The crew at HuntStand has once again completed their annual field test of the best compound hunting bows of the year. It’s a thorough test that places each bow through in-depth testing designed to draw out strengths and weaknesses of each bow option.
The Field Test included six new-for-2021 compound bows – The Mathews V3 31, PSE EVO EVL 32, Elite Enkore, Bowtech Solution, Bear Redemption EKO, and Prime Nexus 4.
See which bows performed best and took home top honors in this year’s field test in the video below.
Best Value Award - Bear Redemption EKO
With a price tag that falls well under $1000, combined with high-end performance and features, the 2021 Bear Redemption EKO took home the Best Value Award in this year’s test.
Powered by the patented EKO Cam System for ultimate adjustability, the Redemption EKO fires arrows with plenty of speed and performance. The 31” axle-to-axle bow hits the sweet spot for greater maneuverability and supreme accuracy making it a great choice for any treestand, hunting blind, or spot and stalk scenario.
Lancaster Archery sells the Bear Redemption EKO for $849.99.
HuntStand Silver Award - Elite ENKORE
The Elite ENKORE took home the HuntStand Silver Award with its user-friendly design and tunability like no other. The S.E.T. technology enables easy tuning for your custom set-up, all without the need of a bow press.
S.E.T. stands for Simplified Exact Tuning. And that’s just what you’ll get with this bow. A simplified system that allows greater accuracy through simplified tuning.
The ENKORE was also the fastest bow in the field test with a speed of 289 fps through the chrono.
Lancaster Archery sells the Elite ENKORE at a price of $999.99.
Editor's Choice Award - Mathews V3 31
Mathews once again takes home the top award this year winning the coveted Editor’s Choice Award. The award comes as a result of the bow’s incredible accuracy and ability to deliver one of the sweetest shooting experiences that can be found anywhere.
It’s nothing new for Mathews. The company has been building rock-solid bows with zero hand-shock for years. The company continues on that reputation for 2021 with a design that takes bow technology to the next level.
The V3 31 delivers the highest riser to axle-to-axle ratio ever on a Mathews bow. The company continues to push their accuracy inducing risers to the max, combined with new past parallel limb geometry and new limb design.
Mathews also changed things up with their new Centerguard Cable Containment System, designed to move cable torque to the center of the system, optimizing cam timing and cable clearance.
Lancaster Archery sells the Mathews V3 31 for $1099
Current Trend
When asked about the current trends in bow design and what tends to impress him the most, Mark Melotik of HuntStand responded with the following.
“I’ve been particularly impressed with models with features that streamline and simplify all aspects of the tuning process. These features allow consumers to be their own bow technicians without possessing lots of specialized equipment, and reduce our dependence on pro shops for technical assistance. For those with tuning questions, in most cases your best bet remains seeking the advice of a respected pro shop, but for those who know their way around a bow, tuning advancements that require just a set of allen wrenches are pretty incredible.”
Bottom line – bow designs are simply becoming more and more shooter friendly with each passing year.
Conclusion
What are your thoughts on HuntStand’s 2021 Field Test? How did your favorite brand perform? Have you had a chance to shoot any of the bows from this year’s Field Test?
Be sure to comment below about your favorite setup for 2021.
