It's no secret that premium compound bows get all of the attention. Every year, these flagship bows continue to improve, often overshadowing the budget offerings across the industry. But just like their expensive counterparts, budget bows are also improving on a yearly basis. Many of which now feature trickle-down technology and the high-end performance associated with flagship models.
Since every hunter may not want to shell out a couple of grand on a new bow, we put together this list of the top budget bows on the market. The first step was to determine a maximum price for the budget bow category. We set the bar at $750, with many of these bows coming in well under that mark. Next, we selected bows that fit the criteria based on value, performance, and research. Any one of these compound bows will get the job done in the field, and you'll have some extra cash lying around to accessorize it. Here are the best budget bows available today.
Diamond Deploy SB
Specs
Axle to Axle Length: 31.5"
Weight: 3.2 lbs.
Brace Height: 6.75"
Draw Length: 26-30.5"
Draw Weight: 50, 60, 70 lbs. peak
Speed: 330
Price: $749
Pros
Fully outfitted with accessories
Carbon riser
Fast and accurate
Binary Cam System
Cons
Plastic cable guide
The stabilizer is bad, bad
This Deploy SB shoots well. A tick over 31 inches between the axles makes it highly maneuverable, and like Bowtech's Carbon Zion and Carbon One, it holds steady on target, especially for a short and light bow. Riding on the axle pins is Bowtech's tried-and-true Binary Cam system, which is one of the most tunable and accurate cam systems ever created.
The Deploy SB comes fully outfitted with Octane accessories, but you'll want to upgrade those, especially the stabilizer. If you leave that stabilizer out in the hot sun, it will droop like a wet noodle. Still, concerning budget bows, this would be one I'd purchase.
Bear Whitetail INT RTH
Specs
Axle to Axle Length: 31"
Weight: 4 lbs
Brace Height: 6.5"
Draw Length: 26-30"
Draw Weight: 45-60 and 55-70 lbs
Speed: 339
Price: $729.99
Pros
Well-made Trophy Ridge accessories
Fast and reasonably smooth
EKO Cam system
Roller cable guard system
Adjustable let-off
Cons
Not a flagship, but it's not supposed to be
While I'm not a fan of Bear flagships, their budget and beginner bows are built well and perform as advertised. Available in a ready-to-hunt package loaded with everything you need aside from arrows and broadheads, this 31-inch axle-to-axle compound bow is fast. Bear brands it with a maximum FPS rating of 339, and in my experience, EKO cams are reasonably easy to tune, offer a generally smooth draw cycle, and aren't prone to jerking the shooter into the shot.
Another excellent feature of this compound (usually only offered on flagship models) is the adjustable let-off. Bear calls it Full Draw Comfort. This feature lets the archer choose between let-off settings of 75, 80, 85, and 90 percent. The bow's riser features Integrated Mounting, which means IMS-compatible rests, such as QAD's Integrate Series, will mount directly to the riser, eliminating the need for a rest mounting bar and screw. The front of the riser features a small Picatinny rail, enabling direct-to-riser sight mounting, a feature that has become increasingly popular due to its benefits for weight reduction and streamlined sight mounting.
Dampeners sit between the split limbs to reduce post-shot vibration and noise. Bear's new roller cable guard system also reduces friction, leading to a smoother draw cycle. This is an excellent budget bow.
Bear Adapt 2 HP RTH
Specs
Axle to Axle Length: 31"
Weight: 4.1 lbs.
Brace Height: 6.5"
Draw Length: 27-32"
Draw Weight: 45-60 and 55-70 lbs.
Speed: 330
Price: $679.99
Pros
Ready To Hunt package
Balanced feel at full draw
Smooth draw cycle
DHC Hybrid Cam system is easy to tune
Cons
Needs a slimmer grip
I like the caged riser design, split limbs with dampeners in between, and the general shootability of Bear's latest Adapt 2 model. It also comes ready to hunt with Trophy Ridge accessories. Although the DHC Hybrid Cam system isn't overly fast, it works in unison with the roller-guide cable system to create a smooth draw. If I were on the hunt for a budget-friendly whitetail bow, this would be it.
I'm not a fan of Bear's Paw Grip. It's not bad, but it feels a bit thick and bulky. Some users find it more comfortable than Bear's traditional, slimmer grip style, but not me. The grip induces torque. The good news is that the grip can be removed, allowing you to opt for a direct-to-riser grip instead.
The bow doesn't shoot like a budget bow, but it does carry like one. With accessories mounted, the bow feels heavy, but at full draw, it sits still. And when the string drops, post-shot noise and vibration are less than those of many other budget bows I've shot.
