January 11, 2023
By Jace Bauserman
I respect those that shoot with traditional archery gear, and as much fun as it is to tinker with a recurve or longbow, this bowhunter will take his souped-up flagship compound every time. One of the items I want on that bow is a top-tier rest. The rest is the only bow-mounted accessory that has contact with the arrow, and today's rest manufacturers have plenty of great options to choose from. From cable-driven models to limb-activated rests to standard mount systems to in-line systems, 2023's rest collection is solid. Plus, we decided to sweeten the pot by adding a few extra accessory items sure to make you more successful in the woods in 2023.
Vapor Trail Archery Gen Integrate 8X Vapor Trail Archery Gen Integrate 8X Capable of mounting to the Integrate Mounting System found on most every modern flagship compound, Vapor Trail's Gen Integrate 8X is sleek and compact, weighing only 4.1 ounces. Made in the U.S.A., the rest is available in 14 interchangeable colors, and the Full Capture Cage has a side gate for quick and efficient arrow loading. The cage itself is crafted from carbon with a rubber over mold to ensure longevity and stealth, and the rest's free-floating launcher arm supports the arrow for 70 percent of the shot cycle, which means increased accuracy.
$249.99; vaportrailarchery.com
QAD Integrate MX QAD Integrate MX No, QAD's Integrate MX isn't all-new for 2023; however, you can't have a rest review without mentioning the drop-away that forever changed rest mounting. The Berger Hole is out, and riser-mounting is in, so almost every top-tier bow manufacturer has adopted QAD's Integrate Mounting System. The rest is designed to mount to a pair of dovetail slits in the bow's riser, which means no mounting blocks and screws, cutting down on accessory and bow weight. With adjustable windage and elevation of .0019" per click, the rest promises tunability, and its function is second to none. The launcher is crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum, and QAD includes launcher arm liners that prevent direct arrow-to-metal contact.
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$249; qadinc.com
Trophy Ridge Whisker Biscuit V Max Trophy Ridge Whisker Biscuit V Max Not your standard Whisker Biscuit, the V Max gives fixed-rest lovers increased accuracy and efficiency. The V-shaped design centers the arrow and prevents side-to-side movement, and the perpendicular bristles reduce vane drag, increasing arrow speed and accuracy. Tool-less miro-adjust windage and elevation further sweeten the pot.
$89.99; beararchery.com
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Ripcord Drive IMS Ripcord Drive IMS Ripcord didn't develop a new-for-the-year rest, and part of the reason is likely that it's hard to beat its Drive IMS. IMS stands for Integrate Mounting System, and the full-containment RipCage locks the arrow in place for worry-free bow maneuverability. This limb-driven rest can attach to the top or bottom limb, and a well-designed ball-bearing drive system ensures friction-free smoothness, allowing the whale-tail launcher to rise and drop uniformly. This sure-to-center-the-arrow launcher does have angle adjustment, which means increased tuning.
$179.99; ripcordarrowrest.com
Trophy Taker X-Treme Pro Click Trophy Taker X-Treme Pro Click Cable-driven rest goers must glance at Trophy Taker's X-Treme Pro Click. A breeze to set up and tune, this no-fail drop-away has micro-adjust windage and elevation knobs, a full arrow lockup containment ring, and is precision machined to meet the needs of hunters and competitive archers. The rest comes with a lifetime warranty and is available in right and left-handed models.
$139.99; trophytaker.com
Hamskea Epsilon w/ C.O.R. Riser Interface Bracket Hamskea Epsilon w/ C.O.R. Riser Interface Bracket To reduce weight, boost tunability, and create a streamlined connection between the riser and rest, Hamskea gives compound shooters its Epsilon w/ C.O.R. Riser Interface Bracket. The C.O.R. bracket allows the rest to be mounted in line with the riser via a system that locks into the dovetail slits in many of today's flagship bow risers. Detent micro-tune ensures additional windage and elevation adjustments, and Zero Tolerance technology eliminates lateral shaft movement. An elastomeric Rebound Dampener helps mitigate the shock transferred from the limb to the rest during the shot. Hamskea's Delta V Arrow Guide and Riser Mounted Arrow Glide are included.
$274.99; hamskeaarchery.com
Octane Archery Vault Quiver Octane Archery Vault Quiver Octane wanted to build a quiver that promised to be light, durable, and highly compact, so they did. Branded the Vault, this multi-position quiver Octane's Vault is a multi-position quiver that sports a Carbon Hybrid Frame that keeps weight down while adding strength. The rubber hood liner protects broadheads while ensuring silent arrow removal. The Oversized Quick Detach Lever Lock makes quiver removal fast, and the removable Dual Grippers accept any arrow diameter. The quiver is available in Black or Mossy Oak Breakup Country.
See the website for updated pricing; octanearchery.com
SEVR Max Grip Five-Arrow Quiver by TightSpot SEVR Max Grip Five-Arrow Quiver by TightSpot Broadhead maker, SEVR, wanted a top-notch quiver designed to hold SEVR-tipped arrows perfectly, so SEVR did the smart thing and partnered with longtime quiver crafter, TightSpot. Dubbed the Max Grip, this new-for-2023 quiver was designed to perfectly hold arrows tipped with expandable, fixed, and hybrid-style broadheads and was specifically crafted to hold SEVR's Lock-and-Pivot blade system. Capable of holding five arrows, the quiver sports TightSpot's all-new vented hood, and TighSpot's patented three-way adjustment system allows the user to position the quiver tightly to the bow. BullDog arrow grippers are individually adjustable to ensure absolute and exact arrow pressure, and the included second arrow gripper is adjustable for positioning around bow accessories. The total quiver weight is 11 ounces, and the overall length is 16.5 inches.
$189.95; sevrbroadheads.com
AXCEL Archery Antler Ridge Hunting Stabilizer Kit AXCEL Archery Antler Ridge Hunting Stabilizer Kit It's common practice for bowhunters, especially western hunters that send carbon at longer ranges, to experiment with stabilizers, and if you're looking to do some off-season tinkering, AXCEL's Antler Ridge Hunting Stabilizer Kit is for you. Everything you need and nothing you don't. The kit has a front and back bar, each with a Kryptos Arc vibration damper and a pair of two-ounce black nitride weights to ensure customization. A mounting bracket and zero-degree Center Lock quick disconnect make setup easy, and each stabilizer features a Carbon Fiber Twill finish with engraved endcaps. Available colors are Black, Coyote Tan, and Olive Drab Green.
$449.99; axcelarchery.com