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5 Best Youth Compound Bows for 2023

Posted by Andy Ryan

Posted at March 12, 2023

 

This article will help you to find the best youth compound bow. We at archery power have tested and reviewed these youth compound bows, so you don’t have to.

Our youth camp has given us plenty of experience with youth compound bows, and we’ve used it to put together a list of our favorites. It’ll be easier than ever for you to find a compound bow to fit your kid and budget.

A compound bow is a perfect combination between a recurve bow and crossbow, which is why it’s one of our top choices for kids getting into archery.

Best Youth Compound Bows – Top Picks and Recommendations

1. Genesis Original Bow – Best Overall

If you are looking for the ideal compound bow for your kid, the Genesis Original Bow should be your go-to pick. It is the official bow of the National Archery in the Schools Program. This shows that the Genesis Bow has all the attributes required of youth compound bows.

Apart from being ideal for kids, it can also be used by beginner adults. Your kid can use this compound bow until they reach the point of using a real bow. Below are a few features that make it a great bow to spend money on.

Top-Notch Construction

The Genesis Original is used as a product to bridge to normal compound bows. However, this does not mean that it is a weak bow. It is made from 6061-T6 aluminum, a reliable and durable material. 

Another perk of the Genesis Original is its lightweight design. Any teenager can hold it steadily without losing balance or shaking. Besides, its design allows beginners to begin shooting without having to do a lot of tuning. The only downside to this compound bow is that it can’t be used for hunting. 

Easy to Use

The Genesis draws smoothly, and most importantly, it feels well-balanced. It comes with a single-cam system that is easy to use. Your kids won’t have to deal with hard recoils when using this bow. Moreover, it is designed to be quiet and accurate. 

This awesome compound bow has limbs that can be adjusted to increase or reduce the draw weight. It also has a comfortable grip that allows you to hold the stalk. Besides, the Genesis Original is one of the easiest compound bows to maintain. 

Pros

• It has a low draw weight suitable for kids
• It has a draw length of between 15 to 30 inches
• Great for righties and lefties
• Lightweight
• It has a single-cam system that reduces noise

Cons

• It cannot be used for hunting.

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2. Bear Archery Brave 3 – Budget Option

The Bear Archery Brave III is also a great compound bow for kids who love shooting arrows. Its design makes it easy to handle, especially for children eight years and above. So, if your kid wants to accompany you in the field, you can buy them the Bear III compound bow.

With this bow, they will have everything required to get into archery. It also comes from one of the leading local brands. Let’s check out what makes Brave 3 a decent youth compound bow.

Great for Beginners

One of the things that makes this compound bow a great buy is that beginners and youths can use it. It has a simple design that does not require a lot of tuning or adjustments. It’s the perfect choice for newbies looking to join archery and hunting. And even with its simplicity, this bow has all the features and attributes of a real compound bow.

Build Quality

Although we don’t expect youth compound bows to last for long, the Brave III defies all odds with its high-quality construction. This awesome bow will grow with your kid until they become an avid archer.

It comes with durable composite limbs and a riser, which will serve you for quite some time. The only problem I noticed with the Brave 3 bow is that its string becomes loose after adjusting the draw weight. 

Awesome Features

The Brave 3 is a great compound bow simply because it has plenty of features to help you make precise shots. With the purchase of the Brave 3 bow, you get an armguard, Whisker Biscuit Arrow Rest, pin sight, two-piece arrow quiver, and a temporary tattoo. 

This bow has a draw weight of 18 to 25 lbs and a draw length that ranges from 18 to 20 inches. Moreover, it has an axle-to-axle length of 26 inches, which means kids can use it conveniently. It’s important to note that the Brave three is only available in the right-hand model.

Pros

• It has a variable draw length and weight
• Lightweight 
• Great for beginners
• It comes with plenty of features
• Durable

Cons

• The string is substandard

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3. Barnett Vortex Youth Compound Bow – A Great Runner-Up

The Barnett Vortex is a great entry-level compound bow that almost every teen can handle. It is only available in the right-handed version, but it is a high-quality bow that kids can use right from the box.

Most beginners will find this bow ideal for archery since it can be customized to suit their needs. I recommend this model for youngsters who are ten years and above. It is also designed to accommodate small-built females. Let’s look at what makes the Barnett Vortex a good purchase.

