Survival bow

One of the best survival bows today, this longbow proved to be amazingly suitable for both beginners and experienced shooters. It’s easy to use and, yet, gives a very satisfying performance, making it this review’s Editor’s Choice.

At 64 inches overall length, it would sure look like a handful to you if you’re a beginner. But it’s actually pretty approachable with a very low learning curve. 

I was ready to shoot with it right out of the box!

The simplicity and gracefulness of its design were immediately noticeable to us. It looks slim, but it actually has three wood laminates made from maple wood. So I knew right off that it’d be a reliable survival bow. 

Its design is a bit reflexed, tapering to the limbs. In addition to that, it also felt very, very comfortable on my hand. It took me more than a hundred shots before I felt a strain on my tired hand. 

And speaking of the limbs…

…they were quite snappy. Usually, I’d worry. But they’re the durable kind of snappy. Not to mention, they’re also reinforced on both sides. No wonder nothing cracked or broke after I used it continuously for a couple of hours. 

Now, shooting was an addictive affair. To put it simply, it was very smooth and clean. No fuss or issues at all. 

And it was so quiet, too! 

Its silence makes it perfect for hunting or fishing. It’s easily 10/10 on stealth. 

On the other hand…

…I did experience a bit of a hand shock, but nothing too big of a deal for me to worry about. 

The string is a Flemish string with 14 strands. It felt strong right out of the box. But some  users said that it frayed after a considerable number of uses (after about a hundred shots). No problem for me because I always make a point to wax my strings. 

At a draw weight of 45  pounds, I was able to shoot at 150 to 175 FPS. Although it’s not as fast as other survival bows, it did the job, and I was happy. 

But best of all, it may not be an ultra-portable takedown bow. It’s incredibly lightweight, but on the other hand its ‘big’ man. But it’s so light it’s easy to forget you have it on your back at all!

This sophisticated longbow comes at a price that’s a way lower than most high-quality modern bows out there. But don’t be fooled. 

With its high-end quality, it’s one of the best bows to get if you’re still testing the waters or just don’t want to splurge on an expensive bow yet, making it this review’s Best Value survival bow. 

Nevertheless…

…it’s one of the most accurate ones out of all those we tested. 

This longbow by SAS spans a great 68 inches of length, so that’s for you who want to feel like a regal elf or a hunter boss. 

But despite its size, it’s not hard to control and use at all. Thanks to its straightforward design, even our beginners were able to enjoy it for hours on end!

It came ready to shoot pretty much out of the box. Although, it’s a shame that it didn’t come with a good manual, so if this is your first survival bow, make sure you go online and see their instructions on the web for a guide. 

On the other hand…

…you won’t even need a tool for this. 

It has a riser and a riser cover, as well. Aside from that, its grip has a cover, so my hand didn’t get strained after using it – even continuously for the two hours I was out with this. 

Now, I’ve heard some users complaining that this grip cover moves. It didn’t in my case, but if you want to be sure, you can just reinforce it with glue or the like before you start. Anyway, the cover isn’t much, so it would barely affect anything, even if it happened to move. 

Another thing you might want to take note of is the logo that’s imprinted on the front side. I felt it could have alerted my targets if they were even slightly sensitive, so I just covered it up like the grip. 

Small inconvenience for its great performance. 

And speaking of performance…

…it gave me a bit of a hand shock, but it was incredibly accurate even with less effort on my part. It’s also not tiring to hold and pull, making it great for both target practice and hunting. 

This takedown recurve bow is made with convenience and ease of use in mind, as evident in its design, making it this review’s Top Pick. 

It seriously didn’t give us a hard time at all. Even our recurve beginners. 

First of all, this is quite light for a recurve. And because it’s a takedown bow, you can disassemble it so you can save more space on storage or in your car. 

You might be thinking…

…but a great takedown bow it may be, it’s still a bit fussy, as I still need to assemble it every single time. 

Well, this one has interchangeable limbs, so I actually saved more time because I didn’t have to watch out to make sure I was attaching the correct limb!

