Best Beginner Compound Bow [2024 Update]

Picking out the best beginner compound bow is an incredibly difficult task and one that should not be taken lightly. 

First, compound bows are not the cheapest item on your list of hunting gear, and if you're going to use one of these for hunting, you're going to want to pick out one that's going to get the job done!

There's a lot of good information out there on which bow is the best, but sometimes the information isn't always easy to comprehend. There are so many options, and the advice gets a little confusing.

But that stops here!

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The Quick Summary
Overall, the Best Beginner Compound Bow for hunting is the Bear Archery Cruzer G2!
Below you can check out other top compound bow options including the... 
- Best Beginner Compound Bow For Youth: Genesis Compound Bow
- Best Beginner Compound Bow For Women: Diamond Infinite 305
- Most Affordable Beginner Compound Bow: Bear Archery Royale
And scroll down to find out the one thing to remember before buying your new beginner bow!

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I've been using a compound bow for over 20 years, first starting off with my very own Browning Mirco Midas (Anyone remember those?)... and then graduating to a PSE, and then a Hoyt, and then a Mathews.

The good thing about choosing a beginner bow today is the fact that the technology and options have advanced tremendously. Any new archer can pick out a bow that has an amazing list of features and capabilities, and so at a reasonable price. And the best part - these bows will last for years... and I'll tell you why below.

Trivia Question: When was the first compound bow invented? (Click here to see answer).

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Best Beginner Compound Bow

Bear Archery Cruzer G2

The Bear Archery Cruzer G2 is the best starter compound bow for beginners because it offers maximum-versatility, it's engineered for all ages and skill levels, and is ready to use for hunting!

Let's jump right into it! Looking for a compound bow that ticks all the boxes? Look no further than the Bear Archery Cruzer G2. This incredible bow is a game-changer for hunters and target shooters of all levels. With its adjustable draw length range of 12" to 30" and variable draw weight from 5 to 70 lbs., it's suitable for both kids and adults.

The Cruzer G2 comes fully equipped for most hunting ventures, featuring six Trophy Ridge accessories that cover all your needs. From a four-pin sight for precision aiming to a Whisker Biscuit arrow rest for optimal accuracy, this bow has it all. Weighing a mere 3 lbs., it's lightweight and easy to handle. With its lightning-fast arrow speed of 315 feet per second, smooth draw cycle, and advanced grip design, the Cruzer G2 ensures an enjoyable shooting experience. Plus, with the RockStops offset string suppressors, it keeps noise and vibration to a minimum, ensuring a quiet and stealthy performance.

In summary, the Bear Archery Cruzer G2 is a good compound bow for beginners. Its versatility, adjustability, and accuracy make it a standout choice. Whether you're a seasoned hunter or a beginner target shooter, this bow is your perfect companion.

For latest prices, and more information about the Bear Archery Cruzer G2, click below!

Best Youth Beginner Compound Bow

Genesis Compound Bow

The Genesis compound bow has redefined archery for beginners and intermediates alike. These bows stand out with their innovative design, eliminating let-off and specific draw length requirements. This makes Genesis bows the perfect choice for archers of all ages, sizes, and athletic abilities.

One of the remarkable advantages of Genesis bows is their adaptability. The Original bow, for instance, can be easily adjusted as archers grow and improve their skills. With a provided 3/16" hex wrench, the draw weight can be safely lowered from the standard 20 lbs. to 10 lbs. This ensures that beginners won't develop bad habits due to using an ill-fitting bow.

Genesis bows cover a wide range of draw lengths, accommodating arms from 15" to 30". Built with a sturdy construction, including a machined 6061-T6 aluminum riser, aluminum cam and idler wheel, and composite limbs, these bows are built to last. With zero let-off, a cable guard, molded competition grip, and compatibility with standard accessories, Genesis bows offer a smooth shooting experience.

For latest prices, and more information on the Genesis Compound Bow, take a look below!

Best Beginner Compound Bow For Women

Diamond Infinite 305

Here's the Diamond Archery Infinite 305 compound bow - designed to accommodate archers of all ages and skill levels, this bow offers extreme adjustability and superior performance and is one of the top compound bows for beginners.

The Infinite 305 stands out with its hassle-free adjustability. Simply remove the module screws, adjust the draw length from 19 to 31 inches, and re-tighten—it's that easy. With a wide draw weight range from 5 to 70 lbs., this bow grows with you as you progress in your archery journey.

Built with premium materials, including an aluminum riser, aluminum cams, and top-quality strings and cables, the Infinite 305 ensures both accuracy and durability. Its torque-reducing design promotes consistent hand position, resulting in tighter arrow groupings and improved accuracy. Plus, the carbon construction effectively absorbs excessive string vibration and noise, offering a smooth and quiet shooting experience.

Fully equipped with accessories such as a Furnace 4-Arrow Quiver, Stryker 3 Pin Sight, Boost 5 Inch Stabilizer, Octagon Rest, Wrist Strap, and a 3 Strand Peep, the Infinite 305 is ready for action right out of the box. Experience the versatility, adjustability, and performance of the Diamond Archery Infinite 305 Compound Bow and elevate your archery game to new heights.

For latest prices, and more information on the Diamond Infinite 305, we have that as well!

Most Affordable Beginner Compound Bow

Bear Archery Royale

The Royale provides an ideal starting point, with a draw weight that begins at an easy-to-pull 5 lbs. and can be adjusted up to a more serious 50 lbs. as your young hunter grows in skill. The draw length is also adjustable, ranging from 12" to 27", and all adjustments can be easily made using an Allen wrench—eliminating the need for a bow press.

