February 11, 2014
By Jon E. Silks
Hoyt Archery continues to offer top-notch hunting rigs with carbon construction that pushes the limits of technology and performance. The new 2014 Carbon Spyder 30 is Hoyt's shortest carbon riser bow and showcases the all-new Helical Flex-Tuned Hollow Carbon riser. The Carbon Spyder is also available in 34-inch and 33-inch Turbo versions.
In addition to the new riser design, Hoyt outfits the Carbon Spyder with its all-new Z5 Cam & ½ system, XTS Pro Arc limbs, Pro-Lock X-Lite limb pockets, Pro-Fit grip, In-Line Roller Guard and AirShox silencing system.
Carbon Craft
Hoyt has advanced its carbon technology with the all-new Helical Flex-Tuned Hollow Carbon riser design. You can see the difference in the character of the tube shapes as they twist, thin out, flare and transition back and forth from front to back and side to side all in the same tube. The strut that runs behind the handle is one of the most unique bow structures I have ever seen.
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Three main tubes run the length of the riser and are complex in their construction, as they intersect and are bridged together in sections to optimize stiffness. Two of the tubes run through the sight window and grip area, where they narrow and flatten out. The third forms the strut.
The carbon material has a high strength-to-weight ratio and, as formed, is designed to significantly reduce vibration, increase stiffness at selected points and reduce overall surface area for a sleek and lightweight rig. The Carbon Spyder 30 is advertised to tip the scales at a mere 3.6 pounds.
Hoyt outfitted its new flagship with the Pro-Fit laminated wood grip, which is a one-piece unit designed to produce a neutral wrist position. A polished surface creates a smooth interface, which encourages your hand into the same position time after time.
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Also featured on the riser is the In-Line Roller Guard, which consists of a machined aluminum frame, aluminum rollers and inner-race bearings. Rollers are offset and slightly angled to contain cables in their natural position for reduced torque.
New Engine
Hoyt's new Z5 Cam & ½ system provides the power that generates advertised IBO speeds of 332 fps on a 6€‰3„4-inch brace height. The Z5 pushes the envelope on the trade-offs between a smooth draw and arrow velocity. As you will see in the pictured draw-force curve, Hoyt successfully transitions at every turn. Each cam rides on a steel axle and high-grade, sealed, inner-race bearings to reduce friction and increase efficiency.
Three base cams cover the draw-length range of 24-30 inches with a series of modules for each specific draw length. Modules do not require the use of a bow press to be switched out. Cam 1 covers from 24-25€‰1„2 inches, Cam 2 from 26-28 inches and Cam 3 from 28-30 inches. System letoff is advertised at 80 percent.
Stealth
Hoyt attacks shock, vibration and noise on several fronts through its Shock Rod Technology, past-parallel limbs, AirShox limb suppression system, Stealth Shot string silencer and Silent Shelf Pad.
Shock Rods consist of small rubber dampeners that look like elongated medicine capsules. Six total dampeners, three on each end of the riser, are seated into strategically placed thru-holes that are designed to receive the rods. Shock Rod Technology is designed to reduce vibration and noise.
Counteracting forces of the past -parallel XTS limbs work to reduce noise from the shot by eliminating any excess vibration. The 5-Layer laminated limbs are contoured and pre-loaded using uniform stress distribution (USD) technology that eliminates potential failure areas. The Pro-Lock X-Lite pivoting limb pocket provides a broad base and precise limb-to-riser interface.
Hoyt's AirShox are mounted to the limb pocket — not directly to the limb — to keep the weight off the limb, which would impact performance. The AirShox remain stationary as the limb pieces pull away at full draw. Upon release, the limbs come in contact with the rubber portion of the AirShox and are quickly tamed.
Impressions
Hoyt hit the sweet spot once again with its new Carbon Spyder. The bow is a top-quality rig across the board. There are no gaps in quality, design or performance. If there is one thing that might hold this bow back it will be the price, which will set you back to the tune of $1,499.
SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Hoyt Archery
Model: Carbon Spyder 30
Cam System: Z5 Cam & ½
Weight: 3.6 pounds (advertised); 3.7 pounds (as tested)
Brace Height: 6€‰3„4 inches
Axle-To-Axle length: 30 inches
Letoff: 80%
Draw Weights: 40, 50, 60, 65, 70 and 80 pounds peak
Draw Lengths: 24-30 inches on three base cams
Riser: Helical Flex-Tuned Hollow Carbon
Limbs: XTS PRO ARC 5-layer lamination, past parallel split limbs
String: FUSE Custom, 60€‰1„8 inches
Cables: FUSE Custom, 36€‰5„8 and 38€‰3„4 inches
Grip: Pro-Fit, one-piece laminated wood
Finish: Realtree Xtra, Realtree Max-1 and Black-Out, with many other options
Advertised IBO Speed: 332 fps
Suggested Retail Price: $1,499
Comments: The complete package, with no gaps in quality, design or performance.
Archery Accessory Box
ols, you'll realize that they are easy to misplace, which is why a storage system like the
Archery Accessory Box from
Plano Molding is a good idea. The Archery Accessory Box is designed with a see-through top, one lift-out tray, up to 16 adjustable compartments, and is compact enough to throw in your vehicle when you hit the road in the fall.
Price: $20
Archers Allen Wrench Set
If you want to boil down tool needs to a granular level, the jumping-off point for all bow work involves a quality set of Allen wrenches. I emphasize the word quality because I've had sets completely explode on me the first time I've used them. I don't know why it's so hard to make a set of Allen wrenches that will last, but a lot of companies seem to have trouble with the task. Fortunately,
Pine Ridge Archery has it figured out with their
Archers Allen Wrench Set. This set has all of the wrenches you're likely to need, and it contains them with a bolt and nut assembly that doesn't allow them to flop all over the place like lesser-quality sets. I keep a set in my shop, my truck and my daypack, so I'm covered no matter where or when I hunt.
Price: $10
Bowsmith
Another tool that has found its way into my shop is the
Bowsmith from
Real Avid. The Bowsmith contains needle-nose pliers, a string spreader, knife blade, fletching stripper, nock crimp, string loop setter, and a bevy of other tools (28 in total). This handy tool set is small enough to stow away in a pack as well, and it can be invaluable in bow camp when the nearest pro shop is far away.
Price: $50
Allen Company Compact Bow Tuning Kit
I also used my
Allen Company Compact Bow Tuning Kit. Since I had to redo my center serving, I also needed to tie on a new string loop, which necessitated the use of the contained bow square. Although I didn't use a nock set, the Compact Bow Tuning Kit comes with nock pliers and three nock sets.
Price: $15
Digital Bow Scale
An often-overlooked tool that is simple and can be used by every bow owner is a bow scale. I like
Cabela's Digital Bow Scale, which features a backlit LCD screen and automatic weight lock, and is accurate up to 110 pounds in case you plan to shoot deer hiding behind concrete walls. It amazes me how often I talk to bowhunters who simply guess at their draw weight after cranking their limbs in or out a few turns. It's much better to know exactly what your bow is set at, especially if you're getting close to either end of your bow's recommended weight spectrum.
Price: $20
Pro Archery Pliers
If you're in the market for a pair of pliers that will last longer than any bow you're likely to buy and features a nock set crimper and remover, a D-loop stretcher and scary sharp side-cutters, look no further than the
Pro Archery Pliers from
Easton Technical Products. These needle-nose pliers are extremely durable and can make home bow fixes a breeze.
Price: $22
Bohning Mini Server
Considering potential bow fixes, it would be wise to not ignore serving issues. Last fall I was sitting in a treestand in north-central Wisconsin, when I happened to glance down at my nocked arrow. The angle looked off, and upon closer inspection I realized that my center serving had slipped and my entire string loop had crept up my string, throwing my entire bow tune out of alignment. Back at the cabin, I busted out my
Bohning Mini Server and re-served my string. The Mini Server is perfect for the home bow mechanic because it eliminates the need for a cable spreader and is extremely easy to use. However, that wasn't the only tool I used to get back to shooting.
Price: $19
Economy Vise
After putting the above tools to good use at home or in deer camp, it's inevitable that you'll realize something is missing — a vise. The option to clamp your bow into a quality vise and work on it with both hands free is important, which is why I've started using an
Economy Vise from
Apple Archery. Plastic-coated jaws provide a secure grip on your bow's limb without causing any damage to the finish, while the Economy Vise allows for 360 degrees of left-to-right and front-to-back rotation. Just like using a lineman's belt to hang a treestand for the first time, when you use a vise like this to work on your bow, you'll wonder how you ever functioned without it.
Price: $81