Best Compound Bow Reviews 2021 – Simplifying These Great Bows

If you are looking for the best compound bow, keep on reading. The guide below will show you everything there is to know about what there is to purchase a new compound bow that will fit both your style and capabilities. Keep in mind though that there may not be a best, as the choice of a bow can be highly tailored to the individual shooting – but with this information you should be able to narrow down the field and find the archery compound bow that will work best for you.

Top Compound Bow Comparison Chart​

The chart below contains our favorite picks for the best compound bow. You will find all of the vital information about each bow, along with our rating and the cost range. It should give you a good overview of some of the top products out there for you to pick from, and help you narrow down your choice.​

Product

Draw Length

Draw Weight

Speed

Rating

Price

Quest Radical

Quest Radical

17.5 - 30 inches

15 - 70 lbs

295 fps

4.9

See Price on Amazon

PSE Surge

PSE Surge

19.5 - 30 inches

50 - 70 lbs

320 fps

4.9

See Price on Amazon

Martin Archery Lithium

Martin Archery Lithium

31 - 38 inches

50 - 70 lbs

335 fps

4.9

See Price on Amazon

Diamond Archery Carbon Cure

Diamond Archery Carbon Cure

27 - 30.5 inches

50 - 70 lbs

325 fps

4.6

See Price on Amazon

Bear Archery Apprentice 3

Bear Archery Apprentice 3

15 - 27 inches

10 - 60 lbs

265 fps

4.5

See Price on Amazon

Compound Bow Buying Guide

Chances are, if you have stumbled upon this article, you have already made the choice to purchase a compound bow for one reason or another. It could be that you are looking to upgrade your current bow, or that you are making your very first bow purchase. Whichever the case may be, there are some things that you will certainly want to look for and consider before making your purchase.

There are so many terms and acronyms, it is very easy to get overwhelmed and confused as to the best purchase to make for yourself. We are here to walk you through the process!

Eye Dominance

The very first thing you need to do, is determine your eye dominance. Ocular dominance, simply means that your brain automatically prefers one eye over the other when it comes to visual input. You brain considers the input from eye of dominance to be more “real” or “true”. Often times, the eye that is more dominant, is on the same side of your body as the hand that you write with. However, it is fairly common to be able to switch and find that the dominance is with the opposite eye from the writing side.

If you are unsure how to figure out which of your eyes is dominant, it can be done in 3 simple steps. Put your hands straight out in front, at arm’s length. Form a triangle using your pointer fingers and thumbs. Find an object across the room to focus on in the middle of the triangle. Now, close your left eye first, and then the right eye. Whichever eye you can still see the object with, is your dominant eye.

If you dominant in your right eye, then you should shoot a bow right handed. If you dominant in your left eye, then you should shoot with your left hand.

Length of Draw

Determining your length of draw is the next step in making sure you purchase the right bow for yourself. Any archery shop can take this measurement for you without any problems. However, if you are wanting to find your correct length of draw yourself, you can do it this way.

The first thing you need to do is measure what is known as wingspan. Stand straight up and form the letter “T” with both of your arms. Have someone measure from the tip of your left middle finger, to the tip of your right middle finger. Make sure this is done straight across. Then, you will divide the measurement by 2.5 to determine your length of draw. Even if you get this measurement yourself, it is a good idea to have an archery professional remeasure you, just to make sure before you make a purchase. You do not want to invest in a bow with a length of draw that is too long or too short.

Weight of Draw

Having the proper weight of draw, is another important factor to consider when purchasing a new bow. You do not want to invest in a bow that is going to be too hard for you to draw back. You also do not want to have a high weight of draw that makes it necessary for you to struggle to draw your bow back each time. It is ideal to start out with a lower poundage. Repeatedly drawing your bow back, you will work your muscles and strengthen them and eventually work up to a high weight of draw. There are many bows on the market that are designed to grow and be changed with you. This means that there is a large window for adjustment in your weight of your draw. Over time, you will become stronger, and you can raise your weight of draw, to match your strength.

Axle Length

Before purchasing your bow, put some thought into the kind of hunting you will be doing. The axle to axle length of your bow needs to match the type of hunting that you plan to do. Essentially, the longer a bows measurement from axle to axle is, the more forgiving it is going to be when it comes to longer shots. Bows that are longer, are also going to be ideal when shooting from a  platform. Ultimately, it is about personal preference but, strongly suggested to take into consideration the area you will most likely be hunting.

Purchasing the right bow, can result in record kills for yourself when it comes to hunting. All of the above are important things to look at in making your purchase.

With that out of the way, we will go into some brief reviews of our picks. These should really help you narrow your choice down.

Quest Radical

Quest Radical

The Quest Radical is our favorite compound bow out there for newbies and those that have more experience. This package contains everything you need to get going with a new bow and will keep you going for a long time. If you are looking for some of the features, then check them out below.

  • 13 inch draw length to accommodate several different shooter sizes
  • Adjustable system that requires no bow press
  • String suppressor for those people who need something quiet
  • Lightweight for those who don’t want to be lugging around a lot of weight

There are a ton of positive comments on Amazon, so check those out if you want more reviews. We highly recommend checking this out. They come with a right hand and left hand model, so make sure you pick the right one!

>> See the price on Amazon here <<​

PSE Surge

PSE Surge

The PSE Surge is the next bow in the long line of great PSE products. If you have used any before then you know that these compound bows are great quality. The Surge works great and with the Camo looks will blend in, just in case you need to take it hunting. Here are some perks of this product.

  • Camo material for hunters looking for a good companion
  • Weight and form make it very comfortable to shoot
  • ​Draw is very smooth and not akward
  • Split limb and highly adjustable

The PSE Surge is a newer compound bow so there aren’t as many reviews out for it. The ones out there though are good, so we think that it is worth giving this one a try.

>> See the price on Amazon here <<​

Martin Archery Lithium

Martin Archery Lithium

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  • Vibration escape system to keep vibration down
  • Fast at 335 FPS
  • ​Despite being fast, the technology makes the bow stable so you don’t sacrifice speed for stability
  • Only other bow with a bridge riser for stability is $300 more

For what you are getting, even at the price it is a good deal. You could end up spending several hundred dollars more for the same features. There is plenty to like about the Martin Archery Lithium.

>> Click here to see the price on Amazon <<​

Diamond Archery Carbon Cure

Diamond Archery Carbon Cure

If you are looking for a best of a bow, the Carbon Cure from Diamond Archery is a great choice. As a high end more expensive bow, you can expect everything you need in the package to get going. Check out a few of the features included below.

  • Comes with quiver, sight, sling, rest, stabilizer, peep, string loop and dampening components
  • Beautiful oak finish on the material
  • ​Comes with several draw weights for people of different experience
  • Very smooth drawback for comfort

Diamond Archery is one of the best in the business, so most of their products get good use. Check out the Carbon Cure to see what it can do for you!

>> Click here to see the price on Amazon <<​

Bear Archery Apprentice III

Bear Archery Apprentice 3

We have covered some of the more expensive bows out there, but how about a more budget option? The Apprentice III is just that. It is a great bow for the money and plenty for most people out there who don’t need the top of the line stuff. Here are a few of the great features you get.

  • Package contains several components useful for hunting
  • Very adjustable so you can keep using it as you get stronger and better
  • ​Great for new archers
  • Fairly easy to modify and upgrade

We really suggest this one if you are new. It is a great combination of everything that makes a good bow, and offers newcomers plenty to work with. Just check the other reviews on Amazon – they say the same thing.

​>> Click here to see the price on Amazon <<