With archery becoming more prominent in popular culture, more people are trying it for themselves each year. With the right equipment and practice, you too can aspire to be like Katniss or Hawkeye.
Buying your first compound bow may sound overwhelming or intimidating. We’ll show you it doesn’t have to be with these buying tips and list of the best compound bows for beginners.
Good news for women, it isn’t just a men’s sport anymore. More manufacturers are building compound bows designed specifically for youths and women.
Four Types of Bows
There are four types of bows in the world of archery. Some are better suited for beginners like recurve bows. While others are best left to the experienced such as longbows.
Recurve Bows
Historically a recurve bow was used by those on horses. It’s also the bow that is used in Olympic events.
They have an instantly recognizable shape with a large curve in the center and the smaller curves at the ends. The shape is what gives the bow more power.
This is the most basic type of bow and what most beginners learn the basics on. Once you have mastered the basics accessories will be added.
Compound Bows
A compound bow is going to utilize a system of pulleys and eccentric cams to give the archer more aim time. Your arm will fatigue slower over the long term, but they do require a good amount of force to pull the first draw.
Outside influencers like weather and changes in temperature and humidity are less impactful on compound bows. Typically you will have already learned the basics of archery before you tackle a compound bow.
Longbows
The longbow was the weapon of choice in the mid 16th century. They are simplistic in design with a long piece of curved wood the same height as the archer.
These bows are best left to the experienced as they are harder to aim. They also do not have the same level of velocity and power as the compound and recurve.
Crossbows
Crossbows are different from the other types in the method for firing them. The bow is drawn back by a crank.
You would hold the bow up horizontal instead of vertical like the other bows. There are strict regulations for crossbows and they can vary greatly from state to state.
Tips For Considering Compound Bows
Don’t get hung up on the brand names, they are not nearly as important as a personal preference for features and use. Keep these tips in mind while looking through the best compound bows for beginners.
Dominant Eye Must be Known
There are different bows for left and right-handed people. For right-handed people, the right eye will be dominant while for left-handed people it is the left eye.
Sometimes this isn’t always the case and you will be left handed and right eye dominant. You’ll need to check which one is your dominant eye.
Put your index and thumbs in a triangle and center it over a distant object. Then close each eye one at a time.
Let say you close your left eye and the triangle stayed centered. This means you are right eye dominant.
Technical Specifications Must be Considered
Look at the technical specs of the axle, axle length, draw weight, draw length, and brace height. Make sure the specs meet your particular needs.
Identify Your Strengths
Get some help identifying your strengths and weaknesses. You want your bow to compliment you and help you improve.
Price Must not Affect your Decision
Picking the cheapest option may be tempting when you’re just starting out. This isn’t the wisest choice, you want to invest in good quality.
Warranty Must be Considered
You are investing in equipment, so look for a company that offers a warranty. This will give you assurances that the product is quality and there is support if there is a problem.
Discuss With Other People
Getting some advice from people with more knowledge and experience can be very helpful. Read online reviews and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of compound bows.
1. Genesis Original Bow
Anyone can fire this bow as it is simple to use and reliable. Its wide appeal has made it the US National Archery Schools Program official bow.
It only has a 20 pond draw weight but still offers maximum power. The aluminum construction allows it to be lightweight and sturdy.
You also get twelve colors to choose from so customization is totally doable. Continuing the wide appeal the draw length is 15 to 30 inches.
This wide range of draw length is rare among compound bows. A wide range like this means all beginners can use this bow.
2. Genesis Mini Kit (under 20lb)
This lightweight bow is perfect for ladies and children who have smaller hands. The total weight of the bow is just two pounds.
You can practice for hours with this bow and not get fatigued. The kit is beginner friendly as it comes with a ton of items.
You’ll get the bow, five arrows, arm guard, belt tube quiver, and a user manual. Anyone just getting into archery will be able to start immediately with this kit.
This bow has a strong resale value. This will become important as you progress and decide to upgrade your bow.
3. Barnett Outdoors Lil Banshee Jr. Compound Youth Archery Set
This is the perfect bow for children who are getting into archery and have never used a bow before. It is sized for the smaller stature of youths.
This bow also comes in a variety of colors making it appeal to a wide range of beginners. It also comes in a kit so you’ll get the bow plus finger rollers, two arrows, adjustable pin sight, and a carrying case.
We mentioned earlier that it is important to look for a bow that matches your left or right hand. This bow is different in that it can be adapted to either dominant hand.
With a draw weight of just 18 pounds, draw length or 18-22 inches, and weighing under 2 pounds this bow is perfect for beginner youths.
Barnett is well known in the industry for quality bows. The price is a bargain considering everything you are getting in addition to the bow.
This makes getting started easy. You will also have the benefit of a five your manufacturer’s warranty.
4. Barnett Outdoors Team Realtree Banshee Quad Junior Compound Bow Archery Set
This bow has the best grip and softest comfort giving beginners excellent handling. This bow is best for older youths and woman with some experience.
