7 Best Budget Recurve Bows in 2023 (Review)
Get the best budget Recurve bow for your next archery experience. Discover and compare the most affordable options in this guide.
Get the best budget Recurve bow for your next archery experience. Discover and compare the most affordable options in this guide.
Recurve bows are compact and more powerful than traditional longbows, yet they’re easier to use and maintain than compound bows. In many ways, recurve bows combine the original historical design of wooden bows with modern features such as bow sights and peep sights, making them the best of both worlds.
Here, we review some of the top recurve bows in the market. We have selected these recurve bows with cost and performance in mind. However, we haven’t compromised on quality.
Whether you’re a beginner hoping to practice your aim or an experienced archer looking to get your hands on some shiny piece of archery tech, these recurve bows are the best of the best bows you can find in the market.
At the end of the day, our top choice was the Ambidectrous combat archery recurve bow.
1. Ambidextrous Combat Archery Recurve Bow – BEST OVERALL
- 25Lbs Draw weight Takedown Recurve Archery Bow with stringer
- Suitable for Left & Right Handed
- CE & ASTM Certification Approved
How about a recurve bow that can be used by left-handed people and right-handed people alike! The WOARCHERY Combat Archery Takedown Right-Left HandedRecurve Bow is an ambidextrous bow that can be easily held by either hand. The bow is well-built and offers a draw weight of 25lbs. This draw weight may not be enough for hunting, but the WOARCHERY Recurve Bow is good enough for practice. Here’s a guide on how you can adjust the draw weight for better performance of your bow.
The bow has a draw length of 32 inches. This, and the relatively lower draw weight, makes this recurve bow ideal for children of ages 12-18. However, don’t let this fool you into thinking that this bow is not for serious archery.
This is a takedown recurve bow, which makes it quite easy to carry. The libs can be easily attached and reattached to the riser. The bow also comes with a stringer to safely string and unstring the bow and a hex wrench to assemble and disassemble the bow. The bowstring also comes with nocking point beads attached.
Most Notable Feature: Lightweight
Its lightweight and compact but offers amazing archery, making it perfect for short-medium range target practice. You can make up for the lower draw weight by using lighter arrows. However, lighter arrows experience more air drift which makes them less than ideal for outdoor shooting. However, for indoor practice, this shouldn’t be a problem.
FEATURES
- Right/Left handed
- 25 lbs draw weight
- CE & ASTM Certification Approved
- Strong nylon bow riser, and fiberglass laminated bow limbs
PROS
- This bow is ideal for teenagers and for indoor target practice, but it can also be used in LARP games as it does not pose a lot of danger.
- The riser is made of nylon, whereas the limbs are made of fiberglass. These high-quality give the bow a sturdy feel
- The manual included with the bow is pretty well-written and easy to understand. It makes assembling the bow look like a piece of cake. The bow riser is available in five different colors.
- Since the bow is ambidextrous, anyone can use the bow.
- Well-built with high-quality materials
- Incudes a stringer making it safe for children to string and unstring the bow
CONS
- This bow cannot be customized. You can’t add sights or any other equipment to the bow.
- The bow also does not include a quiver of arrows, and you’ll have to purchase arrows and a quiver separately. You might check the best bow quiver in the market today.
- The bow also does not include a bag, and you’ll have to purchase a bag to carry the bow in separately.
2. PSE Precision Shooting Equip Razorback – BEST RELIABLE STABILIZER
- CRAFTED FROM HARDWOOD - Made from hand-selected Walnut,...
- RELIABLE STABILIZER – The built-in stabilizer of the...
- SIGHT BUSHINGS - Sight bushings provide increased optimal...
The PSE Archery Razorback Recurve Bow is surprisingly well built, considering its price. The bow has a riser made from carefully selected walnut wood, beechwood, and Burma white wood, whereas the limbs are made from fiberglass and hard maple.
Designed particularly for new learners, this bow has built-in stabilizers that absorb shock and minimize vibrations. This also improves the bow, and you’ll notice that the PSE Razorback Recurve Bow makes significantly less noise than some other bows.
Since this bow is designed having beginners in mind, it is extremely easy to assemble and disassemble and does not require any tools. You can join the riser and the limbs without even having to read the manual.
The bow does not allow you to add any sights or accessories, but the bow has sight bushings that increase visibility and allow you to keep a consistent line of sight. Without this feature, you wouldn’t know where to aim from and might have to mark a location on the raiser to aim from yourself. This would still not provide any extra visibility.