Versatility

When buying a compound bow, you must choose one that can serve various purposes. This will save you the hustle of buying more than one bow.

Luckily, the Barnett Vortex is all about versatility. It can be used by teens, beginners, and females. Besides, it has enough poundage to take down fish in the water. It comes with pre-drilled holes that attach to a bow fishing reel. So, this youth compound bow can be used for fishing and target shooting.

Shootability/Draw Cycle

The Barnett Vortex does a good job of shooting arrows. It is known to make accurate shots and, most importantly, be smooth to draw. Although it is an entry-level bow, you can enhance its performance by investing in a good arrow rest, high-quality arrows, a stabilizer, and a good sight. 

It has a draw weight that ranges from 16 to 45 lbs. You can adjust the draw weight without using a bow press. The package has an Allen wrench that should help you adjust the poundage. Make adjustments as required to avoid ruining the bow or even causing injuries.

The Barnett Vortex allows for draw length adjustments ranging from 21 to 27 inches. Make sure you work the cam modules slowly to avoid damaging them. You will only need a press to adjust the draw length and draw weight when you want to set them at the lower or upper setting. 

Finally, the Barnett Vortex offers a 60-70% let-off, which is enough for starters to learn proper shooting without being pulled forward by the bow’s power.

Pros

• A great starter bow
• Offers wide adjustability
• Available at an affordable price
• It has a nice camo finish.

Cons

• It comes with a cheap arrow rest and arrows.

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4. Bear Archery Cruzer Lite Compound Bow

As you might know, the Bear Archery has quite several high-quality compound bows to its name. The Cruzer Lite is among the best in the Bear Archery Lineup, and surprisingly, it is ideal for young people.

The Cruzer Lite has awesome tenability, allowing youth to use the bow easily. Drawing and shooting at 45 lbs will help kids to develop good form. Below are a few features that make it a great youth compound bow.

Build Quality

Undoubtedly, the Cruzer Lite features high-quality construction that will serve you long. Every part of this compound bow is built to perfection. For starters, the riser is made from machined aluminum, making it one of the strongest and most precise risers you’ll ever use.

You will also note the axle-to-axle length is quite compact, making it ideal for young archers. Moreover, the riser is integrated with a string stop system that keeps the string from hitting the archer’s arm. 

Most archers love that the Cruzer Lite utilizes the vintage design of the cable slide system since it is compatible with the 45-lb maximum draw weight. 

Dual Cams

Unlike most compound bows, the Cruzer Lite has dual cams that offer easy adjustability. They provide a smooth draw, which is great for young archers.

Unfortunately, the lack of aggressiveness on the cams reduces the top-end speed. In addition, most compound bows with a dual cam system are characterized by a sloppy back wall. Of course, this won’t bother youth, but it will be a pain for most experienced users.

Great for Bow Hunting

As you might have noticed, most youth compound bows; they do not have what it takes to hunt game animals. Fortunately, the Cruzer Lite is on a different level and has enough tenability.

This bow is quite easy to use for hunting because it does not require too much strength to fire an arrow. Kids as young as seven can deliver a killer shot using the Cruzer Lite. 

It offers a draw length adjustment of 12 to 27 inches and a draw weight adjustment of 5 to 45 lbs. It also has a 6-inch brace height, allowing kids to make accurate shots.

Another good thing is that the compound bow delivers 70% let-off in poundage. Your kid will be able to hunt effectively without minding the distance.

Pros

• Lightweight
• It has a short and sturdy design that is ideal for kids and youths.
• Has great speed
• It offers plenty of adjustments.

Cons

• The back wall is not solid enough

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5. Diamond Infinite Edge Pro – Our favorite premium option

If you still haven’t found a compound bow suitable for your kid, you might consider looking at the Diamond Infinite Edge Pro. It is a great bow regarding versatility, reliability, efficiency, and power. These attributes alone explain why the Diamond Infinite Edge is one of the best sellers.

Even with all its amazing features, it has a low price tag that almost everyone can afford. There is no doubt that the Infinite Edge Pro is a great entry-level compound bow for the price. Let’s learn more about this bow so that you can make an informed decision. 

Incredible Performance

Although the Diamond Infinite is ideal for youth, it is well-known for delivering incredible performance. This bow can take down most animals you can think of. You have to set it well, and it will deliver enough poundage to shoot arrows at a speed of 310 feet per second. 

