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Archery offers many different kinds of bows that serve various purposes, and a recurve bow provides some of the most power and speed, among others. If you’re looking for a recurve bow on a budget, then you’ll need to know all of the pros and cons of what’s available before committing.
In this article, I’m going to dive into the best recurve bows for under $200 that you can buy with confidence.
But if you are short of time or just want to see the top picks, here they are:
TIDEWE Recurve Bow and Arrow Set
- 【High Performance】TIDEWE’s recurve bow features a reliable wooden core and strong fiberglass & wooden limbs. In addition, we provide a powerful 16 strands daclon fabric bow string. This way you can focus more on successfully hitting your targets.
- 【Ergonomic & Unique Design】 The riser is designed with rounded edges and a fine finished handle, making it very comfortable to hold. This comfort will allow you to have the best experience shooting multiple arrows or for extending amounts of time. Our design is also appealing to the eye making it unique in its own ways.
- 【Easy to Assemble & Versatility】 This recurve bow is very friendly to put together. While following the easy to read instructions, set up can take less than 5 minutes. Our bow offers pre-installed brass bushings for various attachments and upgrades such as, stabilizers, sight, quiver, and bow fishing reels.
- 【User-Friendly】 TIDEWE’s bow provides multiple accessories, including an arrow rest, finger guard, target, bow stringer, 6 pcs carbon arrows with removable field tips, and more. Created with removable limbs this bow can also be stored in various ways for easy storage.
- 【Size】The TIDEWE recurve bow weighs 2.45 pounds and is 62.00 inches long with a 29.00” max draw length. Draw weight from 20-50lb fits for beginners as well as professionals.
Specs & Features
- Max Draw Length: 29”
- AMO Length: 62”
- Draw Weight: 20-50lbs
- Bow String: 16 strands
- Hand Orientation: Right-handed
Pros
This recurve bow from TideWe is a fan favorite for many archery enthusiasts.
Not only does it come at a fair price, but it’s a perfect choice for those who like to train on a consistent schedule.
The bow is made explicitly for right-handed users, and it comes in sizes that range from 20-50lbs.
It’s built with a sturdy wooden core that’s made to last, and the limbs are made from fiberglass for the best reliability and endurance.
The bowstring is made of upstanding quality as it’s composed of 16 individual strands of dacron fabric, which helps provide consistent accuracy while shooting.
You won’t feel overly fatigued while using it because the bow is crafted with a smooth, finished handle and rounded edges for the utmost comfort.
Many customers appreciate the easy set-up instructions, and the company claims it’ll take less than five minutes to put everything together, even for a novice user.
You’ll also find various attachments pre-installed, including brass bushings, quiver, bow-fishing reels, stabilizers, and more.
It also comes with plenty of accessories included, such as a bow stringer, finger guard, an arrow rest, and more.
Aside from the awesome features this bow provides, the company is known for stellar customer service if you have any complications with any aspect of your bow.
Cons
One of the first issues customers have encountered is the quality of the arrows that come with the bow.
Unfortunately, they don’t seem to be the most durable, and they tend to crack or break without much force.
Some shoppers have mentioned that multiple arrows have cracked after firing the first shot, so it’s a good idea to have some more reliable arrows on hand.
Features such as the arrow rest seem to come with similar issues, as it doesn’t have the structural durability that’s expected.
Although the recurve bow itself is made of decent quality, the same can’t be said for its other features and attachments.
Even if many customers seem to be fine with the bow itself, you’ll find plenty of reviews that aren’t satisfied with its material quality.
It may be a cost-efficient option, but this bow may not hold up for as long as you’d like.
This recurve bow is an excellent option for those looking to test the waters of archery or simply partake in light training, but it doesn’t look like a good choice for those that prefer more rigorous training sessions.
Overall, if you’re searching for a recurve bow that won’t break the bank, this is a great choice, but be wary of its build quality and fragility.
