Best bow sights for 2018

Some of 2018’s best bow sights boast never-before-seen technology (may be illegal in some states; check the hunting regs), others offer subtle improvements or tried-and-true features.
Best bow sights for 2018

HHA Optimizer Tetra

TruGlo Range Rover Pro Duo

Outdoor-industry icons Ralph and Vicki Cianciarulo endorse TruGlo’s Range Rover Pro Duo ($258), a new and improved rendition of a field-proven sight. It incorporates LED pins that adjust to 11 different brightness levels, thus providing fine aiming points in every type of lighting. A second aiming dot is a red LED inside the lens, which is perfect for long-range shooting. A digital push-button simplifies brightness adjustment. Each time the LED is powered up, the brightness-control system automatically recalls the last-used setting. The geared Zero-In adjustment dial delivers smooth yardage adjustment. Micro-adjustable windage control and 80-plus multi-colored sight tapes designed for a gamut of velocities make precision accuracy achievable. The sight housing accepts a 1.87-inch scope lens, and the mounting bracket is ambidextrous. An automatic-off feature shuts the LED down after four hours of inactivity, lengthening battery life.

best bow sights 2018

HHA Sports Optimizer Tetra

It’s the next generation of HHA Sports’ legendary Optimizer bow-sight line. Meet the Optimizer Tetra ($250). It features a redesigned, dual-stage micro-adjustable windage, and 2.1 inches of elevation adjustment promote long-range practice. New waterproof sight tapes mean you can weather the storm, and second- and third-axis adjustments keep you on target when shooting uphill, downhill or on uneven terrain. A.R.M.O.R. Pin Technology houses the fiber optics inside CNC-machined aluminum pins. Made in the U.S.A., the Optimizer Tetra offers a wheel-forward design that simplifies the quiver-mounting process. Tool-less adjustability with a smooth-operating drive system and 100 percent lifetime warranty make the Tetra a winner by every standard.

best bow sights 2018

Axcel Sights RheoTech

Axcel Sights boast “built-like-a-tank” construction, and the line expands to include the RheoTech ($290) fixed-pin hunting sight. Available in four-, five- and seven-pin models, the RheoTech gets its name from an all-new Rheostat cover, which lets the hunter adjust pin brightness to current conditions. Micro-adjustable windage and elevation provide precise adjustments and are equipped with Gear-Tooth Lock Levers for the ultimate security. The ambidextrous RheoTech features a unique diamond-shaped mounting bracket, which adds strength. Ultra-bright FirePins are RheoTech-exclusive, running the entire length of the sight to deliver maximum brightness. The co-planar shooter’s circle is sunk to the pin depth for strain-free viewing, and a level and true third-axis leveling complete the RheoTech’s robust feature list.

 best bow sights 2018

IQ Define

IQ’s Retina Lock Technology put the company on the map years ago, and now IQ unveils the next leap in bow-sight technology. Please welcome the Define ($350). Most notable is the laser-rangefinding system integrated into this premium five-pin sight. A one-touch trigger-activated scan mode with full angle compensation provides yardage readings for up to two minutes. This eliminates the hassle of carrying and operating a separate handheld rangefinder. A vivid blue OLED display provides easy-to-read distance readouts and a battery-life meter. The Define operates on a single CR2 battery and provides +/- 1-yard accuracy to keep you on target. This technology adds a ton of weight to the sight, you might think. Nope — the Define weighs just 18.5 ounces. Durability is accounted for, thanks to precision-milled 6061 aluminum. Both second- and third-axis adjustments, as well as a bubble level, are included. Tool-less micro-adjustability completes the package.

 best bow sights 2018

CBE TL-3

Slider sights can be cumbersome and clunky, but CBE’s TL-3 ($210) is built on a clean, trim platform. The secret is in the synthetic Multi-Pin Aperture, which is incredibly strong without the weight of aluminum. It’s equipped with a clear fiber guard to gather light to the pins, not to mention a bubble level to identify bow tilt as you zone in for the shot. An angled sight-tape bar provides seamless yardage reference, and a smooth slide feature adjusts for yardages beyond the bottom-pin setting. Stainless-steel hardware avoids rust/corrosion after hunting in drizzly conditions. Laser-etched hash marks provide visual reference when making adjustments, and the Armed Guard Fiber Management System protects the 12-inch fiber optics from sticks and debris as you crawl into range.

