Compound Bow Comparator

The Diamond Pro MAX is the fit-everyone bow of the value hunting category, the one that solves the problem of a single adjustable bow serving very different shooters without compromise. At a $649 launch price it sits above the online grow-bows, and what that money buys is the grown-up hardware the cheaper bows go without: a caged, machined-aluminum riser and the patented Synchronized Binary Cam System, on a 31 inch axle-to-axle frame with a forgiving 7.125 inch brace. Its 16 to 31 inch draw and 20 to 70 lb range, all adjustable at home without a press, let one bow fit a short-draw partner and a long-draw hunter and everyone in between, while the 80 percent let-off keeps every one of them steady at full draw. The 314 fps IBO figure marks it as a capable rather than a blistering bow, which is the right balance for a platform built around fit and forgiveness instead of raw speed. What I keep coming back to is the combination of the pro-shop fitting and the fitting range: this is a bow you are measured for and that then flexes to fit the rest of your household, which very few bows at any price genuinely do. It is an excellent bow for the buyer who wants one adjustable, pro-fitted hunting bow a whole family can share and grow into, particularly strong for the mixed-draw household and the new hunter who wants to be set up correctly from day one. Buyers who need the range to reach a smaller, lighter beginner or who want to spend less should also look at the Bear Legit Maxx, and shooters who want the lowest package price might prefer the PSE Stinger MAX. Read full review...

The Bear Legit Maxx delivers practical upgrades over its predecessor at a $499 launch MSRP and serves as the budget RTH option in Bear's adjustable lineup, carried over from 2025 into 2026 without spec changes. The addition of Integrate Mounting System rest mounting and a Picatinny sight rail brings setup convenience from higher-priced bows into the budget category. The 14 to 30 inch draw length and 10 to 70 lb draw weight ranges make this one of the most versatile bows in the lineup for families or growing archers, a single bow that genuinely works from teenager through adult. Performance specifications, 315 fps IBO, 6.25 inch brace height and 75 percent let-off, are competitive within this market segment, and chronograph testing across multiple measurement sessions confirms speeds from around 242 fps with heavy 500 grain arrows up to 278 fps with 350 grain shafts at the full 70 lb draw, sufficient kinetic energy for ethical whitetail shots at typical bowhunting distances. Shot noise lands at roughly 96.8 dB, quiet for the price tier. The 75 percent let-off is honest about its trade-off: a shorter valley and more holding weight at full draw, which is the central characteristic to weigh against the lower price. The Legit Maxx is the budget option in Bear's adjustable lineup and the shooting experience reflects that; it is not the smoothest or the quietest bow in the category, but it is well-rounded with modern features that make ownership easier. For families buying a single compound bow that needs to serve multiple purposes or multiple archers over many years at a $499 entry price, the Legit Maxx deserves serious consideration; buyers seeking the widest single-archer growth path should also weigh the Diamond Infinite Edge Pro, hunters past the 21.5 inch draw threshold who prioritize a more forgiving brace height and the lowest cross-brand entry might prefer the PSE Stinger Max, and Bear-ecosystem buyers seeking the lowest entry point should look at the Bear Limitless. Read full review...

For a fully set up bow, with a package price of $449, it is really hard to beat a rig like the Stinger Max. Although entry level models are often geared toward a younger shooter, PSE was conscious in making the Stinger Max available to all ages and shooter sizes. Almost anyone in the bow market can be set up to fit in the 30-inch axle-to-axle rig, and the single cam draw force curve is amazing for those just getting started in the world of archery. The Stinger Max shoots well, but when considering the value, the Stinger Max really shines. PSE also did a great job giving the bow enough finish options to meet the entire range of potential buyers offering patterns for anyone and any purpose. Anyone interested in getting started in archery with a frill less bow, at a great price, needs to seriously consider the PSE Stinger Max. It may be one of the best values in the compound bow market for 2020. Read full review...

• Fits almost any adult from one riser, a 16 to 31 inch draw and 20 to 70 lb, all set on the module and limb bolts with an Allen wrench and no bow press
• Synchronized Binary Cam System gives a smooth, set-and-forget draw and flat-line nock travel, so a broad-adjustable value bow still tunes in cleanly
• Caged machined-aluminum riser adds the rigidity and stability the older non-caged Diamond Pro-series bows lacked, the part a bow at this price usually skimps on
• Ships fully outfitted with an Octane kit, a Vault quiver, five-pin sight, five-inch stabilizer, full-capture rest, peep and sling, fitted at a Diamond pro shop and shooting out of the box

• Wide adjustability range covers 10-70 lb draw weight and 14-30 inch draw length in a single bow, suitable for one-bow households and growing archers
• Integrate Mounting System dovetail accepts compatible arrow rests with tool-free, self-leveling installation
• $499 launch MSRP places the bow at the lower end of the adjustable-platform market

• A redesign of a popular model from previous years
• 2 limb options cover a draw weight range of 22-70-pounds
• Has an accessory package
• Decent starter bow for any shooter

• Draw weight starts at 20 lb rather than the 10 lb of a dedicated grow-bow, so this is an adult and older-teen platform, not the bow for the smallest first-year kids, who fit the lighter Diamond Radian better
• It is a value-tier bow tuned for adjustability and price over flagship silence, and no independent Pro MAX noise data exists yet, so a shooter stepping down from a quiet flagship may want to shoot one in person first

• 75 percent let-off creates a shorter valley and a higher holding weight at full draw; the bow asks the shooter to stay engaged on the back wall
• Some hand shock and post-shot vibration are present at the budget tier and are noticeable to anyone stepping down from a flagship build
• Cable slide rather than a cable roller is used on the cable arm, a cost-saving choice that affects perceived draw smoothness
• Bear no longer publishes an official mass weight; hands-on measurements settle around 4.2 lb bare bow
• Real-world draw weight ceiling drops with shorter draw lengths, so a 20 inch youth setup will not reach the published 70 lb peak

• Does not have any flagship model technology
• Not the best accessories in the package