Most Notable Feature: Stabilizers
The primary advantage of a stabilizer is consistency. When the bow is released, the stabilizers allow the limbs to straighten in a consistent manner which allows shots consistent with each other.
Without stabilization, the two limbs might release slightly differently each time an arrow is shot. This will not only increase variability in arrow speeds but also, perhaps, more importantly, would result in shots that have a vertical error inaccuracy. This is because any imbalance in power supplied by the limbs results in an asymmetric release, making the arrow go either up or down. (1)
This feature makes this bow perfect for people trying to learn to aim or to improve their aim because consistency is the most important factor for improvement. Aiming is mostly an instinctive process. And you learn instincts by subconscious feedback loop mechanisms that help your brain recognize the “good” practices from the “bad” ones. When you shoot a good shot, you get a rush of joy. But there’s a lot more going on in your subconscious. Your brain responds to the positive feedback and attempts to note down whatever you did that improved your aim. Something similar happens when you miss the target by a large amount. Your brain attempts to note down whatever you did differently that resulted in such a bad shot. This way, little by little, you gain instincts for aiming.
However, if your bow does not shoot consistently and has a lot of random errors, the shots will miss the target even when your aim is accurate, and sometimes, it will hit the target even when your aim is wrong. This will result in poor feedback that will cause no improvement in aiming.
Hence, stabilizers make this bow perfect for people learning to aim.
FEATURES
- Left handed
- Hardwood
- Reliable stabilizer
- Best for beginners
PROS
- Easy to assemble and does not require any tools
- Sight bushings allow increased visibility and consistent line of sight
- High-quality materials, durable and good-looking
- Limb stabilizers minimize vibrations, shock, and noise while also improving consistency
CONS
- Does not allow sights or accessories
- Not powerful enough for hunting
3. Ragim Archery Black Bear Recurve Bow – BEST COMPACT BOW
- Exotic Padouk Wood Riser/Body
- This bow has inserts for attaching sights, stabilizer and...
- 58 inch size is compact and easy to maneuver when hunting
The Ragim Archery Black Bear Recurve Bow is one of the more exotic-looking traditional bows available. The Recurve bow features a black body with a bright red riser, and red limb ends. Even you never use this bow. This art piece is worth a buy for its pure beauty.
However, the Ragim Black Bear Recurve Bow is not only good for display. The bow limbs are made of fiberglass, whereas the riser is made of wood. The bow is technically a longbow with a slight recurve, which allows it to use a 58″ bowstring. The sheer size and toughness of this bow are enough to surpass the power of the most high-end Recurve bows.
The Ragim Black Bear is made in Italy, and you can count on its durability. You can also attach sights to the bow. The high performance of this, combined with its simplicity and ease of use, makes it an elegant choice for hunting.
Most Notable Feature: Design
While this bow is quite practical with impressive specs and features, we couldn’t help but declare the bow’s strikingly attractive design as its most notable feature. The design alone makes this bow irresistible not to buy once you set your eyes on it. A bow like this would be perfect for LARP games.
FEATURES
- Left handed
- 58 inch; 45 lb
- Black fiberglass lamination
- Made in Italy
PROS
- Fiberglass body
- Exotic look
- High draw weight
- Easy to maneuver
- Customizable sights can accessories can be added
CONS
- A one-piece bow that cannot be taken down
4. Samick Sage – BEST BUDGET
- SIZE – the Samick Sage Recurve bow is 62” long, 28”...
- INCLUDES: Riser - 2 Fiberglass laminated limbs - 14 Strands...
- HAND ORIENTATION - Right Handed - Hold the bow with your...
Samick is one of the most trusted recurve bow manufacturers in the market, and they have been producing quality bows for over 45 years.
If you’re truly looking for a bow on a budget that has it all, this bow is the one you want. This 62” bow comes with an arrow rest and a bowstring. However, it has room for all kinds of different upgrades and customizations.
If you’re a long-range shooter, you can add a single pin or a multi-pin sight and customize the sight for different ranges. If you want improved accuracy, you can place stabilizers for the limbs and improve your aiming skills. You can even add a quiver to the bow.
The bow also provides the Samick Sage hunting kit. The kit includes an adjustable 3-pin sight, an arrow rest that can significantly improve your arrow flight, and a level that allows you to see if the bow is perfectly horizontal.
The level is quite important for sights since sights account for a vertical drop. If the bow is tinted tone side (say left), the arrows shot will fit a little bit left to the target. This is because the sight will try to make up for the drop by shooting the arrow a little bit above the target, but the tilt of the bow will turn the “upward” direction a bit to the left.