 best bow sights 2018

Apex Gear Covert Pro

Apex Gear Covert Pro — models AG2311B and AG2311BD — shooters can now upgrade their existing sight with the Covert Pro Aperture ($123) scope housing. Installed by a bow technician, the new scope can improve your shooting game. Purchasing the scope is a cost-effective way to upgrade your existing Covert Pro rather than purchase the entire new sight. A below-center red LED dot is the perfect companion to the center green LED dot, and combined they’re perfect for shots both near and far. LED dots calm worries of broken or damaged fiber optics because there are none. Additionally, the LEDs ensure vivid aiming points, regardless of lighting conditions.

best bow sights 2018

Black Gold Sights Ascent Verdict Assault

Black Gold Sights adds the hot-rod Ascent Verdict Assault ($325 to $337) to its bow-sight line. The micro-adjustable first axis mirrors that of the Competition Sight Black Gold launched last year. PhotoChromatic Technology houses the fiber extensions in a shell that automatically regulates pin brightness to the current lighting. Configurations are three or five pins, and since the Ascent Verdict Assault is moveable, it incorporates Black Gold’s tried-and-true Dial-of-Death wheel, which smoothly adjusts the drive system to precise yardages. The angled sight-tape bar offers clear yardage-pointer reference, and clickable gang horizontal and micro-vertical adjustments bring the Assault next-level precision.

 best bow sights 2018

Spot-Hogg Double Pointer

The Tommy Hogg ($290) and Hogg Father ($390) have long been favorites of Spot-Hogg fans, and now the Double Pin configuration will include Spot-Hogg’s new Double Pointer. The Double Pointer provides yardage for both aiming fibers. Combined, the Double Pin and Double Pointer provide the shooter with two aiming points and the distances they represent, but with an uncluttered sight picture. The undeniable advantage of the second aiming point is that if your target animal moves, you can simply gap the pins rather than let down, re-adjust your sight and hope the animal is still within range. It cuts both time and movement from the shot-preparation process, giving you more time to focus on making the shot.

 best bow sights 2018

Hoyt REDWRX Carbon Xceed

Hoyt’s sensational carbon bows annually garner great attention, but did you know that Hoyt launched a bow sight to complement the Carbon REDWRX bow series? Enter the REDWRX Carbon Xceed ($180 to $200). The carbon-fiber skeleton offers superior durability in an ultra-light design that won’t bog your bow down with unnecessary weight. Micro-adjustable windage and elevation put you on the mark faster. Coiled fiber optics gather light to the pins for outstanding visibility, and an included sight light adds additional brightness for dusky, last-minute-of-shooting-light shot opportunities. Enjoy the benefits of second- and third-axis leveling, bringing accuracy to a whole new level when shooting under pressure in varied terrain. Available in three-, five- and seven-pin configurations, the REDWRX Carbon Xceed includes eight different-colored scope rings to provide you with easy acquisition in dim lighting.

 best bow sights 2018

Rocky Mountain Driver 3-Pin Dovetail

FeraDyne Outdoors resurrected the iconic Rocky Mountain brand, launching both sights and broadheads. Moveable fixed-pin sights have gained much popularity in recent years, so the Driver 3-Pin Dovetail ($150) sight is a powerful contender amidst a market full of options. Why? Because it bridges the gap between affordability and performance. In fact, its extensive feature-and-benefit package outperforms its price tag. The extended mounting bar helps you fit the scope housing to your peep sight. Three fixed pins provide quick and accurate shooting out to 40 yards, and the slide feature with a sight tape and yardage indicator enables you to use the bottom pin for long-range practice. This removes the guesswork — adjust the sight for the exact distance, then hold dead on and shoot. A clear shield protects the fiber optics and gathers brightness so your pins stay vivid as dusk approaches. Rock-solid construction exudes durability, laying worries to rest when you’re up against brutal conditions.

