Hoyt Alphaburner - The Speed Bow

In 2010 Hoyt Archery brought out the new wave in speed bows with the introduction of the Alphaburner. The main selling point of this bow wasn’t the outstanding speed, for which it was blessed, but the accuracy with which the bow offered.

One of the problems with many of the speed bows that were produced around the time was that they were difficult to control. The short stature of the bows and the small brace height for which they were particular were reasons behind the aiming difficulties. The Alphaburner overcame the accuracy problems through the smooth draw cycle and lightning fast launch process.

The components of the bow were also part of the secret to its smoothness and accuracy. The bow features a radical design with reflex geometry in the riser, XT 2000 laminated limbs and the Spiral Cam & ½ Technology for a blend of power and precision.

The Alphaburner could be considered the forerunner to the incredible speeds that are being achieved with many compound bows today. The use of high quality materials in the construction of the limbs is particularly important. These limbs have to be capable of holding immense forces and they are pre-stressed and laminated with Hoyt’s proprietary Five Layer Lamination process. They are uniform in their stress distribution and smoother as a result.

The bow features a rock solid wall that is obvious when you reach it. It is easy to hold at full draw and the bow is well balanced.

In short the Hoyt Alphaburner has proven to be a winner in the minds of most archers who have used it. The good news for anyone who wants to buy one now is that they are now available at reduced prices because they have been replaced by the newer release bows.

You can also find more information including bow specs and how to buy the bow by visiting sites such as this one.

Hoyt Spyder 30 - The 2013 Flagship Bow

The diminutive Hoyt Spyder 30 compound bow is typical of the direction in which the hunting bows are heading across the industry. It is also the flagship bow from Hoyt for the 2013 season.

As can be seen from the name of the bow it only measures 30 inches from axle to axle but it is very powerful and packed full of features. It has been designed to provide the hunter with the maximum level of power while maintaining the ease of movement no matter whether the shot is taken from the ground blind or up in a tree stand.

The bow is equipped with the RKT Cam & ½ eccentric system that was first used in 2012. The smoothness that comes from this new cam is combined with the XTS Pro ARC split limbs for a power packed shot. As well as providing a smooth draw cycle, this combination also gives the bow its high performance and capabilities of reaching its advertised IBO rating of 330 fps.

Noise and vibration dampening has been dealt with through a series of different components that work together to ensure the smooth nature takes place from start to finish. Air Shox limb dampeners are attached to the back of the X-Lite Pro Lock limb pockets by means of an aluminum assembly and remain solidly in place during the draw and shot cycle.

Additional dampening is provided by Hoyt’s Stealth Shot string suppressor which quickly reduces string oscillation as well as cleaning up residual vibration. Included in the bow are other previously used technologies like the Silent Shelf and Perfect Balance stabilization system.

The draw cycle of the bow stacks quickly on the front end but remains smooth. At the holding phase the smooth feeling is maintained with a small hesitation before the transition gradually moves into full let-off. The steady drop into let-off means the let-down to brace is easily controlled.

The draw cycle ends in an ample valley and only a small amount of give in the back wall.

Very little hand shock is felt at the shot with the bottom of the bow kicking forward towards the target. You can expect the residual vibration to be felt in the handle but it should be very short lived.

Hoyt Spyder 30 Bow Specs

Draw Weights : 30-80lbs
Draw Lengths : 24-30”
Axle to Axle : 30″
Brace Height : 6.75”
Mass Weight : 3.8lbs
Effective Let Off : 80%
IBO Speed: 330 fps
Take a look at the brief review that we carried out on the Carbon Element G3 which is also a 2013 release.

For a good cross section of the many different Hoyt compound bows that have been released over the years it would be worthwhile to take a look here.

The 2013 Hoyt Compound Bow For Female Shooters

The sector of the bow hunting market that is growing faster than any other is the female part of the market. The days of allocating the compound bows originally designed for the younger archers to the female shooters is long gone.

In place of the compound bows that were known as suitable for the youth and ladies are a growing number of compound bows designed specifically for the female hunter.

Among these bows was the Hoyt Vicxen compound bow which was fitted with all of the features that you would expect on the top of the line men’s bows but on a smaller, lighter scale. For the 2013 season the designated bow for the female market is the Hoyt Charger Vicxen.

The Charger Vicxen is essentially the same bow as the Charger but with a finish that is highlighted with pink accents. This insistence on adding pink to a bow to ram home the fact that it has been designed for the female shooters is really getting old and bow manufacturers need to get over it.

The vital statistics of the bow include:

Axle-to-Axle Length: 31 inches
Brace Height: 6-3/4 inches
Weight: 3.8 pounds
IBO Speed: 209 fps

The bow is every bit as accurate and lethal as the Charger and shoots very nicely. The speeds that it is capable of are very good for a 40 pound draw.

The smooth draw cycle and soft back wall will suit the majority of female shooters to a tee. The other aspect in which the bow will meet with approval is the price at under $600.

The 2013 Hoyt Competition Compound Bows

Hoyt has long had an exceptional record for producing top line competition compound bows, taking out major competitions around the world. The reason for the company’s success comes down to the quality of the bows and the range of choices that has come from this success is a good indicator of the effort that goes into this area of the market.

