In a recent post, we showed you five awesome crossbows for less than $400. Perhaps your search criteria are a little different this time. Instead of a crossbow, you want a compound bow. You’d also prefer to abbreviate the budget to around $200. What are some high-quality compound bows you can buy for that little money?
These are the best compound bows for under $200:
- Genesis Original Kit (our favorite pick)
- Bear Archery Limitless Duel Cam Compound Bow
- iGlow Archery Hunting Compound Bow
- Siege SAS Compound Bow
- Southland Archery Supply SAS Outrage
The price is right for these compound bows, especially as you start getting into archery and don’t want to spend a lot of money on the hobby yet. Keep reading for specs and detailed reviews of the five compound bows we’ve recommended, including pros and cons.
On a Tight Budget? These 5 Great Compound Bows Are Under $200!
Top Pick: Genesis Original Kit
Unfortunately, our top pick for compound bows under $200 is not under $200 anymore, but we still wanted to include it in our list today because we believe it is still a great choice and may be the one for you. Our preferred compound bow is the Genesis Original Kit. In your kit, you get an owner’s manual, a 3/16-inch hex wrench, five aluminum arrows, an arm guard (that’s adjustable), a belt tube quiver, and a bow. For what you’re spending, that’s a lot of accessories. As you’ll see soon, a lot of other bows don’t include the necessary arrows for firing, but the Genesis Original Kit does.
The single-cam technology included with this bow is meant to be less complex so new archers can figure out their Genesis Kit quickly. Genesis Bows promises better accuracy, reduced noise, and a lower rate of recoil with their bow.
This US-produced bow also features sturdy bowstrings, durable composite limbs, an idler wheel and cam made of aluminum, and a 6061-T6 aluminum riser that’s machine-made. Select from right-hand or left-hand orientation and fun colors such as purple, yellow, white camo, red, pink camo, orange, green, pink, blue, green camo, and carbon (black).
Pros of the Genesis Original Archery Kit
- According to Genesis Bows, the National Archery in the Schools Program or NASP uses the Genesis Original Kit as its official bow.
- The Genesis Original has no requirements on draw lengths so aspiring archers of all ages and skill levels can use it.
- That you can choose from left-handed or right-handed orientation will also make adjusting to archery easier with this compound bow.
Cons of the Genesis Original Kit
- Users have complained that parts like the string separator were missing with their order.
Bear Archery Limitless Dual Cam Compound Bow
The Bear Archery Limitless Dual Cam Compound Bow is a top choice for hunting and recreational shooting. If you’re just getting into archery then this powerful bow is an excellent option since it comes with everything you need to start.
Its duel-cam system allows you to generate speeds up to 265 feet per second, which will enable you to penetrate through most targets with ease. With a draw length between 19 and 29 inches and a draw weight of 25 to 50 pounds, this bow is perfect for transitioning from backyard shooting to the woods.
This ready to hunt bow comes equipped with Trophy Ridge sight, Trophy Ridge Whisker Biscuit, Bear 3 Arrow Quiver, peep sight, and nock loop to help you shoot more accurately.
Pros of the Bear Archery Limitless Duel Cam Compound Bow
- A beginner bow that will grow with you.
- Highly adjustable draw weight 25-50 lbs.
- Highly adjustable draw length 19-29 inches.
- Ready to Hunt Package
Cons of the Bear Archery Limitless Duel Cam Compound Bow
- There have been some complaints of it breaking.
iGlow Archery Hunting Compound Bow
We think you’ll quite like the iGlow archery hunting compound bow, which is $190. iGlow calls theirs a premium kit, as it’s loaded with many of your archery essentials. For example, you get Allen keys, a bow sling, a D-loop string, a 1/8th-inch peep sight, a rubber stabilizer, a brush arrow rest, and an optic bow sight with an included sight light.
The bow is a lightweight 3.3 pounds and measures 28 inches long from one axle to the other. Arrows fire at an impressive speed of 296+ FPS for more accurate target-shooting. The let-off is around 70 percent. Like several of the other compound bows we’ve reviewed, the draw weight is adjustable on the iGlow, as you can set it between 30 and 55 pounds.
