Are your kids (girls in particular) getting drawn to archery because of certain influences? (i.e. Brave & Hunger Games). That explains why you are reading this review in the first place.
Don’t let their spirit towards archery die down as there are many benefits towards archery. For example, archery helps to broaden your kids’ social circle. It also improves your kids’ coordination skills, especially the hands and eyes.
There are 3 types of holding style- right-handed, left-handed and ambidextrous. Choosing right or left hand depends on which eye is dominant. If your right eye is dominant, then you need a right hand one. As a side note, to determine which of your eye is dominant, pick a small item at a far wall. Frame that spot by putting your hands together and look through them using both eyes open. If the object is in view even when you close your left eye, then you are right eye dominant.
Hence, check out this review to check out the best youth compound bow for your kids. If you’re wondering the difference between a recurve and compound bow, you came to the right place; click here to find out more.
Top 7 Youth Compound Bow Comparison Table
| Name of product | Draw weight | Draw length | Let-off | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro Bow Package | 5-70lbs | 31" | 0.6 | 3.1 pounds | $$$ |
| Barnett Vortex 45-Pounds Youth Archery Bow (Camo) | 19-45lbs | 22-27" | 60-70% | 6 pounds | $$ |
| Genesis Original Bow | 10-20lbs | 15-30" | 0 | 5.19 pounds | $$ |
| Crosman Elkhorn Jr. Compound Bow | 17-21lbs | 22-24” | 0.65 | 4.2 pounds | $ |
| Barnett Outdoors Lil Banshee Jr. Compound Youth Archery Set | 18lbs | 18-22" | 0 | 1.8 pounds | $ |
| Bear Archery Scout Bow Set | 8-13lbs | 16-24" | 0 | 2 pounds | $ |
| Leader Accessories Compound Bow 50-70lbs 25" - 31" Archery Hunting Equipment with Max Speed 310fps, right handed | 50-70lbs | 25-31" | 75-85% | 4.4 pounds | $$ |
The top 7 are chosen by certain factors:
- Draw weight
- Draw length
- Let-off
- Weight
- Price
Draw weight
If the draw weight is too heavy for you, it could affect your shots accuracy. For example, if you noticed that your shots are beginning to get off mark at about 50 pounds, then it is probably too heavy for you.
Draw length
Measure from the tip of one your middle finger to your other. Divide that number by 2.5 and the result you got would be the approximate value of your draw length in inches in accordance to your body size.
Let-off
The let-off is calculated by the amount of weight reduction experienced when an archer is holding at full draw than the peak draw weight. For example, if the peak draw weight is 70 pounds, the full draw is 14 pounds; then the let-off is 80%.
Weight
Since this tool is for your kid, you may want to avoid buying a heavy compound bow that he/she can’t even lift it up.
Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro Bow Package
The first in our list of best compound bow for youth is the Diamond. This Diamond youth compound bow has an extended draw length for longer draw archers and it comes for left-handed and right-handed users as well.
The package includes 1 Infinite Edge Pro Bow, hostage XL arrow rest, 3-Pin tundra sight, tube peep sight, DeadLock lite octane quiver, BCY string loop, comfort wrist sling, and 5″ ultra-lite octane stabilizer.
This multi shooter bow has infinite draw setting with the draw length extended to a maximum 31”. The redesigned cam system provides a flawlessly smooth draw cycle. Also, a stabilizer is installed for perfect balance.
This infinite edge compound bow is what we call as a utility bow. It has a wide range of adjustability and the weight can go from 5lb to 70 lb without having to swap limbs. Usually, it comes set at ~55lbs but you can adjust it using an Allen wrench. Furthermore, it has an 80% let off.
The only assembly required so far is to install the accessories (bow sight, quiver and stabilizer). You will also need to set up the bow to the suitable draw length and draw weight.
Unfortunately, it does not come with a release. You would also have to take the included peep sight to a local archery store to install it and everything else that you may need.
You may likely find yourself replacing or upgrading the parts not too long after you start shooting a lot. As a side note, this is not a speed bow. A speed bow is ideal for hunting. Some stay at 70 pounds for over 60% of the draw.
