July 20, 2015
By Tracy Breen
Want to get the most out of your new rig? Check out this advice on why it's so important to select the appropriate draw weight from NAW TV .
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September is fast approaching and that begs the question: Is your gear ready?
Every year, archery companies must develop and bring to market products that outperform the previous year's crop. And somehow, they always seem to rise to the occasion. The result is products that are faster, lighter and more user-friendly than ever.
For 2015, many companies unveiled a load of new compound bows that should help all of us shrink our arrows groups and be more effective in the deer woods. From the revolutionary technology of Mathews' NO CAM HTR to the budget-class yet effective Mission Craze II , if you need a new bow there's surely something here for the whitetail addict.
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Discover the best new compound bows for the upcoming season:
Bear | Arena 30 Among the
Arena 30's features are a hinge guard that reduces lateral torque and the H15 cam system for an easy draw and plenty of speed. This compact powerhouse, which is 30.5 ' axle to axle, has offset string suppressors, extra-tough quad limbs and a removable rubber grip. IBO rating is 340 fps, and the mass weight is 3.8 pounds.
Price: $ 899
Bowtech | Prodigy By adjusting the
Prodigy's PowerDisc, this bow can quickly be set to a 'performance, ' 'classic ' or 'comfort ' setting. It features the OverDrive Binary cam system, a Center Pivot Extreme Riser and the FLX Guard. The Prodigy has a 7 ' brace height, weighs 4.2 pounds and is 32 ' axle to axle. The bow is rated at 343 fps.
Price: $ 1,099
Cabela's | Instinct Xcite Cabela's teamed up with Bowtech to offer this compact powerhouse, the
Instinct Xcite . It measures 31 3/4 ' axle to axle and can push an arrow up to 338 fps. Physical weight is 3.9 pounds. The bow features the Xcite cam, Bio-Shock dampeners, the Clutch string stop and the FLX cable guard system. It also has adjustable draw length to fit almost any shooter. The brace height is 6.5 '.
Price: $ 899
Darton | Executive The unique
Executive shoot-through riser was designed to work in perfect harmony with the Darton Dual Cam system; everything is centered from the string to the cams, working together for extreme accuracy. The bow is just over 33 ' axle to axle, weighs 4.5 pounds and lets an arrow go at a rated 340 fps. The brace height is available in 6.75 ' or 7 '.
Price: $ 1,333
Diamond | Infinite Edge Pro Are you in search of a versatile bow? Look no farther. The
Infinite Edge Pro allows adjustments of 13-31 ' on draw length and 5-70 pounds on draw weight. With those options, a smooth cam system and a mass weight of just 3.2 pounds, this model will fit anyone from a child to Grandpa. The bow is 31 ' axle to axle and can shoot up to 310 fps. It's also sold as a package.
Price: $ 399
Elite | Synergy The
Synergy's backbone is the Elite Riser Cage, which evenly distributes energy for a silky-smooth shot. The 2-track cam system provides plenty of speed without sacrificing a comfortable draw cycle. The Synergy has a generous 7 3/8 ' brace height, weighs 4.4 pounds, is 33.5 ' axle to axle and is rated at 325 fps.
Price: $ 949
Obsession | Evolution The fast
Evolution bow has an edgy look but is shooter-friendly. The torque-free grip and anti-torque cable guard make it super accurate. The Evolution Cam has timing marks and interchangeable draw mods for various draw lengths. Specs include a brace height of 6 ', weight of 4.1 pounds, 32 ' axle-to-axle length and speed rating of 353 fps.
Price: $ 1,149
G5 | Rival With the
Rival's adjustable let-off, this bow is at home both in the deer woods and on the target line. At its heart is the PCXL parallel cam system for speed and accuracy. Plus, it has the torque-reducing Flexis-AR roller guard. The 35 ' Rival features a 6 1/4 ' brace height and a mass weight of 4.3 pounds. Its IBO rating is 340 fps.
Price: $ 1,199
Hoyt | Carbon Spyder ZT 30 Turbo Among the
Carbon Spyder ZT 30 Turbo's many features are the ZT cable guard system to minimize torque, an extra-strong, light carbon riser and an adjustable AirShox arm to reduce vibration and noise. Plus, the new Turbo Cam 1/2 system delivers plenty of speed. The bow has a brace height of 6 ', weighs 3.6 pounds, is 30 ' axle to axle and has a rating of 350 fps.
Price: $ 1,199
Mathews | No Cam HTR Two circular, concentric string tracks let the string travel at a constant distance from the center of rotation during the shot cycle, eliminating common cam problems. The result is a balanced, synchronized system with straight, level nock travel and great accuracy. The
No Cam is rated at 330 fps, weighs 4.3 pounds and has a 6 5/8 ' brace height.
Price: $ 1,099
Mission | Craze II Powered by the F.I.T. (Focused Inertia Technology) cam system, the
Craze II lets you adjust draw length from 19-30 ' and weight from 13-70 pounds — all without need of a bow press. The new ergonomic grip and enhanced riser design add strength and stability while reducing mass weight. Offered in 10 finishes, the Craze II will appeal to a range of archers.
Price: $ 319
PSE | Decree HD The
Decree HD is for the hunter who also enjoys hitting the range. The new 3D structural riser and 3rd generation B.E.S.T. Grip feel great in the hand, allowing for extreme accuracy. But the new HD cam system also is built for speed. The Decree HD has a brace height of 6.5 ', weighs 4.2 pounds, is 35 ' axle to axle and is rated at 342 fps.
Price: $ 949
Quest Storm Smaller shooters like bows made just for them. The
Storm tips the scales at only 3.7 pounds, has a 7 ' brace height and is 31 ' axle to axle; draw weight adjusts from 30-60 pounds and draw length from 23-27 '. Along with these features, it comes with a smaller grip designed for smaller hands. However, the bow still can be set to shoot up to 290 fps.
Price: $ 449-
$ 549
Ross | Headhunter The
Headhunter is super quiet, fast and smooth; it's known for its lack of hand shock, making it a joy to shoot. There are various noise and vibration accessories, including Sims Labs limb dampeners. At 32 ' axle to axle, the Headhunter is handy on the ground or in a tree. It weighs 3.8 pounds, offers draw weights up to 70 pounds and is rated at 320 fps.
Price: $ 699
Winchester | Varmint One of the best-known names in firearms also has an extensive archery line. The
Varmint is 31 ' axle to axle, weighs 3.85 pounds and has a forgiving brace height of 7.25 '. It throws an arrow 325 fps and is available in draw weights up to 70 pounds. Features include the AST Zip Cam, which offers an easy draw, a roller cable guard and a Sudden Stop string dampener.
Price: $ N/A
Bass Pro Shops | Blackout SS Want to walk out of the store ready to shoot? This bow is part of a package including arrows, sight, rest and everything in between. The
Blackout SS is powered by Bowtech's Throttle Cam, known for speed with minimal vibration. The bow weighs just 3.5 pounds, shoots up to 335 fps and has a 7 ' brace height. It offers adjustable draw length and draw weights up to 70 pounds.
Price: $ 599
