RX-4 never had. The honest trade-offs are a 4.4-pound mass that is light but not the featherweight some expect from carbon, and a shot that is quiet rather than silent - both tamed by the included damping and stabilizer. Studying how owners describe it, the through-line is that wall: this is a carbon bow you settle into and hold, not one you fight. An excellent bow for the serious backcountry and treestand hunter who wants a compact carbon rig with a forgiving hold and already knows carbon is the goal. Buyers who want that same engine in a longer, steadier-aiming frame should look at the REDWRX Carbon RX-5 Ultra, while those who would trade carbon for renowned silence and a lower price should also consider the Mathews VXR 28. Read full review...

Mathews has perfected the compact hunting bow, and continues to make fine tune adjustments year after year in order to release a product better than the previous. Although these changes may not seem like much from one year to the next, over time, the changes become significant. The line between success and failure is very fine while bowhunting, and any advantage a shooter can benefit from will be well worth the end result. The VXR 28 is the best compact hunting bow Mathews has brought to the market. The stiffer draw and Switchweight technology may not be what all shooters prefer. However, the technology, performance, and extended stability with the long riser make the VXR 28 worth a serious consideration for anyone on the market for a new bow in 2020. For those willing to pay the premium MSRP of $1099, the Mathews VXR 28 will be a solid rig for anyone wanting a shorter bow hunting rig. Read full review...

PSE is celebrating their 50th year in the archery industry, and the EVO NXT platform does not disappoint. The NXT 31 is the shortest of the EVO NXT lineup with a 30.5-inch axle-to-axle measurement, and also has the fastest speed rating out of the group as well. It is worth mentioning the slow speed rating is generating a lot of negative buzz around this bow, but anyone with experience testing the bow will know those are real numbers, and may even overperform the advertised speeds in the catalog. For those hunters demanding the most compact rig on the market, the NXT 31 is going to be tough to beat. The newly designed riser, added grip option, new finish offering, and laid back limb pocket design have all added minor tweaks to an already solid platform many shooters will love. The Evolve Cam System is the cam of choice again for this flagship hunting bow, and that is going to make lots of people very happy to see. However, with some many models using the Evolve Cam, it is possible some shooters will just stick with what they have, even with the great changes made in 2020. For a competitive price of a flagship hunting bow with an MSRP of $1099, the PSE EVO NXT 31 is going to be a popular bow for the diehard hunter this year. Read full review...

• Genuinely solid, defined back wall - the standout upgrade over earlier RedWRX bows, with no give whether you set the cam to 80% or 85% let-off
• Smooth draw that builds and rolls into the wall without a hump or a hard dump, so you can pull straight back on a cold, still treestand
• Let-off switches between 80% and 85% with one screw on each cam - no module swap, and the 80% drop keeps the bow legal in Western states that cap it there
• Noticeably less hand vibration than earlier carbon Hoyts - the shot settles fast to a single thump instead of a lingering buzz
• REDWRX XACT grip fills the hand and resists torque - the bare bow stands upright on its own and holds steady at full draw

• The latest installment of Mathews compact hunting rig
• Speeds up to 344 feet per second with a great drawing cam system
• Benefits of a longer target-style riser on a compact hunting bow
• Brand new Silent Connect System (SCS)

• An improvement in almost every way on an already great platform
• Second grip option from the factory
• Most compact design of the EVO NXT lineup
• The Evolve Cam System

• Some owners note the RX-5 is fairly quiet rather than silent for a carbon flagship - the included Short Stop stabilizer and added dampers tame most of what remains, worth shooting one in person if silence is the top priority
• Carbon-flagship price tier - buyers who want the same HBX cam, XACT grip and shooting feel for less can step to Hoyt's aluminum Ventum 30

• "Premium" finish options are subject to an upcharge
• A $1099 MSRP is still pricey for a compound bow
• Some shooters may not like the string angle of the 28-inch VXR

• Some shooters may fit better in a longer axle-to-axle EVO NXT model
• ATA/IBO Speed Rating is a bit slow at 329-321 feet per second