Displayed below is the range of target compound bows that were released by Hoyt Archery for the 2013 season. Some of these bows come from previous seasons and are still popular with customers. Other bows have used the original design and have been improved in some way and re-released with a slightly different name.

Hoyt Pro Comp Elite – this bow could be considered the flagship target bow in the Hoyt line up. It is available with a choice of either the smoother GTX Cams or the high-energy spiral X Cams.

The bow measures either 37-7/8” or 37-5/8” depending on the cams chosen and the measured IBO is 305 fps using the GTX cams or 315 fps using the Spiral X cams.


Hoyt Pro Comp Elite XL – this is the larger framed version of the Comp Elite and like the original Comp Elite is available in a choice of either the GTX cams or the Spiral X cams.

The bow is designed for the larger shooter and measures either 40-5/8” or 40” depending on which cam choice is used.


Hoyt Alphaelite – this bow has been around for a number of years and has proven to be very popular with shooters.

It uses a long shoot-thru riser with parallel limbs. It has been updated to use the RKT cam & ½ system and measures 36” axle-to-axle.


Hoyt Vantage Elite Plus – this is a very successful target compound bow that is available fitted with either the GTX cams or Spiral X cams.

The bow has a stiff shoot-thru riser and the limbs are the XT2000 limbs. The bow measures either 40-1/2” or 40-3/8” depending on the cam system.


Hoyt Contender – this target bow features a standard riser design and has been produced as an option that will suit the budget minded target shooters.

As with other target bows the Contender is available with either the GTX cams or the Spiral X cams and the limbs are the XT2000 limbs. The bow measures either 38-5/8” or 38-1/2” and is a very solid target bow at a reasonable price.

It is the continuation of the type of quality compound bows that are displayed above that has ensures that the Hoyt compound bows will remain at the forefront of success in competitions worldwide.

Hoyt Carbon Element G3 Compound Bow

The Hoyt Carbon Element compound bow holds the title as the most expensive compound bow on the market. The technology that has gone into creating the carbon fiber riser accounts for the cost but the question that everyone has to ask is whether they think it is worth it.

The reality is that most of the compound bows being produced today are light in weight, quiet at release and plenty powerful. Is it worth spending an extra $400 to $500 to take advantage of the latest in carbon fiber technology.

Obviously a lot of people say yes because the bow is popular and is still flying off the shelves. But opinion does tend to be divided, particularly with the release of the latest G3 version which doesn’t represent a significant improvement on the previous RKT.

One thing that remains constant in the compound bow industry and that is the customers who like to witness the improvements in technology. If the bow is not constantly changing the rumblings begin and that is what has happened after the release of the G3.

The fact is that the Carbon Element G3 is still a very impressive compound bow and has been packed with all of the features that you would expect from a top line bow. The IBO rating is up to 332 fps and the frame size has been reduced to 31.5 inches.

As a reminder here are the full specifications of the Hoyt Carbon Element G3.

Limbs: XTS Pro ARC
Axle-to-Axle: 31 ½”
Brace Height: 6 ¾”
Draw Weight: 30-40#, 40-50#, 50-60#, 55-65#, 60-70#, 70-80#
Mass Weight: 3.6 lbs
Draw Lengths: 24.5-26”, 26-28”, 28-30”
IBO Speed: 332 fps

The Hoyt features that have been built into the bow include the Hoyt Carbon Technology of the TEC Lite riser, Multi-Layer Lamination, XTS Pro ARC limb technology, Parallel Split Limb technology, Airshox, RKT cam & ½ system, Fuse strings, In-Line Roller Cableguard, Pro-Fit Custom Grip, X-Lite Prolock Pockets and the Perfect Balance Stabilizer System.

It’s sometimes interesting to read what other people have to say about some of the big name compound bows that are out there leading the market. One of the biggest names in the industry is the Hoyt Carbon Element G3 compound bow which has been released as one of the flagship bows for the 2013 season.

I have compiled a few of the comments and observations that have been made by the “man in the street” hunter who likes to think he knows a little about what he is talking about.

“Very nice bow. Draw was pretty smooth, a bit of a dump after peak weight that I didn't feel with the other bows (felt this in both the Hoyts) not much of a back wall at all. Felt great at release, not much hand shock but there was a bit of noise on this bow. Couldn't tell if it was the bow or if there was noise coming from the rest, but definitely something there. Ultimately, the price had me running” Taken from the IowaWhiteTail.com forum

“The G3 limbs are set wider for a more stable shot it is also shorter axle-to-axle also it is a little bit faster the limb shocks are different the pitch on the limbs are more parallel it also has a wood grip removable. I can say this after shooting it prob 200 times this bow is a good bow it will work well in the back country.”

