The 9 Best Archery Sets
Updated by · How we research
Recurve, compound and youth bow sets compared by draw weight, fit, hand and what's in the box. The Genesis Original leads for beginners of any age. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A first bow should pull lighter than you'd guess. New adult archers usually learn faster on 20 to 30 pounds than on hunting weight, because they can hold steady form for a whole session. This guide covers starter kits for adults and teens, compounds for future hunters and smaller bows for kids, and it flags which boxes skip the arrows.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Genesis Original moves to the top. It adjusts to fit nearly anyone from a fourth grader to an adult, and it's the bow school archery programs teach on, so a whole family can share it. The Bear Archery Brave stays for preteens.
Eight earlier picks are gone. The HYF Takedown Recurve, Crosman Elkhorn Jr., Crosman Sentinel, Bear Archery Scout, the TopArchery and Southland Archery bows and the older D&Q model were removed because of availability. The Siege SAS-750 went too, since it's down to one seller and very little owner feedback.
New picks fill the gaps readers ask about: three Sanlida kits for adult recurve, compound and target shooters, the cheaper D&Q Takedown Recurve, the procener Youth Recurve and the Bear Archery Spark for small kids. We weighed each maker's draw weight and draw length charts against what's actually in each box, since several sets ship without arrows, and searched the federal recall database for every brand.
April 02, 2021:
Whenever you or someone around you is practicing archery, caution must be taken and safety procedures should be observed at all times. Adults should always supervise younger generations and encourage responsible shooting. There are a number of sets aimed at youths and these are generally lighter with decreased tension, and rubber-tipped arrows can be purchased for safer use.
When updating our ranking, three sets caught our eye. First is the TopArchery 60-inch, with its excellent craftsmanship that looks like it belongs on a model several times the price. Its sculpted wooden handle is comfortable to grip, and it attaches to two flexible limbs that are made from a composite of fiberglass and bamboo. The set itself comes with a quiver, protective gear, and all the accessories that you need to get started, apart from targets.
Secondly, we included the HYF Takedown Recurve, with its perforated aluminum-magnesium alloy handle which is both light in weight and aesthetically impressive. Again, it comes with a host of accessories, and we approved of the 12 high-quality arrows and bow sight, which greatly improve the user experience. A handy multi-tool is included with the set to ensure that it is always kept in a serviceable condition and it easily collapses for storage.
Finally, we selected the D&Q 68-inch Takedown, as it immediately grabbed our attention with its laminated beech and pear wood riser, which makes it very comfortable to use for long periods while also protecting your bow hand from injury. All of the included accessories are of high quality, especially the eight arrows with fiberglass shafts that will stand up to many repetitive shots, and it is available in draw weights of 20, 30, and 40 pounds.
February 05, 2020:
Removed the Barnett Sportflight because of availability issues. Added the D&Q Survival.
Both the Southwest Archery Samick Sage and the Siege SAS-750 are excellent bows that, while quite accessible to novices, can easily be used to hunt thanks to their draw weights. Choosing between the two will amount to deciding whether you prefer to use a recurve bow (the Sage) or a compound bow (the 750). I tend to favor recurves because they are cheaper for the quality, simpler (and therefore have less parts that can fail), are easier to maintain, and feel more traditional. They are however more difficult to master and greater strength is required to use them than compound bows that produce similar velocities (I use a 55 pound Sage that is nearly impossible to use for most people).
One advantage of compound bows in general is that their draw weights can be adjusted at the cams whereas a non-takedown recurve has only one possible draw weight. This is not a limitation of takedown recurve bows like the Samick Sage whose draw weight can be adjusted by replacing the limbs.
Bows are extremely dangerous and should be used with great caution. Never point a bow at another person and never dry-fire a bow. Check your local regulations for restrictions on bow use and draw-weights.
Special Honors
USA Archery Club Finder The national governing body for Olympic-style archery lists clubs, coaches and beginner programs across the country. A lesson or two at a club with loaner gear is the cheapest way to learn the right draw weight and form before buying a set. usarchery.org
National Archery in the Schools Program NASP brings target archery into physical education classes for grades 4 to 12, using one standard bow so any student can shoot. Parents can check whether a local school takes part and find tournaments for students who catch the bug. naspschools.org
Recurve, Compound Or Youth Bow
Bear Archery sells the Spark for ages 5 to 10 and the Brave for 8 to 12.
