Product Reviews - The Body Training

Fact checked by Steven Lines, lifelong Hunter and Outdoorsman. The internet has an endless collection of thousands of recurve bows with different features at varying prices. This makes it challenging to find something that strikes the perfect balance between performance and affordability. To help you find the ideal recurve for your needs, we’ve carried out an in-depth review of the best recurve bows in three different price brackets $300, $200, and $100. We evaluated each bow based on various factors such as draw weight, bow size, and of course, the price. Some of the recurve bows may ship in different styles and colors, depending on what you ultimately choose. Without further ado, here is our round-up of the best recurve bows. The Body Training is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no additional cost to you. Learn more Best Recurve Bows Under $300 Ragim Archery Black Bear Recurve Bow Ragim Archery Black Bear 58" Recurve Archery Bows, Left Hand, 45 lb Exotic Padouk Wood Riser/BodyThis bow has inserts for attaching sights, stabilizer and Berger buttons58 inch size is compact and easy to maneuver when hunting Check Latest Price The Black Bear is a high end recurve bow that comes with a 58” string. It is designed to work with just about any type of bow thanks to the higher clearance of the sight window, giving you the opportunity to use spin wings. The Brown Bear series, as the name suggests, is geared towards hunting game. The 58” bowstring is relatively nimble at 2.4 lbs, making it suited to this purpose. The Ragim Black Bear is designed as a one-piece recurve bow with a simply shaped wood riser and a stable grip. With a sturdy design thanks to the use of solid hardwood and chic maple limbs, the Ragim Black Bear is going to last for a long time. All your shots will be accurate, making it ideal for beginners who are practicing and polishing the necessary steps of precise archery. This is a pretty quick bow with an average arrow speed of around 180+ feet per second. For a bow in this price range, that’s pretty impressive. It’s going to put the arrows exactly where you want them to go. Pros ✅Cons ❌ Excellent price point, making it suitable for beginnersStable and accurate shooterDesigned for right and left-handed shootersNone Spyder and Spyder XL Takedown Recurve Bow Spyder Takedown Recurve Bow - Ready 2 Shoot Archery Set | Includes Bow, Instructions, Premium Carbon Arrows, Recurve Bow Case, Stringer Tool, Armguard, 55 lb RH -Blue SPECIAL PRICE FOR LIMITED TIME – We’ve combined four naturally sourced wood to create this beautiful compact, accurate, lightweight bow that is the perfect choice for just about anyone looking for an easy learn!SPECS & USES – Available in both Left Hand and Right Hand with draw weights of 20lb – 60lb 5lb increments . Features preinstalled threaded bushings for various accessory upgrades such as mechanical rests/plungers sights quivers and stabilizers/bow fishing reels. Reinforced limb tips allow bow to be Fast Flight and Flemish string compatible. Perfect for hunting deer bowfishing or target practice.KIT INCLUDES: SWA Spyder Bow, Bow String, Arrow Rest, Hard Case, Stringer Tool, Armguard, 3 Premium Carbon Arrows Check Latest Price Southwest Archery has acquired a bit of a reputation for manufacturing top quality archery gear, which is both functional and affordable. They are known for their highly popular Samick Series, which uses prized wood core limbers for performance and accuracy. Think of the Spyder series as a continuation of the Samick Series. The Spyder and Spyder XL Takedown Recurve bow are among Southwest Archery’s best offerings yet. It combines a range of equipment to help you stay safe and, at the same time, allow you to practice archery without any hassle. This recurve bow comes with a one-year warranty against product defects and other issues. It has a length of 62 inches, which is ideal for archers who are experienced with draw lengths of above 29 inches. Furthermore, the Spyder and Spyder XL are relatively easy to use thanks to its lightweight construction. It has round edges with limb pockets, making it lighter than all entries in the Sage Series. The eye-catching riser is made of redwood, which adds to the aesthetic value of the recurve bow. It is worth noting that you will find premium redwood risers in higher-end recurve bows only. The tips of the limb have been reinforced to make them more compatible with a fast flight. More importantly, this recurve bow is suitable for use with both left-handers and right-handers. At a price tag of less than $300, this recurve bow is definitely the right choice for beginners and advanced archers alike. Pros ✅Cons ❌ Comes with a kit that includes arrows, a stringer tool, armguard, and arrow restHigh-quality bows Lightweight design Aesthetically appealingOne year warranty Lack of finger guards Best Recurve Bows Under $200 Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow Samick SAGE Takedown Recurve Bow 55 LB. Right This 62" Bow Includes: B-50 bow