Compound Bow Comparator

The Bear Shootout is a budget crossover bow that does one job very well: it carries a young or new archer through the transition years on a single, affordable chassis. At a $279.99 launch MSRP it adjusts from a 14-inch draw and 20 pounds up to 28 inches and 50 pounds, rides a maneuverable 28-inch axle-to-axle frame, runs a dual-cam system rated at 290 fps IBO, and - unlike most ready-to-hunt packages - ships with three carbon arrows already cut and tipped alongside the sight, Whisker Biscuit rest, stabilizer, and quiver. It is honest about what it is: a learn-and-grow platform with a 70% let-off and a 50-pound ceiling, offered in right-hand and Black only, with the long-term value coming from the fact that nothing else needs buying as the shooter grows. It is an excellent bow for a parent outfitting a kid who has outgrown a beginner bow and for any new adult archer who wants a complete, low-cost setup, and it is particularly strong as the one bow that follows a shooter from their first backyard sessions to their first deer season. Buyers who want room to grow all the way to full 60-70 pound adult hunting weight should also look at the Diamond Infinite Edge Pro; those wanting an even simpler true-beginner bow should look at the Bear Frontier. Read full review...

The Bear Frontier RTS arrives at $219.99 launch MSRP as the entry tier of Bear's 2026 youth lineup - a 26-inch axle-to-axle dual-cam bow with a 14-to-25-inch draw length range, 15-to-29-pound draw weight, 65 percent let-off, and a complete Ready-to-Shoot accessory bundle. The headline performance number is the 11 inches of draw-length adjustability, which is what makes this a bow a family buys once and uses for 4 to 6 years rather than a starter that gets outgrown in a season. The 2.9-pound mass weight keeps practice sessions from ending in arm fatigue; the offset string suppressor takes the edge off the post-shot ring at this price tier where the simpler bows ship bare. In my experience the dual-cam draw is genuinely smoother than what Bear's lower-tier Brave and Pathfinder deliver, and the back wall is firm enough for a young archer to learn to anchor against. An excellent first compound for the 8-to-14 age window, particularly strong for households where a kid will grow through the draw range over multiple seasons. Buyers prioritizing the wider draw-weight ceiling that supports hunting should also look at the Bear Limitless RTH or step up directly to the Bear Shootout RTH; buyers prioritizing the lowest entry price within Bear's youth lineup should also look at the Bear Pathfinder; cross-brand shoppers in the same tier should consider the PSE Mini-Burner. 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...

• Ships genuinely ready to shoot - includes 3 carbon arrows with field points on top of the 3-pin sight, Whisker Biscuit rest, stabilizer, and 5-arrow quiver
• One chassis spans youth to adult-entry - 14-28 inch draw and 20-50 lb adjust on the same bow with no modules to buy
• Among the most affordable adjustable compounds in Bear's 2026 lineup, and the kit is complete enough to leave the shop and shoot the same day

• Draw length adjusts across an 11-inch range from 14 to 25 inches - the same bow fits an 8-year-old at 14 inches and a 13-year-old at 25 inches, covering 4-6 years of growth without buying a second bow
• Ready-to-Shoot package ships with a Trophy Ridge 3-pin sight, Whisker Biscuit rest, 2-arrow quiver, and 2 carbon arrows pre-matched to the draw range - a first-time buyer opens the box and shoots that afternoon
• Dual-cam system is uncommon at the sub-$250 youth tier - Bear's lower-tier Brave and Pathfinder run simpler single-cam-and-idler layouts, while the Frontier inherits a synchronized dual-cam configuration normally reserved for higher tiers
• Bow mass of 2.9 pounds keeps the bow easy to hold up for a young shooter learning consistent form - fatigue ends a practice session faster than missing a target does, and a lighter bow lengthens the session
• Offset string suppressor reduces post-shot vibration and noise - a quieter, less buzzy shot is easier on a new shooter's hands and less startling, which matters more for first-bow learning than headline IBO numbers

• 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

• Tops out at 50 lb - a stronger or taller adult who wants full 60-70 lb hunting weight will outgrow it, and buyers who know they want max weight from the start can step up to a 65-70 lb adjustable
• Offered right-hand and in Black only - left-handed shooters and anyone wanting a camo finish will need a different model in the lineup

• Peak draw weight tops out at 29 pounds - below the 35-40 pound minimum most states require for big-game hunting, making this a target and recreation bow rather than a hunting tool; hunters can step up to Bear's Shootout RTH

• 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