best bow sights 2018 

Extreme Archery Supreme

Designed as an upgrade to youth and beginner bow packages, the Supreme from Extreme Archery is packed with features: tool-less micro windage and elevation adjustment, five .015 Lightning Fire pins, rugged 1.75-inch housing, a bubble level and a rheostat light. The fixed-plate design offers built-in drop for more elevation adjustment when used with fall-away rests. A dovetail model is also available.

best bow sights 2018

Trophy Ridge React H4

React Technology, launched several years ago and proven time and again in the field, automatically sets all pins after only two initial pin adjustments. It’s also the main ingredient in Trophy Ridge’s 2018 bow-sight recipe. The React H4 ($110) is designed for bows shooting 195 to 330 feet per second and comes equipped with four 0.019-inch horizontal pins. An adjustable second axis improves long-range performance, while React Technology and tool-less windage and elevation provide fuss-free adjusting. The Alpha React 1 ($190) is a single-pin contender with a .019-inch fiber optic atop a V-shaped pin design that draws your eye to the target. The scope housing provides an uncluttered view for low-light shooting conditions. Second- and third-axis leveling strengthens accuracy amidst variable terrain and while shooting at steep angles. Tool-less windage and elevation are notable benefits, and rather than a sight tape, the Alpha 1’s React Technology sets colored dots that can be selected with the metal yardage pointer for positive range dialing.

 best bow sights 2018

Schaffer Archery Opposition Air

Rock-solid best describes Schaffer Archery’s Opposition Air ($180), but that rugged dependability doesn’t come at the expense of weight. That’s right — the Opposition Air weighs an airy 4 ounces. Since pins protrude from opposing sides, users can quickly identify even and odd yardages for easy pin selection in the field under fast-paced circumstances. A bright-green housing stripe provides positive acquisition in dim conditions, and an optional adjustable light shines on the rear ends of the fiber optics, providing crystal-clear pin brightness without hazing your sight picture. The quick-detach feature is a plus when traveling, and it won’t fudge with your sight settings.

 best bow sights 2018

Garmin Xero A1i

Garmin is best known for its robust line of GPS units and smart watches. Now it enters the bow-sight category. Welcome the revolutionary new Xero A1i ($1,000) digital bow sight. The sight measures distance to game out to 100 yards, then provides an LED pin for the shoot-for distance. Reflective targets can be ranged out to 300 yards. Customizable for single- or multi-pin configurations, as well as manual-pin selection, the Xero A1i offers dual-color LED pins for your preference and to reduce clutter as you pick your spot and aim. Two lithium AAA batteries (not included) provide one year of battery life, and Laser Locate works with a compatible Garmin GPS device to determine where the target was when the shot was taken, making it easier to recover your arrow and pick up the blood trail. Users can also manage multiple arrow profiles within the digital interface.

best bow sights 2018

Kinex Systems Ion

Kinex Systems’ Ion ($210) single-pin sight comes with a 2x lens and four-stage adjustable LED sight light. Also included are 24 different sight tapes to accommodate any shooter. Machined-aluminum construction and a lifetime warranty provide quality and peace of mind for the serious archer/bowhunter. The skeletonized mounting bracket keeps weight down — the sight weighs 11 ounces — without sacrificing strength. The sight-tape bar is positioned for easy reference during those fast-paced shot scenarios. A housing stripe speeds acquisition, and second-, third- and fourth-axis adjustability makes the Ion a standout addition to the Kinex lineup.

best bow sights 2018

Option Archery Option 6 S-Series

Option Archery offers unique bow sights with magnetized, swing-away multiple-pin housings so the sight can be shot as a single-pin sight for exact yardage when shooting at long range, providing a clutter-free sight picture. New to the line is the Option 6 S-Series ($400). It offers the same great features as the original Option 6, but with two notable improvements. New Double Track Straight Pins are machined from 7075 aluminum to withstand backcountry punishments. A machined-aluminum fiber guard for the moveable pin is also new, designed for pure strength and to gather more light. Features that carry over from the original are five fixed pins with one moveable pin, 4-inch extension bar, 2-inch scope housing, backlash-free Helix Drive and clickable micro-adjust, to name several.

