Compound Bow Comparator

The Edge Max is the retail-price way into Diamond's grown-up adjustable platform - the same caged aluminum riser and Synchronized Binary Cam that the Pro-Shop-Exclusive Pro MAX carries, on a 31-inch frame with a forgiving 7.125-inch brace, for a $519 launch price instead of the Pro MAX's $649. Its 16-to-31-inch draw and 20-to-70-pound range adjust at home without a press, so one bow fits a short-draw partner and a long-draw hunter and everyone in between, while the 80-percent let-off keeps all of them steady at full draw. The 314 fps IBO - around 301 fps on a real chronograph at the IBO setup, and 273 fps with a heavy hunting arrow - marks it as a capable rather than a blistering bow, which is the right balance for a platform built around fit and forgiveness. What I keep coming back to is how little the cheaper twin actually costs you: the shot is a touch louder and busier than a flagship's, and the back wall is more solid than firm, but the binary draw and the standout let-down are all there, and the caged riser makes it the most settled Edge yet. It is an excellent bow for the value hunter or mixed-draw household that wants the Diamond binary-cam platform at a retail price, particularly strong as one shared rig that fits the whole family. Buyers who need the range to reach a smaller, lighter beginner 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...

• One bow fits a short-draw partner and a long-draw hunter - 16 to 31 inches of draw and 20 to 70 pounds, all set on the module and limb bolts with an Allen wrench and no press
• Synchronized Binary Cam draws smoothly and lets down about as cleanly as bows costing three times as much, with the flat nock travel that makes it tune in fast
• Caged machined-aluminum riser stiffens the frame and deadens the shot noticeably better than the older non-caged Edge it replaces
• Solid limbs seated in solid aluminum pockets - an upgrade over the previous Edge that makes the bow more repeatable shot to shot
• Complete retail-ready Octane package - sight, rest, quiver, stabilizer, peep and sling - on the same chassis as the pro-shop-only Pro MAX for less money

• 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

• Some owners note more hand shock and a louder shot than a high-end bow - normal for a broad-adjustable bow at this price, and a stabilizer plus a set of limb dampeners settles most of it
• Some shooters find the Edge-line back wall a touch soft rather than a hard stop - worth drawing one first if you prefer to slam into a firm wall

• 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