Moreover, we didn’t need any special tool at all. Although the manual it came with was a bit challenging for us, the company also sent us a link to an instructional video upon purchase. It was a breeze to understand, even if you’re a first-timer. 

What’s cooler…

…it even has brass bushings, which is really cool as I always like to be able to put my bow attachments in, especially my quiver. Now, you can do that for your plunger, stabilizer, sight, and whatnots!

On the other hand, the brass bushings felt like they were just lightly attached. Although they haven’t come undone in my case yet, you can always reinforce them if you want to be sure.

How about its performance?

Well, it gave us accurate shots up to 50 to 80 yards, which is pretty good. They were really strong shots, as well. 

That was with 60 pounds of draw weight, by the way, which isn’t really for beginners. But the design itself is user-friendly. You just have to choose a lower draw weight.

Looking to dive into the world of recurve bows? The SAS Courage is the best entry-level bow for you. 

It’s also a good bow to get if you don’t want to splash a good amount on a bow yet but don’t want something with cheap quality. 

And speaking of quality…

…oh man. The feel of this recurve bow alone screams “expensive quality.” It’s made from three kinds of wood with Makore and Maple wood laminate, so it’s not just good to look at but also very hard and sturdy. The limbs are quite thick and hard, as well. 

It has authoritative curves on its limb, which resulted in a very energetic shoot later on. 

As you might have already realised, it’s a takedown bow. That means that it can be disassembled for easier storage. 

Right out of the box, it came disassembled, but with everything that I needed to assemble it right then and there – nothing else required. It includes two limbs, a string, a wrench, and an arrow pad. 

Not bad for its price!

And yes, it has two limbs. The first one has a logo printed on its front side, and the other has its logo hidden at the back. Just choose according to your preference. 

As for assembly…

…the tricky part for a beginner might be putting the bolts in and stringing the bow. 

It came with a wrench for the bolts, and assembling them requires patience and care, as we soon learned. Good thing we aligned everything slowly but surely, so it took us just one take to assemble everything. 

Stringing it is another story, as well. The string is so strong (a good thing) that it might require a strong pair of hands or, better yet, a stringer tool to be able to put the string in safely and without fuss. 

Now, the thing is…

…it’s just a shame that it doesn’t have an attachment point for sight or even a stabilizer. But that also makes it a good entry-level recurve bow if you want to learn intuitive shooting. 

And speaking of shooting, it shoots quite fast, strong, and definitely very quiet. 

Its impact and pressure were so strong that I struggled to draw the arrow from the tree trunk once.

Another cream of the takedown bows crop, this Deerseeker 62-inch recurve bow, can also be disassembled like the SAS Courage. One of their differences is that this one is much easier to assemble and use. 

For one…

…it came disassembled, too. But it took me a shorter amount of time to assemble it. The bolts are also long, so that assured me of its strong and durable build. 

It has a lamination of Maple wood and fiberglass, which resulted in a very hard and sturdy surface. The grip is also quite thick, so it didn’t look like it could break sooner or later. 

As for the limbs, they’re quite snappy but don’t have reinforcements. However, they’re also as solid in their feel as the grip. 

If you like elegant bows, the design of this Deerseeker recurve bow will appeal to you. It has a tribal feel with the swirly design in the colors brown and black with red and gold accents!

Assembling was quite a breeze…if not for the confusing instructions. It also has instructions on the bow, but they’re a bit confusing. Now, if you’re a seasoned shooter, you may find the assembly quite intuitive. 

On the other hand…

…stringing it was the real challenge. If this is your first bow, it will help you to watch instructional videos online. 

The string has already been waxed, so it’s ready to be used. Just remember to not dry fire it, or you might risk breaking components of your recurve bow. 

It has a draw weight of around 30 pounds for a beginner and practicing shooters and 60 pounds for some serious hunting. Not to mention, the string felt heavy whatever draw weight you use, so you might want to take note of that. 

In connection to that…

…this bow came with a finger guard to make your fingers comfortable and safe. Although, it felt small to me, like a child’s finger guard. But it’s a nice touch, nonetheless. 