This is possible when you set up at 70 lbs of draw weight and a draw length of around 28 inches. Combine those setting with 400-grain arrows, and you will be in a good position to take down large animals such as elks and bears.

Incredible Features

Although the Diamond Infinite is sold at a pocket-friendly price, it has plenty of features. For instance, it has two cams that offer incredible speed, accuracy, and nock travel. As you know, a bow with twin cams is easy to maintain and, most importantly, very quiet. With this awesome compound bow’s low noise and recoil, your kid can harvest deer easily.

Once you purchase the Diamond Infinite Edge Pro, you will get the following accessories:

• Three-Pin Apex Sight: This scope might not be the best, but it is great for newbies who want to join archery. It is fairly bright, so it will get the job done. 
• Comfort Wrist Sling: Comfortable on the wrist and easy to modify.
• Octane Hostage XL Arrow Rest: Reliable and accurate as long as it is tuned right
• Octane DeadLock Lite Quiver: Holds arrows tight and is very sturdy
• Tube Peep Sight: New archers will find this tube peep sight ideal until they gain more experience. 
• Octane Ultra-Lite Stabilizer: This durable and lightweight stabilizer helps eliminate vibrations and noise. 
• BCY String Loop

Adjustability 

With the Infinite Edge Pro, you can make plenty of adjustments. For starters, it has rotating modules that provide three ranges of settings: A, B, and C. Each letter is characterized by its set of draw lengths and weights. Setting “A” delivers optimal performance, while setting “C” lowers the settings to the minimum.

Pros

• Great for hunting
• Grows with kid
• Highly adjustable
• Available in right or left-hand models

Cons

• A bit heavy

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6. Barnett Tomcat Compound Bow

Have you struggled to keep your kids away from the TV or smartphone? The Tomcat Compound bow is exactly what you need to keep them busy. This model is available in the right-hand model only and is always ready to shoot right out of the box.

The Tomcat is manufactured in China, but Barnett Crossbows handle everything else. This bow is exactly what your kid needs to get into hunting and archery.

Bow Package Contents

The Tomcat has plenty of accessories to help put the bow to maximum use. These accessories might not be the best, but they get the job done for beginners.

For starters, it comes with a 3-pin fiber optic Brightglo sight, which is adjustable. The package also has an adjustable arrow rest, but unfortunately, it is made from cheap plastic, so that it won’t last long.

You will also get the Soft Touch Finger Rollers, which protect your kid’s fingers. This accessory also acts as the nocking point for arrows. This compound bow also comes with two 25-inch Fiberglass arrows that are perfect for youth archers. Finally, it has a pre-drilled hole that you can use to set up a stabilizer.

Noise Level

The Tomcat model is not an elite bow, but you will be surprised at how quiet it is when blasting arrows. The noise only gets real when you lower the draw weight, which is normal with all bows. 

High-Quality Construction

Like most Barnett compound bows, the Tomcat model is well-made and feels sturdy. It meets the Archery Manufacturers’ Association and Archery Trade Association standards. Although it is meant for youth, you will notice that it feels professional and mature, just like the elite models.

This compound bow has a net weight of around 3 lbs, which is ideal for young archers. Besides, its ATA (axle-to-axle length) ranges from 26 to 28 inches, depending on the poundage setting.

Draw Cycle

The draw and shooting cycle of the Tomcat is soft and smooth, making it a great bow for kids. Depending on the archer’s skill, the Tomcat is accurate up to 20 yds. Its draw weight ranges from 17 to 22 lbs, ideal for kids younger than 11. Finally, it has a draw length that ranges from 20 to 22 inches.

Pros

• Very affordable
• It can be used for bow fishing.
• Lightweight

Cons

• Your kid will outgrow it pretty fast
• Some of its accessories are flimsy

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Features to Consider When Buying a Youth Bow

Choosing a compound bow meant for youth might seem easy, but it cannot be easy. For this reason, I have compiled a list of factors to consider when shopping for a youth compound bow.

Once you consider these factors, you can choose a bow that suits your kid’s needs. These are some features we looked at to choose the best youth bows for this list.

Size & Weight of the Bow

Kids should be comfortable while shooting. This means that you have to consider the size of the bow. It should match your kid’s arms so they can shoot an arrow accurately. If you want your kid to grow into the bow, you can buy a slightly larger one, so they enjoy using it for longer.