Most starter sets are takedown recurves. The limbs bolt onto a center riser, so the bow breaks down for a closet or car trunk and you can buy stronger limbs later instead of a new bow. Most modern recurves are built this way, while one-piece bows are mostly a hunter's choice (Wikipedia: Recurve bow). A recurve pulls harder the farther you draw it, so a beginner feels the full weight while aiming.
A compound uses cams and cables. Most let off a large share of the weight at full draw, often 65 to 80 percent, which makes it easier to hold steady, but it's heavier, has more parts to adjust, and some changes need a bow press (Wikipedia: Compound bow). The Genesis Original is a learning compound with no let-off at all: it adjusts to any draw length from 15 to 30 inches and stays between 10 and 20 pounds, which is why schools use it.
Youth bows are shorter and lighter, and makers rate them by age as well as draw weight. Bear Archery sells the Spark for ages 5 to 10 and the Brave for 8 to 12. Light-up bows with suction-cup arrows are toys, not archery, and they're fine for preschoolers as long as only the included arrows are used.
Draw Weight, Draw Length And Which Hand
Draw weight is the force needed to pull the string back, quoted at a standard draw length, usually 28 inches (Wikipedia: Draw weight). If your arms are shorter, you'll pull a little less than the label; longer, a little more. More weight isn't better for learning. Archery guides warn that a 40-pound-plus bow wrecks form for most first-timers (Archery Power). A fair test: pick the weight you can draw smoothly and hold for a few seconds, ten times in a row. For most adults that's 20 to 30 pounds on a recurve.
Draw length decides bow length. Tall archers need a longer recurve, roughly 66 to 70 inches, so the string doesn't pinch at full draw, while kids and small adults do well with something shorter. That's why the Sanlida Noble is sold in six lengths.
Check the hand before you order. A right-handed bow is held in the left hand. Several adult recurves come only in right-hand versions, while sets with a molded riser often have an arrow rest on each side for either hand.
What The Box Leaves Out, And Staying Safe
Read the contents list closely. Some bows sold beside full sets come with no arrows or quiver, and most kits include just enough arrows to start. Arrows have to match the bow in length and stiffness, and compounds need arrows heavy enough for their draw weight; the common minimum is 5 grains of arrow weight per pound (Wikipedia: Compound bow).
You'll also need something to shoot at. A foam block or bag target stops field-tip arrows, and it should sit in front of a backstop such as a hill, a net or a solid wall of bales, with nobody beyond it. Paper faces pinned to cardboard won't stop an arrow.
Never dry-fire a bow, meaning release the string without an arrow. The stored energy goes into the limbs, which can crack and hurt the shooter, and compounds suffer worst (Wikipedia: Draw weight). Use a stringer to string a recurve, unstring it after shooting if the maker says to, and look over the limbs for cracks or splinters before each session. Kids need an adult watching every time. Bows aren't firearms under federal law, but hunting rules on draw weight, seasons and licenses come from your state wildlife agency.
How we researched this
We compared about 20 current bow sets and bows, rechecked every pick from the previous version of this list, read the makers' specification charts for draw weight, draw length and bow length, checked what each box includes, looked at owner feedback patterns, and searched the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall database for every brand. We found no independent lab tests of starter bow sets.
Frequently asked questions
What draw weight should a beginner get?
One you can pull smoothly and hold for a few seconds, ten times in a row. For most adults that's 20 to 30 pounds on a recurve. Kids need much less, often 10 to 20 pounds. You can add heavier limbs to a takedown recurve later.
Is a compound or a recurve better for a beginner?
A recurve is cheaper, simpler and teaches form, which is why most clubs start people on one. A compound is easier to hold at full draw but needs fitting. The Genesis Original is a compound with no let-off, so it teaches like a recurve.
What does takedown mean?
The limbs unbolt from the riser. A takedown bow packs small, and you can swap in stronger limbs as you improve instead of buying a new bow.
Can I hunt with an archery set?
Only if its draw weight meets your state's minimum for the game you hunt, and many beginner sets don't. Check your state wildlife agency for draw weight rules, seasons and licenses.
What else do I need besides the bow?
A proper target and a safe backstop, extra arrows matched to the bow, an arm guard and a finger tab or glove if they aren't in the box, and a stringer for a recurve.
Where can I learn archery?
USA Archery lists clubs and coaches, many schools teach it through the National Archery in the Schools Program, and local archery shops often run lessons and ranges.
