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Inside Archery Best Buy Awards

These are the finest products available,as voted on by archery retailers nationwide.

By Bowhunt America Staff

Within the archery industry there is tremendous competition for doing things better. That competition is particularly intense in the area of products. Everyone wants to create a better product. Some actually do.

The truth is that hundreds, if not thousands, of new archery and bowhunting products are offered every year. Some are indeed better. Others, not so much. 

Years ago Inside Archery created the prestigious Best Buy Awards Program to do two things. First, the program was designed to single out and recognize those archery and bowhunting products that have proven to be exceptional. Excellence deserves recognition.

 

Second, the Inside Archery Best Buy Awards were created to help archery retailers clearly identify specific products which enable archery retailers to boost their own sales and profits, right along with the satisfaction levels of their customers. It is genuinely difficult to sort through all the products available and determine what merchandise to order and stock. This annual Inside Archery awards program enables archery retailers, through their votes, to share information on what’s working best for them and their customers. 

 

 To recognize product excellence and share that information, every summer Inside Archery surveys a wide range of archery retailers from one end of the country to the other, gathering information on which products sold best throughout the year. For 2010, retailers responded by selecting Best Buy winners in a broad range of popular product categories.

 Top vote-getters in each product category are listed as “2010 Best Buys.” In a few of the most fiercely contested categories, the final tally was so close that Best Buy ties were declared. Tied winners are listed in alphabetical order. “Honorable Mention” winners soundly captured the hearts of many retailers. “High Praise” winners also received significant numbers of votes.

 Plenty of voters also jotted down straightforward comments on their ballots concerning their selections. A representative sampling of those comments is included along with these award presentations. In the archery industry, competition does create excellence.

 

 

Compound Bows Retailing Over $600

Best Buy:    

BowTech Destroyer, Hoyt Maxxis, Mathews Z7,
PSE X-Force Axe 6

Comments: The BowTech Destroyer brings speed, great looks and a quiet shot together. My customers tell me the Hoyt Maxxis is the most accurate bow they’ve ever shot. The Mathews Z7 looks racy and shoots even better. PSE’s X-Force Axe 6 is both very fast and very adjustable.

Honorable Mention: Bear Attack, Diamond IceMan FLX, Mission Voyager

 

High Praise: Alpine Silverado, APA Black Mamba 6.5, Elite Judge, Quest Primal

 

Compound Bows Retailing Under $600

Best Buy:                            

Bear Assault, Diamond Stud, Hoyt TurboHawk, Mission Eliminator II, Parker Inferno, PSE Bow Madness

Comments: Bear Archery’s Assault is all about style with lots of speed. The Diamond Stud is a smooth-shooting wonder. The Hoyt TurboHawk performs like a much more expensive bow. Mission’s Eliminator II is light, short and quality-made. The Parker Inferno delivers speed and power for a great price. PSE’s Bow Madness has speed, power and promo support.

Honorable Mention: Quest Smoke, Alpine Frontier

 

Crossbows

Best Buy:

Barnett Predator, Parker Tornado HP, TenPoint Turbo XLT

Comments: The Barnett Predator is seriously fast. Parker’s Tornado HP is short, light and power-packed. The TenPoint Turbo XLT has the best-feeling stock of any crossbow and the best cocking device.

Honorable Mention: BowTech StrykeForce, Carbon Express Covert XB, Excalibur Vortex, Horton Vision, PSE TAC 15,  Wicked Ridge Invader

 

Kids’ Compound Bows

Best Buy:                               

Mathews Genesis, Mission Menace

Comments: The Genesis is capable of fitting nearly anyone who walks in my shop, young and old. The broad draw-length adjustability of the Mission Menace makes it one of the most versatile bows going.

Honorable Mention: Bear Apprentice, Diamond Razor Edge, Fuse Freestyle, Hoyt Trykon Jr., Parker SideKick Extreme, PSE Discovery 2

High Praise: Bear Brave, Diamond Nuclear Ice

 

Traditional Bows

Best Buy:

Hoyt GameMaster II

Comments: My customers are comfortable with this traditional bow. The feel of tradition with high-tech looks and performance.

Honorable Mention: 3Rivers Dalaa, Bear Super Kodiak, Bearpaw Bodnik Bows Redman, Martin Howatt Hunter, PSE Mustang, October Mountain Mountaineer, Samick Spikeman, TradTech Titan

 

Total-Containment Arrow Rests

Best Buy:

Trophy Ridge Whisker Biscuit

Comments: Simple to set up and it shoots great. Never a worry for me or my customer with Whisker Biscuit.

Honorable Mention: APA Twister, NAP QuikTune 360, Octane Hostage Pro

 

Open Fall-Away Arrow Rests

Best Buy:

Mathews DownForce, Muzzy X-Celerator

Comments: The Mathews DownForce is the perfect arrow-rest match for a quality Mathews bow. No bothersome cord with a Muzzy X-Celerator.

