Compound Bow Comparator

The Hoyt Helix Turbo, launched at $1,249 MSRP in 2020 and carried over unchanged through 2021, is the aluminum speed bow Hoyt built for the experienced hunter who wants flagship velocity without the carbon price. At 350 fps IBO on a compact 31-inch chassis with a sub-six-inch brace, it delivers real-world numbers right where a Hoyt should - low-to-mid 340s with light arrows and 280 to 302 fps with heavy hunting shafts at 70 pounds - while staying quiet and dead in the hand in a way speed bows rarely manage. What makes it special is the ZT Turbo Pro cam's draw: it asks far less of your shoulder than the turbo cams of years past, pulling close to a standard RX bow, and the firm wall and damping suite make it genuinely shootable rather than punishing. The trade you accept is a short, tight valley that rewards a shooter who knows their exact draw length and stays engaged against the wall - get that right and this is one of the most underrated speed rigs of its era. An excellent bow for the western and big-woods bowhunter who wants a fast, compact, hard-hitting aluminum rig and has their form dialed in. Buyers who want the same speed platform in the lightest possible carbon package should look at the REDWRX Carbon RX-4 Turbo, while those who would trade speed for a deeper, more forgiving valley should consider the base Hoyt Helix. Read full review...

The RX-4 Turbo is a great shooting bow. It has a maneuverable frame with a compact 31-inch axle-to-axle measurement, and an ATA rated 350 feet per second gives shooters a lot of options for arrow weight and kinetic energy versus raw speed for each to choose what makes the most sense for them. For shooters nearing the top end of the 30-inch draw length max, the string angle may start to get uncomfortable for those wanting to keep a straight up and down head position. The cams are pretty big, but they may still require shooters to tip their head into the string for an anchor in the corner of the mouth and tip of the nose. The largest negative is the price. For some reason, the Turbo and the Ultra in the REDWRK lineup get an upgrade charge when compared to the RX-4 Alpha series. Ultimately, this annual $50 price increase is going to hurt Hoyt. There are a ton of great bows in the compact hunting bow market, and Hoyt is no longer creating the carbon riser models much lighter than the aluminum risers, which was a huge reason they marketed the original carbon bows so well back in the day. The $1749 price tag is a ton of money, and it really stinks to take up so much time in a review talking about the cost, but there will be a large number of shooters unable to even consider the RX-4 Turbo because of the cost. Read full review...

The Helix is a non-apologetic hunting bow. Everything from the compact design, the overall performance, and the feel of the Helix is done to create the meanest hunting bow Hoyt can produce with an aluminum riser. The new grip is easy to shoot, and the lateral movement options to get the best tune possible truly shows how dedicated Hoyt is in producing the best shooting hunting rig they can. The cams are smooth, and easy to draw, and the feeling after the shot is one of the deadest feels from a Hoyt hunting bow, possibly ever. The 4.3-pounds barebow weight may be slightly on the heavy side on paper for such a compact model, but in hand it balances perfectly and feels solid holding on target. The MSRP of $1199 is a premium price for an aluminum risered hunting bow, but with all the updates from the previous model year, many shooters will have no problem paying the extra price to have what may consider the best hunting bow from Hoyt in recent years. For those wanting the latest and greatest technology from an industry leader in the hunting world, the Helix has a great deal to offer potential customers. Read full review...

• Draws smoother than older turbo cams - the ZT Turbo Pro rolls back without the brutal hump shooters expect from a 350 fps bow
• X-Act grip is thin, narrow and flat-backed - one of the most comfortable hand positions in the 2020 Hoyt lineup
• Quiet and dead in the hand for a speed bow, with little post-shot vibration thanks to Limb Shox and Shock Pods
• Real-world speed lands right at the 350 IBO claim - low-to-mid 340s fps at 30 inch and 70 lb with a light arrow
• Aluminum TEC riser keeps the platform tough and around $500 cheaper than the carbon RX-4 Turbo on the same speed chassis

• 350 feet per second ATA speed rating
• Compact hunting bow design of 31-inches axle to axle
• Lots of finish options

• All the benefits of the REDWRX rig with an aluminum riser
• Compact design with a 30.5-inch axle-to-axle measurement
• 342 feet per second
• New cams, new riser, and new grip

• Short, tight valley means the bow wants to creep forward if you relax at full draw - nailing your exact draw length keeps it forgiving
• A more engaged draw than the standard RX cams, so shooters with shoulder issues may want to shoot one in person first

• Brace height of 5 ⅞-inches may scare some people
• Suggested retail price of $1749

• MSRP of $1199 is a decently expensive aluminum riser bow
• 4.3-pounds is a little heavy for such a compact bow