Are you looking to find a state-of-the-art compound bow? Or maybe, you are trying to upgrade your current compound bow? Either way, carbon fiber is a newer material to archery that is gaining popularity for many reasons worth checking out.
There are many advantages to a carbon fiber compound bow that can benefit archers of all ranges, including beginners. Understanding the material better and knowing the market’s products is the first step in finding the best compound bow to meet all of your archery needs.
Are you interested in learning more about the benefits a carbon fiber compound bow has?
Take a look at our top picks
Contents (Jump to Topic)
If you are looking for the best carbon fiber compound bow out there and don’t have the time to research all the products, look no further. We have done the heavy lifting for you and have concluded that the Diamond Archery Carbon Knockout Compound Bow is the number one choice overall.
Top Carbon Fiber Compound Bows
Best Overall: Diamond Archery Carbon Knockout
Taking the lead with the perfect overall combination of power, accuracy, and consistency is the Diamond Archery Carbon Knockout Compound Bow.
The Carbon Knockout is, hands down, Diamond’s most technologically advanced carbon fiber compound bow for females. This bow will surely provide significant power with consistent accuracy that competitors can’t match.
Pros:
- Created by women specifically for women
- Comes with factory-installed, tuned, and tested accessories
- Bowtech Synchronized Binary Cam System offering 320 fps and straight arrow flight
- Rotating module design with wide-ranging draw length adjustment
- Ultra-lightweight at 3.2 pounds
- Let-off at 80%
Cons:
- Right-handed version only
- Super specialized construction with a high price tag
- Size can be limiting for larger archers
Designed for all ranges of arches from beginner to expert, the Diamond Archery Carbon Knockout Compound Bow exceeds all expectations regarding design, comfort, and versatility (read.. Ladys Bow Guide).
Best Technology: Diamond Deploy SB
With its aerospace-inspired carbon rise, the Diamond Deploy SB Compound Bow does not fall short as one of the best compound bow options out there.
This carbon fiber compound bow raises the bar in terms of performance, boasting power, tunability, adjustment, and accuracy.
read.. how to look up the serial number of your compound bow
Thanks to the Synchronized Binary Cam System, this compound bow has two perfectly symmetrical cams delivering unmatched synchronization.
Pros:
- The most technologically advanced bow yet from Diamond
- Comes with factory-installed, tuned, and tested accessories
- Bowtech Synchronized Binary Cam System offering 330 fps
- Advanced Carbon Knight ultra-lightweight
- Ultra-lightweight at 3.2 pounds
- Let-off at 80%
Cons:
- Generic styling
- Only two finishes to choose from
- Difficult for new shooters with short ATA
Although this might not be the best option for beginners, the Diamond Deploy SB Compound Bow offers unmatched technological advances making it an excellent piece of equipment for hunters.
If you want to read a more detailed review, check our article here – Diamond Deploy SB Hands-On Review.
Best Dampening: PSE Carbon Air Stealth
The PSE Carbon Air Stealth is a compound bow made 100% in the USA. This high-efficiency carbon fiber compound bow boasts an S-RAC core allowing more natural dampening and overall stability.
This compound bow has incredible handling and accuracy, matched with an overall lightweight body.
Pros:
- Longer bow, measuring 35-inch from axle to axle
- Let-Off 80-90%
- 320 fps (IBO)
- Riser is made of one carbon piece
- A single carbon riser is a hollow tube
- Includes Evolve Cam system
- Lightweight at 3.5 pounds
Cons:
- High price tag
Although the PSE Carbon Air Stealth can run a bit pricey, it proves to be a fantastic carbon fiber compound bow option that maintains a lightweight frame.
Buyers Guide
Let’s look at some of the common questions about purchasing a carbon fiber compound bow.
Why Do I Need a Carbon Fiber Compound Bow?
When doing your research, you will find that carbon fiber is a newer material used for compound bows that offer a different alternative to traditional aluminum.
Whether a novice or an expert archer, carbon fiber compound bow options are sure to help you step your game up.
What Is Carbon Fiber?
Carbon fiber, also known as graphite fiber, is a polymer known to be a heavy-duty and incredibly lightweight material.
In terms of its strength, carbon fiber is five times stronger than steel and is known to be twice as stiff. Despite the strength of carbon fiber, it is significantly lighter than steel, which makes it ideal for many different uses.
Part of what makes carbon fiber such a strong material is that it is multiple thin, crystalline filaments of carbon that are thinner than human hair, woven together like yarn.
The fibers create a cloth-like form and then are coated in a resin or plastic to take its permanent shape.
In addition to its strength, carbon fiber also has:
- High stiffness
- High tension strength
- Low weight-to-strength ratio
- High chemical resistance
- High-temperature tolerance
- Low thermal expansion
Because carbon fiber has so many benefits, it is common to find it a popular material for multiple industries outside of archery, such as aerospace, automotive, and military.
The benefit of Carbon Fiber in Compound Bow
As you can imagine, some of the benefits that make carbon fiber a quality material in so many other industries also make it highly sought after in archery.
The lightweight yet durable carbon fiber makes it perfect for easy handling in compound bows for archers of all skill levels.
Typically, manufacturers use aluminum to make compound bows. Aluminum, like carbon fiber, is a lightweight yet durable material.
Although aluminum is an excellent option for archers, carbon fiber proves to be superior because it maintains a more stable surface temperature.
While this may seem like a luxury, having a bow that does not drastically change temperature can be a game-changer in severe weather conditions.
Of course, you don’t want to worry about risking burning or freezing your skin if you leave your gloves at home.
Disadvantages of Carbon Fiber
Of the few disadvantages to opting for a carbon fiber compound bow, the price tag tends to be the most common.
Generally speaking, carbon fiber is a more complicated material to create and, as a result, can cost more than standard aluminum.
It is important to remember that you are paying for quality, and you will reap the benefits of this in the long run.
Another disadvantage to carbon fiber is that you cannot easily recycle it like you can with other materials. If you choose a carbon fiber compound bow, you might find sourcing spare parts challenging.
As technology evolves, carbon fiber is becoming a more popular option, and you should see this begin to diminish as a concern if you face it at all.
Carbon Fiber Compound Bow Parts
It is not uncommon to find a compound bow with parts that are entirely different materials. While carbon fiber is becoming a more popular material in archery, you will find that the list of parts available in this material is continuously growing.
Right now, some of the carbon fiber compound bow parts that you can get are:
- Riser
- Cam
- Limbs
- Idler wheel
- Arrows
With the right budget, it is entirely possible to find a bow made entirely of carbon fiber if that is the most ideal for you.
Should You Buy a Carbon Fiber Compound Bow?
Determining whether or not you should purchase a carbon fiber compound bow is a decision that is entirely up to your personal inclinations.
Remember that because aluminum has been available longer, it can be easier to find spare and replacement pieces in this material.
As mentioned, though, carbon fiber is gaining popularity as it is a highly durable material, and we anticipate seeing our options continue to grow in the future.
Conclusion
As carbon fiber continues to gain popularity in the archery world, we will continue to see an ever-growing list of viable options.
We have hand-selected our top picks of the carbon fiber compound bow options out there, and while all are great options, the Diamond Knockout Compound Bow is hands down the best.
The Diamond Deploy SB Compound Bow might be a better option for larger archers but is not necessarily the best choice for beginners.
Because of the Diamond Knockout Compound Bow’s versatility for all users, it won out as our top pick overall.