Honorable Mention: AAE Avalanche Extreme, Alpine Whisperflite, Cobra Diamondback, G5 Expert II, NAP Freedom, Octane TripWire, Spot-Hogg Whammy, Sure-Loc Bear Trap, Trophy Ridge DropZone, Trophy Taker Pronghorn, Vapor Trail LimbDriver

 

Containment Fall-Away Arrow Rests

Best Buy:

QAD Ultra-Rest HD, Ripcord CodeRed

Comments: The QAD Ultra-Rest looks better and always performs. Just love Ripcord’s new CodeRed with its convenient, quiet, red over-molding.

Honorable Mention: NAP Apache Capture, MidAtlantic Tri-Van Vanishing Rest, Trophy Taker Xtreme FC Angled Slot

 

Front-Pivot Expandable Broadheads

Best Buy:

NAP Spitfire Edge

Comments: Reliable quality. Looks wicked and always opens. The rough, tough, deadly expandable.

Honorable Mention: Carbon Express F-15 Expandable, Grim Reaper, MidAtlantic X-System, Sullivan EXP, Trophy Ridge Steelhead XL

 

Rear-Deployment Expandable Broadheads

Best Buy:

Rage SlipCam, NAP BloodRunner

Comments: Rage rocks! Rage flies like a dart and cuts monster holes. The NAP BloodRunner can’t fail. The BloodRunner is everything in one broadhead.

Honorable Mention: G5 Tekan, Smoke Broadhead, Trophy Ridge Meat Seeker, Tru-Fire Switchblade

 

Chisel-Point Fixed-Blade Broadheads

Best Buy:

Muzzy MX-3

Comments: Tried-and-true Muzzys! My most-asked-for broadheads. 100-percent reliable.

Honorable Mention: NAP Thunderhead Edge, MidAtlantic Crimson Talon XT, G5 Striker, Slick Trick, Tru-Fire T1, Trophy Taker Shuttle T-Lock

 

Blade-Point Fixed-Blade Broadheads

Best Buy:

G5 Montec CS

Comments: The gold standard for this sort of broadhead. Tough as nails. Tough, accurate, deadly.

Honorable Mention: 3Rivers Woodsman Elite, Carbon Express F-15 Fixed, Magnus Stinger, Muzzy Phantom SS, NAP HellRazor, Slick Trick RazorTrick

 

Bag Targets

Best Buy:

Morrell Yellow Jacket Supreme F/P

Comments: Looks better and lasts longer. My bag-target customers ask for Morrell. The trusted bag targets.

Honorable Mention: Delta Speed Bag, McKenzie TuffStop, Magic Stop Targets, SpyderWeb Targets  

 

Foam Targets

Best Buy:

Rinehart 18-1

Comments: An incredibly durable broadhead target. Sure-easy arrow removal and it lasts and lasts.

Honorable Mention: American Whitetail Cube, Big Green Broadhead Pro, Field Logic Block Fusion, McKenzie ShotBlocker, Morrell Six Shooter, Viper Barrel

 

3D Targets

Best Buy:

McKenzie Targets

Comments: The most realistic 3D targets ever. They look super and stand up to lots of shots.

Honorable Mention: Delta Targets, Field Logic GlenDel Buck, Rinehart Targets

 

Multiple-Pin Hunting Sights

Best Buy:

Axcel ArmorTech-HD, TruGlo XTreme Compact, Viper Diamondback

Comments: The Axcel ArmorTech-HD is bombproof and ultra-precise all in one. TruGlo’s XTreme Compact is the right size and packed with features. The Viper Diamondback has everything my bowhunters want.

Honorable Mention: Apex Axim, Cobra Python, Copper John Dead Nuts 3 Mark I, Extreme RT900, Fuse Pilot, G5 Optix Rock, Spot-Hogg Bulletproof, Sure-Loc Lethal Weapon 2, Toxonics Wranger

 

Single-Pin Hunting Sights

Best Buy:

Viper Quickset MicroTUNE, TruGlo Range Rover

Comments: Viper’s Quickset MicroTUNE moves more precisely. The TruGlo Range Rover always pleases.

Honorable Mention: Cobra King Cobra LT, Copper John Dead Nuts 3 Mark II, Extreme TS-Hunter, Sure-Loc Sportsman’s Special, Toxonics ProSlider

 

Competition Sights

Best Buy:

Axcel AX3000, Sure-Loc Supreme

Comments: The Axcel AX300 really is a spot-shooting marvel. Sure-Loc’s Supreme is what our pros prefer.

Honorable Mention: Copper John A.N.T.S., Toxonics Double Lock

 

Attractant Scents

Best Buy:

Tink’s #69

Comments: Trusted by my customers. The buck lure bowhunters ask for.

