Archery sets are an easy purchasing option for absolute beginners who want to quickly start with the sport of archery. While some archers find it difficult to acquire the right archery equipment, others find exactly what they need to get them started. Finding your first archery set requires you to know your draw weight, draw length, and your dominant eye. It also requires you to choose a bow style that works for you.

Bow And Arrow Sizing Tips

Before making a purchase decision, you must determine the right size bow for you. When it comes to your preferred bow style, it’s a matter of personal preference. Here’s what you need to do to get started:

1. Determine Draw Length

Determine your draw length by standing up straight, spreading your arms out as far as you can to the side, and measuring the distance between the fingertips of your middle fingers. Now take this number and divide by 2.5 to determine your correct draw length.

2. Determine Dominant Eye

Matching your handedness with your dominant eye ensures accurate shooting. Focus on an object 15 to 20 feet away. Make a see-through circle with clasped hands. Extend your arms. Frame the object while slowly pulling your hands back towards your face. The circle will naturally go to your dominant eye. If you need more help, we have an in-depth article that can help you determine your dominant eye.

3. Determine Draw Weight

New archers should avoid draw weight that is too heavy. You’re more likely to tire out, shake, and hurt yourself. Start on the lower end of draw weight and work your way up as you grow stronger.

4. Determine Bow Style

There are a few different types of bows available and whichever one you pick comes down to personal preference. If you prefer more of a traditional style, then longbow or recurve would be a great fit. If you prefer higher power, accuracy, and technical challenge, then a compound is the perfect fit. I started on a recurve style bow and quickly moved to a compound with sights for improved accuracy. It doesn’t really matter where you start, just as long as you’re learning, improving, and having fun!

Longbows

Longbows are simple, symmetrical, long, thin bows that usually don’t include arrow rests or sights. Instead, there’s a flat spot for the arrow to sit, whether an archer is at rest or at full draw. They’re easy to use and shoot quietly. However, lower draw weights, hand shock, and storage may be challenging due to it’s longer length.

Recurve Bows

Recurve bows are similar to longbows except the end of the limbs curve forward. This curve design stores more energy, allowing for high-velocity shooting. They’re lightweight, easy to shoot, and great for beginners.

Compound Bows

Compound bows are a completely different type of bow, consisting of a riser, limbs, cams, and a string assembly. When archers pull the string back, cams turn and cables pull, resulting in a higher amount of energy stored in the limbs. There also is a “valley” at full draw that allows the archer to hold a small percentage of the draw weight, allowing for longer hold times. They’re accurate, powerful, and shoot well over long distances.

Purchasing Your First Archery Set

Using the above information helps ensure the equipment you buy fits you! Every archer is different, so what works for one archer doesn’t necessarily work for another. This requires you to determine your draw length, ideal draw weight, and dominant eye in order to choose the best archery set for you. It also requires you to learn about the different bow types so you can decide on a design that best supports your shooting style.

You must also establish a budget, decide if new or used is right for you, and set aside plenty of time to browse to find the best archery set that fits your individual needs. Know that you can always upgrade at a later time as you progress.

Before we dive into a few different archery sets you can try, know that archery sets are generally geared towards beginners. This means that while they’re a great option for inexperienced archers, some of the equipment may not be top quality or a perfect fit.

Archery Set For Adults

People decide to pick up archery for any number of reasons – it’s a fun social activity, great exercise, time in nature, it stimulates the brain, and it’s affordable.

Each of the 4 adult archery sets listed below is a great first archery set option for adults.

1. TOPOINT ARCHERY Endeavor Recurve Bow Package

This archery set includes a one-piece bow riser with cover, one pair of bow limbs with covers, one bowstring, one bow stringer tool, and 4 brass knocks. It’s designed for right-handed shooters, is easy to put together and take apart, and offers interchangeable limbs to adjust the draw weight. Materials include quality plastic, wood, magnesium alloy, and fiberglass maple laminate.

2. Bear Archery Cruzer G2 RTH Compound Bow Package

This archery set is a great choice for any adult. It includes a whisker biscuit rest, stabilizer, sling, peep sight, quiver, and D loop. It offers a lot of flexibility so archers can customize it to grow with them as they become better shooters. Draw weight adjustments range from 5 pounds to 70 pounds. Draw length adjustments range from 12” to 30”. The bow supports an arrow’s ability to hit a target at nearly 315 feet per second.

3. PSE Archery Uprising RTS Compound Bow Package

This starter bow set offers adult archers adjustment options as they become better shooters. The set includes a bow, 3-pin sight, arrow rest, quiver, and a 6” stabilizer. Draw weight adjustments range from 15 pounds to 70 pounds. Draw length adjustments range from 14” to 30”. The high-performance hunting bow is lightweight and supports arrow speeds up to 302 feet per second.

4. Diamond Edge SB-1 Compound Bow Package

This lightweight, user-friendly archery set offers adult archers a bow with set-and-forget tuneability. The set includes a bow, 3-pin tundra sight, Hostage™ XL arrow rest, quiver, 5″ Ultra-Lite Octane™ stabilizer, peep sight, BCY D loop, and comfort wrist sling. The special cam system allows for consistently accurate and powerful shooting. Draw weight adjustments range from 5 pounds to 70 pounds. Draw length adjustments range from 13” to 31”.

