Hoyt Carbon RX-5
January 13, 2021
By Tony J. Peterson
Hoyt loyalists need worry no more, because the company has released its flagship bow lineup — the RX-5. Shooters looking for a longer axle-to-axle bow should check out the 34” Ultra, while speed demons would be better served looking at the 31” Turbo in order to register really impressive chrono readings. Everyone else should look at the 30” Alpha, which weighs in at 4.4 pounds and promises arrow speeds up to 342 fps. This is achieved through a 6-inch brace height, the Hybrid 11-inch EXT Limbs, and the ZTR + CAM. The RX-5 Alpha is offered in draw lengths of 25-30 inches and draw weights ranging from 30-80 pounds.
MSRP: $1699+; hoyt.com
Bear Archery Redemption EKO Bear Archery Redemption EKO New to the Legend Series lineup, the 31” Redemption EKO is built for bowhunters looking for performance and a customizable shooting experience. The latter is made possible via EKO Technology, which allows for four different letoff options ranging from 75- to 90-percent. Further customization is made possible thanks to a pair of custom grips. On the performance front, this 4.1lb bow will send arrows downrange at 342fps while stacking them in there thanks to the Align Lok Technology, which works with your sight to aid in second- and third-axis alignment.
MSRP: $1000; beararchery.com
BOWTECH Solution SD BOWTECH Solution SD The folks at Bowtech recognized a problem with most bow offerings - they weren’t optimized for shorter-draw-length shooters. Put another way, if you aren’t pulling 30” you might not be experiencing the best shooting that you could. Enter the Solution SD, which is optimized for anyone drawing 23.5 to 28.5” and is built with the DeadLock Cam System. This results in bows built for the masses that are also incredibly easy to tune (and keep tuned). This 30” rig is a dream to shoot with its 7” brace height and mass weight that comes in at just a shade under 4lbs. With arrow speeds up to 323fps, the Solution SD is an excellent choice for anyone looking to skewer critters ranging from turkeys to moose.
MSRP: $1100; bowtecharchery.com
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Elite EnKore Elite EnKore It wasn’t that long ago where if you wanted to see chronograph readings of 340fps, you had to risk the important anatomical stuff that keeps your shoulders held together. Today, those speeds are possible on smooth, joy-to-shoot rigs like Elite’s new EnKore. With its S.E.T. Technology (Simplified. Exact. Tuning.) you can achieve perfect arrow flight without a bow press. The EnKore weighs in at just over 4.5lbs, measures 33” between axles, and can accommodate shooters who need anywhere from 23 to 30” of draw length.
MSRP: $1099; elitearchery.com
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Gearhead Archery Disrupter Pro Series Gearhead Archery Disrupter Pro Series Containing bows of two different axle-to-axle lengths — 20 and 24” — the new Disrupter Pro Series from Gearhead is undoubtedly the most unique of the ’21 offerings. The Disrupter 24 Pro is built with cams that have an adjustment range of 26 to 30” (in .5” increments) and utilizes Zero Gap limb pockets to offer 10lbs of draw weight adjustment. Weighing just over 4lbs and featuring a 6.5” brace height, this ground-blind and tight-spot friendly rig is cable of generating KE of 84.5ft/lbs and IBO arrow speeds up to 330fps.
MSRP: $824; gearheadarchery.com
Mathews V3 Mathews V3 Choose between the V3 31 or 27 depending on your axle-to-axle preference when you’re shopping for a brand new Mathews. Take a close look at these bows and you’ll notice the cable guard looks a little different, which is of course, by design. Their new Centerguard Cable Containment system is built to equalize the angle of the cables throughout the draw cycle, which results in optimal cam timing and vane clearance. Or in other words, a higher level of accuracy. The V3 31 tips the scales at 4.5lbs, shoots up to 342fps, features a 6” brace height, and is offered in a variety of finishes including First Lite’s new Specter pattern.
MSRP: $1199; mathewsinc.com
Prime Nexus Prime Nexus Prime is billing their 2021 flagship offering as a blending of worlds between innovators and hunters, which is no more evident than their new Nanogrip. This new-age, 360-degree-wrapped grip utilizes Aerogel, a NASA-designed technology that will keep your hand warm no matter how cold it is. The Nexus also boasts a 50-percent reduction in overall vibration compared to last year’s Black Series thanks to the pairing of a cable splitter weight and lighter cams. Three models are available in different axle-to-axle lengths, with the Nexus 2 measuring 32” between pins, weighing only 4.4lbs, and generating arrow speeds that top out at 341fps.
MSRP: $999; g5prime.com
PSE Xpedite NXT PSE Xpedite NXT PSE always releases a slew of new bows and this year is no exception. Mixed amongst their quality offerings is the new 33” Xpedite NXT, which if it isn’t the fastest bow of the year, is definitely in the running. Advertised IBO speeds of up to 360fps make this bow a no-brainer for anyone looking for flat-arrow trajectory and tight pin gaps. The Xpedite NXT weighs 4.74lbs, can be had in peak draw weights of 60, 70 and 80lbs, and ships with the company’s 90-percent letoff modules. To ensure your groups are consistently tight, this rig features the ComfortGrip system, allowing shooters the opportunity to choose PSE’s traditional riser grip technology or their molded overlay grip.
MSRP: $1099+; psearchery.com
Xpedition Bows X30 Xpedition Bows X30 Three bows are available in the new X Series from Xpedition. Of particular interest to hardcore bowhunters is the shortest in the group — the X30. This bow offers 80-percent letoff, a 6.25” brace height, and arrow speeds north of 350fps. It’s also feathery light, tipping the scales at 3.6lbs thanks to the X-Loy material used in the riser construction. To ensure a high level of efficiency — a metric that doesn’t get as much love in compound bows as it should — the X30 is built with the ETS (Energy Transfer System). This enhances cable system dynamics to increase performance and efficiency by pre-loading the cables (and limiting cable movement). In layman’s terms, this allows more of the stored energy to make it directly to your arrow during the shot, which results in increased downrange performance.
MSRP: $1399; xpeditionarchery.com
