10 Best Youth Bows of 2021
Photo: Bear Archery
One of the biggest satisfaction that you can get from bow hunting is passing on the tradition to your kids. Teaching your little ones how to use a bow will always come with a fulfillment that is hard to describe buy you first need to get the best youth bow.
Youth bows are designed to be easier to use for the kids as they offer reduced overall weight and reduced pull weight. Also, most will have many other features that can help kids learn and enjoy archery.
And to help you choose the perfect one for your little ones, here we review some top-rated youth bows and explain what to watch out for when shopping.
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10 Best Youth Bows – Review
- 1. Crosman ABY1721 – Best Overall
- 2. Bear Archery AYS6200GR – Best Budget Youth Bow
- 3. Bear Archery AYB6301 – Inexpensive but Durable
- 4. Barnett 1105 – Sturdy and Easy Draw Bow
- 5. Leader Accessories Compound Youth Bow – Professional-Grade Bow with a High Let-Off
- 6. Genesis Bows GenMK-11428 – Simple Design and Easy to Use Youth Bow
- 7. Bear Archery AYS300CR – Super Comfortable Introductory Bow
- 8. SA Sports 566 – Attractive Little Girl's Bow
- 9. Velocity CB-3555CK – Lightweight for Easy Handling
- 10. PSE ARCHERY 42105RRD – Best Brand Youth Bow
- How to Buy the Best Youth Bows
- Conclusion
10 Best Youth Bows – Review
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IMAGE |
PRODUCT |
FEATURES |
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1. Crosman ABY1721 (Best Overall) |
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2. Bear Archery AYS6200GR (Best Budget) |
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3. Bear Archery AYB6301 (Inexpensive but Durable) |
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4. Barnett 1105 (Sturdy & Easy Draw) |
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5. Leader Accessories Compound Youth Bow (Professional-Grade with a High Let-Off) |
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6. Genesis Bows GenMK-11428 (Simple Design & Easy to Use) |
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7. Bear Archery AYS300CR (Super Comfortable Introductory Bow) |
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8. SA Sports 566 (Attractive Little Girl's Bow) |
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9. Velocity CB-3555CK (Lightweight for Easy Handling) |
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10. PSE ARCHERY 42105RRD (Best Brand) |
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PRODUCT |
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1. Crosman ABY1721 (Best Overall) |
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2. Bear Archery AYS6200GR (Best Budget) |
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3. Bear Archery AYB6301 (Inexpensive but Durable) |
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4. Barnett 1105 (Sturdy & Easy Draw) |
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5. Leader Accessories Compound Youth Bow (Professional-Grade with a High Let-Off) |
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6. Genesis Bows GenMK-11428 (Simple Design & Easy to Use) |
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7. Bear Archery AYS300CR (Super Comfortable Introductory Bow) |
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8. SA Sports 566 (Attractive Little Girl's Bow) |
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9. Velocity CB-3555CK (Lightweight for Easy Handling) |
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10. PSE ARCHERY 42105RRD (Best Brand) |
1. Crosman ABY1721 – Best Overall
Photo: Crosman
- Draw Length: Up to 26 inches
- Draw Weight: 17 - 21 lbs
- Let-Off: 65%
Although the Crossman Elkhorn is a youth bow it is designed to look and feel like a full-size bow and will hence be very useful ensuring users gain more experience fast.
The draw weight of between 17 and 21 lbs makes it ideal for beginners and it has a relatively high maximum draw of 26 inches to ensure that the youth archers get to use it for many years.
It comes as a complete set that includes a couple of composite arrows, armguard, pin sight, rest, 2-piece quiver and finger tab.
This bow uses some heavyweight composite limbs, and it also has a composite center shot riser with a large and adjustable sight window. What all this means is that it is an easy-to-use bow even for beginners, and it will help them learn how to aim accurately.
Also, it is important to know that this youth bow has a 65% let-off design to provide an incredible performance.
Some of the accessories look and feel cheap but for youth archers they should still work well and for long enough.
Pros:
Cons:
2. Bear Archery AYS6200GR – Best Budget Youth Bow
Photo: Bear Archery
- Draw Length: 14 - 16 inches
- Draw Weight: 8 - 12 lbs
The earlier you start teaching your kids how to use a bow, the faster they will learn and the more skilled they will be as they grow older. And with highly affordable youth bows like this one, there is no excuse for not buying one.
This complete youth bow set proves that it is never too early to introduce your kids to bows and arrows as it is meant for kids that are between 4 and 7 years old.
The set consists of a decent quality bow with some durable composite limbs, a paper target and a couple of Safetyglass arrows.
It has a draw weight of 8 - 12 pounds and a draw length of 14 to 16 inches which makes this an easy-to-use bow for the young archers.
You can get this youth bow set in four color options, and it is one of the cheapest items on our list.
The paper target seems low quality but this is typical of what you get with these inexpensive youth bows.