However, a speed bow has an aggressive cam and is normally uncomfortable to shoot with. Most people can’t even draw a 70 pound speed bow. This makes the speed bows a poor target to learn with.
On the other hand, this Diamond Pro is both hunting and a target bow. It is beginner friendly and does its job well. The draw is smooth and comfortable although set at 70 pounds. On top of that, at 310 fps, this is a reasonably fast bow.
This product is easy to maintain and to be adjusted. It shoots quiet and has low recoil.
As a side note, if you want the peep sight adjusted to 65 draw weight, it seems that the pin sight mounts too low to be set for 20 yards. Therefore, you would have to max out the height mount and raise the top pin to the top.
This youth bow is adjustable even without a bow press. However, for some of us a press is easier and quicker to do several adjustments such as draw length and cam timing (draw weight is easy so no press is necessary).
While it appears to be “ready to shoot” out of the package, it really wasn’t. You would have to take it to an archery shop to have the peep sight and the bow adjusted.
Overall in this review, this product is great for young kids to learn and grow as well as experienced bow hunters as this is very smooth and hardly any hold weight at full draw.
Suitable for:
- Adjusting even without bow press
- Left-handed and right-handed
- Low recoil
Barnett Vortex Youth Archery Bow (Camo)
The second in the list of best compound bow for youth is from Barnett. This Barnett compound bow is exclusively for right handed use (we can hear your sighs left handed users!) and has adjustable draw weight of 19-45lbs.
The draw modules enable easy weight changes without using the bow press. The purchase of this best compound bow comes complete with 3 arrows and bow arrow holder. It also includes limited five-year manufacturer’s warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
This compound bow has a 60-70% let off with maximum draw length of 22-27″. The optimum arrow size for this youth bow depends on the draw length that you set the bow into. You can cut them to clear the rest by one inch at full draw. Just so you know, you can easily hunt with the compound bow either from a treestand or a ground blind.
The arrows that are included are 28 inch thin aluminum tubes which will not last long. The maximum draw length is 26″ without a bow press and 27″ if you use it with a bow press to adjust the string position on the cams.
However, actual draw length may vary due to variance in string length. Unfortunately, there is no peep sight included so you may need to make a separate purchase for it. Luckily, it is relatively cheap.
To lower the draw weight, turning it clock-wise will tighten it and increases power. On the other hand, turning counter clock-wise loosens it and decreases power. It is difficult to turn so use the correct size of Allen wrench.
Avoid backing the limb bolt out more than three full turns. With one full turn at a time, go back and forth. The fiberoptic sight is pretty neat for an intro level youth compound bow.
It is very adjustable and even comes with draw length adjustment parts. It is powerful enough to hunt deer with it. The arrows are easy to shoot but the arrow rest and the quiver are a disappointment. The arrows fall out sometimes due to this.
What is great though about this youth compound bow is that it has five settings. This increases the draw and weight without using a bow press. This allows me to adjust it as required.
The cams change out in 3 minutes with 2 allen bolts for each. The package also poses as a pseudo carrying case though it’s not enclosed. With a bow press, it could be adjusted all the way down to 16 or up to 45.
However, without a bow press, it can only go from 19-41 (16-38 on the “-” setting, or 22-45 on the “+” setting). Regarding the “-” or “+” settings, just tilt the scale up or down by 3-4lbs with 1″ more or less of draw length.
Although the carry case is a great way to carry your youth compound bow, you’re unable to put it if you’ve already installed the arrow holder. Therefore, you must remove it before putting it back on.
Each cam adjusts the draw length about 1″ and 3 lbs. but the handle leaves a lot to be desired for. Also, the quiver is a bit too close to the riser to be used comfortably with my installed rest.
Overall in this compound bow review, this Barnett youth compound bow has everything you may need to get started.
Suitable for:
- Right-handed use
- Adjusting even without bow press
Genesis Original Compound Bow
The third best compound bow in this review would be the Genesis. This Genesis compound bow is the official bow of NASP (National Archery in the Schools Program). It is a great starter bow for archers regardless of all ages, sizes and athletic abilities.
This best compound bow for youth has no specific draw length requirement. Kids can’t outgrow this bow. It includes an aluminum riser, aluminum cam and idler wheel with sturdy composite limbs as well as high-strength bowstrings which are all made in the USA.
