If you are just starting out on your archery or hunting journey, one of the first things that you would consider is purchasing a bow. You would often ask around to find out what is the best recurve bow for beginners. However, with so many different types of bows on the market, choosing a good beginner recurve bow can be a challenging task.
But with our handy guide to the 5 best beginner recurve bows, you will be one step closer to getting your hands on your own bow.
Reviews of the Best Beginner Recurve Bows
1. Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow
Best Overall
Affordable
Easy to assemble (no tools needed)
Wide range of draw weights
Reinforced limb tips for string upgrades
Relatively large
String upgrade required
Widely regarded as a great starter recurve bow, the Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow is an affordable 62-inch bow with a riser that is of very high quality. You do not have to stress out about putting the bow together when you receive it, because it is relatively easy to assemble.
It comes with reinforced limb tips that are made of hard maple with black fiberglass, so that you can opt for string updates.
The ergonomically designed bow comes pre-installed with brass bushings to attach accessories. So, if you decide to doll your bow up with accessories such as a bow sight or arrow rest, you can do so with this bow!
For beginners, this bow comes in a wide range of draw weights. This means that when you just start out, you can work on your form with a lower weight, and as you grow stronger and more stable, you can slowly edge up to a full hunting weight.
For lefties out there who find it hard to find a recurve bow for beginners, this bow comes in right-handed and left-handed options. Couple this with its wide range of draw weights and you get a bow that is suitable for a wide range of archers.
One drawback of this bow is that archers with a smaller build may find this bow to be a little large. At 62 inches, the Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow is great for users who are 5 foot 11 inches tall and up.
2. Southwest Archery Spyder Takedown Recurve Bow
Best Lightweight
Lightweight
Comes with a riser, limbs, arrow rest
Right hand bow and left hand bow option
Tools required to assemble
Slightly pricey
The Southwest Archery Spyder Takedown Recurve Bow is made up of high-quality materials incorporating four types of wood. The bow, similar to Samick Sage, is 62 inches, and manufactured in a wide range of draw weights.
It is a good entry level bow that is good for left-handed users and right-handed users, as the manufacturers provide both options.
The Southwest Archery Spyder Takedown Recurve Bow is also good for both men and women up to about 5 foot 11 inches tall and up to 29-inch draw lengths. The bow has a riser that is comfortably molded to shape the hand, and is able to fit many accessories if you need them.
The Southwest Archery Spyder Takedown Recurve Bow is considerably lightweight, and is good for beginners who are looking for a manageable recurve bow.
Furthermore, when you purchase this bow, you will get a riser, a pair of limbs, one 14 Dacron string, and an arrow rest. This means that you do not have to separately source for accessories: a perfect archery set for beginners.
However, if ease of assembly is important to you, you may want to note that some beginners found it hard to assemble this bow, because some tools are required to put it together and take it down.
3. SAS Courage
Best Size
3 year warranty
Right hand bow and left hand bow option
Slightly smaller
Limb tips not reinforced
Tools required to assemble
If you are looking for a bow to shoot or hunt traditionally, SAS Courage may be the one for you. The bow comes with a laminated wood riser, limbs that are constructed with 2 different types of wood and coated with high strength fibreglass, and a pre-installed brass brushings for additional accessories.
SAS is known as a popular manufacturer of quality bows and has been serving hunters and bowmen alike for well over a decade.
The SAS Courage has a draw weight of 35 lbs to 60 lbs, and is available in both left and right orientation. At 60 inches, this bow is slightly smaller than the other beginner recurve bows in the market, hence it is a good option for users with a smaller build.
Users also cite that this bow is easy to assemble. However, because you would require tools to disassemble SAS Courage, many users do not recommend it as a bow that you would want to be taking down the road.
When you purchase the SAS Courage, it comes along with accessories such as a string and a stick on rug style arrow rest. However, you should also know that the SAS Courage does not come with preinstalled bushings for you to attach your accessories.
The bow also comes with a 3-year warranty from its manufacturer.
4. Toparchery Archery Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow
Best Hunting Bow
Durable
Quiet
Good for big games
No left-handed option
No accessories provided
The 56-inch Toparchery Archery Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow is another great option for an adult beginner bow.
With it, you get a high Strength Casting Aluminum Riser. This means that the bow is very nicely polished and offers excellent performance. The strong fibreglass limb of this recurve bow is made of maple, giving it a nice sleek finish.
The limbs on this recurve bow can be purchased separately. You can increase or decrease its weight as needed. This way, you can avoid having to purchase an entirely new set of bow.
In addition, if you are going to be hunting large games, you would be glad that the Toparchery Archery Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow is great for hunting up to large games. It can perform excellently in hunts.
For beginner hunters, Toparchery provides an instruction book for you to read up on how to use the bow safely and correctly. Your purchase will also come with a carrying bag so that you can easily bring your bow around to your different hunting adventures.
If you are left-handed, however, this may not be the bow for you, as it is only available in a right-handed option! Some users also did not like that the bow does not come with accessories. This means that you have to purchase your accessories separately!
5. Easton Youth Beginner Recurve Bow Kit
Best Bow Kit
Provides ample accessories
Ambidextrous
Ideal for beginner archers
Hand shock
Vibration
The Easton Youth Beginner Recurve Bow Kit is a modern bow that is stable and powerful. The bow sports an eye-catching design and is made specifically as a basic and introductory model for recurve bow hunting. It features a lightweight, slim, polymer technology riser and durable glass-reinforced limbs
With it, you will get a smaller-size bow for children aged 8 and up. The 1.3 lbs and 52-inch bow can be drawn up to 26 inches. It also has a low draw weight of 10 to 20 pounds, a perfect weight for children. If your kid is just starting out on his/her archery journey, this is the perfect way to start.