This is a hunting bow through and through, as it comes in midnight black or camo colors so you can obscure yourself among your surroundings. The limbs of this compound bow are compression-molded and made of sturdy fiberglass. An included riser is aluminum for more durability.
Pros of the iGlow Archery Hunting Compound Bow
- The Allen keys make it easy to set this compound bow’s draw length and weight.
- This bow’s smooth polished limbs lend it an appealing finish that could make you the envy of your archery friends.
- The premium kit lives up to its name so beginner archers get lots of useful equipment for under $200.
Cons of the iGlow Archery Hunting Compound Bow
- The peep sight isn’t pre-installed, so you’ll have to add it yourself if you want the sight available when you use the bow.
- The iGlow bow will work best with 30-inch carbon or aluminum bows, which are sold separately.
Siege SAS Compound Bow
Next on our list is the Siege SAS compound bow, which is very reasonably priced at $170. This 29-inch compound bow includes one paper target to get you started, which admittedly isn’t much. That said, you get an accuracy sight as well so you can start finessing each shot. Also included is a peep sight, a leather mounting sling, a 5-inch aluminum stabilizer, a twist arrow rest, a D-loop, carbon arrows, and a three-pin bow sight.
The bow is a light 4 pounds and capable of shooting at 206 FPS with a 70-percent let-off. This is a bigger compound bow than the ones we’ve discussed to this point, as the Siege is 41.5 inches from axle to axle. It doesn’t go too heavy on the draw weight, which is between 40 and 55 pounds with a max draw length of 29 inches.
If you’d rather forego the pro features Siege offers with its SAS compound bow, that’s an option. At that point, you’d only spend $130 on the bow, which is not bad! This bow is available in two color schemes, all black or black with silver.
Pros of the Seige SAS Compound Bow
- Users have lauded the Siege SAS compound bow for its accuracy despite that it’s not very expensive.
- If you’re a hunter, this is a good compound bow to have. One user mentions having killed a boar using the Siege.
- The range of accessories included with the Siege are ones you’ll use all the time as you improve your archery game.
Cons of the Siege SAS Compound Bow
- Siege says this compound bow is only for adults, so it’s not quite as versatile as the other bows.
- Users have complained that instructions were not included with their bow. That can make assembly difficult.
Southland Archery Supply SAS Outrage
Our last recommended compound bow for under $200 is another pick from Southland Archery Company, the Outrage. This heavy-duty compound bow is $180, so it’s right within your budget. When we say heavy-duty, by the way, we mean it. This bow has a draw weight of up to 70 pounds. The least amount of draw weight you can apply is 55 pounds.
Firing at a blistering speed of 270 FPS, the Outrage is 4.4 pounds and 35 inches long overall. Its draw length is 25 to 31 inches, which is about the entirety of the bow’s length. Southland says that when you pull the string all the way back, you generate up to 70 pounds of force that’s then distributed to the dual-cam idlers.
The waffle-style appearance of the bow features cut-outs throughout, so it’s certainly got an interesting design. The Outrage also boasts ABS limbs that were designed with consideration to strength, weight, and balance. These limbs acome layered to support the max allowable draw weight. If you need to reduce the draw weight, Southland says you can loosen up the bolt. You’ll lose 5 pounds of draw weight by doing so. You can similarly increase draw weight by 5 pounds if you tighten the bolt.
Pros of the SAS Outrage
- The Southland Archery Supply Outrage is built for durability through and through.
- Users who own this bow love how high-quality it feels despite that the Outrage costs less than $200.
- Should you want to hunt moderately large game like hogs and deer, this compound bow can handle it.
Cons of the SAS Outrage
- If you’re looking for premium accessories with your compound bow, the Outrage does not have them. You only get the bow itself and the manual in the box.
- Some users have complained that the strings of this bow snap quickly and that parts can break off.
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Final Thoughts
Buying a great compound bow doesn’t have to be expensive. As these 5 bows have more than proven, you can get quality, versatility, and durability in a compound bow and still spend $200 or less. Although most of these bows are entry-level, with some others, you might like them so much that they become your compound bow of choice for years to come!
Once you’ve chosen a bow, don’t forget your other archery gear. Check out our lists of the top rangefinders, archery gloves, and archery targets.