This Genesis compound bow is built with single-cam technology. Therefore, there would be no tuning issues, less recoil and less noise with more accurate shooting. It is the first compound bow that is designed to eliminate let-off and specific draw length requirements.
They’re a great introduction to archery because beginners would not develop any bad habits caused by an ill-fitting bow. The draw weight comes at standard 20 lbs which can be safely lowered to 10 lbs.
To lower the draw weight, you would need the provided 3/16″ hex. It covers all the standard draw lengths ranging between 15″-30″. Plus, the riser is drilled and tapped to be fitted for standard accessories.
With 35 1/2″ axle-to-axle and 7 5/8″ brace height, this Genesis youth compound bow is not intended for hunting. If you insist, you can use it for hunting but with the large poundage, I doubt you can hunt large game with it.
I would like to emphasize in this best compound bow review that the purchase comes with just the bow. There are no arrows, quiver, sight, or any other accessories provided. This bow is a target bow.
While it does have the penetrating power that is on par with a 35# re-curve, I would not see it appropriate for hunting rather than small-games (bird, rabbit, squirrel, etc.).
This compound bow is heavier than I expected since the riser is solid aluminum. For an adult, this problem may seem trivial but it is another issue for kids.
If you wish to reduce the weight, you could try milling out some metal and creating lightening holes. Kids can draw it with no problem but they just can’t hold it up on their own.
The orange color is almost red, not a bright orange so our eyes are saved. It arrived with near-perfect set-up that required little tweaking.
However, the grip is too vertical and too small in my opinion. As a side note, NASP won’t allow you to modify the grip or use a custom-grip.
The bow is well built and the draw is light compared to how the arrows hit. It seems the pulleys are adding tension. Although the bow claimed a 20 lb draw, the arrows can be penetrated up to two inches better than the 30 lb recurve.
This bow is a great equalizer and it doesn’t matter if you’re small with short arms or tall with long arms, this compound bow just fits. However, if your kids are stronger (over age 10), you may prefer higher draw weight with an easily removable and adjustable stop (for draw length).
The groupings are consistent and it comes with built in arrow rest and a nock already installed. Overall in this compound bow review, it is a great youth compound bow for archery.
Suitable for:
- No tuning issues
- Great equalizer
- Right or left handed users
Crosman Elkhorn Jr. Compound Bow
The next youth compound bow in this review is from Elkhorn. This caliber youth compound bow has 90 Day limited warranty with complete kit, ready to shoot.
The purchase includes 1 youth compound bow, 2-piece quiver, 2 composite arrows, 1 arm guard, finger tab, sights & arrow rest. It is designed to have the same look and feel as of a full-size adult bow.
The Elkhorn compound bow has durable, heavyweight composite limbs with an equipped composite center-shot riser that has a large sight window. The composite cam system is further supported by the heavy-duty, cables , all-weather strings and cable guard to provide superior shooting performance.
With 33 axle-to-axle and 17-21 lbs. draw weight, this 3.3 lbs. best compound bow has maximum draw of 26 and 8 brace height with 65% let-off. The 1 lb., 12 oz. mass weight is to provide good balance and it is ideal for beginner kids that are 8 and up.
The right-hand grip is for optimum hand and the 8″ brace height provides ultimate forgiveness during the shot. However, the fiberglass arrows that are included with it just bounce off the target
Since the minimum draw weight for a hunting bow would be at least 45lbs, I wouldn’t consider this as a hunting bow unless it is just for squrrels or rabbits. It is definitely a no for a deer. The provided arrows are 26″ which I find it to be of low quality.
It is fixed and there is no adjustment available. The 17 to 21 lbs draw weight just means that each bow falls somewhere between 17 and 21 lbs. overall, I think this is a good starter for either a 10-11 year old boy, or an 11-12 year old girl.
The arrow’s nock has to be wider compared to the string for the arrow to release properly. However, the problem being is that there is no stop on the string in where the arrow is supposed to rest. Fortunately, this can be fixed using a simple wrap of scotch tape. Wrap it around the string just below at where the nock rests.
Besides the bow, I feel that all the other accessories are not very impressive either. If you shoot it as far as you could, it could go for 100 meters. The notch where the arrow goes in is placed on the left side. Therefore, you would have to use this Crosman compound bow right-handed style.