“The cams on the G3 are the same RKT cams from last year.
The differences from '12 to '13 Element are, wider stance limbs(redesigned pockets) with Air Shox and fully dipped limbs.” Taken from ArcheryTalk.com

“1. Looks like all they did was changed to dampeners
2. I was really looking for a shoot through riser
3. Looks like they also added a snow camo pattern that looks pretty cool
4. This means the price for the 2012 elements will stay about the same since there were no major changes
5. Hoyt is still a great manufacturer but it looks like I'm going to hold off on the element Can't wait to get my hands on the new bear motive 6!!!!
Don't wanna start a big debate but again these are just my opinions” Taken from the TexasBowHunter.com forum.

So as we can see, opinion appears to be fairly lukewarm on the progress of the Carbon Element. Hoyt will continue to tinker with the basic design and there could very well be a major departure in the construction in the offing. The man in the street consumer is hoping that next improvement is just around the corner.

For some information on the flagship 2013 compound bow in the range, visit our page devoted to the Spyder 30.

Hoyt Carbon Technology

The much extolled Hoyt carbon technology has been responsible for the newest flagship bows in the Hoyt range, the Hoyt Carbon Element and the Hoyt Carbon Matrix. With the new release of the 2013 range of bows, both versions of the bow have already gone through three different iterations as the technology matures and improves.

First the straight Hoyt Carbon Element and Matrix bows were released. This was followed by the 2012 version in which the cams were updated and the name was slightly ordered to match giving us the Carbon Element RKT and the Carbon Matrix RKT. The 2013 release was again renamed as the new technologies had been added to the earlier version. This introduced us to the Carbon Element G3 and the Carbon Matrix G3 compound bows.

The Carbon Element G3 has a more compact frame to the original as well as a shorter brace height. The top end IBO speed has increased to 332 fps. All of this featuring the light weight and superior strength that comes from the carbon fiber riser.

The Carbon Matrix G3 is similarly improved with the RKT cam & 1/2. The Carbon Matrix is still the longer axle to axle frame and is also offered in a Long Draw version for the larger framed shooters. The brace height has dropped with the corresponding increase in IBO speed rating the result.
According to Hoyt when they developed the Carbon Technology the following is the expected improvement that should become apparent the moment you use either of the bows that are made with it.

“Hoyt’s carbon risers are the strongest and lightest riser designs ever. We designed and built a structure that truly optimizes the strengths of carbon fiber. We custom-tailored specific carbon fiber formulations, stiffness and weights in specific parts of the riser for the best performance. There are more than 40 different carbon components in each Hoyt carbon riser, fully integrated and co-cured to make a single immensely strong but lightweight structure. It’s why Hoyt carbon risers are so shootable, quiet and vibration-free. This patent-pending technology is featured on the all-new Carbon Element and Carbon Matrix Plus.”

With the incredible strength that is attained by using the carbon technology there is little doubt that the two bows, and Hoyt Archery in general, that have so far been created using it are going to continue to be market leaders. Another important factor that is achieved through using this type of riser is that it is far quieter when it shoots.

No doubt we are going to continue to see progressively more innovative compound bow designs that will build on the start that has been given by using the Carbon Technology in theriser design.

Introducing Hoyt Archery

Hoyt Archery has the distinction of being one of the leading compound bow manufacturers worldwide. Watch any archery competition at the highest level and you will be sure to find a considerable number of competitors shooting with a Hoyt bow. There are also many source of information willing to provide valuable details such as the features of specs of all Hoyt bows no matter whether they are the latest releases or the older bows from past seasons, sites such as this one.

Keeping track of the significant compound bow releases can be a difficult task with a steady stream of new releases being unveiled every season. The competition is fierce in the bow hunting industry and the need to keep bringing out new and improved compound bows means that innovation is constantly taking place.

Not only is Hoyt Archery a part of that competitive nature but the company is one of the leaders in terms of producing new technology that seeks to change the face of the sport.

The perfect example of this is the TEC Riser that has made the Hoyt compound bow such a distinctive looking bow. This riser has been slightly changed and developed over the years with the advent of the TEC Lite, for example, but by and large it continues to be the solid foundation around which the company’s compound bows are designed.

Possibly the most recent star developments by the company are the Carbon Element and Carbon Matrix compound bows. These bows feature an ultra-light frame thanks to the use of carbon fiber in the construction which is now known as one of the technological advancements of the decade called Hoyt Carbon Technology. Not only is the riser incredibly light but it is also incredibly strong. It again puts Hoyt at the forefront in the race to provide smoothly comfortable compound bows that are capable of withering speeds and devastating power.

The range of target competition compound bows has always been a strong point for the Hoyt Archery company and the range continues to be strong. Bows such as the Comp Elite and Vantage Elite are being released across succeeding seasons with subtle improvements to ensure the competitive shooter benefits with every succeeding release.

No matter whether the need is a lightweight hunting bow, a smaller bow for female shooters or a full size target competition bow the range of latest release Hoyt compound bows provide the serious archer with every type of selection possible. For many, the extreme difference between a target compound bow and a hunting compound bow comes down to speed. Where you make up for the loss of speed is in accuracy and any shooter will tell you that the accurate shot will win over the ultra-fast shot any day of the week.

We are going to make an effort to provide as much detail and information about the latest Hoyt compound bows as possible. This includes discussion from hunters and competition shooters who wish to discuss their experiences using these bows.