Equipped with a Trophy Ridge Mist sight, 5-Spot quiver, Whisker Biscuit, Fletcher Archery No Tie Peep, and a nock loop, the Royale comes fully prepared for hunting. Weighing only 2.7 lbs. (bow only) or 3.3 lbs. (with included accessories), it is incredibly lightweight and easy to carry.

Featuring a super smooth draw cycle with a 75% let-off, the Royale delivers exceptional performance. Arrows fly at an impressive speed of 290 feet per second, ensuring accuracy and power. The EnduraFiber Limbs provide controlled and lethal strength, while the RockStops offset string suppressor effectively eliminates noise and vibration.

In the end, this is a good starter bow for adults!

For latest prices, and more information on the Bear Archery Royale, we have that as well!

Things To Consider When Choosing A Compound Bow For Beginners

Draw Weight

Draw weight is one of the top things to keep in mind when purchasing a compound bow. 

I say this because if you're not able to safely and effectively pull back your bow, you're not going to be able to do anything else in terms of advancing your skills in archery.

Additionally, you want to make sure the draw weight range enables you to grow with the bow, especially if you're purchasing one when you're relatively young.

Aside from this, having a large draw weight range gives you the opportunity to hunt several different types of animals, as some require more poundage than others.

Pro Tip: Your knuckles should be at a 45 degree angle to the bow grip, meaning just the pad of your thumb is resting on the grip.

Draw Length

Similar to draw weight, draw length is another important point of consideration, but for a few different reasons. 

First, similar to draw weight, a proper draw length is going to enable anyone looking for the best beginner bow for archery to establish a sound shooting form. If you're going to take your first step into archery, you're going to want to learn how to shoot properly, and having a bow that fits you and your draw length is the first step.

A variable draw length bow also allows any beginner to keep the same bow over time, while maintaining the correct shooting from. As you start to grow, your draw length begins to change, and having a bow that adapts to this is going to be a necessity.

Let-Off

Once your draw weight and draw length are properly established, any beginner is going to want to evaluate the let-off percentage of your bow. 

The reason why compound bows are recommended so highly when first starting out in archery is because they are easier to shoot. To go deeper, they are easier to shoot because the archer does not have to hold the entire weight of the bow at full draw as compound bows use cables and cams to reduce the bow - what's called 'let-off'. But again, not quite as easy when compared to a crossbow...

I would recommend looking for a compound bow that has a let-off of 75%-80%, which is pretty common for today's bow manufacturers. Of course, going below this isn't bad. It's just going to be a little more difficult when establishing good shooting mechanics.

Budget

With any piece of hunting gear, the price of the product and the value you get from that product is going to be something every hunter thinks about.

Beginner style compound bows, while they do say 'beginner', aren't going to have a cheap price tag... most of the time. 

If you're going to spend any amount of money on a compound bow, I would make sure you pick something that has the versatility to last for years. In other words, try to purchase something with a wide range of draw lengths and draw weights, so you're not pigeonhole into something for just a season or two.

Beginner Compound Bow FAQs

1. What Is The Recommended Draw Weight For Beginners?

Take a look at the chart below for the recommend bow weight by age and gender:

Age	Segment	Weight Range (lbs)
8-12	Youth	10-16
12-14	Youth	14-22
15-18	Youth	24-28
18-21	Female	26-36
21-25	Female	30-40
25-30	Female	35-45
30-35	Male	40-50
35-40	Male	45-60
40-45	Male	50-65
45+	Male	55-70

2. How Much Is An Entry Level Bow?

Most entry level compound bows are going to cost between $200 and $400.

3. Are Compound Bows Good For Beginners?

Yes, compound bows are great for beginners for several reasons.

First, as mentioned above, compound bows have what's called 'let-off', something not found in traditional style bows like longbows or recurves.

Additionally, accessories such as bow sights and release aids, enable a beginner archery to learn quicker and establish more consistent shots early on.

4. What Do I Need To Know Before Buying A Beginner Bow?

Here are few things to know before buying a compound bow:

1. You're going to want a reliable archery shop once you start. Being around experienced and knowledgable archers is going to help you properly pick out your bow, get fitted to your bow, and provide easy insight into the world of archery.

2. You're going to need a place to practice. Either your backyard or an archery range.

3. Being good at archery takes time. After buying your bow, start learning about shooting basics and proper shooting form.

4. Shooting a bow has an initial upfront cost, but once you have your gear it's a relatively affordable sport to do.

Also, be sure to check out any compound bow beginners guides too!

5. What Is The Beginner Compound Bow Brand?

From my perspective, the best beginner compound bow brand is Bear Archery. They offer novice archers quite a few complete options with good price points, which minimize the barriers to entry.

One Thing To Remember...

Not All Bows Are Super Adjustable

When choosing a compound bow for beginners, I would highly recommend buying one that can be adjusted as you grow and as your needs change.

For most high-end bows from brands like Matthew, PSE, and Hoyt, you're not going to have a lot of adjustments when it comes to draw length and draw weight. Of course, you're are able to adjust the limbs and cams, but this will require purchasing additional parts from the manufacturer.

Many of the bows listed above have a wide range of adjustments for length and weight, and that's why they are great picks for any beginner. If you stay within this area, you should have something that will last for years and for several different hunting situations.

Answer: The first compound bow was invented in 1966 by Holless Wilbur Allen in North Kansas City, Missouri.

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