Best Beginner Compound Bows

If you’re an aspiring bow hunter, or if you’re trying to teach archery to your kid, it’s important to choose the right bow. A bow that’s too hard to draw or aim is going to make learning that much more difficult. Of course, you also want a bow that’s functional. It makes no sense to drop a couple hundred dollars on the best beginner compound bow, just to replace it six months later.

Believe it or not, the compound bow was only invented in 1966. Mankind literally put people in space before we managed to invent these bows, which should give you an idea of how advanced they are. Over the past few decades, compound bows have exploded in popularity. That’s no surprise, given how easy they are to use.

Compound bows work by using a series of pulleys or cams to absorb some of the resistance of the bowstring. As you draw the bow, you’ll have to pull hard at first, but when the pulleys engage they’ll absorb most of that force, storing the energy for you until you release the bowstring. This is different from traditional recurve bows, which require a lot of strength to hold at full draw.

In this guide, we’re going to look for the best beginner compound bow on the market. We chose 12 of the most popular models online and put them to the test. We’ll tell you the pros, the cons, and everything else you want to know about them. After that, we’ll answer some of the most common questions people have about compound bows.

Best Beginner Compound Bows Available Online

1. Diamond Archery Pro Bow Package

The Diamond Archery Infinite Edge is one of the most adjustable beginner bows available. The draw length can be adjusted from 24.5 inches all the way up to 31.5 inches. Women who are too tall for a standard women’s bow will love this bow, as will taller men. It’s also a good compound bow for teenagers since it can grow with them.

At 70 pounds of pull, it shoots an arrow at 315 FPS, making this an elk-worthy bow if you can handle it at maximum strength. It comes as a full kit, including a sight, arrow rest and quiver. The rubberized wrist sling is a nice touch, taking some stress off your joints when you have to hold your draw for a while.

There are some quality issues, though. Specifically, the accessories are very basic. The sight pins don’t have markers for windage or distance, which means you’ll have to figure out how they work. The screws in the body are also a bit loose and should be tightened before you take it out on the range.

Pros:

• Adjustable from 24.5” to 31.5”
• 315 FPS arrow speed
• Comes as a full kit
• Rubberized wrist sling
• Adjustable from 5 to 70 pounds

Cons:

• Loose screws
• Low-quality accessories

Why it’s recommended: The Diamond Archery Infinite Edge is adjustable enough to fit just about anybody. It’s also a great choice for teenagers.

2. Southland Archery Supply

The Southland Archery SAS Rage is a great choice for strong beginners, or for teenagers who’ve been shooting for a while to up their game. This bow’s draw length is adjustable from 25 inches to 31 inches, making it well-sized for most men as well as taller women and teenagers.

This bow is adjustable from 55 pounds up to 70 pounds of draw weight. At 70 pounds, it shoots at 270 FPS. This isn’t quite an elk bow, but it packs more than enough punch to take down a ten-point buck at 30 yards. It’s available with or without accessories, depending on how much you want to pay. The accessorized version is inexpensive, while the barebones version is downright dirt cheap.

As with any discount bow, you’ll run into a few issues with the SAS Rage. To begin with, the screws are fairly loose from the factory. It’s a good idea to tighten them, or better yet to use Loctite to keep them from coming out. This bow also ships with sub-par tuning. Expect the draw strength to be off by up to 10 pounds in either direction. Your local bow shop can help with adjustments.

Pros:

• Adjustable from 25” to 31”
• 270 FPS arrow speed
• Adjustable from 55 to 70 pounds
• Available with or without accessories
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Poorly tuned
• Loose screws

Why it’s recommended: The Southland Archery SAS Rage isn’t the most well-manufactured bow on the market, but it may be the best bow for beginners at this price.

3. Quest Radical Right Hand Package

If you’re looking for a diverse compound bow, the Quest Radical is it. This bow has a draw length that’s adjustable from 17.5 inches to 30 inches. That’s enough to accommodate almost anybody, although very tall men will probably need a different bow.

The Radical is adjustable from 40 pounds draw weight up to 70 pounds and has an arrow speed of 340 FPS at 70 pounds. Even at 40 pounds, this bow can be used for deer hunting, which is truly impressive. It comes with a full set of accessories, including an arrow rest, quiver and sight. The sight itself is a 4-pin design, so you can have preset reticles for four different ranges.

Our only complaint about the Radical is that it doesn’t have a warranty. The construction seems durable and there are no obvious flaws like loose screws, but we’d appreciate it more if Quest backed their product. It’s still a great bow, though.

Pros:

• 340 FPS arrow speed
• Comes with all accessories
• 4-pin sight
• Adjustable from 40 to 70 pounds
• Adjustable from 17.5” to 30”

Cons:

• No warranty

Why it’s recommended: With 340 FPS of force and a huge range of draw lengths, this is the best beginner compound bow we’ve seen.

