I think you’ll agree with me when i say….
Finding a good survival bow is pretty hard nowadays…. Because there are too many options available in the market and it seems confusing.
So In this post I’ll review some of the best survival bow of 2020. And i’ll cover all the good and bad aspects in detail. So that you can finally decide which one to buy.
Best Survival Bow
In this article...
1. Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow
The Samick Sage is probably one of the best budget survival bows that come with a B-50 string. It is a well-known recurve bow in the archery community and especially the beginners. The bow is available for both left and right-handed archers. The riser of the bow looks absolutely gorgeous and felt like a typical bow from a fantasy film.
It’s simple design makes it a very suitable bow for beginners. The riser itself is made up of a combination of maple and dymond wood which makes it extremely durable. It is also very comfortable to grip even though it’s just plain wood and not a material grip.
The bow is very forgiving of the arrow you decide to use which makes it very versatile when it arrow selection. The riser also has a cut-past center shelf which makes it very easy to tune compared to other bows. Other than this, there are many pre-drilled holes to mount any accessories to the bow.
Moreover, the limbs of the bow are made up of hard maple and covered in matte black fibreglass. That is specifically designed to be durable and sturdy for a long time. The end tips of the limbs are also reinforced that allows you to upgrade the bowstrings whenever you want.
As the Samick Sage is a takedown bow, you can remove the limbs according to your liking. This makes upgrading them as you become more experienced very easy and simple. The bow comes included with a B-50 string which is pretty good quality and lasts for thousands of shots.
However, you want to upgrade to a high-quality string at some point. As far as performance is concerned, it delivers great performance for its price. It is very smooth while drawing. And there are no noticeable vibrations when you release the arrow. Due to its bigger length, the bow is more accurate.
And little more forgiving of beginner mistakes such as stance and postures. Apart from this, it is available with a draw weight of 25lb, 30lb 35lb, 40lb, 45lb, 50lb, 55lb and 60lb.
The higher draw weight will result in more accurate and quicker shooting. 40lb or higher is the best choice for hunting and archery. However, if you are a beginner or an adult woman go for 30lb or 35lb.
2. Southwest Archery Spyder Takedown Recurve Bow
The southwest archery spyder is light and better quality survival bow that is perfect for all beginners. It is the improved version of Samick sage and some people often called it sage 2. The riser of the bow is made from two different laminated wood and has a semi-gloss finish.
It looks good with the red accents and feels very good in the hand. The edges are rounded off perfectly which makes it slimmer. The grip on the spyder is very smooth and the contours on the bow fit the palm nicely.
The grip is pure polished wood instead of metal which gives it good thermal properties. This helps you to use the bow in the winters without feeling the cold.
However, the grip is a little small so people with big hands might find it awkward during initial use. The risers also have predrilled holes to attach the extra accessories to the bow. It is also available for both left and right-handed archers.
Moreover, the limbs of the bow are made up of hard maple which is laminated and covered with black fibreglass. They are durable and sturdy to age well for long term use. Each limb is reinforced with a plastic tip which helps to prevent any damage while upgrading strings.
Similar to Samick sage, the limbs of the spyder are also removable for transportation. However, it has hex screws instead of the finger screws which sometimes becomes a tedious task. The bow consists of a dacron string which is okay in its quality and will do most beginners.
However, you have to upgrade to a high-performance string in the future for better performance. Talking about the performance, it did a good job when it comes to shooting arrows. It feels very smooth on the draw and makes very little noise or vibration when shot.
Due to this, it is perfect for some decent hunting as long as you choose the right draw weight. Talking about the draw weight, it is available in a wide range of draw weight from 20lb to 60lb. This makes it very versatile and compatible for the beginner as well as the expert archers.
3. SAS Courage Hunting Takedown Recurve Archery Bow
SAS courage is a comfortable and simple survival bow. That is perfect for hunting as well as for archery sports. It offers easy handling, stability, accurate shooting with a quick velocity. It is a perfect bow for the beginners as well as for pros and comes at a very low price.
The riser of the bow is made up of best quality hardwood such as bintangor, makore and chuglam. This makes the riser strong enough to withstand any rough use. It is also very light and manageable for long shooting sessions.
The grip on the bow is very comfortable and does not fatigue the hands in any way. However, the bow does not have pre-drilled holes for the accessories which limits its usage. The limbs of the bow is made up of a combination of maple and makore wood.
It is covered with high strength fiberglass that makes it flexible as well sturdy. The fibreglass has a sleek matte finish that completes the beautiful look of the bow. Like the other good quality bow, the courage is also a takedown in nature.
This makes it very convenient to carry during travelling. And also allows you to change limbs with any issue. It is very easy to assemble and disassemble the bow with the included tools. But it is not a toolless bow so do not try to process without the tools.
Talking about the performance, the bow is fairly silent and barely noticeable. However, you want to invest in a string silencer if you want to use it as a hunting bow. It also shoots to the point which makes it a very accurate bow for practice or hunting.
The bow is available in a range of draw weights which is ideal for shooters of all skill levels. The draw weight ranges from 35lbs to 60lbs with the increments of 5 lbs. Lastly, it comes with a pretty decent bow string that will last for a good amount of time. However, invest in a good quality string as soon as possible for better results.
4. Spectre II Compact Take-Down Survival Bow and Arrow
Spectre II is a compact take-down survival bow and arrow kit that comes at a very low price point. It is a good functional survival bow that you can take anywhere with ease. It is one of the most portable bows in the market that will not break your bank.
