Fact checked by Steven Lines, lifelong Hunter and Outdoorsman
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After searching for the best recurve bows under $300, $200, and $100, I found several options. The ones listed below would be a great choice if you’re looking to purchase one of these. Each bow has a different draw weight and length, so read through each review carefully before buying one!
Without further ado, here is our round-up of the best recurve bows on a budget.
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In this post, we'll cover:
Best Recurve Bows Under $300
Ragim Archery Black Bear Recurve Bow
The Black Bear is a high-end recurve bow with a 58” string. It is designed to work with just about any type of bow, thanks to the sight window’s higher clearance, allowing you to use spin wings. The Brown Bear series, as the name suggests, is geared towards hunting game.
The 58” bowstring is relatively nimble at 2.4 lbs, making it suited to this purpose. The Ragim Black Bear is designed as a one-piece recurve bow with a simply shaped wood riser and a stable grip.
With a sturdy design thanks to solid hardwood and chic maple limbs, the Ragim Black Bear will last for a long time.
All your shots will be accurate, making it ideal for beginners practicing and polishing the necessary steps of precise archery. This is a quick bow with an average arrow speed of around 180+ feet per second.
For a bow in this price range, that’s pretty impressive. It’s going to put the arrows exactly where you want them to go.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
| Excellent price point, making it suitable for beginners Stable and accurate shooter Designed for right and left-handed shooters | None |
- Exotic Padouk Wood Riser/Body
- This bow has inserts for attaching sights, stabilizer and Berger buttons
- 58 inch size is compact and easy to maneuver when hunting
Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Spyder and Spyder XL Takedown Recurve Bow
Southwest Archery has acquired a bit of a reputation for manufacturing top-quality archery gear, which is both functional and affordable. They are known for their highly popular Samick Series, which uses prized wood core limbers for performance and accuracy. Think of the Spyder series as a continuation of the Samick Series.
The Spyder and Spyder XL Takedown Recurve bow are among Southwest Archery’s best offerings. It combines a range of equipment to help you stay safe and, at the same time, allow you to practice archery without any hassle. This recurve bow comes with a one-year warranty against product defects and other issues.
It has a length of 62 inches, which is ideal for archers who are experienced with draw lengths above 29 inches. Furthermore, the Spyder and Spyder XL are relatively easy to use, thanks to their lightweight construction. It has round edges with limb pockets, making it lighter than all entries in the Sage Series.
The eye-catching riser is made of redwood, which adds to the aesthetic value of the recurve bow. It is worth noting that you will find premium redwood risers in higher-end recurve bows only. The tips of the limb have been reinforced to make them more compatible with a fast flight.
More importantly, this recurve bow is suitable for use with both left-handers and right-handers. With a price tag of less than $300, this recurve bow is definitely the right choice for beginners and advanced archers.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
| It comes with a kit that includes arrows, a stringer tool, an armguard, and an arrow rest High-quality bows Lightweight design Aesthetically appealing One year warranty | Lack of finger guards |
Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Recurve Bows Under $200
Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow
If you are looking for a good recurve bow on a smaller budget, the Samick Sage Takedown is just the product for you. It instantly grabs your attention with the retro-style riser, which looks like it was pulled right out of history books. It is well polished, effective, and relatively simple to use.
Apart from the riser, it doesn’t come with any add-ons and features a relatively barebones design. This means you won’t have to worry about breaking anything. The riser is made from hard maple and olive dymondwood, a combination that ensures it lasts for several years. Thanks to the use of hard maple, the limbs are durable and resist bending.
Furthermore, their tips are reinforced with Phenolic plastic, which allows the bow to be used with a variety of strings, including FastFlight. So if you ever decide to upgrade to a different string, you can do so without having to buy a new recurve bow.
Shooting with the Samick Sage feels tactile and accurate. The draw is smooth, with next to no vibrations during release. You’ll also notice that all your shots are silent, which is important if you’re on a hunting trip. Thanks to the high length of the bow at 62”, it is somewhat accurate and can compensate for bad form and issues with the stance (to a certain extent).