4. New Bear Archery Pledge

The Bear Archery Pledge is ideal for anyone who wants a short, lightweight bow for trekking through the woods. We’ll talk about this more in the buying guide, but length is a bit of a controversial point among bow hunters. We’ve counted this as a pro and a con since light bows are easier to carry, but also come with their own challenges.

The draw weight is adjustable from 40 to 70 pounds to accommodate a wide variety of archers, and arrow speed maxes out at 315 FPS, which is fast enough for very large game. The draw length is adjustable from 21 to 31 inches, making it well-sized for most men, women and teenagers.

The Pledge comes at a low price and includes a sight and arrow rest. Both of these are well machined and work as well as any mid-priced aftermarket accessory. You’ll have to buy a quiver on your own, however.

Pros:

• Shoots at 315 FPS
• Comes with sight and arrow rest
• Adjustable from 40 to 70 pounds
• Adjustable from 21” to 31”
• Only weighs 4 pounds
• Affordable

Cons:

• Only weighs 4 pounds
• No quiver

Why it’s recommended: If you want a lightweight, adult-sized bow, the Bear Archery Pledge is a solid choice.

5. Bear Archery Cruzer Lite

The Bear Archery Cruzer Lite is made specifically for kids. The good part? It’s small enough for your six-year-old. The downside? You’ll need to replace it by the time they’re teenagers. This isn’t a slam on the Cruzer Lite; it’s just not big enough.

That said, this is a powerful enough to shoot arrows at up to 290 FPS when it’s cranked up to 45 pounds of draw weight. That makes it deer legal in almost all states, which is a great way to teach your young hunter in a real-world environment. More than that, it comes with a sight, quiver and arrow rest, so you won’t need to buy any extras for your kid to have a full kit.

This is a lightweight bow, at only 3.7 pounds. Normally, we’d consider that a controversial point – see our last review – but in this case it’s a definite plus. It’s designed to teach kids to shoot, so it’s kid-sized. Enough said.

Pros:

• Great for kids
• Comes with all accessories
• Legal for deer in most states
• Adjustable from 5 to 45 pounds
• Adjustable from 12” to 27”
• Lightweight

Cons:

• Not big enough for adults

Why it’s recommended: The Bear Archery Cruzer Lite is a great bow for getting your kids used to archery. It will last them until their teenage years.

6. BowTech Carbon Rose

The BowTech Carbon Rose is marketed as a beginners composite bow for women. Let us clear that up. We all know what they say about products that are made “for women”. They’re smaller, they’re pinker, and they work half as well. That’s not the case with the Carbon Rose. This is a serious bow that will take down an elk with ease, and it comes with top-quality accessories, including an adjustable 3-pin scope.

This bow has a draw strength of 30 to 60 pounds and shoots arrows at 302 FPS at maximum strength. The draw length is adjustable from 22.5 inches to 27.5 inches, which is ideal for most women. Shorter men may want to consider this bow, too. It’s powerful, it’s small, and it’s not pink. The only downside is the price, but the Carbon Rose will last you for years.

Pros:

• Well-sized for females
• Shoots up to 302 FPS
• Powerful enough for big game
• Available with or without accessories
• Adjustable from 30 to 60 pounds
• Adjustable from 22.5” to 27.5”

Cons:

• Expensive

Why it’s recommended: The BowTech Carbon Rose is marketed as a beginners bow, but make no mistake: this is a serious bow for serious archers. Ladies, here’s your hunting bow of choice.

7. SAS Siege Compound Bow

The Siege SAS is as basic as composite bows get. It has a 40 to 55-pound draw weight and is very well engineered. The cams are nice and tight, as are all of the screws in the body. It’s available with or without accessories. While it’s obviously cheaper without the accessories, you won’t be disappointed with the sight, the arrow rest or the quiver. The sight, in particular, is impressive for a budget bow, with 3 adjustable pins.

Unfortunately, this bow has a couple of issues. The most glaring is the fixed, 29-inch draw length. This isn’t a bad length… provided you’re exactly the right size. If you’re too tall or too short, it’s downright useless, and you’ll quickly be returning it. It also maxes out at 206 FPS, which isn’t enough for hunting in most states. This is a training bow only.

Pros:

• Well engineered
• Adjustable from 40 to 55 pounds
• Available with or without accessories
• Very inexpensive

Cons:

• Arrow speed maxes out at 206 FPS
• Fixed, 29” draw length

Why it’s recommended: If you’re the right size to use it, the Siege SAS is an affordable, well built target bow. Just don’t expect to take it hunting.

