7 Best Archery Releases of 2021

TruFire's HDBF (Hardcore Buckle) release comes with all the features that you can wish for in a good-quality release. The wrist release features a camouflage head and strap, which give it that hunting look.

A swept back trigger will sit comfortably on your index finger until you pull to shoot. The strap is extra strong and has TruFire's logo decorating it.

You can adjust the strap-on as tight or as loose as you want to get the right fit, and the pivoting head means your shots are automatically better.

For cons, TruFire's yellow label is quiet bright and reduces the camouflaging.

This release will also automatically align your center shot and you can easily fold the head back when it's not in use. This keeps it out of your way but also handy for when you need to shoot.

If you are on a budget but need a high-quality wrist strap release, then this one from Cobra Archery is worth a look. It comes in 3 colors and features dual caliper jaws for precise shots.

The Bravo also comes with well-padded straps. These provide all-day long comfort while you concentrate on your hunt. Its 360-degree rotating head allows it to fit both left and right-handed archers and to cut down on string torque when drawing.

Cobra's All Adjust system includes adjustment of the trigger head to fit your index finger perfectly. It also has a forwardly mounted trigger, which you are free to adjust to produce consistent and accurate shots.

One drawback of this wrist release is the Velcro fastening because the best bow releases for hunting should be very quiet, and not as loud as Velcros.

With the TruFire Patriot Jr., you'll give your young one the opportunity to make more accurate shots from an early age. Designed with the youth and other small-handed persons in mind, this release is also well padded for comfort.

A Velcro closing system makes the strap easy to put on in just a few seconds, and it works great for both right and left-handed archers.

TruFire includes a 1-inch trigger travel, and this allows a range of small hands to get their best possible fit.

Further highlights include heat-treated dual calipers with Teflon coating to make them last as long as possible.

TruFire makes this Edge buckle release using strong leather, so you can use it for months and years without any sign of weakness or wear.

Another interesting feature is its trigger travel adjustment system, which lets you twist the head clockwise or counterclockwise to either increase or decrease its length.

The trigger is spring-loaded and there are dual calipers for a cleaner release, making your shots as accurate as possible.

Although this wrist release offers a very strong and comfortable wrist strap, plus a buckle fastening system, the trigger's pull weight is not adjustable. This feature would have made it an even better release.

If you like your bow release with a high-precision trigger that needs just a little touch to release the bow, then this release from SAS can be a great option for you.

This release is in fact not recommended for archers who prefer stiffer triggers because you can't adjust the trigger, although you can adjust the head in 5 different positions.

You get a high-strength and large Velcro strap which lets you easily strap on this release on either the left or right hand as you may need.

Downsides include the loudness of Velcros, which makes them less ideal for hunting. Plus, you can't adjust the trigger's sensitivity.

This SAS archery release is also length adjustable and ideal for both beginners and more advanced archers.

Machined from solid aluminum, this TruFire Edge 4-Finger is a sleek, nice to hold, and high-precision bow release that both tournament archers and hunters alike will appreciate.

The head swivels a full 360 degrees very smoothly to cut down on torque and makes it able to fit left and right-handed archers.

Although beginners will need a little time to get used to this release's trigger thumb, it's a highly effective system which also features 16-position adjustments.

Trigger travel is adjustable, as well as a head-position locking system. TruFire designed and machined this handheld release with smooth curves that'll comfortably fit a variety of hand sizes.

If you need the best bow-hunting release you can get, then working silence becomes important. Tru Ball designed the Max Hunter Pro 4 to work in pure silence which is perfect for hunting.

Simply activate the trigger to open its jaws and then release it to close, all completely silent. The head swivels 360 degrees for zero torque and is even smaller to help maximize your draw strength.

Tru Ball designed this release with the seasoned hunter in mind. You get a fully adjustable knob activator, plus an adjustable trigger sensitivity to allow you truly customize the release to your hunting style.

Although it is the costliest archery release in this review, the Tru Ball TMP4 Max Pro is a great product for those looking for the best archery hunting release, because as the saying goes, you get what you pay for.

For compound bows, there are 2 main types of archery releases. They are the wrist release, which gets strapped to the wrist, and the handheld release, which is held freely in the hand.

A wrist-release archery aid goes on the arm around the wrist and has a metal head which is then used to clip it to your d-loop for shooting. There are advantages and disadvantages of using a wrist release over handhelds.

For target practice and other uses where noise is not an issue, a wrist release offers you a welcome convenience, but for hunting, the release's head could rattle against your gear and scare away nearby game. Once worn, the wrist release usually stays on the shooter's arm, although some could be folded to prevent it from dangling.

The standard triggering system in a wrist release is with the index finger. As the release is worn around the wrist, with its head sticking out, the triggering mechanism gets positioned around the index finger, making it convenient for some people and less convenient for those with target panic anxiety.

Wrist releases come with straps or buckles which make them easily adjustable. This way, a small-handed and a larger-handed person can use the release, as well as set its head length or trigger travel, to fit his index finger. Other possible settings include the tension and the trigger's angle.

A wrist release might be for you if you are on a budget or you just want a release that is easy to use, since they are more readily available and easier to shoot with.

With a handheld release, you get a different kind of archery aid, which is not worn on the arm as happens with a wrist release but is rather held in the palm of the hands when needed. This opens up many uses and advantages, which are not possible with a wrist release.

A handheld release is more portable, so you can put it in your pocket when you don't need it. It most often features a thumb or a back tension release system to fire the shot. Some people prefer hand-release systems because they feel smoother and freer.

While the thumb release requires you to pull the trigger using just your thumb, the back tension release is a bit more complex than that. As you draw back and tension increases, your back muscles contract as the shoulder blades squeeze together. This turning opens the hook on its own and the bowstring goes off.

A hinge or back tension release is often dangerous, so it's necessary to always keep the arrow on target to prevent accidents. On the other hand, it's a great technology because it allows you to focus only on targeting and not worry about releasing the trigger.

If accuracy, comfort and consistent results are more important to you and you don't mind having to spend some time first to get used to your release, then a handheld will definitely be worth your time.