This target compound bow must have for adult supervision at all times for younger teens and tweens although it is made for beginners. They could cause serious damage if left unsupervised.
It was easy to assemble and the accuracy is sufficient for this price range. It is precise enough to allow subsequent shot correction.
This compound bow has a cable type “string” which I expect to last a long time and be relatively maintenance free. The drawback to this all-cable type string setup though is the lack of a rear peep sight which is usually served into the string itself.
This is not possible though with a full cable string. Also, it does not have the power required to hold an arrow in a straight line without dropping some of it when you go shooting past 40 feet.
Suitable for:
- Maintenance free
- Right-handed use
- Kids that are 8 or up
Barnett Outdoors Lil Banshee Archery Set
The fifth in this best compound bow review is the Barnett. This plastic youth compound bow comes with 3 types of eye catching color- Realtree Camouflage, Black, and Pink. There is an ambidextrous reinforced handle for both left-handed and right-handed users.
The soft-touch grip is for excellent handling. The purchase of this compound bow for youth includes 2 arrows, adjustable pin sight, finger rollers and a package that can be used as a carrying case. The provided arrows are 28” in length.
With an 18-pound draw weight and 18-to-22-inch draw length; this youth compound bow features a limited five-year manufacturer’s warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
Don’t underestimate this compound bow although it is made for kids as someone that got hit at close range could be severely hurt. As with any archery setup, you will need around 15 or 20 feet between the archer and their target.
Also, you will need to take into factor the space behind the target as well since some arrows will fly well beyond. You can shoot this using either left or right hand. Furthermore, these bows are so inexpensive, you don’t need to worry about replacement strings anymore.
A left handed shooter will need to put the arrow on the “thumb” side of the bow, rather than the “knuckle” side. Nonetheless, the bow is equipped with an arrow rest on both sides.
Therefore, if you really want to “modify” it into left handed use, you could do that by switching the two pulleys. By doing so, the string would be on the right instead of the left. Just pay close attention if you want to restring it correctly.
I would recommend this Barnett best compound bow for children under 16 as it would be far too small for a 16 year old. The included arrows would not meet your expectations but they will work if you are mindful careful about what you shoot and how you remove the arrows from the target.
You also wouldn’t need finger gloves or tabs with this Barnett compound bow as it comes integrated with ingenious finger rollers attached to the string. On the other hand, you may need an arm guard though.
The Banshee solid model has an included pin site that is actually connected to the ‘carrying case’ with a Philips head screw. It is very easy to be missed if you aren’t looking for it. Plus, the instructions are not clear enough to actually tell you how to connect or use it.
Regarding the pin site, pay close attention to avoid over-tightening the screw after it is slid onto the groove because there isn’t much resistance to know when it is secure. It would have been better if the screw was something you could finger tighten instead of having to use a screwdriver.
It effectively shoots straight from 10 to 15 feet. However, beyond that you’ll have to be prepared to lose some arrows. Getting it started is a little tough for a younger so be patient. Once you practice and get it past a certain point, it pulls back rather easily.
I would prefer if there was more of a “ridge” on the ledge where the arrow sits as your kids may have trouble keeping it on as they pull back the bow. You could try putting a little strip of hot glue to make it a more defined ridge.
Suitable for:
- Ambidextrous
- Children under 16
Bear Archery Scout Bow Set
Sixth in the best youth compound bow review is from Bear Archery. This beginner compound bow set comes ready to shoot with two safetyglass arrows, sight pin, finger rollers, armguard, and arrow quiver. It is recommended for children 4 to 7 years old.
This Bear Archery compound bow features 8-13 lb. draw weight with 16-24” draw length range. The 33-inch long ambidextrous compound bow features durable composite limbs. It fits into a niche market for kids that cannot draw around 15 to 20 pounds.
Be sure to measure your child’s length of draw before purchasing because the length of draw may be a little bit long for their age group. The length of draw is 20 inches to let off and out to 24 inches to wall. The draw weight is 11 pounds with 50% let off (5.5 pounds).
There is no adjustability though and the included arrow rest is for a right-handed archer only. However, it can be modified for left-handed archers if you are prepared for its short durability. It can last about 100 shots before breaking down.