The bow breaks down into three pieces. That are very easy to assemble and disassemble without any tools. The riser on the bow is made from metal and measures 23 inches when broken down. There is no added grip to the riser to enhance comfort and ergonomics.
Due to it being made of metal, it becomes very uncomfortable to hold when the temperatures drop down due to cold. However, you can make your own enhancements to make it more comfortable and grippy. It is painted in black to protect it from corrosion and has a very blocky construction.
It isn’t very beautiful but made to be a thing of functional value. The arrow rests the bow is a plastic-coated metal wire that is screwed onto the side of the riser. The rest is fixed to one point and you cannot change its position due to lack of attachment points.
Additionally, the screw also makes some noise on the draw because of the rubbing of the arrow. This is very irritating especially when you are on the hunt and every little sound matters. Moreover, the limbs of the bow are made up of single piece fibreglass and resin composite.
The limbs are durable and can withstand slight rough or heavy use. Also, the limbs look the same so you may mark your limbs to insert them in the same orientation. This will make sure they always bend in the same direction to avoid any damage.
The bow comes with a dacron endless loop black string. It doesn’t come with a nock point so that you can add one according to your preference. Talking about the performance, it is a pretty accurate bow and serves its purpose well.
It is available in from 25lb to 55lb draw weight that is perfect for beginners and experts as well. Furthermore, it also consists of a black nylon carry case and three arrows that are good for initial use.
5. Southland Archery Supply SAS Spirit 62″ Take Down Recurve Bow
SAS spirit is a traditional style takedown survival bow. That is one of the best recurve bow for archery learners. The raiser of the bow is made of three different types of high-quality wood. The combination of these wood makes it beautiful as well as durable for rough use.
However, it does not come with a very good finishing which is one of its negative points. This does not affect the performance but makes it prone to water damage. The bow is lightweight which makes it very convenient to use. The grip on the bow is very smooth and the grooves on the bow fit the palm nicely.
The riser also comes with predrilled holes with bushings for installation of accessories. You can set stabilizer, arrow rest, sights or plunger according to your need with the help of these holes. The bow is available for both right and left-handed configurations.
Check carefully before purchasing the bow if you are a beginner. Moreover, the limbs of the bow are very user friendly making it easy to use. It is made up of maple wood with white color fibreglass lamination. This makes it look very unique and also makes it stronger against regular use.
The end tips of the limbs are also reinforced. That allows you to upgrade the bowstrings whenever you want. As mentioned earlier it is a takedown bow and the limbs are removable. This makes upgrading them as you become more experienced very easy and simple.
The bow comes with a 14-strand dacron string and works very fine. Talking about the performance, it is very quiet and does not have noticeable vibration.
The draw on the bow is very smooth and comes with a wider range of draw weight. Talking about the draw weight, it is available in 22lb to 34lb which is very suitable for beginners.
6. Genesis Original Bow
Genesis original is a survival bow that is geared towards younger archers and adult beginners. It is the official bow for the National Archery in Schools Program and comes with less draw weight. Therefore, every student uses this bow for their practice and competition in the program.
The genesis original is available for both left and right-handed orientation. The bow itself is machined from 6061-T6 aluminium with the riser which is very lightweight. The lightweight makes the bow easy to handle and allow for longer a practice session.
The construction is also very durable which is important when dealing with children and beginners. The bow features a single cam system which is simpler compared to hybrid, binary and twin cam systems. The single can system is very easy to maintain and also does not need can synchronization.
The draw weight of the bow is adjustable and you can set it from 10lbs to 20lbs according to the user. Low poundage bow makes it easier for the archer to shoot and allows them to learn the right technique. The adjustment process is also very simple and an Allen wrench is included in the package for that.
This a huge plus point as the other compound bows requires a pro to do so. Additionally, the bow features an arrow rest and bushing for accessories. The arrow rest is basic but does its job well and we did not find any problem with it.
There are also attachments for installation of a sight, stabilizer and other accessories. With regard to the performance, it is a fairly accurate bow that makes it a prime bow for target shooting. The zero let-off system provides consistent accuracy and lightens the load while shooting.
Lastly, it is available in many different colors as it is mainly for kids. You can find it in almost any color and get started with archery.
Things to consider before buying a Survival Bow
These are few things to consider before buying a survival bow
Draw weight
Draw weight is an important factor to think about when choosing a survival bow. The right draw for you will depend on the activity you are doing and the amount of experience you have.
If you are getting a bow for hunting then you should consider a bow with a minimum draw weight of 40 pounds. However, if you are a beginner, try to stay under 35lbs at the beginning.
Bow length
Bows are available in different lengths and can be a bit confusing to choose the right one. The key thing to keep in mind is that pick a bow that is at least twice as long as your draw length.
Dominating eye
A dominating eye is the one that has your visual preference. You should know which eye you prefer to use in order to choose a bow.
Bow weight
When it comes to bow weight, the lighter bows are ideal for beginners. It allows you to practice more with the right technique without tiring yourself out. Heavier bows shoot flatter than a lighter bow and are good for hunting. The right bow for beginners will weigh around 3 pounds or less.
Takedown feature
A takedown bow is the one that is assembled out of limbs and risers. The main advantage of this type of bow is that it is easy to store and transport in a shorter case. Secondly, it allows for easy configuration by changing limbs according to your liking. Check out other survival gears survival backpack, survival flashlight, survival saw, survival shovel, survival axe, survival tent, survival compass.
