Compound Bow Comparator

The Athens Vista 33 launched in 2021 at a $949 base-black MSRP - small-shop, direct pricing for a hand-built, deeply configurable do-all hunting bow. For that money the buyer gets something unusual in the segment: a 33-inch bow whose chronograph numbers hold efficiency across arrow weights and shoot step-for-step with the shorter Vista 31, a very smooth draw that eases into a defined wall, and a shot that is genuinely dead in the hand. Drawing and firing it, the thing that stays with me is the calm - a quick bow that does not dump into the valley, settles onto a solid back wall, and gives almost nothing back to the hand. Add Athens' lifetime transferable warranty and the Save the Hunt program that ships a tuned replacement to a hunter whose bow fails mid-hunt, and the ownership case from a small maker gets strong. The one honest caveat is mass - set up it runs a touch over its 4.2-pound spec, and there is no carbon option for a hunter counting every ounce. This is an excellent bow for the short-draw whitetail and mule-deer hunter who wants real speed, a quiet dead-in-hand shot, and a built-to-order bow that doubles on the 3D range, particularly strong from a tight treestand where the 33-inch balance and maneuverability pay off. Buyers who want the widest adjustability at the lowest price should also look at the Diamond Edge 320, while those chasing premium draw feel and tunability from a major brand should also weigh the Elite Kure. Read full review...

The Diamond Edge 320 earned its place as one of the best-selling grow-with-you hunting bows of its run for a simple reason: it does more things well at once than a $449 launch price has any right to. It is the longest and steadiest-aiming bow in Diamond's Edge family, adjusts across a class-leading 7-to-70-pound weight range and 15-to-31-inch draw entirely without a press, and holds a high 85 percent let-off for a light, long aim. The Synchronized Binary Cam System delivers real speed to match the name - a true 320 fps at the top setting and 309 at the 30-inch IBO mark on a chronograph - and the shot is quiet and calm in the hand in a way that usually costs more. What I keep coming back to is how little this bow asks of the shooter: an even draw, a wall that holds, a light hold, and a clean release, all on a frame forgiving enough to teach good form. Produced from 2019 to 2022 and now found on the used and closeout market, it was succeeded by the current Diamond Pro 320, so the platform lives on. It is an excellent bow for the grow-with-you household, the beginner who wants a bow they will not outgrow, and the value hunter who still wants genuine speed and a steady frame. Buyers who need to start a smaller, lighter beginner should also look at the Bear Legit Maxx, and those who prefer a tall, forgiving brace at the same tier should look at the PSE Stinger MAX. Read full review...

The Kure adapts to each shooter, without the need for a bow press, to match exactly how shooters like their rigs to feel. The 31 13/16- inch axle-to-axle is somewhat compact, while still maintaining some stability. The mass weight is a bit heavy, but the Kure carries the weight well, and never feels unbalanced or uncomfortable. For those wanting a solid performing hunting bow, the Kure is competitively priced with other flagship hunting models, and offers more customization than elite has ever provided on a hunting bow. It would be nice for Elite to offer some additional camo patterns, although the three included look great. It may take some getting used to seeing the cable in the sight picture. The bow may be too slow for some shooters, and may be too heavy for others. However, all these are personal preference items. The Kure is a flat out shooter, and that is not based on personal feeling. For those on the market for a flatout hunting bow, the Kure has a comfortable shot and is easy to hold on target. For an MSRP of $1099, the 2020 Elite Kure is worth a test shot for anyone interested in a top end hunting bow with interest in tinkering to get the desired set up personally outfitted to each shooter and their equipment. Read full review...

• Chronograph-honest for its length - the 33 posts hunting-setup speeds right alongside the shorter Vista 31 and holds efficiency from 350 all the way out to 500-grain arrows
• Very smooth draw that settles onto a defined back wall with no harsh dump into the valley - the RT-X rotating cam breaks over cleanly
• Dead in the hand and quiet - near-imperceptible hand shock, so the shot registers through your bow hand before your ears
• Thin machined grip cut low into the riser sits with a target-bow feel and pulls torque out of the shot for a repeatable hand position
• Deeply configurable - field-adjustable rotating-mod draw across 25-31", 40-80 lb options, and roughly 20 colorfusion finishes with mix-and-match riser and limb colors

• The name is the speed and it nearly holds up - 320 fps IBO on paper, and a real chronograph reads 320 at the top draw setting and 309 at the 30-inch mark, fast enough for any whitetail range
• One bow spans a child to a grown hunter - 7 to 70 pounds and 15 to 31 inches, all set on the limb bolts and a rotating module with an Allen wrench, no press required
• Smooth draw into a back wall that holds - the cam rises evenly to peak and settles into a wall firm enough to anchor against, easy to let down
• Quiet and dead in the hand - minimal post-shot vibration and hand shock for a budget bow, the kind of calm shot that usually costs more
• Complete R.A.K. ready-to-hunt package plus a high 85% let-off - everything to start hunting in the box and a light holding weight at full draw

• Newly designed cam system
• Everything is adjustable
• Compact 31 13/16 - inches axle-to-axle measurement
• Great looking finish options
• MSRP of $1099 is competitive for flagship hunting rigs

• Set up with dampeners the bow weighs a touch over its 4.2 lb spec (hands-on ~4.6 lb stripped, 4.8 out of the box) - mountain hunters counting pack ounces should factor it in, as the line offers no carbon option
• The 2021-2022 bows anchor on a cable draw-stop rather than limb stops - owners call it a solid wall, but a shooter who wants the firmest possible stop can step to the 2023 revision, which adds 55% more draw-stop surface for a firmer back wall

• At peak weight it draws about a half-inch short of the marked length, and the 15-inch floor sits on the cam's B cable setting rather than the default A - back the draw weight off or move to the B setting and the full range opens up
• Plastic limb pockets and a barebones Tundra sight mark the price point - the whisker-biscuit rest and 3-pin sight get you hunting, but shooters who grow into the bow often swap the sight for a brighter multi-pin later

• The top cable can be seen in the sight picture
• 4.6-pounds bare bow weight is a bit heavy for a compact bow