Best Compound Bows | Buyer’s Guide

Choosing and buying a compound bow can be a complex task, especially if you’re not experienced. Your bow will be the major investment in archery, so you want to make a good decision, to not waste time and money.

In this guide, I’ll help you to find your perfect bow by directing you to the right places. I’ll also explain what you should consider while picking a new compound bow.

If you’re specifically looking for a youth compound bow, I actually wrote an entire post on the best bows for kids under 14. It requires some different considerations, so I suggest checking it out.

To make things easy for you, and since this article will be pretty long, I’ll begin by showing you my top compound bow picks. Later, I’ll explain what I considered and what brought me to the decision. I’m really excited to share this with you – so let’s go.

Note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means that if you buy through one of them, I’ll earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you. It’s a great way to support the website.

The best compound bows

1. Diamond Infinite Edge Pro

This bow from Diamond archery, a child brand of the famous brand Bowtech, is one of the best models you can find in the market for its price. If you feel a bit skeptical, you can check its great price and rating on Amazon. It’s great for any archer out there – you can use it to practice archery with a standard target, or run around in the woods if you’re more into bowhunting.

But what makes the Infinite Edge so versatile? Well, apparently the bow was built with one main consideration in mind: adjustability. With an insane draw weight range of 5 pounds to 70 pounds, you can basically use it for anything. It also has a draw length of 13″ to 31″, which fits almost all compound archers.

Coming at 3.2 lbs, the bow itself is really lightweight. But don’t fear of vibration noise – it comes with a small stabilizer that is really effective with stopping the string vibration noise and instabilities on let-off. Its axle-to-axle length is 31.5″, which is quite mid-ranged. These aspects make the bow extremely effective for 3D archery and bowhunting.

A cool bonus: the bow comes with some valuable extra accessories in the box. In the box, you’ll find a 3-pin sight from the Tundra series, the mini stabilizer I mentioned earlier, a 5-arrow quiver and more. All and all the value for money of the bow is really good, and you get some accessories for free.

Many people mention that the peep sight that comes with the bow isn’t preinstalled. This can be somewhat of a hassle, since it requires you to install and tune the bow, or take it for a professional tune. I’d take my bow for a tune before using it for the first time anyways, so I don’t think it’s such a big deal.

I think Diamond Infinite Edge Pro is a great option if you’re looking for a versatile bow that can be used in various situations. I don’t think I’ve stressed enough the incredible quality of the bow: it will definitely remain as new for years with very minimal care. All and all it’s a great option for you.

2. Genesis Genx

I chose this model mainly because of how surprised I was to find an affordable compound bow that is still high quality. I mean, Genesis is known to be one of the best archery companies for compound bows, and you can see for yourself what a convenient price you can get for the Genx kit on Amazon. It definitely makes it a great option for beginners who want a cheap entry bow that will also be good for many years. I think that as far as value for money goes – this bow is the best pick.

The best feature of this bow is its innovative design. It’s really comfortable, with a molded grip and pre-drilled screws for attachments. It also has a high axle length of 35.5″, which makes it more stable and easy to aim.

Another thing I really like about the GenX is the adjustable draw weight and length. Archers and change the draw weight between 25 lbs and 40 lbs, and the draw length between 21″ and 30″. Both adjustments are done with a simple screw. Beginner archers can grow with this bow and adjust it as they progress. It’s also quite lightweight, coming at around 3.4 pounds.

Most users of this bow suggest that it’s best for target archery and small games. It wouldn’t be the best choice if you’re interested in bowhunting, but it’s great for practicing and improving your skills with target archery.

I think the features of this bow make it the best choice for a beginner archer. It’s a great starter bow you can progress with, which also comes at an affordable price. I’d suggest going with the GenX if you’re starting out with archery.

3. Bear Cruzer G2

Another great option for a bow for all skill levels. What I really liked about this bow is the quality material, which makes it durable and high-performance. You’d be surprised what people say about it on Amazon. If you’re looking to invest a bit more than previous models into a compound bow that will probably stay as new for years, the Bear Cruzer G2 is definitely a great choice.

The first thing I’ve noticed about the Cruzer G2 is how well built it is. It wouldn’t come as a surprise to you then to hear that it has a limited lifetime warranty. The body of the bow is mainly made of durable aluminum, which is why the weight of the bow is so low. The limbs are made of endura fiber, which is both flexible and able to provide incredible kinetic energy to the arrows.

The bow is also quite adjustable, with a draw weight ranged between 5 pounds up to 70 pounds, and draw length between 12″ and 30″. Note that many people say that the bow is not easy to tune, but I’m sure that with a bit of practice you’ll be able to easily adjust it to your needs.

