Compound Bow Comparator

The Hoyt Highline, a four-year carryover that listed around $1,399 to $1,459 at major retailers from its 2022 debut through 2025, is the rare hunting bow built specifically for the long-draw archer the rest of the market under-serves. Its case is simple and concrete: a 36.5-inch axle-to-axle aluminum frame that reaches a genuine 34 inches of draw and holds the pin dead-steady at full draw, paired with the smooth HBX Pro cam, the full In-Line Picatinny accessory system, and an included Short Stop stabilizer. It is not a speed bow - its 345 fps IBO describes a long-draw rig, and shot short at 30 inches it chronographs in the low 290s - but stretched to the 33-inch draw it was engineered around, the long power stroke and the steady, forgiving hold are exactly what a tall hunter needs. What stayed with me most is the shot itself - dead and quiet behind that long, stable hold; owners say the same, consistently calling it one of the quietest bows they have shot, and that calm finish is what makes it accurate at distance. An excellent bow for the long-draw bowhunter who shoots 32 inches or more and values a rock-steady hold over chart-topping speed, particularly strong on open-country spot-and-stalk hunts. Buyers with a normal draw who want a quiet long-axle flagship should also look at the Mathews V3X 33, while those chasing the widest adjustability for the least money should consider the PSE EVO NXT 33. Read full review...

The Mathews V3X 33 is the steady, forgiving half of the 2022 V3X platform - a 33-inch flagship that holds like a target bow, shoots like a hunting bow, and whispers like nothing else in its class. At $1,299 launch MSRP it sits squarely in the flagship field and earns its place with a dead-solid hold, a real 301 fps with a 400-grain arrow, and a 94-decibel shot that won a professional sound test outright. The Crosscentric draw rolls over more gently than the shorter V3X 29's thanks to the added length and brace, ending against a rock-hard wall that pull-through shooters will love. What sets it apart from the competition is the integrated accessory system - the Bridge-Lock riser that hides a dovetail sight through its center, the LowPro quiver that tucks in tight, and the Stay Afield System that lets you rescue a broken string miles from the truck. The beyond-parallel limbs leave the riser dead, and the long chassis does the aiming work so the pin simply wanders less - in my experience it is the kind of bow that quietly makes you a better shot. An excellent bow for the accuracy-minded hunter who shoots open country and a little 3D and wants forgiveness, silence, and a centered kit in one rig. Buyers who need a more compact, faster-handling bow for tight timber and treestands should also look at its shorter sibling the Mathews V3X 29, and those wanting maximum brace-height forgiveness at a lower price should consider the PSE EVO NXT 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...

• Long 36.5-inch axle-to-axle holds rock-steady at full draw - owners with long draws call it one of the most forgiving rigs they have shot
• Reaches a true 34-inch draw most bows cannot, so a big-wingspan shooter finally anchors without a cramped, steep string angle
• HBX Pro cam draws easy and rolls over smoothly - owners describe it as a very smooth, easy-pulling bow even at long draw settings
• Dead in the hand and very quiet - owners report zero hand shock and one of the quietest shots they have heard in a while
• Comes loaded with no corners cut - full In-Line Picatinny mounting and an included Short Stop stabilizer right out of the box

• Won a professional decibel-meter sound test and reads near 94 decibels - about as quiet and dead-in-hand as a hunting bow gets
• Exceptionally forgiving, dead-steady hold - the 33-inch riser and 6.5-inch brace let the pin float and settle like a target bow
• Smoother draw than the shorter V3X 29, thanks to the added length and brace height rolling the cam over more gently
• Bridge-Lock sight and LowPro quiver pull the accessories into the center of the riser, cleaning up balance and clearing side brackets
• Stay Afield System lets you replace a peep, string, or cables in the backcountry without a bow press

• 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

• Built around long draw, so at the short end of its range it gives up speed - shooters under about 31 inches will be faster and happier on a shorter bow
• Big and heavy at 4.9 pounds bare and close to 5.7 on the scale with the stabilizer - long-draw shooters handle it fine, treestand minimalists may want to heft one first
• Drawing right at the 32 to 32.5-inch module boundary loses a little speed on the longer module - pick the cam module deliberately at a shop to land on the faster side

• The long riser gives the bow a slightly top-heavy feel some owners notice - a rear stabilizer or low riser weight balances it, and the tucked-in LowPro quiver helps
• The 27-inch draw floor and longer, heavier chassis leave out shorter-draw archers and tight-quarters treestand hunters - that shooter is better matched to the compact V3X 29

• 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