The 9 Best Peep Sights of 2021
If you are a seasoned archer or bow-hunter, then you already know that your aim is always key to hitting your target. Having the best peep sight is one of the most effective ways of improving your aim and sight.
A peep sight is a small and affordable bow accessory that consists of a simple aperture inserted in the bowstring. This allows you to look through the hole when at full draw for perfect alignment, which improves accuracy.
Peep sights come in various styles and different sizes. In this review, we look at the top-rated peep sights, as well as the information you need to choose one that best suits your hunting/shooting needs.
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9 Best Peep Sights – Review
- 1. Best Overall Peep Sight: G5 Outdoors Meta Pro
- 2. Best Budget Peep Sight: Truglo TG76C
- 3. Most Lightweight Peep Sight: Truglo Versa Interchangable 6
- 4. Most Durable Peep Sight: Radical Archery Designs Super Deuce
- 5. Best Anti-Glare Peep Sight: Hamskea Archery Solutions PEEP00
- 6. Best Weather-Resistant Peep Sight: Radical Archery Designs Maxim 38
- 7. Best Self-Aligning Peep Sight: Pine Ridge Archery Nitro
- 8. Widely Compatible Peep Sight: Ace Hunter Archery Tube
- 9. Wide-Aperture Peep Sight: Carbon Express True Vision
- How to Buy the Best Peep Sight
- How to Install a Peep Sight
- Conclusion
9 Best Peep Sights – Review
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1. G5 Outdoors Meta Pro (Best Overall) |
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2. Truglo TG76C (Best Budget) |
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3. Truglo Versa Interchangable 6 (Most Lightweight) |
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4. Radical Archery Designs Super Deuce (Most Durable) |
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5. Hamskea Archery Solutions PEEP00 (Best Anti-Glare) |
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6. Radical Archery Designs Maxim 38 (Best Weather-Resistant) |
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7. Pine Ridge Archery Nitro (Best Self-Aligning) |
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8. Ace Hunter Archery Tube (Widely Compatible) |
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9. Carbon Express True Vision (Wide-Aperture) |
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PRODUCT |
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1. G5 Outdoors Meta Pro (Best Overall)
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2. Truglo TG76C (Best Budget)
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3. Truglo Versa Interchangable 6 (Most Lightweight)
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4. Radical Archery Designs Super Deuce (Most Durable)
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5. Hamskea Archery Solutions PEEP00 (Best Anti-Glare)
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6. Radical Archery Designs Maxim 38 (Best Weather-Resistant)
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7. Pine Ridge Archery Nitro (Best Self-Aligning)
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8. Ace Hunter Archery Tube (Widely Compatible)
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9. Carbon Express True Vision (Wide-Aperture)
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1. Best Overall Peep Sight: G5 Outdoors Meta Pro
Photo: G5 Outdoors
- Diameter: 3/16, 1/4, 5/16 inch
- Color: Black, Purple, Pink, Green, Blue, Red
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Build Material: Aluminum
The G5 Meta Pro peep sight is our best overall peep sight because it comes in multiple sizes, each with a wide field of view and a design that minimizes string wear.
The unit is available in 3/16, 1/4, 5/16-inch options that are suitable to use in different hunting situations. All sizes are easy to install and you should have one in your bow and ready to use in just a few minutes, even if you do not have any prior experience.
Each of the peep sights features a unique convex interior diameter that ensures you always get the maximum field of view, even under low light conditions.
Also, this convex interior will maintain a perfect circle as your peep starts to tilt. This prevents the formation of an oval hole that is harder to aim through.
The string groove is bored in a convex shape, which creates a smaller surface area that is in contact with the string to minimize string wear. The design is so effective to the point that the manufacturer provides a no-cut guarantee.
The profile of the side walls is a little on the low side but this does not seem to affect the effectiveness and usefulness of the sight significantly.
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2. Best Budget Peep Sight: Truglo TG76C
Photo: Truglo
- Diameter: 1/4, 1/8, 3/16 inch
- Color: Black
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Build Material: Aluminum
Regardless of the diameter, this product is the best budget peep sight you can get out there thanks to its impressive features and an economical price tag.
Truglo machines their TG76C from high-quality aluminum material, which helps to make it strong and highly durable.
That said, the sight is available in three aperture sizes: 1/4, 1/8, and 3/16 inches. With these, you get enough options to hunt in low-light conditions or mid-day when the sun is shining bright.
These tubeless peep sights are also designed with string grooves that accommodate bows with shorter axle-to-axle lengths. However, serving threads are not included, but this is not a deal-breaker because they are not expensive.