The bow is made from hard maple, which not only makes the bow sturdy and durable but also provides it with a high draw weight of 55 lbs. One thing we really like about the Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow is that the draw weight is customizable. To support this draw weight, the Samick Sage Recurve Bow comes with a 14-strand Darcon recurve string which lasts long even while enduring such high string tension.
You can separately buy limbs of different lengths to increase or decrease the draw weight.
There are eight options you can choose from:
- 25 lbs
- 30 lbs
- 35 lbs
- 40 lbs
- 45 lbs
- 50 lbs
- 55 lbs
- and 60 lbs
You can also buy multiple limbs of different draw weights for different people that use the bow. However, this recurve bow is not ambidextrous and has a different parity designed for left-handed and right-handed shooters, respectively.
Most Notable Feature: Customizability
The Samick Sage Recurve Bow allows unmatched versatility enabled by its interchangeable limbs, which not only allows you to change the bow’s size but also its draw weight. The bow also has brass bushings that allow you to attachments, including bow sights, quivers, stabilizers, and tons of other accessories. Usually, bows with this many options are designed for pros and are quite difficult to use and maintain. However, the Samick Sage Recurve Bow is designed ergonomically for beginners and intermediate shooters.
FEATURES
- Right handed
- Ergonomically designed
PROS
- A brass bushing that allows various attachments
- Comes in a wide range of sizes and draw weights
- Different draw weights are available and suitable for children as well as adult hunters
- Stabilizers optional
CONS
- Not ambidextrous and can only be used by either right-handed or left-handed people
- The string might be too long for smaller limbs
5. SAS Explorer Metal Riser – BEST BOW FOR THE MONEY
- High Strength Casting Aluminum Riser
- Carefully Polished Finish Riser
- Strong Fiberglass Limb Made of Maple
The Explorer Metal Riser Recurve Bow by Southland Archery Supply is named pretty neatly when you consider its specs. The bow is designed to be thin and lightweight, which makes it quite easy to carry. However, the bow is quite strong and has a draw weight of 34 lbs. This bow, as the name suggests, is designed for people who want to stay outside for long periods of time. Hence, the bow is resistant to the elements and UV rays. (2)
Also, as the name expresses, the riser on this bow is made of aluminum. This further decreases the weight of this already-this bow. This is also unlike most bows that have a wooden riser. An aluminum riser makes the SAS Explorer Metal Riser Recurve Bow completely water-resistant and shielded from other elements. People who go on long hunts or people who go on hikes and want to carry a bow for secondary reasons will really appreciate these features. The limbs are also weather-resistant and made from strong fiberglass.
This bow is also perfect for backyard training too as it’s quite resistant against everyday wear and tear. The limbs are quite difficult to break. One downside is that the bow is only available for right-handed shooters.
The SAS Explorer Metal Riser is also available in other draw weights, which are 22 lb, 26 lb, and 30 lb. The aluminum raiser is available in red and blue finishes.
Most Notable Feature: Easy to Carry
The SAS Explorer Metal Riser has a particularly thin and light design which makes it quite easy to carry. This is also a takedown bow, which means that the limbs can be detached from the riser allowing the bow to be carried compactly.
FEATURES
- Right handed
- Casting aluminum riser
- Carefully polished
- Recommended shooter for up to 6′ height
PROS
- Durable and resistant to elements
- Light and easy to carry
- Available in different draw weights
CONS
- Does not allow sights or accessories
- Draw weight might be too low for hunting
6. SinoArt Lion Takedown Recurve Bow – BEST COMFORTABLE EXPERIENCE
- Not to use the 70lb limbs with arrows less than 900grains.
- Designed for RIGHT HANDED shooters.
- HAND ORIENTATION: A right handed bow will be held in your...
The SinoArt Lion doesn’t only sound and look like a predator but is also the deadliest recurve bow on this list. This is a takedown bow which means that the limbs can be attached and detached from the bow. The SinoArt Lion bow also offers a variety of limbs, the strongest of which has a draw weight of 70 lbs. We will talk extensively about the implications of such power in a bit.
The riser is designed to be lightweight yet strong. All the edges are rounded off to offer a more comfortable experience.
The bow is only meant for right-handed people, however. This does not mean that the bow is to be held in the right hand. Quite the contrary. The right-handedness or left-handedness of a bow is defined by the hand you use to draw an arrow while holding the bow.
The package includes a riser, two bow limbs, a bowstring, two nocks for the bowstring, and a stringer. The bowstring has 14 strands which allow it to endure the high strength of the 70 lb version of the bow. The stringer is a pretty nice addition to this purchase. The stringer allows you to string or unstring the bow easily without any risk of hurting yourself. A stringer is a must-have for such high draw weight bows as the SinoArt Lion Takedown Recurve Bow.