Pros:
Cons:
3. Bear Archery AYB6301 – Inexpensive but Durable
Photo: Bear Archery
- Draw Length: 17 - 24 inches
- Draw Weight: 10 - 18 lbs
This Bear Archery product is the cheapest item on our best youth bows review. But, it is still good enough for kids that are still learning archery.
Despite the affordable price tag it still comes as a complete set that includes a bow with durable composite limbs, armguard, finger tab, Safetyglass arrows and arrow quiver.
The youth bow features a 10 to 18-pound draw weight and a draw length of 17 to 24 inches, and this makes it a great choice for kids that are between 5 and 10 years old.
Also, this youth bow will come with an ambidextrous riser design which means that it will be ideal for both left and right-hand use.
Pros:
Cons:
4. Barnett 1105 – Sturdy and Easy Draw Bow
Photo: Barnett
- Draw Length: 22 - 27 inches
- Draw Weight: 19 - 45 lbs
- Let-Off: 60-70%
With this top-rated youth bow, kids will get a let-off of between 60 and 70% which means that it is easy to draw and also feels lighter than most others.
Everything from the overall construction of the bow to the accessories is top notch to ensure that it serves you for long.
This bow has a draw length of 22 - 27 inches and a draw weight of 19 - 45 lbs and this means that it will be ideal for a wide age range.
The youth bow allows for sight adjustments in 1-inch increment to make aiming easy and it has adjustable draw modules that will make weight change easy and without a bow press.
Youth archers should also be confident of using this bow for many years as it comes with a limited 5-year warranty.
This youth bow seems to be made fro only right-handed players but even left-handed ones can still use it with a little getting used to.
Pros:
Cons:
5. Leader Accessories Compound Youth Bow – Professional-Grade Bow with a High Let-Off
Photo: Leader Accessories
- Draw Length: 19 - 29 inches
- Draw Weight: 30 - 55 lbs
- Let-Off: 70%
For many youth archers that are just starting out, the design of this bow might look complicated and hard to figure out but it still delivers a top-notch performance.
It is a 19 - 29-inch draw length and 10 - 55 lbs draw weight bow that will be a great choice for a youth hunting bow. The built quality is also fantastic and it will come as a complete set that includes the bow and kit.
This right-hand draw bow offers a maximum arrow speed of 296 FPS which is quite high and a let-off of 70% to make it easier to use for youths.
There is also an aluminum riser that will make it easy to adjust the draw length and weight with no bow press.
For a youth bow, the design is a little complicated but it is still fantastic for the youth's that hope to become professional sports archers at some point.
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Cons:
6 . Genesis Bows GenMK-11428 – Simple Design and Easy to Use Youth Bow
Photo: Genesis Bows
- Draw Length: 14 - 25 inches
- Draw Weight: 6 - 12 lbs
- Let-Off: 0%
A small and simple to use mini bow kit like this one will be a great way to introduce your kids to archery. With a draw length of 14 - 25 inches and 6 - 12 lbs draw weight, it should work well for most kids.
This youth bow kit will help to prevent the development of bad beginner habits as it fits perfectly. And it is also a high-quality bow with machined aluminum riser, durable composite limbs and aluminum idler wheel and cam.
Adjusting the draw length is also quite easy as all you need is a 3/16-inch hex wrench, and the manufacturer also provides it in the package. Any kid can use this bow as it is available in both left and right-hand options.
Other things like the belt tube quiver, 5 aluminum arrows, and adjustable arm guard also help to make this a great youth bow kit.
Price is the most significant drawback given that this is one of the priciest bows on our list but you can be confident the quality is worth every buck.
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Cons:
7. Bear Archery AYS300CR – Super Comfortable Introductory Bow
Photo: Bear Archery
- Draw Length: 13.5 - 19.5 inches
- Draw Weight: 15 - 25 lbs
- Let-Off: 65%
If you have an eight-year-old child or older that is fascinated with archery this youth bow set will be a great way to introduce him to the sport.
It is an easy to use and comfortable bow for youth and it comes ready to shoot with everything that you need. The set includes a couple of Safetyglass arrows, finger rollers, armguard, 1-pin sight and arrow quiver.
Also, this bow uses the Whisker Biscuit rest for the arrow which is one of the safest that you can get on both youth and adult bows. And the two wheel design will make it easy to transition to adult compound bows.
This bow is meant for right-hand use only which can be a shortcoming for some youth archers and you can pick from 6 color options.
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Cons:
8. SA Sports 566 – Attractive Little Girl's Bow
Photo: SA Sports
- Draw Length: 24 - 26 inches
- Draw Weight: 20 lbs
SA Sports makes this attractive youth bow specifically for girls. The bow is meant to not only impress your little girl with its dipped camo finish but also to help her learn how to shoot arrows fast.
It has an adjustable draw length design which means that you can tune it to adapt to the specific needs of your child. Also, the sight pin is adjustable, and this is a very useful feature when it comes to aiming.
Also, the bow has lightweight molded rise and limbs and its arrow rest is replaceable to give it a longer lifespan.
