July 09, 2014
By Tracy Breen
Based on what's been introduced in recent months, 2014 will be another great year for archery gear junkies . Many manufacturers continue to raise the bar, and all of us stand to benefit from it.
While it would be impossible to list every product out there in this or any other year, here are some well worth considering as you prepare for the 2014 bow season.
Bear Agenda One of the oldest names in bowhunting equipment has introduced a model that promises a highly shootable blend of speed (340 fps) and forgiveness. The
Agenda 7 is built with the H13 cam system, Max preload Quad limbs and an advanced riser that evenly distributes the limbs' load. Brace height is 7 inches, while the physical weight is 4 pounds.
Price: $ 899.99
BowTech Fuel Extreme adjustability is the
Fuel's calling card. Draw weight can go from 14-70 pounds, and draw length is adjustable from 18-30 ' without swapping limbs or using a bow press. Smaller shooters will love this, along with the physical weight of 3.4 pounds. Bowtech's Binary Cam System blends with a rock-solid riser for durability and speed (up to 320 fps). This fully accessorized bow is 31.5 ' axle to axle and has a 7 ' brace height.
Price: $ 499
BowTech RPM 360 Bowtech is known for turning out screaming-fast bows, and this year's lineup reinforces that reputation. The
RPM 360 throws an arrow downrange at 360 fps, which should get speed freaks excited for fall. Powering this 31-inch (axle to axle) model is the OverDrive Binary Cam System. This model's Trapezoidal I-beam riser lends extra strength to the setup.
Price: $ 950
Cabela's Instigator Teaming up with Bowtech, Cabela's now has an IBO 300-fps bow for the small-framed archer. The
Instigator can be shot by a shooter of any size. It weighs 4.4 pounds, has a 7 ' brace height and features a draw weight range of 30-65 pounds, so a young hunter can grow with it. Axle-to-axle length is 31 '. This affordable bow comes ready to hunt.
Price: $ 399.99
Darton DS 3914 Some bowhunters want speed, and Darton knows how to deliver it. The
DS 3914 is a burner, using its DualSync cam system to push an arrow at 355 fps. Brace height is 5.5 ', and axle-to-axle length is 33.875 '. This 4-pound bow is perfect for the tree stand hunter or Western archer who's seeking a flat-shooting powerhouse of a compound.
Price: $ 947.34
Diamond Carbon Cure Diamond Archery is known for offering great bows at great prices. Among its 2014 models is the
Carbon Cure , which weighs just 3.3 pounds. At the heart of this 325-fps bow is a carbon riser that's super tough and super light. The bow is 32 ' axle to axle, has a 7 ' brace height and comes equipped with a smooth-drawing single cam.
Price: $ 699
Elite Energy For 2014, this fast-growing company has introduced the
Energy . As the name implies, the bow has power to spare, throwing an arrow downrange at 335 fps. The Energy comes with Elite's Energy Cam system, a stronger riser and a more parallel limb configuration than previous models in the company's lineup. Shooters can choose between 32- and 35-inch models.
Price: $ 899
Obsession Evolution This young company is coming on in a hurry. The
Evolution is a radical-looking model and a true speed machine (353 fps), thanks in large part to its new Evolution cam. The bow comes with an anti-torque cable guard and has an edgy, unique riser and split-limb design sure to turn heads, whether you're out on the shooting range or in line down at the check station.
Price: $ 859
Hoyt Carbon Spyder Hoyt pioneered carbon-fiber bows, and this year's introduction is the
Carbon Spyder . It's rated at 332 fps and is available in several lengths; one is the Carbon Spyder 30, which is 30 inches axle to axle and weighs a mere 3.6 pounds. The unique Helical Flex Tune carbon riser is not only feathery light but also extra strong. Hoyt's Z5 Cam and 1/2 system completes the setup.