The Easton Youth Beginner Recurve Bow Kit is conveniently sold in a package in the form of recurve bow kits. This means that you will not have to separately purchase accessories and equipment, making this a good option for beginners. Accessories include three arrows, a hip quiver, three arrows fitted for the bow, an arm guard, and a finger tab.
In addition, the recurve bow has an ambidextrous design, so it is good for both right-handed kids and left-handed kids! However, do note that some users claim that you would feel a fair bit of hand shock and vibration with this bow.
How to Choose the Best Beginner Recurve Bow
When you just just start out as an archer, you would start by looking for a good recurve bow. The question of “what is the best beginner recurve bow?” becomes much harder to answer when we realize that different users have different needs and preferences.
Generally, when looking for a good beginner set, you should look out for draw weight, bow size, bow weight, riser material, handedness, limbs, accessories and assembly.
Draw Weight
Pulling back on a bow and holding the draw to aim your shot takes strength. The draw weight of the bow determines how much strength you need to take a shot. Choosing the draw weight of a bow, you have to consider your sex, build and general strength. It also depends on your experience level.
If the bow’s draw weight is too high the bow will overpower you and this will affect your technique. Beginners should start with a low draw weight so that they can easily pull with good form.
Bows such as the Samick Sage Takedown Recurve and the Southwest Archery Spyder Takedown Recurve Bow are manufactured in a wide range of draw weights and can thus be used by a wide range of users.
Read up more on how to find your draw weight!
Bow Size
For a bow to be manageable for you, you should get one in an ideal size for you. To estimate your ideal bow size, you need to know your draw length. Simply put, the draw length refers to how far you pull the bowstring back during every shot.
It is essential that beginners choose the right length because it is necessary in order to attain and maintain the proper stance.
Bow Weight
It is important to consider bow weight, especially if you intend to use and carry the bow for extended periods of time. This is also particularly important for hunters with a smaller build. If this is a priority for you, you may consider lightweight options such as the Southwest Archery Spyder Takedown Recurve Bow.
Riser Material
The riser of your bow is where you grip it, where you place your arrows when you’re about to draw and where you attach other important pieces of equipment to your bow. Risers are usually made of wood or metal.
Most manufacturers choose to construct the riser from wood, but modern fiber and aluminum risers are becoming more popular. Bows with risers that are made of metal are able to reduce vibrations transferred to the bow when shooting and can therefore produce more efficient and silent shots. So, if staying silent is a priority for you, consider bows with metal risers.
Handedness
It is important to discern if you need a right-handed bow, or a left-handed bow. Simply put, if you hold the bow in your right hand and use your left hand to pull the string, you are left handed. Conversely, if you hold the bow with your left hand and use your right hand to pull the string, you are right handed.
Some recurve bow options such as the Samick Sage Takedown Recurve and the Southwest Archery Spyder Takedown Recurve Bow come in both options.
Limbs
As a beginner, it would be good to choose a bow that has replaceable limbs. With a limb that can be replaced, you will be able to increase or decrease the draw weight according to your skill level and strength, without having to replace the whole bow.
Accessories
As a beginner, it is always good to have the option of purchasing full starter kits. These kits come with all the necessary accessories, saving you the trouble of having to buy them separately. The Easton Youth Beginner Recurve Bow Kit is conveniently packaged as a kit.
Assembly
Some recurve bows can be assembled and disassembled without tools. On the other hand, others require some tools that are most of the time provided. Some people may not find it a hassle to have to use tools, but others find themselves forgetting to bring their tools along with them while hunting.
So be sure to take into consideration your preference for the assembly of your bow when you are picking a beginner recurve bow for yourself.
Maintaining Your Beginner Recurve Bow
When you purchase a recurve bow, you want it to last for a long time. For it to last, you have to maintain it!
You should only stop maintaining your beginner bow when you feel that you have outgrown your bow, you can check out our guide to the best recurve bows on the market.
Here are some tips for you to maintain your bow well:
Scrubbing the bow
Before you can begin to maintain your bow, you have to remove the bowstring. Add a small drop of an automotive polishing compound to a clean and soft cloth. Scrub your bow to remove any dirt or mildew.
Then, wipe away the polishing compound using another towel. You may choose to buff the bow with furniture polish for a sleek finish.
Waxing the Bow String
It is important to wax your bow string on a regular basis. This prevents it from fraying, retains twists, and adds a waterproof element to the string. It is one of the best ways to maintain the integrity of a bow string.
Say No to Spray Lubricants
Spray lubricants produce droplets that introduce and attract dirt to your bowstring. Therefore, opt for a silicone-based lubricant to care for your bow.
FAQs
Conclusion
The Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow is the overall winner for the best beginner recurve bow. It is a good beginner set with a wide range of draw weights, ergonomic design, ease of assembly, reinforced limbs, and suitability for different users.
The Southwest Archery Spyder Takedown Recurve Bow similarly comes with all the features of the Samick, but you have to assemble it with tools.
For a takedown recurve bow kit, consider Easton Youth Beginner Recurve Bow Kit.