Compound Bow Comparator

The Bear Cruzer G2 is the bow that fits a whole family for the price of one entry-level rig, launching at $399.99 with a full ready-to-hunt kit. Its span of 5 to 70 lb and 12 to 30 inches is the widest practical adjustability in its class, its real-world speed of 309 fps at the IBO setup lands honestly close to the 315 claim, and its machined aluminum riser gives it a solidity that belies the price. The trade-offs are exactly what the budget buys: a soft back wall that asks for a little shooting discipline, and a touch of shot buzz above 50 lb that a few dollars of dampers quiet down. What keeps the G2 on my short list for first-bow buyers is that nothing about it feels disposable, and its adjustability means it does not become obsolete the moment a kid grows. It is a natural fit for the family that will share one setup across ages and for the first-time hunter who wants to be shooting this weekend, and it is particularly strong as a grows-with-you youth-to-adult platform. Buyers who want the highest let-off and a touch more forgiveness should also look at the Diamond Infinite Edge Pro, while those who never need a youth floor can consider the PSE Stinger MAX. Read full review...

The Infinite Edge Pro came back for a reason: it does one thing better than almost anything at its price, and that is stretch to fit whoever picks it up. The 2026 Legacy edition keeps the formula - 13 to 31 inches of draw, 5 to 65 pounds, an 80-percent let-off and a smooth, quiet shot - and wraps it in a complete ready-to-hunt package at around $330, less than the model cost at its 2015 launch. It gives up five pounds of peak weight and ten fps against the original, trades that are invisible to the beginner, youth archer, and shared-family buyer this bow is built for. In my time around bows like this, the ones that get a household actually shooting are rarely the fastest or the quietest - they are the ones that fit everyone and are cheap enough to shoot without worry, and the Infinite Edge Pro is squarely that bow. It is an excellent choice for youth archery, new adult hunters, and any family that wants a single adjustable rig, particularly strong as a first bow that will still fit years later. Buyers who want more top-end poundage or speed for big game should also look at the Bear Cruzer G3. Read full review...

For a fully set up bow, with a package price of $449, it is really hard to beat a rig like the Stinger Max. Although entry level models are often geared toward a younger shooter, PSE was conscious in making the Stinger Max available to all ages and shooter sizes. Almost anyone in the bow market can be set up to fit in the 30-inch axle-to-axle rig, and the single cam draw force curve is amazing for those just getting started in the world of archery. The Stinger Max shoots well, but when considering the value, the Stinger Max really shines. PSE also did a great job giving the bow enough finish options to meet the entire range of potential buyers offering patterns for anyone and any purpose. Anyone interested in getting started in archery with a frill less bow, at a great price, needs to seriously consider the PSE Stinger Max. It may be one of the best values in the compound bow market for 2020. Read full review...

• Grows with the shooter: 5-70 lb draw weight and 12-30 inch draw on one bow, from a backyard beginner to a 70-lb whitetail setup
• Complete ready-to-hunt kit under $400 at launch: Trophy Ridge sight, Whisker Biscuit rest, quiver, stabilizer, sling, peep and D-loop
• Press-free setup: modules set draw length and limb bolts set weight with an Allen wrench, and three full turns take a maxed 70 down to 60 pounds
• Real speed lands close to the spec: 309 fps at 70 lb and 30 inch with a 350-grain arrow versus the 315 IBO claim
• One of the widest color and camo ranges in the budget class, from full hunting patterns to bright youth colors with matching strings

• One set of limbs covers 13-31 inches of draw and 5-65 pounds of weight - genuinely one bow for a young beginner and the adult hunter that beginner becomes
• Smooth draw cycle that rolls over the peak with no lope and settles into an easy valley against a solid back wall
• Quiet, low-shock shot for the price tier - the arrow is in the target before the riser finishes settling
• Forgiving to tune thanks to a double-yoke setup - cam lean comes into line quickly and a bullet-hole tune is easy to reach
• Complete ready-to-hunt package - sight, rest, quiver, stabilizer, peep and sling - at a price below both its main rivals and below its own 2015 launch

• A redesign of a popular model from previous years
• 2 limb options cover a draw weight range of 22-70-pounds
• Has an accessory package
• Decent starter bow for any shooter

• Shallow valley and a back wall that is soft rather than firm since there are no limb or cable stops; staying pulled into the wall and not creeping handles it in practice
• A little shot buzz creeps in above 50 lb and it sits a step behind flagship-quiet; a few dollars of stick-on limb dampers tame most of it

• Changing draw length means pressing the bow to reach the module screw and re-timing the cam afterward - set it to your draw once at a shop and it is a non-issue day to day
• Some owners find the grip a touch bulky in the hand though the shape stays comfortable - an aftermarket grip is an inexpensive swap for anyone who wants a slimmer throat

• Does not have any flagship model technology
• Not the best accessories in the package