8. Bear Archery Cruzer

The Bear Archery Cruzer is the adult version of the Cruzer Lite that we already reviewed. Like the Cruzer Lite, it’s extremely lightweight. Unlike the Cruzer Lite, the benefits of this are debatable, since this is an adult-sized bow. That said, it’s not limited only to adults. With a draw distance that adjusts from 12 to 30 inches, it’s really for everybody.

The draw weight is also highly adjustable; it goes from 5 pounds all the way up to 70 pounds. At 70 pounds, it shoots at 315 FPS, making it a legitimate big game bow. It comes with a full set of accessories, including an adjustable 3-pin sight. Unfortunately, it’s going to need adjustments; it ships with loose screws and a poorly calibrated weight adjuster.

Pros:

• Arrow speeds up to 315 FPS
• Comes with full set of accessories
• Adjustable from 5 to 70 pounds
• Adjustable from 12” to 30”
• Very lightweight

Cons:

• Very lightweight
• Needs adjustment after shipping

Why it’s recommended: The Bear Archery Cruzer is a reasonably well-built bow at a reasonable price. It’s a great choice for beginners of all sizes.

9. Genesis Original Bow

The Genesis Original Bow is a kids’ training bow that’s the official bow of the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP). That in itself is a strong endorsement, and Genesis lives up to it with their durable design. Its draw length is adjustable from 15 to 30 inches, which makes it great for most kids and teenagers.

The draw weight is only adjustable from 10 to 20 pounds, however. This makes it too weak for hunting, and only suitable for short-range target practice. It also doesn’t come with any accessories, so you’ll need to buy a sight, arrow rest and quiver at the very least. That said, it’s very well built, with no loose screws or squeaky cams.

Pros:

• Sturdy design
• Adjustable from 15” to 30”
• Very affordable

Cons:

• No accessories
• Only adjustable from 10 to 20 pounds
• Only good for short-range target practice

Why it’s recommended: The Genesis Original is the official bow of the NASP. That’s hard to argue with.

10. Leader Accessories Compound Bow

The Leader Accessories Compound Bow is a beginner compound bow that comes as a complete kit. Not only do you get the sight, arrow rest and quiver, but you get a wrist strap and a full set of arrows with the upgraded version. We’re not sure this justifies the extra price over the base version, but it’s nice to have the option.

This bow shoots at 296 FPS, which is fast enough for whitetail but not for larger game. It can be adjusted from 19 to 25 inches, and the draw weight can be adjusted from 35 to 55 pounds. This makes it ideal for teenagers and most women, as well as shorter men. It’s lightweight enough for kids to use, and is inexpensive; even the upgraded version is a bargain.

Pros:

• 296 FPS arrow speed
• Accessories include wrist-strap release
• Adjustable from 35 to 55 pounds
• Adjustable from 19” to 25”
• Very lightweight
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Flimsy
• Very lightweight

Why it’s recommended: The Leader Accessories Compound Bow is a solid all-around kit for a first-time archer.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Beginner Compound Bow

Now that we’ve looked at the best beginner bows on the market, let’s go over some other things you’ll need to know about shooting one. There are as many questions as there are people, so there’s no way we can cover everything. But we’ve tried to answer the most common questions.

What are the Best Compound Bows for Hunting?

There’s a pretty clear-cut rule for hunting bows. Anything that shoots faster than 250 feet per second is powerful enough for hunting deer. If your bow shoots 300 FPS or faster, you’re good to hunt elk as well. It’s important not to shoot game with a bow that’s too weak because you’re more likely to wound them than kill them.

Other than that, there’s no simple answer. The most important thing when you’re choosing a compound bow is you! Your size, strength and personal preferences, as well as the type of hunting your doing, will all affect which bow is best for you. Here are a few quick tips on finding your own sweet spot.

No Bow is Perfect

Everything in life has some trade-offs, and bows are no different. For example, by choosing a compound bow you’re sacrificing the smooth draw of a recurve bow in exchange for more holding time.

Know Which Eye is Dominant

Before you choose a bow, you’ll need to know which side to shoot from. Unlike most sports, archery doesn’t care whether you’re left or right-handed. What matters is which of your eyes is dominant. Right-eyed archers should draw with their right hand, and left eyed archers should draw with their left hand. If you’re right handed but left eyed, get used to shooting left-handed!

If you’re not sure which one of your eyes is dominant, there’s an easy way to find out. Extend your arms fully out in front of you, then move them together, spreading your thumbs and forefingers to make a triangle. Find an object, like a tin can, and face so that your arms are still fully extended, straight in front of you, but the object is in the center of the triangle.

Close one eye, then open it and close the other eye. Through one of your eyes, the object will stay centered or almost centered. Through the other eye, it will jump to one side. Whichever eye kept the object centered is your dominant eye.