Price: $ 1,399
Redhead Kronik XT The
RedHead Kronik XT bow package from
Bass Pro Shops is a bargain. This single-cam model comes with almost everything a bowhunter needs to hit the woods. At only 3.5 pounds and 30.25 ' axle to axle, it's ideal for the archer who wants lightweight, maneuverable gear. This bow also has an extra-generous brace height of 7.875 '.
Price: $ 399.99
Mathews Chill X The new
Chill X offers the shooter ultimate versatility for hunting and 3-D archery. Measuring 35 ' axle to axle and having a 7 ' brace height, it features the all-new AVS DYAD Cam System with enlarged perimeter weighting for a solid shooting platform and great post-shot feel. The Chill X is fitted with 85% let-off Rock Mods, but the included 75% kit lets the shooter customize easily. At 75%, the bow is rated at 336 fps.
Price: $ 1,099
Mathews Creed XS This single-cam bow, rated at 321 fps, is handy in a tree or ground blind; mass weight is just 3.8 pounds, and length is a mere 28 inches axle to axle. It has the SimPlex cam, which is known to be forgiving and fast with a solid back wall. Brace height is a generous 7.5 inches. The
Creed XS comes with Mathews' unique Harmonic Dampers and one-of-a kind quad limb design.
Price: $ 899.99
Mission Blaze The
Mission line has become known for rugged, feature-packed bows that won't break the bank. The
Blaze is rated at 340 fps and stretches 33 inches axle to axle. There's a perimeter-weighted AVS cam system for speed, plus a Harmonic Stabilizer and string grubs to destroy vibration. The Blaze offers extreme adjustability, with a draw weight range all the way from 50 to 70 pounds.
Price: $ 599
Prime Alloy G5 has a reputation of developing high-end archery equipment, and its
Prime Alloy compound model is an example of that. IBO rated at 335 fps, this model features the company's parallel cam system, a patented flexing roller guard and a counterbalanced riser. The Alloy has extra-wide limbs for enhanced stability. Axle-to-axle length spans 33.25 inches.
Price: $ 949-
$ 999
PSE Full Throttle Many bowhunters who crave speed are longtime fans of
PSE compounds. Given the company's history of innovation, it's no surprise the 2014 lineup contains a true speed demon: the
Full Throttle , with an ultra-fast IBO rating of 370 fps. However, engineers didn't sacrifice accuracy to achieve that number. Driving the bow's tremendous speed is the FT Cam System. Axle-to-axle length is 33.25 inches.
Price: $ 1,099
Quest Radical Weighing a mere 3.25 pounds and having an axle-to-axle length of just 29.25 ', the
Radical is easy for kids to handle — and it can be adjusted to fit them as they grow. In addition to featuring a draw weight range of 15-70 pounds, this 295-fps model offers extreme draw length adjustability of 18-30 inches. Brace height is 7.125 '.
Price: $ 329.99-
$ 399.99
Ross Headhunter The new
Headhunter is a no-nonsense, 320-fps compound built with the hunter in mind. It comes from the factory packed with vibration-dampening accessories, has zero hand shock and weighs only 3.8 pounds. With its 7 ' brace height and an axle-to-axle length of 32 ', this silky-smooth, quiet performer is simply a joy to shoot.
Price: $ 965
Strother Vital Strother Archery has a reputation for building solid, dependable bows, and this commitment is seen in the new
Vital . It has zero-tolerance limb pockets, and the BCamIII delivers speed rated at 335 fps. To top it off, the bow's unique riser is pleasing to the eye. The Vital has an axle-to-axle length of 32 ', a 7 ' brace height and a weight of 4 pounds.
Price: $ 899
Winchester Blind Side SST This venerable name in firearms also makes some great archery gear. The
Blind Side SST has the AST Zip Cam System, known for being trouble-free, fast and smooth. Speed is rated at 335 fps. The Pro Link Pocket System is unlike any other. Length is 33 ' axle to axle, brace height is 6 ', and weight is 3.9 pounds.
Price: $ 999.99