Most Notable Feature: Draw Weight
Other things being equal, a higher draw weight means higher arrow speed. But there are some nuances related to the physics of how bows and arrows work that makes it a bit more complicated than this. Note that even the most experienced archers don’t know these nuances about draw weights, but we think it’s pretty useful to know these.
- Bows with higher draw weights deliver more energy into arrows. And this relationship is linear, i.e., if you double the draw weight, the energy also doubles.
- While it is true that a higher draw weight means higher arrow speed, this relationship is not linear. We will spare you the exact mathematical model of the relationship, but if you double the draw weight, the arrow speed only increases about 40%. Theoretically, to double the speed, you need to increase the draw weight by a factor of 4.
- You can also increase the speed by using arrows with smaller masses.
- Arrows traveling faster experience less drop than arrows traveling slower. This is because the amount of drop directly depends on the time it takes for the arrow to reach the target and not the distance of the target.
- Lighter arrows experience more air drag than heavier arrows. But, for the same draw weight, heavier arrows travel much slower. This can be overcome by increasing draw weight by the same percentage as the increase in arrow weight. For example, if you increase your arrow mass by 40%, you will also need to increase the draw weight by 40% to retain the same speed as before you increased the mass.
In light of these facts, the higher draw weight of the bow can be used to lower the drop, increase your arrow’s kinetic energy, increase arrow speed, and decrease air drag. However, not all of these improvements may be available to you at the same time, and you may have to choose what improvements you want and what can you let go of.
If you’re a beginner or an intermediate shooter who is still learning to shoot, I would recommend trying to limit the drop by using light arrows.
If you’re an experienced shooter, I would recommend using denser arrows to limit air drag which is way harder to predict than drop.
Because of their high draw weight, higher draw weight Recurve Bows can be dangerous if not used properly. You should never draw and fire the bow when there is no arrow drawn. This is called dry firing and can cause a lot of damage to the bow and the shooter. Similarly, arrows with too little mass can cause similar damage. Therefore, it is advised that you don’t use arrows of less than 900 grains with a 70 lb bow. Last but not least, you should never try to shoot an arrow if you suspect the bow is cracked as it can cause serious injury.
FEATURES
- Right handed
- 62 inches bow with 70 lbs weight
- Can be bought with separate limbs for easy weight adjustment
PROS
- Wide draw weight range
- 70 lbs draw weight available
- Limbs can be attached and detached
- Thoughtful design
- Comes with a stringer
CONS
- It may be dangerous for beginners
- 70 lb limbs may be hard to find
7. BEST SET RECURVE BOW: Spyder and Spyder XL Takedown Recurve Bow
- Construction: We’ve combined four naturally sourced woods...
- Specs & Uses – Available in both Left Hand and Right Hand...
- Kit Includes: SWA Spyder Bow, Bow String, Arrow Rest, Hard...
This takedown bow is an amazing choice if you’re looking for a bow that’s a complete package. Both the Spyder and the Spyder XL Recurve Bows sip with a whole archery set which includes a takedown recurve bow, carbon arrows, stringer, bow case, an arrow rest, and an armguard. The price of this product is higher than other entries on this list, but if you were to buy all the items included with the Spyder Recurve Bow, it would cost you a lot more.
The bow is perfect for children as well as adults as it has a wide range of draw weights to choose from. The bow comes in draw weights from 20 lbs to 60 lbs with increments of 5 lbs.
Most Notable Feature
The accessories included with the bow are all from Spyder and are made from high-quality materials. The 3 premium carbon arrows are f lengths 31.5″ and have 4″ feathers. The bow case is airline-approved and can be locked. It also has compartments for different accessories that you might add. The quality is top-notch, and the bow comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty.
FEATURES
- Both left and right handed
- Combined by naturally source wood
- Lightweight
- A bow for everyone
PROS
- Takedown bow
- Wide draw weight range
- 1-year warranty
CONS
- The set does not include a sight
- It may prove difficult to assemble for the first time
As this list proves, budget recurve bows don’t have to be made from low-quality materials or designed by new players in the market. You can get some amazing deals with some of the most high-end features, even on a budget. Whichever one you choose from this list, you can count on its quality and durability. (3)
References
(1) imbalance in power supplied – https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/voltage-unbalance
(2) UV rays – https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/uv-radiation-safety/index.html
(3) players in the market – https://www.britannica.com/topic/marketing/The-marketing-actors
