8 Best Youth Crossbow To Buy In 2023

Buying a youth crossbow can be hard, and finding the best one can be even harder.

That is why I made a list of the most popular and well-made crossbows out there that are suitable for children. I am sure you will find a crossbow on this list that is perfect for your needs.

Before we head into the best youth crossbow list, I want to mention a few things you should look at before your purchase. Buying a crossbow for an adult is one thing, but you should keep a few other things in mind when purchasing a youth crossbow.

Best youth crossbows reviewed and rated.

Here is the list of the best youth crossbows: There will be a crossbow for every age, so look through them all, and I am sure you will find something you and your youth will like.

For small kids, I would advise you to purchase the magnum enterprise wooden crossbow. It’s made in the USA, out of wood, and the bolts are equipped with rubber tips. This is a great option for smaller children who are not yet ready for real bolts and crossbow power.

The Crossbow is recommended for 14 years old and up, but I think it’s more suitable for even younger youths.

The length of the Crossbow is “23.5, and because of the wood material, the Crossbow should also be fairly easy to handle.

Overall this is a great crossbow for kids who are just starting. I would say it’s one of the best youth crossbows for 8-16-year-olds. After that, you can consider the crossbows mentioned earlier on this list.

2. Barnett Youth 30 Compound Crossbow – The overall Best

Recommended Age: 8+

BARNETT Vortex Lite Youth Compound Bow, 18-29lb Draw...

This is the best youth crossbow with a crank I found during my research; it is specially designed for youth to make it as safe as possible but still deliver the same effect and feeling you would get by using an adult crossbow.

The draw weight is adjusted to 30 lbs, which is perfect for a minor just starting. With 30lbs draw weight, every youth should be able to easily cock the Crossbow themselves without using extra accessories.

The Barnett youth 30 has an adjustable buttstock and finger reminders to keep your youth’s fingers safe during the shot.

However, if you are going to use this Crossbow for hunting, you need to check with the regulations in your area; due to the lower draw weight, this Crossbow can potentially be illegal to use for hunting.

This Crossbow, combined with the crossbow scope that comes with it, can shoot very accurate shots at short distances, but it will lack accuracy on longer ranges because of the low draw weight.

This is the perfect starter bow for those who can’t handle the bigger crossbows but don’t want a plastic toy. It’s price friendly, lightweight, easy to draw, and specially designed for youth. It isn’t much else you can ask for.

3. Barnett Recruit Terrain Crossbow 330 FPS

Recommended Age: 16+

Barnett CROSSBOWS Explorer XP 370 Crossbow Package with...

This Crossbow has a lot of speed and power but is still easy to draw and use. When you purchase a crossbow, you must make sure they can use it and draw the string.

I would advise not to buy this bow for youth below 16. This is an excellent crossbow, but it must be handled consciously and respectfully. In addition, the draw weight is a lot higher than the Barnett youth 30.

This Crossbow can follow if you purchase this one and your youth decides to continue the sport for several years. It’s an advanced and high-end crossbow that can perform extremely well. So there will be no need to purchase another crossbow for years ahead.

The draw weight of the Barnett recruit is 160 LBS, and the length is “37 from axle to axle. It suits younger adults because of the weight and the draw weight. No crossbows can give you such a great ratio between speed, draw weight, and weight as the Barnett.

As you may know, Barnett is one of the best manufacturers out there regarding archery equipment, so this is not some average crossbow; it’s a very high-end crossbow that is suited to last for years and perform like no other youth crossbow out there. But remember that this is not a crossbow designed for youth but for adults, which means it will be heavier to draw and handle.

4. Best Youth crossbow for the money – Parker Bushwacker Crossbow

Recommended Age: 12+

Parker Bushwacker Crossbow Pkg, 4x MR Scope

If your youth is looking for an advanced crossbow that he can use for years to come, this is a great alternative. I wouldn’t advise buying this for youth below 15 years old since it is a high lbs crossbow that can be fairly hard to draw.

If they are strong enough and old enough, I would recommend you buy them if the Barnet didn’t fall in taste. Overall, a great crossbow made of high-quality materials has proven incredible accuracy in the crossbow field.

It is a complete package with a quiver, four arrows, and a 4x multi-reticle scope! Which is more than you could ask for at this price point. If anything of the parts breaks, you are assured of a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer that got your back if anything goes wrong.

It’s also made in the USA, so you can also support your fellow citizens if you are from the USA.

5. XGear Crossbow

XGear 175lbs 285fps Crossbow Archery Bow Hunting...

The clear Crossbow is another lightweight crossbow that can do well as a youth crossbow, but the draw weight is high at 160 lbs, so this is designed for bigger kids with some extra power in their arms.

It is equipped with an anti-dry fire system that protects the Crossbow and makes it last longer by preventing dry fires, which can potentially cause damage to the Crossbow.

It comes equipped with a red dot sight which makes it a lot easier to shoot with, and as you can see in the picture, it comes with a string and a cocking rope which can be used to make the draw weight easier to handle.

If you decide to buy other crossbows in this list that don’t have a cocking rope included, it could be a great idea to buy them separately.

It comes with a quiver, bolts, string wax, and a padded sling. It has all you need in one package to get started.

I would NOT recommend this for youth under 16. This is a bigger crossbow with real bolts, so it could be dangerous if they aren’t up for the power and damage this Crossbow can do. If you have youth under 16, I recommend you look at the lower lbs crossbows we have mentioned on this list.

6. Barnett Jackal Crossbow

Here is another great crossbow that younger adults can use. As I mentioned earlier, Barnett has a lot of experience in the field, and their crossbows always reflect that with their high quality and performance.

This is the one if you are looking for the best youth crossbow for hunting. The Barnett jackal is specially designed for hunting with its high-speed performance and sleek camo design.

It is built with lightweight material, making it easy to carry and use. This is a huge benefit if you want to bring it along on your hunts because walking around with a heavy crossbow can tear you down quickly.

My favorite part about the Jackal is that it is a complete package. When your youth receives this amazon package, he will be ready to go out shooting from day 1. It has three arrows, a high-end red dot sight, and a quiver.

With 808 customers on amazon rating it as 4/5 stars overall, you can be sure that this Crossbow will perform well and last you for years.

What to look out for when purchasing the best youth crossbow

Safety Features

I dont know the age of your child, but one thing is for sure, it matters. The younger they are the more conscious you have to be. You dont want an unconcentrated kid handling a firearm, but if you have an automatic safety and an anti-dry fire system you can avoid most dangerous situations.

Price

The second factor is the price. As I mentioned earlier not all kids are dedicated to sticking with archery for a long enough time to make a big investment worth it. That is why we focused to give you a variety of crossbows in different price ranges and age ranges.

Weight

Lastly, you need to consider the weight of the crossbow. The smaller the kid, the lighter crossbow you want. It can be hard to keep the crossbow steady if its to heavy. So make sure to purchase a crossbow your kid can handle.

Now lets jump to the fun part, here is the list!

Extra equipment

Check to see what extra equipment that comes with the crossbow. A scope, quiver, and bolts are some of the essentials you would need to get started.

Other investments you should consider after the purchase is a bow release to improve accuracy and an archery target to shoot at, but before that let’s take a look at the list we have put together for you.

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