The bow is on the lighter side but not the lightest you’ll find. It was designed to stand up to the wear and tear of serious use.
Beginners who have outgrown their first bow and looking for an upgrade should consider this bow. Even though it has a 41-inch compound frame it is one of the lightest bows in its class.
This means you will easily launch your arrows compared to your competition. Both left and right-handers have access to this competitive edge with the ambidextrous reinforced handle.
This bow will allow newer archers to progress without fear of outgrowing the bow too quickly. The bow comes as a kit so you will also get two arrows, a wrist guard, paper target, finger rollers and an adjustable pin sight.
5. Bear Archery Cruzer – Best Ready to Hunt Compound Bow Package
This bow is the one size fits all of the compound hunting bows. The draw length has a range of twelve to thirty inches that is extended in increments of a half inch.
The draw weight is seventy pounds. Making it even more unique is the grip designed for comfort and convenience.
This hunting bow can literally be used by anyone and it will give you the results you want. With it coming from a company that has a decade of experience you wouldn’t expect anything less.
Arm fatigue is minimized with a total of weight 3.6 pounds aluminum construction. The package includes everything you need like a wrist strap, stabilizer, arrow rest, fiber optic site, and quiver.
It can be a bit daunting to set up the bow, but it is usable out of the box. Once it is set up it was last for years thanks to its durable aluminum construction.
Be prepared to spend a bit more on this bow. The price is totally worth the quality, durability, and performance you will get.
Hunting Versatility
It’s worth mentioning that if you are looking for a bow to begin hunting this bow performs above and beyond other beginner bows. The noise and vibrations are minimal.
Use a 350-grain arrow at 70 pounds of draw and you’ll achieve 310 FPS. This is powerful enough to successfully hunt popular game like deer and wild boar.
The Cruzer’s stabilizer and string suppressor creates a quiet and smooth release. There is also a G2 model which creates even more velocity.
6. Diamond Archery 2013 Diamond Infinite Edge Bow Pkg Black
When a beginner has outgrown the smaller youth bows but is still relatively new to archery, the Diamond Infinite Edge is the perfect option. This bow fills in the gap for teenagers who are too big for youth and women who have a draw bigger than standard female bows.
It has a ton of adjustability to adapt to the archer’s individual needs. It is also reasonably priced making it has wide appeal.
Beginners can adjust the draw weight from five to seventy pounds. The draw length ranges from thirteen to thirty-one inches.
An extremely smooth draw makes it beginner friendly. The package also includes a rest, sight, stabilizer, and a quiver.
Left-handed women will love that this bow is much more favorably priced compared to other models in the class. This makes it a great buy for those looking to try out archery before investing in something more expensive.
7. Bear Archery Attitude Compound Bow RTH Realtree RH 70lb
Bear is known for making high-quality bows and this youth bow is no different. It only has a draw weight of sixty to seventy pounds which is perfect for beginners.
The short draw length of twenty-five to thirty-two inches is perfect for younger beginners. The riser is also composite which makes it a higher quality than other beginner bows.
8. Crosman Elkhorn Jr. Compound Bow
The Elkhorn is another bow on this list that will come with everything you need to get started in archery. It has the look and feel of a professional bow with composite riser and heavyweight limbs.
It has an easy draw weight of just seventeen pounds. A younger shooter will do better with the 33 axle.
9. Bowtech Carbon Rose
It used to be that if you were a woman and interested in archery your options were youth bows or something that was pink or purple camo. Manufacturers are now building bows that are specifically designed for women like the Carbon Rose.
The Carbon Rose includes features that have never before been offered on women exclusive bows. It is the women’s version of the Bowtech Carbon Overdrive.
The female version is sized down for the woman shooter. This bow is priced more for someone who is planning on doing archery long term and looking for an investment.
It has a draw weight of 30-60 pounds which is perfect for the women who have outgrown youth bows. The draw length is smaller at 22.5 to 27.
The grips have been slimmed down to fit women’s hands. It also comes in Mossy Oak camp or carbon. Both come with just an accent of purple.
10. SAS Rage
The SAS Rage isn’t as widely adjustable as the other bows on this list with a draw length of 25 to 31 inches. It is the most affordable though.
It’s made of ABS making it super durable and long lasting to the abuse of beginners. It also has aluminum cams so you’ll get a smooth draw.
This bow will help new shooters gain confidence. In the future, you may want to upgrade the bow sight and arrow rest.
Wrapping Up
Each of the bows we’ve listed has features that are designed to give beginners the best start possible in archery. Don’t get hung up on the price and instead focus on the features and adjustability.
Make sure that the bow you like is designed for your dominant eye. Confirm that the bow is set up for your skill and strength level.
Compound bows are used by more than 62% of archers. They are a great choice for beginners looking to get into the sport.
We’d love to hear about your experiences buying your perfect beginner compound bow.
