In this year's addition of our yearly post of the best of BHM's bow picks we will highlight the 5 bows that we think are great buys. Have you been saving your pennies for a new bow? Well, like years past, we are here to give you our honest evaluation of the top bows on the market. These bows have made our list based on either a technical advantage, performance advantage, or an overall package of what you get versus cost. Some of these bow manufactures are returning to our list this year because they truly make an outstanding product each and every year. Others have made this list because of some new innovation that they have provided that we find cool or unique and think you might consider when buying your new bow. Therefore, without further ado, we present the TOP FIVE BOWS OF 2013.
These bows are listed in no particular order.
Hoyt has been a leader in archery for years; the 2013 Spyder 30 is no exception. This bow is every hunter's dream who spends most of their time in a treestand or stalking in thick brush. The Spyder is just 30" axel to axel with a 6 3/4" brace height. You have draw weight options of 30 - 40, 40 - 50, 50 - 60, 55 - 65, 60 - 70, and 70 -80. Tons of options on the draw weight for no matter what your needs are. Draw length options from 24.5" up to 30". It weighs in at a nice, light 3.8 lbs, and at 330fps, speed is no concern here. This bow also offers many different color options from solid colors to camo patterns that fit both male and female tastes.
Priced at $999.99 MSRP, this bow fits right in with all the other high-end bows in every way possible and every option possible.
Hoyt Spyder 30
2. Diamond Infinite Edge Bow Package
The Diamond Infinite Edge made our top five this year because it has to be one of the most versatile bows out there. This is an amazing bow for youth or ladies, or anyone that demands the ability to have a high level of adjustability without the need to visit your local pro-shop. The Infinite Edge will adjust from 5 - 70lbs draw weight and a draw length that adjusts from 13 - 30" all without the need for a bow press. The bow is 31" axel to axel, and weighs just 3.1 lbs, has 75% let-off, and shoots 310fps. All around a great bow with a number of color options, and an MSRP of just $399.99 you cannot go wrong with this versatile bow. Again, this is a great option for beginners, youth, and ladies and the MSRP will not break your bank.
Diamond Infinite Edge Compound Bow Package
Matthews has always been considered one of the top manufactures for performance bows made. When you think of a smooth, quite, and fast hunting bow, your mind cannot help but go to a Matthews. This year's Creed is no exception and it ranks right up there with all their other offerings from the past few years. The Creed bolsters an axel to axel length of 30" and a brace height of just 7". The Creed weighs in at just 3.85lbs and offers an IBO rating of up to 328fps. It offers a draw length options from 26" to 30" and draw weight options from 50 - 70lbs. It also has an 80% let-off so you will be able to hold it back when it counts. You have a number of different color options, as well as, the ability to customize the bow with different grips, colors, as well as string and cable colors.
This bow also ranks up there in the high-end, high class bows that will never let you down. Priced at 999.99 MSRP it fits right in with other bows of similar quality.
Matthews Creed
4. Martin Alien
Martin in my mind is one of the most diverse and quality bow manufactures on the market. They make everything for bows including: compound bows, competition bows, long bows and recurves. The 2013 Alien is just another example of a high quality bow produced by Martin. The Alien is 32" axel to axel with a 7" brace height, and weighs in at just 3.5 lbs. They offer it with peak draw weights of 50, 60, and 70 lbs and it will adjust down 15 lbs from the peak weight. The Alien will adjust from 25.5" to 30.5" draw length. With lots of speed at 335fps and 6 different color choices, this bow is light weight, versatile, and fast. They had to have a hunters input when it was designed.
With an MSPR of $799.99, this is a great buy for an overall great bow made by a great manufacturer.
Martin Alien
The Bear Motive 6 hit our list this year mainly because its design stood out and let's face it, Fred Bear started Bear Archery so that he could make bows that will last with hunters in mind. The Motive 6 is another great example of just how Bear Archery keeps that up. The Motive 6 is designed for the passionate hunter. Coming in at 32" axel to axel with a 6" brace height, it weighs in at 4lbs. It offers peak draw weights of 50, 60, and 70 lbs and the draw length will adjust from 25.5" to 30" respectively. The eye catcher for this bow is its blazing speed, listed at 350fps which is a result of their Synchronized Hybrid Cam System; this is one of the fastest bows on the market today. The Motive 6 has 5 different color choices and offers 75% let off.
Another great product from Bear, even though we wish it was a little lighter than 4lbs.
The Motive 6 does come in at a good price for what you get with an MSPR of just $899.99.
Bear Archery Motive 6
That wraps up our list of the top five bows of 2013. All of which are completely awesome bows, any of which would be a welcome addition to my bow rack. This year we found that the bows are really coming a long way and the price point has settled into a range of $700 - $1,000 for a high quality bow, with some exceptions of course. That being said, yes, of course you can still buy a cheaper bow, some of which you can find as low as $200. They will they work for you, most definitely. However, like anything you purchase, cheaper bows have their limitations and down sides such as: lack of speed, higher weight, lifespan, and consistency can sometimes be an issue. A good example is a good friend of mine recently sold an older, cheaper bow which he got into the sport with and is currently in the process of purchasing a new bow. He told me something that I agree with completely, “you really do pay for what you get in life”. That being said, most of the bows listed above may be in the higher price range, but in my opinion and many others, you cannot find higher quality bows than those made by those five manufacturers. So, if you're in the market for a new bow, even if those 5 new bows for this year aren't quite what you are looking for, you should consider one of those manufacturers if you are looking for true quality and innovation. Think about it as an investment. If you spend the money on a new bow now, how many years will it last? Chances are when you break it down over the life of the bow, it is only dollars a year.
Are you in the market for a bow? What bows are you thinking about buying or did you purchase?
Better yet, do you own one of these bows listed above? How do you like it?