Honorable Mention: Muzzy Scrape Juice,Robinson Still Steamin’ Premium Lure,Wildlife Research Golden Estrus

 

Scent Eliminators

Best Buy:

Wildlife Research Scent Killer

Comments: The trusted odor eliminator. Stock it, sell it.

Honorable Mention: Invisible Hunter, Robinson Scent Shield, Tink’s Vanish

 

Hunting Arrows

Best Buy:

Carbon Express Maxima Hunter, Easton ST Axis N-Fused, Gold Tip XT Hunter

Comments: The Carbon Express Maxima Hunter is especially accurate for everyone. Easton’s ST Axis N-Fused are hands down the toughest carbon arrows available. Gold Tip’s XT Hunters are fast and durable.

Honorable Mention: AMG Smart Shafts, Beman ICS Hunter, Carbon Tech Whitetail, PSE Radial X Weave, Lumen-Arrows

 

Hunting Releases

Best Buy:

Tru-Fire Edge, T.R.U. Assassin

Comments: Tru-Fire’s Edge has a pleasingly small head and all sorts of trigger and strap options. The T.R.U. Ball Assassin is especially trim and precise.

Honorable Mention: Cobra R1, Carter Lucky, Scott Rhino XT, Jim Fletcher Insider, Hot Shot Infinity

 

Hunting Quivers

Best Buy:

Fuse Satori, Kwikee Kwiver

Comments: My customers love the high-tech way the Fuse Satori quivers look and work. Kwikee is still the standard in bowquivers.

Honorable Mention: Alpine Bear Claw, Bohning Lynx, G5 Mag-Loc, Mathews ArrowWeb, Octane BantamWeight, Rage Ghost, Tight Spot

 

Hunting Stabilizers

Best Buy:

Stokerized Stabilizers

Comments: Racy new stabilizers! Raising the bar for both target and hunting stabilizers.

Honorable Mention: Alpine MR2, Bowjax Maxjax, Doinker Chubby Hunter, Fuse Axium, Hi-Tek V.O.I.D, TruGlo Tru-Block, Vibracheck Flexxtech

 

Hunting Silencers

Best Buy:

Bowjax Ultrajax

Comments: Super effective and they last. Work better and last longer.

Honorable Mention: Mathews Monkey Tails, Sims LimbSavers/String Leeches

 

Fletching

Best Buy:

Norway, Gateway Feathers

Comments: Norway vanes are so much easier to fletch and the new Norway Fusion Vanes are the best short vanes. Gateway Feathers are the preferred feather by those in the know.

Honorable Mention: Arizona Archery Enterprises, Bohning Blazer, Flex-Fletch, Goat Tuff Opti-Vane, NAP QuikSpin

 

Treestands

Best Buy:

Big Game

Comments: Light, durable, affordable treestands. Great, tough treestands.        

Honorable Mention: Family Traditions, Gorilla, Lone Wolf, Rivers Edge, Summit

 

Ground Blinds

Best Buy:

Primos Double Bull Dark Horse

Comments: The ground blind everyone wants. Easy to set up and take down, with great windows.

Honorable Mention: Eastman Undercover, Ameristep Signature

 

Bowhunting Clothing

Best Buy:

Robinson Outdoors ScentBlocker, Scent-Lok

Comments: ScentBlocker clothing provides an edge for my customers. Scent-Lok is trusted, proven scent-control clothing.

Honorable Mention: W.L. Gore/Sitka

 

Scouting Cameras

Best Buy:

Bushnell Trophy Cam

Comments: Perfect pictures and great video too. Easy to use and reliable.

Honorable Mention: Cuddeback, Moultrie, Stealth Cam, Wildgame Innovations, Wildview

 

Bowhunting Binoculars

Best Buy:

Leupold Mojave

Comments: Superb quality and performance in the field for the money. Trusted Leupold quality.

Honorable Mention: Bushnell Legend, Nikon Monarch

 

Bowhunting Rangefinders

Best Buy:

Bushnell Scout 1000

Comments: Bright, easy-to-use and read rangefinder. Compact and completely reliable.

Honorable Mention: Leupold RX, Nikon Archer’s Choice

 

Bowhunting Packs

Best Buy:

Sportsman’s Outdoor Products

Comments: Great packs at reasonable prices. Packs with all sorts of innovative features.

Honorable Mention: Badlands, Blacks Creek Guide Gear

 

Bow Cases

Best Buy:

SKB

Comments: Today’s standard for hard bow cases. Rough, tough cases that don’t weigh a ton and look good too. 

Honorable Mention: Lakewood, Plano Bow Guard, Pole Mountain, Sportsman’s Outdoor Products, Vanguard Saberlock

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