Compound Bow Comparator

At a launch MSRP of $1,399.99, the Bowtech SX80 is a specialist worth its price for the hunter it fits: it takes the smooth, stable SS34 platform and builds it around a single 80-pound peak, delivering the deep-penetration momentum of a true heavy bow without the punishing draw that usually comes with it. On the chronograph it launches heavy ~480-grain hunting arrows near 300 fps at full weight - momentum, not muzzle-flash speed - and the DeadLock cam, FlipDisc comfort tuning, and Orbit Dampeners make it easy to tune, quiet to shoot, and forgiving to hold. What stays with me after shooting it is how the poundage simply disappears at full draw. It is not a speed bow and it is not a target bow; it is a purpose-built big-game tool for elk, moose, bears, and plains game. An excellent bow for the high-poundage hunter who wants maximum kinetic energy with a civilized draw, particularly strong for deep-penetration shots on heavy game. Buyers who want to go heavier still should look at the Hoyt Alpha AX-90, while those who want an 80-pound option inside a more forgiving all-around flagship should also consider the PSE EVO NXT 33. Read full review...

The Alpha AX-90 is Hoyt's 2026 Beast, and it earns the name honestly: an Alpha AX-3 chassis reinforced with steel limb hardware to hold a true 90-pound peak and pass a 1,500 dry-fire test at that weight, built with Cameron Hanes and Josh Bowmar for hunters who measure a bow by energy on target. At a $1,749 launch MSRP it asks a premium over the standard AX-3, and the premium buys reinforcement and durability the rest of the line was never engineered for, plus the full press-free XTS tuning and In-Line accessory system carried over intact. The real-world number that matters is energy: a 465-grain arrow at 316 fps for roughly 103 ft-lb of kinetic energy, penetration for the biggest game with the heaviest arrows. Drawing it, the front end stacks hard and never lets you forget the poundage, but it rolls clean over the peak, holds rock solid, and shoots dead and silent in the hand, so the reward for the effort is real. It is a specialist's tool, not an everyday bow, and Hoyt is refreshingly blunt that most buyers should look elsewhere. An excellent bow for the trained, high-poundage hunter who wants maximum kinetic energy for elk, big game and African hunts and can draw 90 pounds cleanly under real conditions. Buyers who want that same aggressive energy but top out at 80 pounds should also look at the PSE Mach 30 DS, and those who value a quiet, forgiving shot over raw poundage should also look at the Mathews Phase4 33. Read full review...

The 2020 PSE EVO NXT has limited bells and whistles, and is in no way flashy. To many shooters, the lack of marketability and increased buzz around the release of a flagship bow may be a turnoff. However, for shooters basing their decision to purchase based on how a bow feels and shoots, the PSE EVO NXT 33 has a great shot of being very popular. The speeds are not fast, but they are honest real world performance, and that may be better for some shooters. The7-inch brace height is less popular on a hunting bow in 2020, but the added forgiveness may be a feature shooters want to have in their new hunting bow. The longer riser, and more laid back limbs do a phenomenal job of canceling noise and making the bow as vibration free as possible. It would be great to see some more popular finish options as well, but there are a fair amount of choices, and what PSE does offer looks nice. The Evolve cam system is a true piece of engineering genius, and the adjustability passed on to shooters is amazing. The NXT 33 platform has so many options for shooters to add personalized touches to, each setup could have a different feel. For those willing to look past missing flash, the PSE EVO NXT 33 is an outstanding hunting bow with potential to be a multipurpose bow for 3D shooting as well. For a competitive flagship price of $1099, the NXT 33 should be a very popular model for 2020. Read full review...

• A genuinely smooth pull for an 80-pound peak bow, thanks to the mild DeadLock cam and Comfort FlipDisc setting
• Very quiet, low-vibration shot with the twin Orbit Dampeners doing real work at release
• Solid, planted hold from the 34-inch axle-to-axle frame and a low-torque Clutch grip that resists steering the shot
• Heavy-arrow momentum built for deep penetration on big game, launching ~480-grain shafts near 300 fps at full weight
• Press-free DeadLock tuning and rotating-module draw-length changes make it unusually easy to set up and keep in tune

• Reaches a true 90-pound peak for maximum kinetic energy, backed by reinforced steel limb hardware built to pass Hoyt's 1,500 dry-fire test at full weight
• A heavy 465-grain arrow clocked 316 fps in hands-on testing, roughly 103 ft-lb of kinetic energy for deep penetration on the biggest game
• Even at 90 pounds the draw never dumps harshly, rolling clean over the peak into a solid back wall and a usable valley
• Dead, silent shot with zero post-shot vibration and a rock-solid hold, the Hoyt shot signature carried intact to extreme poundage
• Gives up nothing on features, with the full press-free XTS tuning system and In-Line accessory integration from the Alpha AX-3

• A longer riser, and more laid back limbs improve upon an already popular Evolve and Evoke Series bow
• Forgiveness and extreme shootability seem to be the engineering focus
• Bow outperforms the ATA/IBO speed rating of 322-314 feet per second

• Not a speed bow - it trades top-end fps for the smooth 80; shooters chasing flat trajectory should look at a faster platform like the Bowtech SR350
• An 80-pound-only bow with 10 pounds of limb-bolt backdown, so archers who want a lighter 60 or 70 setup are better served by the SS34 on the same chassis

• The draw stacks hard from the first inch and tires you quickly, so it is no cold-weather or all-day-3D bow; warm up and shoot one in person before committing
• At a 90-pound peak the spine requirements turn very stiff and arrow choices narrow, so factor in a heavy stiff-spine build and a pro-shop spine check

• Low performance rating appears slower than comparable models from previous years
• Would still like to see more finish options from PSE
• Nothing very flashy about the EVO NXT 33