Determine Your Draw Length

Since compound bows use cams and pulleys to absorb string tension, they’re designed to be drawn a certain distance, and then stop. Draw them too short, and you’ll defeat the purpose of the compound bow because you’ll be holding all the weight of the arms yourself. Draw them too long, and – well, you can’t draw them too long. They stop. If you’re Brock Lesnar, you can overdraw them, but that will just break the bow.

Draw length is the distance you pull the bow back before it comes to a stop. To determine your own draw length the easiest way is to use a tape measure and a calculator. Stand with your arms spread-eagled, with your palms out, and have a friend measure the distance in inches from the tip of one middle finger to the other. Then divide that distance by 2.5. The resulting number is your draw length.

This is just a rough measurement. There are other factors that matter, like the ratio of the length of your upper arm to your forearm, and how wide your shoulders are compared to your arm length. Your best bet is to buy a bow where your draw length falls right in the middle of its range. For example, if your draw length measures 28 inches, a bow with a draw length of 23 to 28 inches is risky, but a bow with a draw length of 25 to 30 inches is safe.

If you’re not sure and you’d rather not risk it, visit your local archery shop. They should be happy to take your measurements for you.

Accuracy Matters More Than Your Bow

Our prehistoric ancestors hunted and killed big game with bows that have been obsolete for thousands of years. They didn’t achieve this through sheer force of badassery. They did it by training relentlessly, so they could shoot a moose through the eye with an ancient bow with sinew strings.

The fact is that a master archer can hit the bullseye with any bow, and an untrained archer is liable to miss with even the most awesome technological masterpiece. At the end of the day, you’ll need to practice.

A Faster Bow Means Better Trajectory

If 300 FPS is fast enough to bring down a mighty elk, why on Earth would anyone hunt with a harder-to-draw 320 FPS bow? The answer is accuracy.

A 300 FPS bow shoots light target arrows at that speed. It actually shoots a broadhead arrow more slowly. That’s not bad in and of itself; a broadhead is far more lethal than a target arrow, which is why people use them. But the slower an arrow shoots, the faster it drops. If you want to shoot further than 50 yards without a lot of drop-offs, a heavier-duty bow is the way to go.

Short and Light vs. Long and Heavy

There are two camps within the bow hunting world. Some people favor a shorter, lighter bow, while others prefer longer, heavier bows. As with everything else, this involves a tradeoff.

A short, light bow can be engineered with the same draw weight as a larger bow, but the lighter bow weight will make it easier to move during follow-through, which kills your accuracy. On the other hand, with good technique, you can shoot them just as well as a large bow. They’re also easier to carry through the woods.

A larger bow, on the other hand, is more to carry. Even a heavy bow only weighs as much as a light rifle, though, so this isn’t much of an issue. They’re more stable during follow-through and are easier for beginners to master.

What Accessories are Recommended for a Beginner?

The most important thing to focus on as a beginner is the basics. No matter what you’re shooting, for the first few trips to the range, you’re going to have more important things to do than worry about whether or not your sight has an LED. We’re not saying that good accessories aren’t a plus. We’re just saying that beginners should focus on the basics.

That said, compound bows are designed to be used with a few accessories. Most beginner bows come with a basic kit, but some don’t. If you choose a bow that doesn’t have a kit, you’ll want to buy an arrow rest, a sight and a quiver at a bare minimum.

What Age Can You Begin Using a Bow?

Any age is fine, as long as you trust your child to be responsible. That’s on you.

What we can tell you is that they need to be able to physically pull the bow back. A good test is to see if they can pick up a 30-pound sack. A lot of beginner bows have a 30-pound draw weight, so that’s a good starting point. While many bows can be adjusted down to 5 pounds, at this draw strength they’re just an expensive toy.

Bottom Line

As you can see, there’s more to choosing the best compound bow than just buying the fanciest piece of engineering you can find. You’ll need to consider your own capabilities or the capabilities of your child. Sure, you can pull that 70-pound bow once. But can you pull it all afternoon at the archery range? For that matter, can you pull it after sitting in a cold deer stand for six hours?

You’ll also need to think about the costs and benefits of a heavier draw weight versus an easier draw. Even if you can reliably pull a bow, you might find that you have an easier time with a lower weight. Conversely, you’ll need at least 250 feet per second for deer hunting, so very low draw weights can take a big 10-200 all over your hunting plans. When all else fails, you’ll need to learn how to make adjustments to your bow when needed.

Your arrows and accessories will make a difference, too. A well-designed quiver and a good sight will make a huge difference in your ability to hit the kill zone five out of five times. But nothing will replace training and experience with your bow. For that, you’ll need to spend plenty of time on the range.

Regardless of which bow you end up choosing, we like to think at least one of the bows we reviewed will be right for you. Even if you go with another choice for your first compound bow, we hope our guide was helpful.