Best Youth Bows for Archery

Archery practice is an effective way to teach kids to enjoy the outdoors and stay fit and healthy. It also shows them, through their own growth and improvement, the importance of practicing a skill regularly.   Whether it’s your own child, a niece or nephew, or the kid of a family friend, passing on the skill of archery should be one of your top priorities as a passionate archer.  Of course, back in the day, kids had to make do with hand-me-down bows and arrows that would, quite often, tend to be far from a perfect fit. But today, there are bows tailored just for children of all shapes and sizes, which makes it a lot easier for them to really get into the sport.  If you’re unsure which one to pick up, take a look at the best youth bows for archery. 

1. Genesis Original Bow:  The Best Youth Bow for Archery

The Genesis Original happens to be the official bow of the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) and it’s a great start for kids of all sizes, shapes, and ages. It’s also designed to reduce the let-off force to zero, which means kids can hold it at full draw without having to worry about it going off prematurely.

Draw length requirements are quite flexible with this bow, meaning that the bow adjusts superbly to the growing archer. This also makes it ideal for everyone, regardless of skills or athletic ability. The aluminium base and composite limbs make for a very robust bow that happens to be both lightweight and durable.

And finally, the draw weight is just 20 pounds, which can be further reduced to 10 pounds, causing minimal strain on the muscles of a growing kid.

2. PSE-Guide Junior Compound Bow:  A Perfect Youth Bow for Archers 10 and Above

This bow is perfect for archers aged 10 and above and it comes with some spiffy accessories like a quiver and an armguard. And if archery practice involves donning a quiver of arrows and putting on a neat armguard, no kid would avoid practice sessions!

The draw weight of the PSE-Guide ranges from 12 pounds to 29 pounds, and the length goes from 16 inches to 26 inches, making it easier for an archer to adjust their game as they grow.

While this bow is quite basic and provides a smaller range to work with, it’s ideal for beginners and can be a great start for target practice. The Guide even comes with finger guards pre-installed on the string, so you don’t have to worry about getting finger tabs or any other guard for your kid.

3. Bear Bullseye X Recurve:  

This beauty from Escalade sports has a more traditional look than the other bows on this list and it’s quite sought-after by kids who love the culture of archery and are looking for that authenticity in the craft.

Of course, it’s designed for older, more experienced children, and should ideally be used by kids aged 12 years and above. However, it’s still quite comfortable, with a 25 pound draw weight and an overall length of 48 inches.

This simple bow comes with a sight and arrow rest as well and is made from hardy, lightweight multi laminate material.

4. Bear Cruzer G2:  A Great Youth Bow for Archers of All Ages

This super-versatile bow was made to handle kids of all skills, sizes, and ages. But it’s not just versatile for the archer; it can be used in many ways, from hunting to bow-fishing.

The Cruzer G2 is also remarkably flexible yet sturdy, allowing for optimum weight distribution for kids of all sizes. With a draw length adjustability between 12 inches and 30 inches, and a draw weight of 5 to 70 pounds, it’s one of the most malleable bows on the market!

To top it off, this piece weighs only about 3 pounds and can shoot at a startling speed of 315 feet per second.

5. Barnett Vortex

If you aren’t sure whether your kid will take a liking to archery or not, and you want to invest a smaller sum but still get a lot of value, the Barnett Vortex is perfect.

It’s got a lot of the features of other youth compound bows, but it’s relatively smaller and not as adjustable. Of course, it’s a starter bow, and not really meant to grow with the archer; this bow will introduce them to the world of archery and can help them decide if they’d like to pursue it.

But, even being less adjustable, it offers upto a 45-pound draw weight and a draw length of 21 to 27 inches, with a 70% let-off mass.

The main downside to this bow is that it’s made only for right-handed archers.

6. Diamond Edge SB-1

Diamond was one of the companies that pioneered youth bows, and they’re still one of the most popular in the market today!

The SB-1 is definitely one of the more popular youth bows out there and it’s perfectly suited for kids at any level in the game. Whether a kid is just starting out or happens to be a budding pro, the SB-1 caters to all. Its rotating modules allow for a draw-length range of upto 15 inches, which can really help kids slowly build up strength while training their accuracy.

This highly versatile bow even comes with a 63-pound limb adjustment making it highly-customisable. To top it off, it’s got the most accurate and sought-after binary cam system on the market today, providing unmatched accuracy to its users.

Take Your Kid With You

When you’re going to pick up a youth bow for a kid, it’s best to take them along with you and have them test out a few pieces before settling on one.  That way you will get for your child the best youth bow for archery

Of course, it’s important for your kid to be comfortable during archery. But a kid is more likely to take up the sport if they find a bow that really resonates with them; one that they think looks cool and has a neat finish.   If your kid picks up a bow that they love, they’ll probably fall in love with the sport as well.  Just make sure to choose one of the best youth bows for archery from above.  Also check out your target options here.