Weight plays a major role when dealing with youth compound bows. Remember that young archers do not have a lot of physical strength to handle heavy bows. A lighter bow will come in handy if you are dealing with a kid under ten years old. On the other hand, you can purchase a slightly heavier bow if you are looking for something that your kid can grow into.

Draw Weight & Draw Length

Kids need a bow that they can handle, which is why you should consider drawing weight. Below are some of the bow draw weight recommendations that should guide you when purchasing a compound bow:

• 15-52 lb draw weight- Ideal for kids aged 9 to 18 years
• 10-29 lb draw weight- Ideal for average-size kids aged between 4 to 9 years

The draw length is the distance from the riser to the nock point. Most youth compound bows have draw lengths that range from 14 to 25 inches. Although there is no standard draw length, you must get it right so your kid can use it easily.

Kids between 3 to 10 years old should be fine with a draw length range of 14 to 25 inches. Larger kids 9 to 19 years old should do well with a draw length range of 15 to 30 inches.

Package Deal

Archery is one of those sports that depend on several accessories. You can choose to buy a complete bow package that comes with everything you need to start.

The only limitation with bow packages is that most of the accessories are cheap and flimsy. You can get a good deal by purchasing accessories that offer better performance. All in all, beginners can choose the available package options to save time and money.

Left-Handed/Right-Handed

As you might have noticed in the review section, I have indicated if the bows are right-handed or left-handed. If your kid is right-eye dominant, you should buy them a right-handed bow.

The opposite applies to left-eye-dominant individuals. Right-eye dominant individuals should hold the bow with the left hand and draw the string with the right hand, and vice versa for left-eye dominance.

Design & Color

The final factor to consider is the design and color of the bow. Compound bows have varying designs depending on the brand and model. Make sure your kid decides which design they like before you add any item to your shopping cart.

Finally, these bows are available in different colors, which should also be your kid’s choice, depending on their preference.

Youth Compound Bow Safety Tips

This roundup post would be incomplete if we failed to highlight some safety tips a kid should follow when using a compound bow. As much as archery is an interesting sport, deadly weapons are used, which calls for safety measures.

Some parents may question the safety of archery, but the truth is that it is extremely safe when done right. Below are some safety tips you should follow to keep your kid out of harm’s way.

Introduce Archery at the Right Age

One of the simplest ways of ensuring your kid is safe is by introducing them to archery at the right age. Kids eight years and above can easily learn what archery requires. At this age, most kids can follow instructions, pay attention, and, most importantly, hold and draw a bow.

Some kids might not be ready at eight, so you should wait until they are strong enough to use a compound bow.

Supervise Your Kid

While kids older than eight years can follow instructions, you should keep monitoring them as they learn how to shoot arrows. Spending time with your kid will keep them safe and help them learn the sport quite quickly.

Use Protective Gear

Investing in protective gear is another way to ensure your kid is safe. Make sure your kid wears an arm guard made from thick material. An arm guard protects their arm from getting hit by a bowstring.

Only Aim at Your Target

Kids should be reminded that they should only aim at their targets. Do not allow kids to fire arrows randomly because of the risks involved.

Refrain From Dry Fires

Dry firing is one of the quickest ways to damage a bow. Remember that releasing a bow string transfers all the energy to the bow, which may cause some parts to become weak. Teach your kids not to do it, or you will have to invest in a new bow more often.

Remind Kids to Stay Behind the Line

As you know, it is imperative to always stay behind the line when archers are firing arrows. Kids get overexcited and sometimes want to cross this line, exposing themselves to potential danger. 

Always Inspect Archery Equipment Before and After Use

This is an important safety rule that all archers should follow. No one should use a bow without inspecting it. Always check whether the bowstring is properly attached and the steadiness of the limbs and riser. You should also make sure that the arrowhead is properly fastened. Every accessory should be in good working condition to avoid accidents.

Always Have a First Aid Kit

As much as archery is considered safe, it is equally important to be prepared for emergencies in case they arise. Always carry a fully-stocked first aid kit and have emergency contact info ready.

Conclusion

That sums up what you need to know about the youth compound bows. Now you have all the important info you need to introduce your kids to archery and choose one of the best youth compound bows.

You can count on any of these bows to do a good job. Just make sure your kids observe safety when using them.

If you liked this article, check out the crossbow pistol.