Deerseeker 62” Takedown Recurve Bow
- Perfect and durable hunting bow - Deerseeker 62" recurve bow, take-down design and pack easy; max Draw Weight is 60 lb, perfect for hunting deer, elk, wild boar and bowfishing; min Draw Weight is 30 lb, friendly for beginner and target practice
- Multi-laminate limbs & riser - the limbs are laminated with fiberglass & mapple wood, base on recurve shape, it could give this bow a faster speed and low vibration; the riser is combined with hard and high-density Dymond wood, so it's fairly strong and could support the max draw weight 60lbs
- Superior raw materials & Reliable quality - selective wood and fiberglass, Dacron B-55 bowstring, elaborate details, comfortable ergonomic grip; Deerseeker has more than ten years of experience in manufacturing bows，which means reliable quality and durability
- Pre-installed threaded bushings & Aluminum pockets on riser - Easy to various attachments and upgrades, such as Brass Plunger, Stabilizer, Sight, Quiver, Bow fishing reel; Aluminum pockets will guarantee exact limb placement for improved performance and accuracy as well as reduce the overall weight
- Plenty useful accessories & 1-year guarantee - bow string,stringer tool, finger tab, arm guard,arrow rest and Allen key; Deerseeker archery provides a 1-year guarantee for our clients, any questions about the recurve bows get in touch with us freely please
Specs & Features
- Max Draw Length: 30”
- AMO Length: 62”
- Draw Weight: 30-60lbs
- Weight: 2.16lbs
- Hand Orientation: Left and right-handed
Pros
This recurve bow is built to handle both, whether you’re looking for range practice or a precision bow for hunting trips.
It offers a draw weight of 30-60lbs at a 28″ draw length and is powerful enough for precision targeting and force that’s needed for a takedown during a hunt.
It’s an excellent choice for hunting wild boar, deer, elk, and even bow fishing.
You’ll also appreciate the bow’s laminated maple wood and fiberglass build as it offers minimal vibration and immense speed with every arrow.
The riser on this bow is a combination of high-density and hard Dymond wood, which allows the bow to support up to 60lbs of draw weight.
The company claims you won’t have to question the durability of this bow as every detail comes with the reliability you need while hunting or at the practice range.
The Dacron B-55 bowstring, ergonomic grip, fine details, and the company’s decade of bow crafting experience offer a reliable recurve bow from top to bottom.
Attachments and other various upgrades are pretty easy to assemble, and every feature is aimed to improve the bow’s performance and overall accuracy.
It also comes with a one-year guarantee for every aspect of the bow, and the company is on standby if you run into any complications with your recurve bow.
It comes at an affordable price no matter which size you choose, and it’s a great choice for either right or left-handed users.
Cons
Like any other product, this bow comes with its own cons that you shouldn’t ignore.
After looking at reviews and other public comments, it seems this bow doesn’t come with the consistent manufactured quality that the company claims.
Many shoppers have had issues with various parts of the bow breaking early on. In some extreme cases, the bow may not come with the right parts for assembly either.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of reports about the bow’s limbs not being appropriately manufactured, which has made many people feel like their money was wasted.
Even if the bow comes with the right parts, many customers complain about the wood cracking after minimal use.
Moreover, due to the inconsistency of the build quality, many have deemed the bow unsafe to use.
The bow may be cost-efficient, and many customers are quite happy with its quality, yet there are consistent reviews that mention the poor aspects of its construction.
Safety is essential when it comes to archery, and the known flaws of this bow should be considered before you make a purchase.
TOPARCHERY Archery 56″ Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow
- Total bow length: 56", bow riser length: 17", bow limb length: 53", Max draw length: 30". Aluminum / Carbon Arrows are recommended.
- High Strength Casting Aluminum Riser. The Bow is very Nicely Polished and offer Excellent Performance.
- Limb: It is strong fiber glass with a maple core. Limbs can be purchased separately to increase or decrease weight as need, or to share with friends and family, and Save on continuously purchasing full new bows( PS: ASIN of replacement limb: B07W95TJ2J, B07SJG68N9, B07SGDWLBN, B07SKHF8LS).
- Design for Right-Handed shooter. Recommend this bow for someone interested in learning archery, beginner and skilled archer.
- Risk free purchase: Extraordinary quality at an affordable price and backed with an industry leading warranty. Bow warranty for 1 year. Our 100% satisfaction policy, guarantees you a full refund, be it that you are not 100% satisfied with TOPARCHERY archery bow.
Specs & Features
- Max Draw Length: 30”
- AMO Length: 56”
- Draw Weight: 30-50lbs
- Weight: 2.5lbs
- Hand Orientation: Right-handed
Pros
Another great bow that’s wallet-friendly and comes with all of the features you need in a recurve bow, TOPARCHERY is known for their craftsmanship and quality customer service.
This bow comes built with a high-strength casting aluminum riser, and it also boasts a nice polish and an ergonomic design for ease of use.
Its construction is primarily made of a blend of fiberglass with a durable maple core, which helps to provide reliable performance with every shot.
Parts are easily interchangeable as well, allowing you to switch out the limbs for a more customized experience and added cost-efficiency.
Features like this will enable you to make the most out of your bow without having to purchase a new one due to one faulty part.
This recurve bow is designed for right-handed users, and it’s made for beginners and experienced archers alike.
Aside from the low price point, the company offers a one-year warranty on the bow, allowing you to put many arrows downrange long before the warranty comes to an end.