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3. Most Lightweight Peep Sight: Truglo Versa Interchangable 6
Photo: Truglo
- Diameter: 1/4 inch
- Color: Black, Green, Red
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Build Material: Aluminum
This top-rated peep sight is very lightweight because it weighs only 0.32 ounces. Despite this, it is durably built using CNC-machined aluminum, which is almost indestructible. This will give you many years of service without requiring a replacement.
The unit is also highly versatile as it allows you to customize the aperture by changing the inserts to the preferred diameter. With this feature, it is possible to have a specific peep diameters for each hunting condition.
That said, it comes with a 1/4-inch diameter but you can fit it with 1/8, 5/32, or 3/16-inch inserts, which are included in the set. These inserts are color-coded in red, green, and black for easy identification.
Price is the most notable drawback for this sight. However, this is only so when you compare it to others on our list because, for its quality and performance, it is worth every buck.
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4. Most Durable Peep Sight: Radical Archery Designs Super Deuce
Photo: RAD
- Diameter: 1/4, 1/8, 3/16 inch
- Color: Black
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Build Material: Aluminum
With the premium anodized aluminum construction, this peep sight is one of those that you can be confident of using for a long time. The material is tough and coated for corrosion resistance.
Besides the high build-quality, the design of the product helps to make it one of the best peep sights for hunting. It is angle-mounted in a way that you have to serve to the string at a 38º angle. This ensures you get a true-round aperture at full draw.
When in use, you will never have to worry about cutting your string as the sight comes with a Dual Radius Slotting to eliminate burrs and sharp points.
Also, the size is perfect for most hunting bows and its design will ensure that it remains securely in place and hence minimizing the likelihood of accidental shifting.
On the downside, installing this peep sight seems to take some effort but this is mostly for inexperienced users.
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5. Best Anti-Glare Peep Sight: Hamskea Archery Solutions PEEP00
Photo: Hamskea Archery Solutions
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Diameter: 1/4, 3/16 inch
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Color: Black
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Build Material: Aluminum
Hamskea's PEEP00 is characterized by an anti-glare design that prevents off-axis light from getting to your eye. This ensures you get a clear and consistent sight picture, whether the sun is low or high.
Aside from this, the piece has a sturdy all-aluminum construction that is coated using Teflon. This outer layer gives it a smooth surface that protects the bowstring from wear. Therefore, you will get a long-lasting sight and string.
That said, the unit is fitted with two string grooves that enable you to pick the correct string angle for different setups without getting an extra sight. Additionally, you get two aperture size options to suit specific hunting situations.
On the downside, this sight does not come with the required serving thread.
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6. Best Weather-Resistant Peep Sight: Radical Archery Designs Maxim 38
Photo: RAD
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Diameter: 3/16 inch
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Color: Black
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Build Material: High Impact Polymer
This peep sight features a special-hood design that keeps the rain and sunlight out of the aperture so that you can have a clear line of sight. In addition to this, the unit is UV-resistant, which makes it ideal for all-weather use.
That said, the product is made using polymer material that is durable enough to withstand high impacts as you fire the arrow.
The piece is angled at 38º, and this enables it to self align at full draw. This works hand-in-hand with the relatively wide 3/16-inch aperture hole, which gives you a clear field-of-view.
However, the unit is only designed for short bows (as short as 30 inches on the axle length) with a long draw.
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7. Best Self-Aligning Peep Sight: Pine Ridge Archery Nitro
Photo: Pine Ridge Archery
- Diameter: 1/4 inch
- Color: Black, Purple, Lime, Green, Blue, Orange, Yellow, Red
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Build Material: High Impact Resin
Pine Ridge Archery's Nitro is a self-aligning peep sight that eliminates twisting when drawing. This design ensures you always have a perfectly aligned aperture whenever you want to take the shot.
The self-aligning feature comes in handy when you are using short bows because it stays at the right angle. Also, installing it is easy in this bow size.
Other than that, the unit is built using high-impact resin material for maximum durability. As such, you can be confident of getting many years of worry-free use.
A silicon peep tubing is included to eliminate cracking and dry rot, which is a common occurrence in other tubing materials.
Although the tubing is quite prone to breaking, this should not be the deal-breaker as it still works well and with proper care, it should last long enough.
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8. Widely Compatible Peep Sight: Ace Hunter Archery Tube
Photo: Ace
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Diameter: 3/16 inch
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Color: Black
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Build Material: Rubber
This peep sight-and-tubing combo stands out because it is designed to fit all compound bow sizes, which makes it very versatile.
The tubing is made of flexible rubber, which easily self-aligns at full draw. What happens at this point is that the aperture lines up straight with the pin guard to give you a clear line of sight.
In addition to this, it has a unique angled design that allows for a clearer field-of-view. Overall, this design is suitable for hunting or target shooting, making the piece even more versatile.
However, the rubber tubing is not very durable. This material tends to crack or rot with time.
