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How GearVetted scores compound bows

Each product on the compound bows scorecard gets one 0–100 score from the weighted formula below, computed only from published manufacturer specs and dated retailer records; we do not physically test products. The current table covers 20 products across 7 recorded spec fields, refreshed July 1, 2026.

Scale
0-100
Products
20
Fields
7
Updated
July 1, 2026

The weights

Compound Bows scoring dimensions, weights, definitions, and data sources
DimensionWeightDefinitionData source
IBO Arrow Speed26%Catalog rows list ibo speed fps from 290 to 348; higher numbers score better, and a missing value stays neutral.Ibo Speed Fps
Weight (Lighter Is Better)18%This dimension reads listed weight from 2.7 lb to 4.9 lb; lower numbers score better, while a missing value scores neutral.Weight
Brace-Height Forgiveness18%This dimension maps listed brace height from 6 to 6.75; top scale values score highest, and missing stays neutral.Brace Height
Axle-To-Axle Handling14%This dimension maps listed axle to axle from 27 to 32; top scale values score highest, and missing stays neutral.Axle To Axle
Draw-Length Adjustability Span12%Listed draw length range runs from 4.5 in to 16 in in the scored catalog; higher numbers score better, and unlisted values score neutral.Draw Length Range
Let-Off Comfort8%This dimension maps listed let off from 85% to 70-90%; top scale values score highest, and missing stays neutral.Let Off
Cam System Quality4%This dimension maps listed cam system from Fluid Cam to Synchronized Binary Cam; top scale values score highest, and missing stays neutral.Cam System
Total100%All dimensions above sum to the full score.Published score total
Compound Bows ibo arrow speed score breakdown for 5 ranked products by weighted scoring dimension. The top five compound bows are separated by 4 points; draw-length adjustability span is the tiebreaker. Score contribution by dimension IBO Arrow Speed (26%)Brace-Height Forgiveness (18%)Weight (Lighter Is Better) (18%)Axle-To-Axle Handling (14%)Draw-Length Adjustability Span (12%)Let-Off Comfort (8%)Cam System Quality (4%) 0255075100 #1 Diamond Archery Deploy SB: 71/100 #1 Diamond Archery Deploy SB 18181413 71/100 #2 Bear Archery Cruzer G4 RTH: 68/100 #2 Bear Archery Cruzer G4 RTH 1115141012 68/100 #3 Elite Archery Ethos: 68/100 #3 Elite Archery Ethos 2218138 68/100 #4 Diamond Archery Edge Max: 67/100 #4 Diamond Archery Edge Max 1117101311 67/100 #5 Bear Archery Redeem: 67/100 #5 Bear Archery Redeem 2213911 67/100 Compound Bows: weight x grade, 0-100 scale. GearVetted
  1. #1 Diamond Archery Deploy SB71/100Brace-Height Forgiveness 18 pts, IBO Arrow Speed 18 pts, Weight (Lighter Is Better) 14 pts
  2. #2 Bear Archery Cruzer G4 RTH68/100Brace-Height Forgiveness 15 pts, Weight (Lighter Is Better) 14 pts, Draw-Length Adjustability Span 12 pts
  3. #3 Elite Archery Ethos68/100IBO Arrow Speed 22 pts, Brace-Height Forgiveness 18 pts, Axle-To-Axle Handling 13 pts
  4. #4 Diamond Archery Edge Max67/100Brace-Height Forgiveness 17 pts, Axle-To-Axle Handling 13 pts, Draw-Length Adjustability Span 11 pts
  5. #5 Bear Archery Redeem67/100IBO Arrow Speed 22 pts, Brace-Height Forgiveness 13 pts, Axle-To-Axle Handling 11 pts
The top five compound bows are separated by 4 points; draw-length adjustability span is the tiebreaker.

What the score bands mean

Score bands80+ strong60–79 solidBelow 60 limited fit

  • 80+: strong marks on the heaviest dimensions with few weak lines in the listed specs.
  • 60–79: competitive on most scored inputs, with at least one clearly weaker dimension.
  • Below 60: trails this field on the inputs weighted most; the product cards list exactly where.

Source hierarchy

Published manufacturer specifications rank first, dated retailer records second; marketing claims without a checkable figure are excluded from scoring. Missing values never earn invented numbers; they are labeled “not listed - neutral 50” and take the neutral 50 grade the weight definitions describe.

  1. Mathewsmanufacturer evidence for 10 catalog fields
  2. Hoytmanufacturer evidence for 10 catalog fields
  3. Bowtechmanufacturer evidence for 10 catalog fields
  4. Diamond Archerymanufacturer evidence for 10 catalog fields
  5. Bear Archerymanufacturer evidence for 9 catalog fields
  6. Bass Pro Shopsretailer evidence for 16 catalog fields
  7. Extreme Outfittersretailer evidence for 15 catalog fields
  8. Bear Creek Archeryretailer evidence for 16 catalog fields
  9. Scored product catalog20 compared products
Compound Bows freshness timeline showing source retrieval dates and the separate regeneration date. GearVetted source ledger tracks compound bows with 9 retrieval records, retrieved 2026-07-01. For compound bows records, the regeneration date marker is separate from source retrieval dates and reads 2026-07-03. Source freshness ledger Dots are source retrieval dates; the amber marker is the separate regeneration date. Mathews: retrieved 2026-07-01 Hoyt: retrieved 2026-07-01 Bowtech: retrieved 2026-07-01 Diamond Archery: retrieved 2026-07-01 Bear Archery: retrieved 2026-07-01 Bass Pro Shops: retrieved 2026-07-01 Extreme Outfitters: retrieved 2026-07-01 Bear Creek Archery: retrieved 2026-07-01 Scored product catalog: retrieved 2026-07-01 Regenerated 2026-07-03 2026-07-012026-07-03 Compound Bows keeps retrieved and regenerated dates distinct.

Regenerated 2026-07-03; source retrieval range 2026-07-01.

  1. Bass Pro Shops2026-07-01Source record
  2. Bear Archery2026-07-01Source record
  3. Bear Creek Archery2026-07-01Source record
  4. Bowtech2026-07-01Source record
  5. Diamond Archery2026-07-01Source record
GearVetted source ledger tracks compound bows with 9 retrieval records, retrieved 2026-07-01. For compound bows records, the regeneration date marker is separate from source retrieval dates and reads 2026-07-03.

Update history

  • Rankings rebuilt from the refreshed catalog: 20 compound bows re-scored on 7 published spec fields.

Back to the compound bows scorecard