Compound Bow Comparator

The Bear Pioneer II is a discontinued 2007-2008 beginner's compound that put genuine adult-grade hardware, a machined aluminum riser, compression-molded limbs and a 15-position no-press cam, into a package tuned to the softest real draw weight in Bear's lineup at 15 to 29 pounds. That construction is why it earns a look over the cast-riser starter bows it sits near in price, and the very low poundage is why it works so well as a true first bow: a small or new shooter builds form without fighting the weight. The 283-287 fps on Bear's chart is a projected figure at a 50-pound setup this bow never reaches, so read it as what it is, a carryover from the heavier twin, and expect a deliberately gentle, quiet shooter instead. My one practical note is the bare shot's slight buzz, which the forty-dollar string stop the riser is already drilled for settles nicely. With complete examples trading around $40 to $80 used, it is one of the cheapest ways to put a real machined-aluminum compound in a beginner's hands. An excellent choice for the youngest or most brand-new archer in the family, particularly strong as a soft-drawing first bow that teaches good habits from the very first shot. Buyers who want a bow that grows past the backyard into real hunting weight should also look at the Bear Apprentice, or the wider-ranging Diamond Infinite Edge. Read full review...

The Bear Apprentice earned its long run by being honest about what it is: a light, durable, fully-equipped youth bow that adjusts across a 15-to-27-inch draw and a 20-to-50-pound weight range at home, no bow press required, and reaches a legal 50-pound hunting weight when the shooter is ready. It shoots gentlest in the lower two-thirds of its range where kids actually use it, ships Ready-to-Hunt in Realtree APG HD or Pink Camo at an entry-level package price, and, per repeated owner reports, holds up for years of hard backyard use. What I keep coming back to is the service life: families describe six seasons on one bow before a kid finally outgrows it, which is the whole promise of a grow-with-me design delivered. The one thing to understand going in is the coupled draw weight and draw length, so you set it up correctly for your shooter's size. An excellent first compound for the household where a young archer will grow from backyard targets to a first whitetail on the same bow, and it is particularly strong as a complete, tool-free-adjustable hunting setup on a budget. Buyers who want a single bow that stretches all the way to a full 70-pound adult draw should also look at the Diamond Infinite Edge, and those wanting a slightly larger frame or a bow-only option should look at the Bear Young Gun. Read full review...

The Diamond Infinite Edge has revolutionized the bow market. The bow is easy to shoot whether the shooter is 5-years old or 55-years old. Without a bow press, and with only a couple of wrenches, the Infinite Edge can easily be adjusted from five pounds to 70 pounds draw weight and 13" to 30" draw length making it an excellent choice for any shooter. With a speed up to 310 fps and a RTH price of only $479, this bow is definitely affordable. The dual-cam setup is not too aggressive, making it easy to draw. The 75 percent let-off makes it easy to hold on target even for the inexperienced shooter. Read full review...

• Real adult-bow construction at a beginner's poundage: machined aluminum riser, compression-molded limbs and pivoting limb pockets rather than a cast or plastic starter chassis
• Fifteen draw-length positions from 13 to 27 inches, all set by hand with no bow press, so one bow keeps fitting a child through several seasons of growth
• A true beginner's 15-to-29-pound draw weight lets a small or first-time shooter build clean form without fighting the bow
• Light 2.9-pound mass and a complete ready-to-shoot package option, with Whisker Biscuit rest, 3-pin sight, quiver and arrows, make it easy to pick up and shoot the first day

• Draw length adjusts across 15-27 inches at home with no bow press, so one bow keeps fitting a growing kid
• Genuinely light at 2.9 pounds, easy for a small shooter to hold steady and aim
• Ships as a complete Ready-to-Hunt package that shoots straight out of the box
• Tops out at a legal 50-pound hunting weight, so it grows from the backyard to a first deer season
• Owners report years of use with the bow still tight and shooting well, strong value for the money

• Versatile to meet any archery situation
• Adjustable from five to 70# draw weight
• Draw length adjustable from 13" to 30"
• Good speed with regards to draw specs; tops out a 310 fps
• Affordable

• Peak weight tops out at 29 pounds and draw at 27 inches, so this is a backyard-and-beginner bow: a shooter gaining strength or heading toward hunting will outgrow it and step up to a higher-poundage bow like the Bear Apprentice
• No string stop from the factory leaves a little buzz in the bare shot, though the riser carries a rear boss for one and an aftermarket stop around $40 quiets it

• Draw weight and draw length are linked: the 20-pound floor exists only at the shortest 15-inch draw and climbs as you lengthen it (around 27 pounds at a 20-inch setting), so plan the setup around your shooter's size
• Not every owner loves the factory Whisker Biscuit rest, though any standard aftermarket rest drops in if you prefer a different feel

• Requires string silencers and vibration dampeners before hunting