Youth Archery Sets

Youth archery sets are specifically made for teenagers and young adults. Many youth archers choose to participate in this sport because it’s both fun and challenging, not realizing that it also teaches patience, self-confidence, focus, concentration, clarity, mental strength, and physical strength.

The four youth archery sets listed below are perfect choices for youth archers who are looking to purchase their first archery set.

1. Bear Archery Flash Recurve Bow Package for Youth

This youth archery set is for new archers who are at least 11 years of age. The set includes a bow, 2 safety glass arrows, quiver, 3 finger rollers, and an armguard. The design of the 47” lightweight recurve bow works for both left and right-handed archers and offers the world’s safest arrow rest. Draw weight adjustments range from 5 pounds to 18 pounds. Draw length adjustments range from 16” to 24”.

2. Original Genesis Compound Bow Kit

This complete archery kit includes a Genesis bow, the first compound bow to automatically cover all draw lengths. The set includes a single-cam Genesis bow, color-matched durable vinyl tube quiver, arm guard with dual reinforced adjustable VELCRO® straps, and 5 aluminum target arrows. The bow is impressively accurate, generates a small amount of recoil, and supports quiet shots. An included tutorial teaches youth archers how to safely use this versatile bow and included accessories.

3. Diamond Atomic Youth Compound Bow Package

This lightweight atomic compound bow set for youth delivers precision performance. The set includes a compound bow, single pin sight, arrow rest, hip quiver, and 3 arrows. Draw weight adjustments range from 6 pounds to 29 pounds. Draw length adjustments range from 12” to 24”. The bow design offers exceptional engineering with its all-aluminum riser, carbon glass limbs, and high precision cams.

4. PSE Micro Midas RTS Compound Bow for Youth

This archery set provides youth archers with the high performance they need to shoot well. The set includes a compound bow that’s a perfect size for smaller-framed shooters, 3-pin sight, hip quiver, arrow rest, and 3 carbon arrows. The 6” brace height makes this bow one that’s effortless to shoot. Draw length adjustments range from 14.5” to 24.75”.

Archery Set For Kids

Archery for kids continues to grow and is now a popular activity for many kids. Many can start as young as the age of 6, but must have the strength necessary to pull back a bow, and must understand the importance of following all safety rules and regulations.

Personally, I started at 5 years old with a basic longbow/recurve style bow. As I became more proficient, I got my first compound bow for Christmas. I shot this bow for a few years and then upgraded again as I grew stronger and more accurate. Your kids would benefit from the same progression if they continue their interest in the sport. More expensive equipment is generally more accurate, but do your research to find which option best fits your specific situation.

Below, you’ll find three archery sets that are great options for kids who are just getting started. Wherever you have them start, they’ll be excited and eager to start shooting.

1. Bear Archery Goblin Youth Bow Package

This kids’ archery set is for kids between the ages of 5 and 10. It’s specifically designed to teach kids how to shoot safely. The set includes a recurve bow, 2 safetyglass arrows, armguard, quiver, finger tab, and a sight pin. The design of this 44” recurve bow offers sturdy composite limbs and works well for both left and right-handed shooters. Draw weight adjustments range from 15 pounds to 18 pounds. Draw length adjustments range from 22” to 24”.

2. Bear Archery Apprentice Compound Bow for Kids

This archery set is specifically designed for the youngest archers as kids as young as 4 years old can manage this bow. The set includes a lightweight compound bow, an arrow rest, 2 Safetyglass™ arrows, finger rollers, and a target. Draw weight adjustments range from 6 pounds to 13.5 pounds. Draw length adjustments range from 14” to 24”. Brace height is 8.5”. The kit contains everything kids need to start practice shooting, so they can start shooting as soon as they receive it.

3. Genesis Mini Compound Bow Packages for Youth

This archery set offers one of the lightest weight bows for kids, coming in at only 2 pounds. The set includes the bow, an armguard, a belt-style tube quiver, and 5 aluminum arrows. Draw weight adjustments range from 6 pounds to 12 pounds. Axle to axle is 29.6”. The machined aluminum riser, composite limbs, molded competition grip, and large center shot area all work together to make this a great first bow for kids.

Tuning Your New Bow

We’ve covered many different bows here, any of which can be a great choice for beginners. That said, it’s more than likely that the equipment will not be tuned correctly for you. You may need to adjust the draw weight, draw length, sights, arrow spine, and more to achieve the correct tune for you. You can do this yourself, but it’s a bit challenging for beginners. We do our best to help beginners learn archery, but as a beginner, you may want to seek help at your local archery shop. They will help you achieve the perfect tune so you can shoot with accuracy and consistency.

Conclusion

Finding the best archery set requires you to know your measurements, as well as decide on a bow style. Now that you have the information you need to purchase your first archery set, you’re sure to find exactly what you need to start shooting. Whether you’re looking for an archery set for kids, an archery set for youth, or an archery set for adults, one or more of the above options are sure to meet your shooting needs.