Other things like the finger tab, armguard, and the full size integrated quiver also help to make this 24 - 26 inches draw length bow a great choice for your little girl.
The included arrows are not the best quality and you should not expect them to last but for the price of the bow they are okay.
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9. Velocity CB-3555CK – Lightweight for Easy Handling
Photo: Velocity
- Draw Length: 19 - 29 inches
- Draw Weight: 15 - 55 lbs
At a total weight of just 3.2 lbs when fully-loaded, the Velocity 4X4 compound bow is lightweight enough for easy handling by kids.
This youth bow comes with a draw length of 19-29 and with a draw weight of 15 - 55 inches that makes it a great choice for most kids. And adjusting the weight and length is also fast and easy and you will not need a bow press.
When you buy this youth bow you will also get a 3-pin optic fiber sight, a quiver that accommodates up to four arrows, arrow rest and a couple of 30-inch aluminum arrows.
And you can also be sure that your kid will love the appearance of this compound bow as it comes in a lovely combat black finish.
For a youth bow, this model is a little expensive but you always get what you pay for and hence you can be confident of superior quality.
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Cons:
10. PSE ARCHERY 42105RRD – Best Brand Youth Bow
Photo: PSE ARCHERY
- Draw Length: 16.5 - 26 inches
- Draw Weight: 12 - 29 lbs
If you are on the hunt for the best youth bow from a reputable brand this one from PSE will be perfect. It is 12 - 29 draw weight youth compound bow that is easy to hold and draw and is designed for 10-year-olds and above.
It uses a single pin sight which is more appropriate for kids because having multiple ones will in most instances confuse rather than help the youth archers.
The bow is fully strung and ready for immediate use when you get it and PSE will also provide a limited lifetime warranty for this compound youth bow.
Along with the bow, there are two fiberglass arrows that might not be the best quality but will still be very useful for training. And the set also includes 3 finger rollers, armguard, arrow rest and handy quiver.
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How to Buy the Best Youth Bows
Photo: Bear Archery
Although there are several factors to consider when shopping for the best youth bows, the following are the most important ones.
1. Age
Age is probably the most important factor to consider when choosing the best youth bow because many manufacturers will make particular bows for certain age ranges.
Although there are some bows that can grow with your kid, there is no one size fits all when it comes to buying youth bows. Many manufacturer will often provide age recommendation for their bows like the Bear Archery AYS300CR is meant for kids over 8 years old.
But, as much as it is important to pay attention to the manufacturer recommendation for the age and size, it is also vital to make sure that whatever bow you choose adapts to your kid.
2. Draw Length
When it comes to the technical aspects of the bow, the draw length should always be one of the first factors you consider.
There is no standard draw length for kids, and so the right idea is always to calculate your kid's specific draw length by measuring the arm span and divide it by 2.5.
For most kids (10 years and below) the draw length will be between 14 and 24 inches. But if your child is relatively larger for his age you can consider going for a draw length of between 15 and 30 inches.
When it comes to the draw length the bottom line is always to balance the draw length and draw weight to the child's size while still ensuring the bow is comfortable enough and easy to use.
3. Draw Weight
Draw weight is simply the amount of weight that the child has to pull when using the bow. It is important to make sure that your child never has to pull more weight that he can handle.
A higher draw weight than the youth archer can handle can result in adverse health consequences.
Also, a high draw weight can cause overdevelopment of certain muscles in kids that use the bows often. And in some instances, it can promote uncoordinated body development.
Check out our table below for average draw weight recommendations according to your child's weight.
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Child’s Weight (pounds) |
Average Draw Weight (pounds) |
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55-70 |
10-15 |
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70-100 |
15-25 |
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100-130 |
25-35 |
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130-150 |
40-50 |
4. Let Off
Let-off is the reduction on draw weight that occurs as a result of the shape of the cam on the compound bow when you hold it at full draw.
If a bow has a draw weight of 20 pounds and a 75% let-off efficiency, it means that the child will only be pulling 5 pounds. The lower draw weight makes the bow easier to use and the youth archer can focus more on aiming
The best youth compound bows will always have a high let-off to make them easier to use for kids. And most will come with a let-off of between 65 and 85% like the Barnett 1105 that provides 60 to 70% let-off.
5. Warranty
You need to be sure that your child will use the bow for long enough as you do not want to have to buy them a new one just as they are mastering how to use what they already have.
One of the best indications that the bow will last long is the warranty. And like with any other product, the longer the warranty the better.
Conclusion
While choosing the best youth bow is always up to you as the parent, it is always important to have your kid in mind to ensure what you buy is appropriate for him. And there is something for any kid in out youth bows review above.
That said, the Crosman ABY1721 is our best overall model as it looks and feels like a full size bow, comes as a complete set and also includes some durable composite limbs.
For those on a tight budget, the Bear Archery AYS6200GR is fantastic as besides being affordable it also comes as a compete kit and with durable composite limbs.