Elite Basin RTS
Specs
Axle to Axle Length: 32.375"
Weight: 3.9 lbs.
Brace Height: 6.6875"
Draw Length: 16-30"
Draw Weight: 20-70 lbs.
Speed: 315
Price: $749.99
Pros
Lifetime Warranty and Hunt Guarantee
Fully outfitted with quality accessories
A bow you can grow with
Brace height boosts forgiveness
Cons
Slow
I've shot many Elite bows over the years, and the one thing I can confidently say is that they are durable. Backed by a Lifetime Warranty and Hunt Guarantee, The Basin RTS sports a Riser Cage design to reduce full-draw flex and boost stability at the limb pockets. The stainless-steel cam bearings minimize rust and corrosion, and with some TLC, will last you for years.
I like that Elite built the Basin with all-aluminum cams, mods, and limb pockets. The bow also has an axle-to-axle length and total weight that many archers will favor. The adjustable draw module enhances shooter customization by allowing draw lengths to be adjusted between 16 and 30 inches in 1/2-inch increments. I don't love the limb-stop back wall, but if you're an index-finger release shooter and want a wall with no valley, this bow delivers it. The Basin comes with a ready-to-shoot package; the grip is slim, angled, and flat-backed to boost shot-to-shot consistency, and Elite includes dampeners between the split limbs.
Xpedition Archery APX
Specs
Axle to Axle Length: 33"
Weight: 4.0 lbs.
Brace Height: 6.75"
Draw Length: 16-31"
Draw Weight: 60 and 70 lbs. peak
Speed: 340
Price: $599.99
Pros
Fast and accurate
Smooth draw cycle
Adjustable let-off
Great grip
Cons
No accessories
Plastic cable guard
Although the APX doesn't come with a ready-to-hunt package, it shouldn't be ignored. I recently shot the APX and couldn't believe the speed it produced, especially for a compound bow with such a smooth draw cycle and low price point. There is some post-shot noise and vibration, but I expected that.
The slim, swooping grip feels great in the hand, and the Xpedition-branded sideplates are a nice touch. At 33 inches axle-to-axle, the APX provides full-draw stability, allowing me to hit my dual anchors and get my pin on the target quickly. This is a solid indicator of an excellent bow build.
The limb-to-riser connection is slim yet sturdy, which reduces weight and prevents the bow from feeling tipsy at full draw. Xpedition included dampeners between the split limbs to drown out noise and vibration. I'm not a fan of the cable guard, but the bow is highly adjustable and will make an excellent in-the-field companion once you outfit it with accessories.
Mission Menace XR
Specs
Axle to Axle Length: 31"
Weight: 3.7 lbs.
Brace Height: 7.125"
Draw Length: 16-31"
Draw Weight: 20-70 lbs.
Speed: 314
Price: $549
Pros
Less than $400
Highly adjustable
New grip
Fast Fit Cam technology
RDK cams
Cons
No accessories
Dubbed the Menace XR, the 28-inch axle-to-axle, 2.81-pound compound bow was created for younger, smaller-framed shooters. Light and easy to maneuver, the bow features Fast Fit Cam technology: a highly adjustable cam system with Fast Fit mods to provide solid performance across the XR's 12-inch, no-bow-press-needed draw length range.
The Mini Contour grip is engineered to fit smaller hands and promote consistent hand placement, and the RDK cam system creates a smooth draw cycle. The limbs are long in comparison to the riser, but overall maneuverability and handling should be excellent. Branded a youth bow, this compound would also be a great budget option for shooters who don't ever plan to pull more than 50 pounds of draw weight.
FAQs
Q: How does a budget bow differ from a beginner's bow?
New archers don't know if they will fall in love with shooting a bow or not, so beginner bows are typically a tick cheaper than budget bows. Budget bows are roughly half the price of a flagship bow. Many budget bows will feature older flagship technologies that help the bow be accurate, smooth, durable, and quiet.
Q: What should I expect to pay for a budget bow?
Keep it under $750.
Q: Who makes the best budget bow?
Bear Archery makes excellent budget bows. The two in this article are two I hold in high regard. Diamond also offers great budget bows loaded with technologies from its sister company, Bowtech.
Pick the Best Budget Bow For You
If you're in the market for a new compound bow, there's never been a better time. Visit your local pro shop or your favorite box store and shoot some arrows at an indoor range. Shoot as many budget bows as they'll let you, and you'll find one that is right for you.
