We here at Bow Hunting Maryland review the different compound hunting bows each year and come up with our top 5. Sometimes they are the latest and greatest, somethings they are last years that are still making our top 5 just because of how good they are.
In no specific order here are our top 5 of 2018
1 - Bowtech Realm
Coming in at just 30 3/4" long and 4.3 lbs the Realm is a great option for a new hunting bow. At 340 fps it's fast enough to take down any big game without them jumping the string. Bowtech always put out a good solid hunting bow with lots of versatility and 5 colors to choose from. With an MSRP of $1099 it fits right in with all the other high end hunting bows. What we like most about it and why it made our list this year was it's size, weight, and speed ratio as it meets everything we see as an ideal hunting bow.
2 - Hoyt Carbon RX-1 Turbo
Hoyt has been putting out one of the best hunting bows for years, known for both their hunting bows and competition bows, they always have a new great product. Well, this one did let us down, at just 32" axle to axle, 3.9 lbs and a quick 350 fps it's high are on our list to check out. With tons of options in draw weights and lengths, plus tons of colors and accents to choose from they have something for everyone in this bow that is engineered to the 9's. Another must check out if your in the market for a new bow this year!
3 - Mathews Triax
Mathews has spent years trying to prefect the speed and quietness of compound bows. The Triax comes pretty close to perfection. Coming in at 28" axle to axle and 4.5 lbs, and at 343 fps this little fast bow packs a big punch. This is our top pick of 2018 and given everything that Mathews offers you in a bow, plus this being one of the quietest bows we have ever heard. It's a great option for anyone looking for a high end hunting bow. The only fault we found in this bow was it's weight at 4.5lbs, but the 28" axle to axle overcame the slightly heavy weight.
4 - Bear Archery Kuma
New to Bear Archery's lineup the Kuma is an all around competitor with the rest of your high end bows. Coming in at 33" long axle to axle, 4.3 lbs, and 345 fps. This bow is the longest on our list for those whom shoot fingers or just like the stability of a longer bow. This bow is slightly less versatile with just 75% let-off and draw length adjustment from 25.5" to 30" it covers the shorter arms but not the longest. With an MSRP of $899, it fits right in with all the other hunting compounds on our list. Another great offering from Bear whom has been producing some of the best hunting bows for generations.
5 - Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro
This bow has been in our top 5 in years past. Why? Well simply put it's an awesome bow for the whole family at a steal of a price for what you get!
With adjustable draw lengths from 13" - 31" and weights from 5 - 70 lbs you couldn't ask for a better choice for men, woman, or kids alike. Couple that with it weighing just 3.2 lbs has a speed of 310 fps, and an MSRP of $399 how can you go wrong! An awesome, small light weight bow that your kids can grow into or could be passed down between family members alike.
Well that wraps up around top 5 bows of 2018! We like all of these bows and each has it's own positive side! Some have things we like more than others, but we do a lot of treestand hunting and spot and stalk hunting. Therefore, we generally like a smaller lighter bow very a longer heavier bow. All of these bows are a great choice if your in the market for a new bow, but just one of them is the right one for you!
I think the Mathews Triax is the favorite of the year with the Bowtech Realm very close behind. With a similar price tag I would have to shoot both before making the purchase.
We hope the information above helps you this season when you go to look for a new bow!
