Compound Bow Comparator

At $2,149 launch, the Carbon RX-10 is not trying to be the cheapest bow or the fastest - it is the carbon flagship for the hunter who has already decided carbon is what they want. The headline for 2026 is the XTS tuning system, which finally gives the platform press-free left/right and high/low correction and closes the one gap the RX line carried. Everything around it is the proven package: a 342 fps IBO cam that reads about 325 fps on a real chronograph at the IBO setup and roughly 297 fps with a 440-grain hunting arrow, a silky hump-free draw, a firm adjustable back wall, and a dead-forward carbon shot at just 4.1 pounds. In my experience the combination that sells this bow is the warm grip and the light carry on a cold, all-day sit - the carbon is doing real work there, not just costing money. This is an excellent bow for the mid-draw whitetail and Western hunter who wants one carbon rig for everything and now wants it easy to tune. Buyers who want the same flagship performance without the carbon premium should look at the Mathews Phase4 29, and those chasing a hotter, faster carbon feel should shoot the PSE Mach 30 DS before deciding. Read full review...

The Phase4 29 launched at $1,199 as the more accessible, compact half of Mathews' 2023 flagship line - the everyman's flagship, $100 under its longer sibling. What that money buys is the quietest, deadest-in-hand shot Mathews had built to that point, wrapped in a maneuverable 29-inch frame that reads 296 fps with a 443-grain hunting arrow at 70 pounds. The eight-limb Resistance Phase Damping system is the real advance here: it does not chase speed headlines, it chases silence, and it delivers. Add the SwitchWeight module's one-bow-fits-all adjustability, Bridge-Lock stabilizer integration, and a draw cycle that stays true to Mathews' smooth signature, and you have a hunting bow that does almost everything well. In my experience the stillness at the shot is what stays with you - it changes how relaxed you can be at full draw. It is an excellent bow for the treestand and ground-blind hunter who prizes a silent shot and a compact frame, and it is particularly strong in tight cover where handling beats horsepower. Buyers who want more axle length and a steadier target-style hold should also look at the Mathews Phase4 33; those chasing outright speed should look at the Bowtech SR350. Read full review...

The Mach 30 DS is the bow that pulled PSE level in the carbon-flagship fight, and it did it from an unusual angle - not by out-speeding the field but by being among the lightest carbon bows on the market, at 3.6 pounds, with a shot signature shooters rank dead-even with or ahead of Hoyt for quiet and vibration. For 2026 the new FDS cam closes the last gap, lifting the rating to 348 fps and adding effective brace height while keeping the smooth draw and immovable back wall that defined the platform, all at a $1,799 launch MSRP that sits under the comparable Hoyt carbon. Real-world hunting velocity is genuinely there - the outgoing EC2 cam already put a 425-grain shaft past 300 fps at a 30-inch draw, and the FDS cam is rated quicker still. The trade-offs are honest and small: a short brace that asks for clean form, and a featherweight mass that likes a touch of stabilizer weight to plant the shot. It is an excellent bow for the backcountry and mobile hunter who wants carbon's light carry and cold-weather warmth in a compact 30-inch frame, and it is particularly strong as a heavy-poundage elk setup that never feels heavy to pack. Buyers who want the same platform with more built-in forgiveness at distance should look at the longer Mach 33 DS or Mach 35 DS; those who don't specifically need carbon should weigh the Mathews Phase4 29 and keep the difference. Read full review...

• Silky, hump-free draw cycle that rolls to full draw without a hard peak or a dump into the valley
• Press-free XTS tuning in the limb pockets clears roughly a one-inch paper tear at the shop without a bow press
• Dead-in-hand carbon shot that pushes forward instead of buzzing, with almost no felt vibration
• Light 4.1 lb carry for a 30.5-inch bow, easy to hang in a treestand all day
• Warm carbon riser that stays comfortable to grip in late-season cold, unlike an aluminum handle

• Eight-limb RPD design kills vibration at the source - the shot is muted and dead in the hand
• SwitchWeight modules set peak weight and let-off, so one bow covers 60-75 lb without new limbs
• Smooth, consistent draw that rolls over the peak into a firm, defined back wall
• Compact 29-inch axle-to-axle balances and holds steady in a treestand or ground blind
• Tunes quickly and predictably - the centered roller guard keeps cam load even

• One of the lightest carbon hunting bows on the market at 3.6 pounds - you feel it the moment you pick it up, and again on hour six of a backcountry pack-in
• Dead in the hand - quiet shot with minimal vibration, closer to a heavier flagship than a sub-4-pound bow has any right to be
• Smooth draw cycle into a rock-solid back wall you cannot flex, with adjustable let-off to tune the valley
• Carbon riser holds a neutral temperature - warm to the touch on a frozen morning, no metal bite through bare fingers
• Tunes without a press for the everyday jobs - half-inch draw changes and let-off swaps at the module, cam lean via the EZ.220 snap spacers

• The 25-30 inch draw window fits mid-draw shooters; longer or shorter draws should step to the Ultra LD or SD sibling instead
• Some owners note limbs can arrive a peak weight or two over spec out of the box, so plan to check draw weight and back it down on setup
• Carbon-flagship pricing puts it well above aluminum equals; buyers who want the same cam without the carbon premium may want to shoot an aluminum Alpha in person first

• The rubber Engage grip is polarizing - owners who dislike it can pop it off for flat side plates or an aftermarket grip
• Draw length and weight changes need a module swap and a bow press, so dial in your spec at the shop before you commit

• The compact 30-inch frame and short brace favor maneuverability and hunting ranges - shooters who live past 50 yards or want a target-length bow's forgiveness can move up to the longer Mach 33 DS or Mach 35 DS on the same platform
• At 3.6 pounds the bow can jump slightly at the shot for shooters used to a planted, heavier feel - a front stabilizer with a little mass settles it right down