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9. Wide-Aperture Peep Sight: Carbon Express True Vision
Photo: Carbon Express
- Diameter: 3/16 inch
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Color: Multi-Color
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Build Material: Aluminum
This Carbon Express peep sight is one of the best options to use for hunting low light conditions thanks to its large aperture diameter.
The unit is also very lightweight (0.32 ounces), which means it won't weigh down your bow as much. Despite this, it has a sturdy machined aircraft-grade aluminum construction.
Another benefit you get with this product is that it is designed to always provide a true-round aperture for excellent aiming. The peep sight keeps its shape during each shot. It is also pretty straightforward to install and comes with a relatively affordable price tag.
However, there are not as many aperture size options for this peep sight as compared to the other products on our list. That said, this is hardly a big concern because what you get is ideal for most bows.
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How to Buy the Best Peep Sight
1. Type
Rubber Tube
Rubber tube peeps usually consist of an angled peep sight and a rubber, resin, latex or, silicone tube. They stand out due to their ability to self-align when fully drawn.
However, they have several drawbacks. One of them is the fact that they tend to break easily even when they do not show any signs of wear and tear. Also, they produce more noise because the string has to drag the rubber back to the bow.
Because of this, they are better off for archery because noise can be an issue when hunting.
Fletcher Style
Fletcher style peep sights are the most popular type for seasoned hunters because they offer the clearest field of view. They are usually made from aluminum and they are available in various sizes, shapes, and colors to suit the needs of most archers.
Some of the significant shortcomings of these peep sights are that they take a lot of time & effort to set-up, are pricier, and are more affected by the weather.
Tri-Slot/Trio Slot
The tri-slot peep sights get their name from the fact that they will split the string into three groups instead of two halves like the other types. They are easier to align than the Fletcher type and will allow you to get a shot regardless of the direction that the string turns.
However, with these peep sights, you will be forced to look through some of the strands. This is not a big issue for most bowhunters though.
2. Size
When picking a peep sight you will also need to consider the size of the aperture. There are three main options here which are small (1/16-inch), medium (1/8-inch), and large (3/16-inch).
Experienced hunters already know what works for them but the same is not the case for the inexperienced. The good news is that many top-notch models like Truglo TG76C provide all size options.
Large peep sights are easier to see through and also work well in low light conditions as they can gather more light. Smaller ones, on the other hand, are more accurate as they make it possible to focus on your shots.
If you hunt late in the evening or early morning, a large peep sight is the best while the small ones are great options for hunting on bright and sunny days.
3. Height
The peep sight height describes its distance above the bowstring’s nocking point. And it is always vital to make sure that you place your peep sight at a height that is appropriate for your bow.
For low anchor points and long draw length bows, a height of around 15 centimeters is the most appropriate while an 11-centimeter height is ideal for short draw length.
In case your bow does not fall in either long or short draw length, you should go for a standard peep sight height of 13 centimeters.
4. Build Material
The material used to build a peep sight determines its durability. Most tube types are made using rubber, latex, resin, or silicone but silicone is the best material. It does not rot or crack easily.
However, for fletcher and tri-slot sights, the best ones are made using aluminum. Radical Archery Designs' Super Deuce takes it up a notch by having an anodized finish, which makes it corrosion resistant. We highly recommend it.
5. Color and External Coating
Color is considered primarily for matching purposes. For instance, if you have a camo compound bow for hunting, you should match it with either a black or camo peep sight.
As for the external coating, you should look for a smooth exterior to minimize friction with your string.
How to Install a Peep Sight
Photo: shootingtime.com
1. Find the Correct Position
Finding the right position for your peep sight is quite simple. All you need to do is to hold the bow in a firing position. Draw the string back and close both your eyes.
After easing your body and the bow into the anchor point, open the eye that you use when aiming and its position is where you should install the peep sight.
2. Press the Bow
After locating the right spot, press the bowstring to loosen the string so that you can split the strands. Next, slide the sight between the strands while making sure the notches are aligned.
3. Install Stop Knots
After ascertaining that the peep sight is where you want it, tie it to the string using stop knots. Stop knots are easy to learn and you will need to make two of them: one above and the other below the peep sight to ensure it does not slip out of alignment.
4. Try Out the Bow
Before you take the new bow set-up out in the wild for a hunt, it is always a great idea to familiarize yourself with the new set-up. Spare some time to train with the new peep sight just to get used to how it works.
Conclusion
A peep sight is one of the best bow pieces or improving aiming and hence the accuracy of your shots. Also, it helps to keep the shots consistent, and with our reviews above, finding the perfect one should now be effortless.
That said, the G5 Outdoors 316-BLACK-P takes the best overall spot because it provides different diameter options, is well-built, and also maintains a perfect circle.
But, if you prefer something more affordable that is still highly useful and solidly built, go for Truglo TG76C .