If you are interested to reconfigure it for a lefty, you would have to press it and take the cams off. Then, flip the cams/string & cable assembly. Switching to left-handed wouldn’t be too hard.
The provided arrows are blunt and can penetrate 30% of the time a Morrell model 109 youth target. You may also need to tape the string to make sure your kids had a consistent place to nock the arrow onto the string.
You may be disappointed with the given instructions as they are not much of use. You could try checking on the website for more detailed ones.
You can choose the compound bow from four different color options. You would have to install the included arrow rest yourself but it should be fine if you check up on the net.
Even with the light pull, it is still able to shoot ten to fifteen feet with a flat trajectory. Nonetheless, the arrows start to drop and aiming becomes harder beyond that range.
The bow and the grip are small so it may be uncomfortable for those with large hands. Since the grip is made of plastic, you can file or sand it to correct this.
Furthermore, the pin would only be visible in the bottom quarter of this grove length. Hence, any higher and the view the pin will be obstructed by the top of the riser.
On the other hand, if the pin is placed in the bottom quarter of the grove, it will get hit by the vanes of the arrow when it passes between the site pin and the flipper rest. The clearance between the arrow rest with the site pin is lesser than the diameter of the vanes on the arrows.
On the positive side, it is easy to draw and it is pretty accurate. it is solid and the grip seems good too.
Overall in this compound bow review, it is a good choice to teach kids and young teens on how a bow works in general as well as to practice learning to aim.
Suitable for:
- Right handed use
- Kids that are 4 to 7 years old.
Leader Accessories Compound Bows
The last best youth compound bow in this review would be from Leader Accessories. This right-handed compound bow has draw weight of 50 – 70 lbs. and draw length of 25″ – 31″. The maximum speed is 310 FPS with 75% – 80%. let off.
The axle to axle length is 31.5″ with brace height of 7.5″. It weighs 4.4 lbs. considering the solid aluminum riser. Nevertheless, you can adjust the draw weight and draw length by using the enclosed Allen Wrench. No bow press is required.
The product has 1-year warranty excluding string and cables. 30″ carbon arrow and 30″ aluminum arrow are recommended for this youth compound bow.
The compound bow set includes durable safety vest harness, camo ground hunting hub blinds, large capacity tree stand, doghouse blinds, heavy duty game cart, one man chair blinds also shooting stick, and hoist and gambrel system which seems a great deal for the price.
The provided sight can be replaced since it is very simple and most people would prefer replacing it for a better one. You could try at least a three pin sight with a level and it will drastically improve your shot.
Also, there is no peep sight installed so you must install one yourself. Try using a 1/4 Eastman. Using a smaller one would get too much rotation from the string at full draw. On the other hand, the 1/4 inch peep rotates large enough for you to still be able to see through it.
The compound bow came set at 29 inch draw and the draw length is very easy to be adjusted. Just remove the screws and adjust to the needed draw length. Bear in mind though that the screws can come loose so I would suggest applying either Loc tight or Teflon tape before reinstalling them.
It shoots great in my opinion and it is easy to maintain draw. I also think it is pretty powerful so it is definitely sufficient for hunting. At 20 yards the shot still goes through 12 layers of box cardboard taped together and still about 3/4 of the way through the hay.
At 30 yards the second pin on my sight is about a 1/8 of an inch lower compared to my 20 yards. At 40 yards, it is another 1/8 of an inch. It does take some serious torque to adjust draw weight.
Also, I highly suggest for you to upgrade the rest in order to achieve the necessary consistency for dialing-in your sight. Comparing with higher-end products, this best bow has a bit more noise and vibration until the accessories are added.
For smaller and skinnier people, you might find this best bow heavy. Plus, the string suppressor loosens after every shooting session. Although you retighten it several times, it will still come loose.
Overall in this compound bow review, if you are willing to put in the time to learn more instructions of this best bow, then it should be a great one for you.
Suitable for:
- Right-handed use
- Smaller and skinnier people
- Hunting
Conclusion
I hope these compound bow reviews has been helpful for you to choose the best youth compound bow. If you’re a fan of broadheads, you can check out the fixed or mechanical broadheads to pair with your compound bow.