The bow is extremely lightweight, coming at 3 lbs. It’s really comfortable to carry around and use. The vibrations and noise on the bow are suppressed by a RockStops suppressor that does a great job keeping the bow quiet.

The axle to axle length of the bow is 30″, which is quite low. It makes it a bit harder to get used to, especially for beginners, but makes it really good for bowhunting and 3D archery.

This bow also comes with bonus accessories: a 4-pin sight, and peep sight, the stabilizer I’ve mentioned before, a 5-arrow quiver and an arrow rest. These make the bow much more appealing, because you don’t have to spend a lot of money getting them separately.

All and all I’d say the Bear Cruzer G2 is a really great option if you’re looking for a high-performance bow that will stay in great shape for a long time. I’d say it’s not perfect for beginners, but it’s an incredible choice for archers with a bit of experience.

What to consider when choosing a compound bow?

There are a few technical things you should consider while choosing your compound bow (besides the price, of course). Having these things in mind will ensure that you’ll get the perfect bow for you, and make a good decision for your buck.

Draw weight

The poundage required to pull your bow into a full draw. A higher draw weight means your bow is harder to pull, but your arrows are shot with higher kinetic energy (meaning they’re faster and able to pierce through tougher targets).

You should choose a bow with a draw weight that enables you to pull it to a full draw and hold it there comfortably. If you feel unable to hold the bow at that point – the draw weight is too high. Some bows allow for draw weight adjustment, which can be useful as you progress and become stronger.

You can read more about measuring your bow’s draw weight and your ideal poundage in my post. Check the table with the average poundage for an idea of how high you draw weight should be.

Draw length

Your bow’s draw length is the total distance your hand moves from gripping the bowstring to full draw. Most compound bow’s draw length can be adjusted up to a certain degree when getting your bow tuned.

If you’re unsure what draw length bow you should go for, go for a lower one. A high draw length will make it hard to get to proper full draw and ruin your accuracy. You can read more about finding your ideal draw length in my post about it.

Axle length

That’s the total height of your bow. It significantly affected the way you shoot the bow. Longer bows are better for beginners – they’re more forgiving for little mistakes. Shorter bows are more comfortable to move around, but they’re affected more by small errors in your form. Target archers prefer longer axle lengths, while 3D archers and bowhunters prefer shorter bows.

Bow total weight

The total weight of the bow is a major consideration for bowhunters and 3D archers. Lighter bows are more comfortable to run around with in the woods, since you won’t have to carry around as much weight. Heavier bows tend to be quieter though since they absorb vibrations better.

Cam type

The cams of the bow are the small wheels at the top and the bottom of the bow. Compound bows are either single cam or dual cam. I’ve actually written a detailed post about single vs dual cam compound bows, where I explained the pros and cons of both. Be sure to check it out if you want to dive a bit deeper into the topic.

Single cam bows have an idle wheel at the top and a power wheel at the bottom. They’re considered to be easier to use and require less maintenance.

Dual cam bows have to active wheels at the top and bottom. They shoot faster arrows and considered to be more accurate, but require much more frequent tuning since their design is more complex.

Top compound bow brands

While choosing your compound bow, you might want to check which brands are known to have good quality bows. The variety of different archery companies can be confusing, so I listed the top 7 archery brands in the market for compound bows. Picking one of these brands will ensure that you buy a high-quality compound bow. Just to be clear, the list is randomly ordered.

• Hoyt – a well-established company, that is famous for innovative designs and incredible quality. It’s really popular with target archers and bowhunters. Their compound bows are state of the art, but can be on the expensive side.
• Mathews – great archery brand that is well known for its relationship with customers. Their prices are considered to be cheaper than Hoyt’s, but they can still be a bit pricy as their bows are high-end.
• Bowtech – also a famous archery company, that is usually being compared with Hoyt for quality and innovation. Their compound bows are of amazing quality but can be expensive.
• Prime – many famous with bowhunters, Prime has a great reputation for high-performance compound bows. Their equipment is ideal if you are interested in bowhunting, and their prices are affordable.
• Elite – a newer player in the archery business, but still with a great reputation. They are well known for their unique designs and technology. Most of their bows come with a lifetime warranty, which says a lot about their quality. They are a great mid-priced option.
• Bear – a brand that used to be known mostly for recurve and traditional bows, but becoming more and more known for their compound bows as well. Really famous for their youth bows. They offer a great selection for quality bows for an affordable price.
• PSE – one of the most famous compound archery companies. They have an incredible selection of high-quality bows, that are good for beginners to advanced archers. They have both high-end and affordable options.

Purchasing a bow from any of these brands will be a great investment. All of these companies make high-quality bows, that with proper care you’ll be able to use for years.