Adam Scepaniak 09.25.25
As with any industry, there are some good players, bad players, and the ugly ones. Or a more iconic reference, like the western Clint Eastwood film, there are “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” To know which are which is important because you don’t want to pour your hard-earned money into a bad product that won’t perform for you. As we are in the midst of archery season for most of the country, we are going to share with you the best compound bow brands to trust and invest your money in. Whether you are in pursuit of your very first compound bow, or it is the 10th one that you bought in your lifetime.
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What to Look for in a Good Compound Bow Brand?
So, what do we want to look for in a good compound bow brand?… For one, longevity. A track record of executing on what they say they are going to do and delivering on those promises. This essentially is their reputation. Does the compound bow brand you’re looking at have a good reputation, a bad one, or is it murky. Additionally, you will want to see a golden warranty. One that inspires confidence and the thought that you’ll never need it. Finally, look for anecdotal reviews from others. Are they good? Once again, do they inspire confidence?
What is a Red Flag in a Compound Bow Brand?
Now, what about some red flags? What should you be looking for to know to avoid a brand? For one, a glaring red flag is the absence of any warranty. This flatly shows that they do not stand behind their product. Also, suspect anecdotal reports from the field. What’re people saying on social media? Reddit? YouTube? People on the internet can be hyenas at times, but there is typically some truth injected into most people’s negative comments. Finally, price-points that don’t align with the value that is offered. You generally have an idea of what a good compound bow should cost. So, if the price is way too high – or way too low – it is a red flag and should make you question what you are looking at.
Good Compound Bow Brands in 2025: Trust your Money Here
#1 – Mathews Archery
Mathews Archery compound bows are the cream of the crop. They have been around for 33 years and continue to push the envelope on what is possible with the compound bow design. Their Solo Cam technology was a break-through in 1992, they have made several of the fastest compound bows in history, and don’t look to be slowing down anytime soon. Additionally, they carry their Mathews Limited Lifetime Warranty for the lifetime of your compound bow (as the original owner). The Mathews 2025 Lift X is their newest compound bow you will want to check out starting at $1,359.
#2 – Bowtech Archery
Bowtech is another titan of the archery industry who have been crafting compound bows for 26 years and counting; since 1999. Their mission is to “provide the most advanced archery products and customer service, developed on customer-driven innovation,” and when they have done that for decades, it inspires confidence. Also, you receive a lifetime warranty to the original owner when purchased in a brick ‘n mortar retailer (not over the internet). For Bowtech, their Ascend is their latest and greatest compound bow with prices beginning at $999.
#3 – Hoyt Archery
A lot of people follow Hoyt Archery and the compound bows they offer because they’re a modern archery brand with the likes of John Dudley by their side. What you may not know is that the company is 96 years old! They have been producing high-quality bows for an incredibly long time. With a storied history behind their name, and a lifetime warranty standing behind you, Hoyt is an incredibly reliable company to spend your money on. The Carbon RX series is one of the new flagship groupings of compound bows for Hoyt with several unique models residing within the family, and they start at the kingly price of $2,099.
#4 – PSE Archery
PSE Archery is known in many archery circles for making affordable, complete packages for hunters. In fact, the compound bow that I have been hunting with for the last 5 years falls right into that category, but that is not all that they do. The Mach 33 DS Carbon is the newest, award-winning compound bow to come from PSE collecting the Field & Stream “Bow of the Year” Award for 2025 as well as the Outdoor Life Editor’s Choice “Best Overall” Pick for 2025. The Mach 33 DS Carbon currently has a starting MSRP of $1,899. So, from affordable to carbon fiber expensive models, PSE has a little bit of everything. Couple in the fact that they have been doing this since 1970, and you can rest assured that you’re getting a good product.
#5 – Bear Archery
Bear Archery was founded by the now legendary Fred Bear in 1933, originally as the Bear Products Company, and for the past 92 years they have been making hunting bows that have harvested wild game animals all around the world. Their quality is unquestioned and a Limited Lifetime Warranty to the original owner applies to all Bear Archery compound bows. The Persist 33 compound bow is a new dealer exclusive model out of their Legendary Series for 2025 that touts an MSRP of $1,249 that you may want to check out for yourself.
Final Thoughts: Good Compound Bow Brands
Compound bow brands are plentiful in the world we currently live in, but as we mentioned earlier, it is important to decipher between the good, the bad, and the ugly. If you are going to rely on a compound bow to finish your hunt, make sure that the compound bow brands you are entertaining are on this list. As always, let us know all of your thoughts about Mathews Archery, Bowtech Archery, Hoyt Archery, PSE Archery, and Bear Archery in the Comments below as well as any other compound bow brands that your trust! We always appreciate your feedback.
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