Many customers feel the bow is well-made overall, and each individual part seems to come with the reliability they require.
You will find varying remarks from beginners and experienced archers.
Those who have a little more time with the sport tend to have more critical reviews, but the pros and cons of the bow are relatively straightforward.
From what I’ve gathered, assembling and breaking down the bow is fairly easy and doesn’t take too much effort.
Many people love the accuracy it provides out of the box, and the durability it exudes is more than satisfactory.
Considering how expensive recurve bows can get, this one comes with outstanding quality and performance for the price.
Cons
There have been isolated incidents where customers have received a bow with warped or damaged parts, but this could also be due to poor shipping practices.
Regardless, quite a few customers have encountered the same issues with warped limbs or damaged parts upon arrival.
Others have claimed that the recurve bow doesn’t perform too well out of the box and will require adjusting to get it to fire correctly.
You’ll also want to consider the reliability of the individual attachments, as you’ll find a handful of reviews that mention attachments breaking easily after minimal usage.
Some buyers have experienced minor injuries from poor construction in more severe cases.
This isn’t a common issue, but it should definitely be considered before diving into a purchase.
The company claims that this recurve bow is easy to assemble, but other reviews seem to claim otherwise.
You’ll find that some buyers mention the need for a professional shop to help assemble it, while others single out specific parts that are harder to put together than others.
Overall, this bow comes with a decent blend of pros and cons, and although it comes at a fair price, you’ll want to keep these factors in mind when shopping for a recurve bow.
What To Look For When Purchasing A Recurve Bow
There are many different factors you should look for in a recurve bow, but there are a handful of specifications you should look into, no matter what type of bow you’re looking for.
Below you can find a brief breakdown of the most important features and specifications to look for in a recurve bow.
Bow Materials
At a glance, it may seem like many recurve bows are made with similar materials, but this isn’t always the case.
Various factors make up the quality of a recurve bow, but the materials it’s made out of are definitely a deciding factor.
Whether it’s crafted from durable wood, fiberglass, or a combination of both, these materials tend to be the most reliable for recurve bows.
Manufacturer Reputation
This doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker for you, but reviewing the reputation of the bow manufacturer will give you plenty of insight into what you can expect from the company.
The manufacturing process is important with any bow, and if the company has a poor reputation, you’ll want to investigate why that is before committing to a purchase.
It could help you save your money and frustration in the long run.
Bow Weight
The weight of the recurve bow can easily affect your performance.
Depending on what you’re trying to achieve and how much weight you can handle, the bow’s total weight can drastically affect your shooting performance.
Make sure to choose a bow that you can easily maneuver and won’t wear you out in a brief amount of time, but it also provides the power you’re looking for.
Draw Length
This factor affects a few things about the bow’s shooting performance.
For reference, it’s known that 1″ of draw length equates to about 10 feet per second of arrow velocity.
So, depending on the distance you want to shoot, and the amount of power you want behind your arrow, the bow’s draw length is an important metric.
When purchasing a recurve bow, make sure the draw length will be able to achieve the desired force and distance you’re looking to get out of it.
What Size Recurve Bow Is Right For Me?
This question comes with different answers based on the type of bow you’re referring to, but for recurve bows, it’s best to choose a bow that’s twice as long as your draw length.
It’s known that the longer the length of the bow plays a part in how accurate it is, and you also want a bow size that’ll be fitting for your body type as well.
Recurve bows tend to be quite large, and you don’t want to choose a size that would be too much to handle.
It isn’t so much about the bow’s weight as it is about the overall functionality.
You want to have the size and strength needed to put the bow to the lengths of its intended use based on its design without injuring yourself or damaging the bow in the process.
To Conclude
Recurve bows are excellent for training, sport, and hunting and will continue to be a fan favorite for many archers all over the world.
Their design may look quite simple, but there are many do’s and don’ts associated with recurve bows that should always be respected.
More than anything, your safety and finances are the most important here, and you want to ensure you’re getting the most for your buck with the necessary build quality and protections required for archery.
Archery doesn’t have to be an extremely expensive hobby, and there are many cost-efficient bows on the market for you to choose from.
The following three however really do tick all the boxes for your particular $200 budget 👇
Other articles you may be interested in:
- How Much Does A Recurve Bow Cost?
- How To Choose Arrows For Recurve Bow – The Proper Way
- What Size Recurve Bow Do I Need?
- How To Store A Recurve Bow
- How To Aim A Recurve Bow
I live in Alberta, Canada where I enjoy indoor and 3D archery with traditional bows and compound bows. On this site, I share everything I’ve learned about archery along the way.