But that’s not all. 

It also comes with lots of attachment points if you want to put a sight, a stabilizer, a quiver, a brass plunger, and whatnots in your bow! Add to that the beautifully designed riser, and you’ve got yourself a bow for pros. 

Opening this package up felt like opening up a gift!

That’s because it came with not only the basic bow components but the attachments that we would’ve bought separately. 

That alone made this a bang for our buck.

Much shorter than the previous takedown Recurve bows in overall length by a few inches, this one from Hyf Sports has more of a tactical design. It can be seen by the forest camo design on its grip. 

But aside from that…

…it also strategically uses a combination of materials that makes it both lightweight and sturdy. 

It’s partially made from aerospace aluminum, so it’s much lighter than the other survival bows on this list (or on the market, for that matter). This works best if you’re looking for a bow to bring to your hunting trips, hiking, or any long-distance outings. 

That also makes it great for people who are still learning how to shoot, as it makes the bow very unintimidating. 

Add to that its ergonomic grip, and you’ll be shooting like a champ in no time!

Assembly was fairly good. The instructions were confusing, as well. But they have instructions online to help you out if you find yourself not knowing how to do it. 

Now, here’s the kicker: 

It came with lots of freebies that no other survival bows have. It came with a waved string, a quiver, a stabilizer, a sight, arrow rest, 12 arrows, an Arm guard, a finger guard, a stringer tool, a target paper, and an Allen wrench.

Yes, it even has a target paper! But my favorite one is the quiver, as I was actually able to use it for weeks. 

The arm and finger guards were small to medium in size, and the arrow rest felt a bit thin to be honest, but that’s better than some, and fine if you’re still learning how to use them. 

The 12 arrows it came with are very generous additions. But if you want to use this recurve bow for serious and heavy-duty hunting, then you might want to get a set of heavier arrows. 

But for training, these arrows’ quality will be more than enough. 

Because it’s a takedown bow, it can also be disassembled for storage and travel. 

Okay. First of all, this takedown recurve bow has a draw weight of 25 pounds. Now, most states’ laws would require a heavier draw weight if you’re using your bow for hunting. 

On the other hand…

…that makes it perfect if you’re looking for a recurve bow for a complete beginner or just to practice your aiming and shooting skills. 

This PSE Archery Pro Max is one of their most recent and one of the best ones among their recurve bows. As its name suggests, it can also be broken down into three parts for easy storage or travel. 

It has an elegant diamond wood construction on its grip part, which curves very ergonomically, so it actually felt good on the hands. 

What’s cooler…

…it has an adjustable sight which isn’t particularly common among survival bows. So I was able to adjust it according to my liking. I was also able to teach the kids how to do it using this recurve bow as their practice bow. 

Aside from that, it also has an arrow rest that felt quite sturdy. 

And that’s not all. 

It also includes an Arm guard and a finger guard, making it great for practicing shooters. Although I wished they could be a bit tougher, it’s still a steal for its price!

Aside from that, it also includes a quiver for your bows, which you can attach to the recurve bow itself. 

And speaking of arrows…

…it came with three compound arrows, too. The arrows felt somewhat light to my liking, but it’s a beginner bow, after all. 

But alas, all of my shots were surprisingly strong and even destroyed my pillow targets!

As expected, it was easy and light to pull, but it was enough to kill an animal the size of a rodent or a very small rabbit. But I wouldn’t dare use it on serious hunting trips. 

It was quite easy to assemble – despite the confusing manual – manufacturer could take note here. It also came with a stringer, so you can easily put the string in even without help from a pro.

A fan of traditional bows? We loved this Mongolian/Hungarian-style bow with its traditional elegance and the satisfying performance it gave. 

It’s a longbow spanning 54 inches. You can choose its draw length or even call the company to have it customized for you. 

It has a slim frame with a wooden grip and transparent fiberglass bow limbs. The tips are made of Mulberry and feel like they’re reinforced to withstand repeated use. 

Needless to say…

…it felt quite hard and reliable. And it actually proved to be so. 