string and arrow restFor future upgrades: pre-installed brass bushings for brass plunger, stabilizer, sight, and quiver, will fit Sammic Sage hunting kitDesign: Imported wood, limbs are hard Maple with black fiberglass; single tapered knob and metal limb pocket design; limbs can be purchased separately to increase or decrease weight as needed Check Latest Price If you are looking for a good recurve bow on a smaller budget, the Samick Sage Takedown is just the product for you. It instantly grabs your attention with the retro-style riser, which looks like it was pulled right out of history books. It is well polished, effective, and relatively simple to use. It doesn’t come with any add-ons and features a relatively barebones design, apart from the riser. This means you won’t have to worry about breaking anything. The riser is made from hard maple and olive dymondwood, a combination that ensures it lasts for several years to come. Thanks to the use of hard maple, the limbs are durable and resist bending. Furthermore, their tips are reinforced with Phenolic plastic, which allows the bow to be used with a variety of strings, including FastFlight. So if you ever decide to upgrade to a different string, you can do so without having to buy a new recurve bow. Shooting with the Samick Sage feels tactile and accurate. The draw is smooth with next to no vibrations during release. You’ll also notice that all your shots are silent, which is really important if you’re on a hunting trip. Thanks to the high length of the bow at 62”, it is somewhat accurate and can compensate for bad form and issues with the stance (to a certain extent). Pros ✅Cons ❌ Easy to add accessories to the riserAccurate shotsCompatibility with most string typesPremium riser for instinctive shootingLimited draw length Lacks power Southland Archery Supply SAS Explorer Metal Riser Southland Archery Supply SAS Explorer Metal Riser Takedown Recurve Bow (Blue, 34 Lbs.) High Strength Casting Aluminum RiserCarefully Polished Finish RiserStrong Fiberglass Limb Made of Maple Check Latest Price The SAS Explorer Metal Riser is the perfect low-key hunting recurve bow. It comes with an affordable price tag, which means it will appeal to anyone who wants to dip their toes into archery for the first time. At 66” long, the SAS Explorer is built to accommodate tall people. This is useful because you won’t find a recurve bow designed for taller people in this price range, which makes the SAS Explorer the ideal budget-friendly option. Don’t let its small price tag fool you into thinking it’s easy to break. The SAS Explorer is exceptionally durable thanks to its construction using maple and reinforced fiberglass. The limbs will bend when you draw the string, but they will not break. More importantly, the riser is made from aluminum to prevent the bow from getting too heavy. It is available in a range of different colors, allowing you to pick an option that appeals to your stylistic preferences. That being said, this recurve bow is suited to right-handed archers and not left-handed archers. So if you’re tall and need an ambidextrous or left-handed recurve bow, you’ll have to look elsewhere. One more thing you need to know is that it has a relatively high accuracy to help you shoot with excellent performance. Beginners will be able to level up their skills in a relatively short period of time. It is worth mentioning that the recurve bow is quiet and stable, allowing you to be subtle with your gameplay. That being said, you should not take the bow for big game hunting because they will detect the noise quickly. Pros ✅Cons ❌ Aluminum riser66” long for taller peopleColor choices for different stylesLightweight at only 2.4 poundsNot suited for leftiesRequires some assembly SinoArt Lion Takedown Recurve Bow SinoArt Lion 62" Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow Metal Riser 70 Lbs Right Handed Not to use the 70lb limbs with arrows less than 900grains.Designed for RIGHT HANDED shooters.HAND ORIENTATION: A right handed bow will be held in your left hand and the string pulled with the right hand. Left handed bows are held in the right hand and pulled with the left hand. Check Latest Price This recurve bow is designed for right-handed users only. It comes with a bridged riser, which reduces vibrations during shooting. Not only does this recurve bow look good, it feels great too. A quick look at the recurve bow reveals that the manufacturer went the extra mile in terms of craftsmanship to make the product really stand out. At 62”, it is neither too big nor too small and is ideal for use with shorter people and kids in general. Furthermore, it has threaded holes in it that let you insert aftermarket accessories to help you customize your recurve bow. The SinoArt Lion offers a wide range of draw weights, starting at 30 lbs and maxing out at 70 lbs, which means your arrows will have a lot of power behind each shot. For its size and draw weight, the SinoArt Lion is incredibly lightweight at only 3lbs, making it easier to carry around. Pros ✅Cons ❌ Fewer