best bow sights 2018

Venator Gear E-Z-V

Algorithms, geometry and zero pins make Venator Gear’s E-Z-V ($140) sight truly unique. Computer-generated horizontal marks on both sides of the “V” are based on arrow speed. Simply acquire and frame the vitals with the “V.” When the inner walls of the “V” outline the width of the animal’s vitals, the elevation of your arrow’s trajectory is matched, and you can take the shot. No longer must you fear choosing the wrong pin in the moment of truth. And no pins means no broken fibers. The E-Z-V sets to simplify the ranging and aiming equation.

best bow sights 2018

Specialty Archery New Power Clarifiers

Two new power clarifiers have been added to the Specialty Archery family. The gold #0.5 and ice blue #1.5 ($31 to $33) are Specialty Archery’s answers to consumer requests. The #0.5 clarifier is slightly weaker than the #1 clarifier, and the #1.5 is the perfect bridge between the #1 and #2 clarifiers. Both the #0.5 and #1.5 are offered in the following sizes: 1/32 inch, 3/64 inch, 1/16 inch, 3/32 inch, 1/8 inch and ¼ inch. These two additions bolster Specialty Archery’s already impressive line of archery accessories, which now offers clarifiers for every shooting need.

best bow sights 2018

Iron Ghost Archery Banshee 2

The Banshee 2 ($319) from Iron Ghost Archery is an innovative new single-pin sight that eliminates the need for a peep sight. By using an articulating rear arm to provide the rear reference point instead of a peep, the Banshee 2 solves bow-torque problems, as well as peep twist/orientation issues. Made of 6061 aluminum and high-impact plastics, the lightweight Banshee 2 also features an innovative yardage-tape system that contains 50-plus different scales to quickly adapt to changes in arrows or velocity. The single fiber-optic pin is fully illuminated, as is the bubble level. The micro-click windage knob and second- and third-axis adjustment allow fine-tuning. The Banshee 2 makes aiming easier and speeds target acquisition, much like iron sights on a gun. It currently comes in powder-coated tactical black, but camo options will follow shortly.

Fuse Cybex Slider

Available in three pin configurations, the Cyber Slider sights ($199 single-pin, $219 three-pin, $229 five-pin) from Fuse are second- and third-axis adjustable and take the guesswork out of shooting. Dial to the exact yardage and execute. Simple. Easy. Quick. Coiled fibers promise brightness in low-light settings, and with the included eight interchangeable colored Stealth Bands, you can customize the look of the sight to your bow.

best bow sights 2018

PSE Archery X-Force Hunter

Sporting a Black Maxx soft-feel finish for increased vibration dampening, PSE’s X-Force Hunter ($90) features a 1-inch light wire-frame housing, five .019-inch lightning fiber-optic stainless-steel tube pins and a fixed-plate mount that extends from 2 to 3 inches for shooter customization. Available in Black or PSE Skullworks 2 camo, the sight is offered in right- and left-hand models and comes with a bubble level and adjustable rheostat sight light.

best bow sights 2018

.30-06 Outdoors Longitude

The Longitude ($229) from .30-06 Outdoors features an exclusive drive shaft system for easy rear dial adjustment. This premium sight comes with two heads for any shooting scenario — simply remove two screws and you can quickly change out heads. The extra-long dovetail rail makes for perfect peep and sight-housing alignment. The Longitude features ultra-bright .019 fiber optics, a sight light and a level, as well as a magnifier for easy yardage reading.

best bow sights 2018

Copper John TST

Still popular for bow-sight kingpin Copper John is the TST ($115 to $125). Designed to help the archer better compensate for awkward shot positions (kneeling, squatting or twisting) the sight’s Torque Synchronizing Technology allows the sight to be mounted on the inside of the riser. This configuration means the .019 pins and the point of the arrow move in conjunction any time the bow is torqued, such as when the user is taking shots at odd angles/positions. Fully adjustable with second- and third-axis assembly, the TST features aluminum-frame construction and fully shielded optical fibers.

best bow sights 2018

 



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