Now, this is silly, but my favorite part is the leather wraps on the different parts of the grip and limbs. Aside from their aesthetic purposes, they also gave me a more secure hold on my bow as I used it. 

Aside from that, it also has an ergonomic riser that not only improved my shots but also made holding it much more comfortable. 

On the other hand…

…the string felt a bit stiff and rigid, so you might have to use more force than usual. But once I did just that, the overall performance proved to be stunning. 

It’s perfectly accurate, up to 50 to 60 yards for us. I missed a target only once out of 50 shots. 

Moreover, all the shots felt clean and smooth, thanks to the bow rest’s contribution. It didn’t stack at all, although I felt some hand shock quite a few times. But if your hand is sensitive, then you may want to wear a finger guard when using this traditional bow. 

It came unstrung, which is quite wise, considering the fact that having your bow string attached for a long period of time may damage it. On the other hand, you’d have to attach it yourself. 

As a bonus, it also came with a bow bag for travel. Unlike a takedown hunting recurve bow, this one doesn’t disassemble, so its size could prove to be a challenge when you have to bring it with you. But its weight pretty much makes up for it.

Looking for a good compound bow? Or perhaps, you want one that isn’t too tiring for the arms without sacrificing quality and strength?

Then this Genesis compound survival bow is for you. 

At more than 40 inches long, it’s much smaller than the previous survival bows on this list but considered one of the weightiest.

A beginner may be confused…

…thanks to its extra strings. But that’s what makes it a compound bow. And that’s what also makes this one of the best survival bows for hunting. 

Its cam and cables serve you a 65% let-off, which means it reduces the draw weight by about 65%!

That’s what I was talking about when I say this is a good bow to get if you’re tired of straining your arm muscles. It has a very light draw, so you’ll feel more relaxed as you shoot, and you can concentrate more on your target. 

And speaking of which…

…its draw length can be adjusted between 21 to 0 inches, making this a very versatile bow for all ages. 

The misconception about this compound bow is that it’s made for teenagers only. But the truth is, you just have to customize the draw length, so it suits you best. 

As a matter of fact, its draw weight, which is up to around 40 pounds, actually meets the requirements for whitetail hunting in most states. 

Oh, and did I mention that it’s also excellent for fishing? We didn’t miss one bit!

This compound bow also features an arrow rest, although it felt a bit flimsy, to be honest. It also moved a bit while I was shooting. But the bow is still in one piece up to this day, so no big deal. 

One of the things we love about this Genesis bow is its quality. It’s impeccable. 

The aluminum riser was sturdy and stable, and the bow strings were made to be high-strength, so it was able to withstand the hundreds of shots we made in one day. 

It doesn’t disassemble, but no big deal, too, as it’s slim and small enough to fit inside a regular family car.

Ready to upgrade your survival bow game? 

This powerful recurve bow by SAS is one of the best survival bows in terms of strength and durability. 

But before that…

…we also love how this takedown bow packs really small and portable. Its slim limbs are made from durable aerospace-grade materials, so I didn’t have to worry about it staying in my car, whatever the temperature may be. 

It’s not the lightest one out there, but at a little over one kilogram, it’s still light enough to carry without causing strain. 

You can choose the best draw weight for you, but their most powerful is 55 pounds with a max draw length of 31 inches. 

In case you’re wondering…

…it has a speed of about 200 to 210 FPS, which is already great for bows. Its draw weight and power make it great for hunting, too. It’s heavy enough for a clean game.

You can also choose to get either left or right-hand orientation. 

But actually…

…I was able to do both with just my right-hand bow. The thing is, the riser is actually symmetrical, so you can use it ambidextrously without needing to buy the other one. Just get a riser for the other side, and you now have an ambidextrous takedown bow. 

What’s cooler is this bow is built like a boss. It’s almost indestructible, which is interesting considering how thin it actually looks. 

Oh, and although it doesn’t come with arrows, it comes with lots of other items such as a backpack, camo case, quiver, string, arrow rest, brass nock set, riser end caps, and a Velcro security strap

Now, that’s quite a steal.