vibrations Can be used by both tall and short peopleYou can attach accessories to itOnly weighs 3 lbsExtremely Durable Cannot be used by left-handed shootersDoes not come with a stringer tool Best Recurve Bows Under $100 Southland Archery Supply SAS Snake Recurve Bow Southland Archery Supply SAS Snake Recurve Bow 60-inch (22) Ambidextrous design - works for right or left hand shootersDraw weight - 16 to 22 lbs.Almost indestructible Check Latest Price Another entry by Southland Archery, the Snake Recurve Bow is a good pick for someone who’s just starting out in archery. It comes with a length of 48 inches and a draw weight of up to 26 pounds. This makes it perfect for teenagers and younger children who are still in their learning phase. The recurve bow has a sleek design and is incredibly lightweight, but that doesn’t mean it is any less durable. It is made with premium materials that are tested carefully to take in some severe punishment. You can try bending, throwing, and breaking the bow, but it will still retain its shape (we don’t recommend doing this!). One cool feature we like is its ambidextrous design. This allows both right-handed and left-handed individuals to use it. Many bows in this price range are only designed to be used for one orientation, and if you’ve not done your homework about hand orientation for archers, you’ll probably end up giving it away. Pros ✅Cons ❌ LightweightEasy to carry around Durable AffordableDoesn’t require assemblySuitable for left and right-handed personsFairly limited arrow speedWeak arrow rest Ambidextrous Combat Archery Recurve Bow WOARCHERY Combat Archery Takedown Right-Left Handed 25LBS Recurve Bow 25Lbs Draw weight Takedown Recurve Archery BowSuitable for Left & Right HandedCE & ASTM Certification Approved Check Latest Price This takedown recurves bow features a draw length of 54 inches with a fun design. It is easy to use by both beginners and experts alike thanks to its robust grip. More importantly, it is aesthetically pleasing, lightweight, compact, and accurate. The bow limbs feature a durable construction made of fiberglass, giving it a sturdy feel. It can be used for a range of events and games, including LARP battles and archery attack games. You’ll notice it gets the job done and can be used for an extended period of time. Pros ✅Cons ❌ CE and SETM certificationsAmbidextrous design for use with both left and right-handed archersIdeal for LARP battle events25 lbs draw weight Does not come with an instructional manual PSE Precision Shooting Equip Razorback PSE Archery Razorback Junior Traditional Takedown Recurve Recreational Shooting Bow, Left, 54"- 15 CRAFTED FROM HARDWOOD - Made from hand-selected Walnut, Burma White, and Beech Wood with Hard Maple and Fiberglass limbsRELIABLE STABILIZER – The built-in stabilizer of the recurve bow helps minimize vibrations, minimize shock and produce less noiseSIGHT BUSHINGS - Sight bushings provide increased optimal performance Check Latest Price Admittedly, this bow isn't quite under the $100 mark, but we think the extra few dollars are worth it. Designed from beech wood, nurma white, and laminated walnut, the PSE Razorback is a rugged and durable recurve bow. The limbs are made of fiberglass and laminated marbles for added flexibility, allowing them to be quickly packed in a compact area for transport. In a nutshell, it is incredibly nimble at 2.2 pounds, is made to be ambidextrous for use with left and right-handed people, and comes with a draw length of up to 30 inches. While it is not designed for power users, the PSE Razorback is built to offer a fair bit of power for young people and beginners. Unfortunately, this also means it cannot be used for hunting where you really need that extra power to bring down big game. On the flip side, it is compatible with many accessories such as AMO strings and more. Most users will find this bow to be reasonably comfortable as it will enable you to perfect your accuracy for up to 30 yards, which makes it ideal for use in any shooting range. The recurve bow is quick to assemble with just a few screws, and the string can be adjusted based on your needs by hand. Pros ✅Cons ❌ AffordableDurable constructionCompatibility with other accessoriesGreat for young children and beginnersLight in weightEasy to assembleGreat shooting accuracyNot built for powerCannot be used for hunting Low draw power Does not come with many accessories Wrapping Up Now that you’ve seen our recommendations, which ones do you think are the most impressive? For us, it would be the Black Bear for its combination of power and aesthetics. All the recurve bows in this list are made with roughly the same materials, so the durability is almost the same. Are Recurve Bows Ambidextrous? Steven Lines is a hunter and outdoorsman from Safford, Arizona, USA. He has been hunting and fishing since a child, and has over 20 years of experience in the outdoors. Steven works as a hunting guide in Arizona during his spare time and runs a Youtube channel dedicated to sharing his outdoor adventures with others.