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
| Easy to add accessories to the riser Accurate shots Compatibility with most string types Premium riser for instinctive shooting | Limited draw length Lacks power |
- SIZE – the Samick Sage Recurve bow is 62” long, 28” draw length, and choose your draw weight from 25-60lb.
- INCLUDES: Riser - 2 Fiberglass laminated limbs - 14 Strands dacron bowstring – Stick on arrow rest – assembly instructions. Limbs are interchangeable and can be purchased separately.
- HAND ORIENTATION - Right Handed - Hold the bow with your LEFT hand and pull the string with your RIGHT. Left Handed - Hold the bow with your RIGHT hand and pull the string with your LEFT.
Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Southland Archery Supply SAS Explorer Metal Riser
The SAS Explorer Metal Riser is the perfect low-key hunting recurve bow. It comes with an affordable price tag, which means it will appeal to anyone who wants to dip their toes into archery for the first time. At 66” long, the SAS Explorer is built to accommodate tall people.
This is useful because you won’t find a recurve bow designed for taller people in this price range, which makes the SAS Explorer the ideal budget-friendly option.
Don’t let its small price tag fool you into thinking it’s easy to break. The SAS Explorer is exceptionally durable thanks to its construction using maple and reinforced fiberglass.
The limbs will bend when you draw the string, but they will not break. More importantly, the riser is made from aluminum to prevent the bow from getting too heavy.
It is available in a range of different colors, allowing you to pick an option that appeals to your stylistic preferences.
That being said, this recurve bow is suited to right-handed archers and not left-handed archers. So if you’re tall and need an ambidextrous or left-handed recurve bow, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
You need to know that it has a relatively high accuracy to help you shoot with excellent performance. Beginners will be able to level up their skills in a relatively short period of time.
It is worth mentioning that the recurve bow is quiet and stable, allowing you to be subtle with your gameplay. That said, you should not take the bow for big game hunting because they will detect the noise quickly.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
| Aluminum riser 66” long for taller people Color choices for different styles Lightweight at only 2.4 pounds | Not suited for lefties Requires some assembly |
- High Strength Casting Aluminum Riser
- Carefully Polished Finish Riser
- Strong Fiberglass Limb Made of Maple
Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
SinoArt Lion Takedown Recurve Bow
This recurve bow is designed for right-handed users only. It comes with a bridged riser, which reduces vibrations during shooting. Not only does this recurve bow look good, it feels great too.
A quick look at the recurve bow reveals that the manufacturer went the extra mile in craftsmanship to make the product stand out.
At 62”, it is neither too big nor too small and is ideal for use with shorter people and kids. Furthermore, it has threaded holes that let you insert aftermarket accessories to help you customize your recurve bow.
The SinoArt Lion offers a wide range of draw weights, starting at 30 lbs and maxing out at 70 lbs, which means your arrows will have a lot of power behind each shot. For its size and draw weight, the SinoArt Lion is incredibly lightweight at only 3lbs, making it easier to carry around.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
| Fewer vibrations Can be used by both tall and short people You can attach accessories to it Only weighs 3 lbs Extremely Durable | Cannot be used by left-handed shooters Does not come with a stringer tool |
- Not to use the 70lb limbs with arrows less than 900grains.
- Designed for RIGHT HANDED shooters.
- HAND ORIENTATION: A right handed bow will be held in your left hand and the string pulled with the right hand. Left handed bows are held in the right hand and pulled with the left hand.
Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Recurve Bows Under $100
Southland Archery Supply SAS Snake Recurve Bow
Another entry by Southland Archery, the Snake Recurve Bow, is a good pick for someone who’s just starting in archery.
It comes with a length of 48 inches and a draw weight of up to 26 pounds. This makes it perfect for teenagers and younger children who are still in their learning phase.
The recurve bow has a sleek design and is incredibly lightweight, but that doesn’t mean it is any less durable. It is made with premium materials that are tested carefully to take in some severe punishment. You can try bending, throwing, and breaking the bow, but it will retain its shape (we don’t recommend doing this!).
One cool feature we like is its ambidextrous design. This allows both right-handed and left-handed individuals to use it. Many bows in this price range are only designed to be used for one orientation, and if you’ve not done your homework about hand orientation for archers, you’ll probably end up giving it away.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
| Lightweight Easy to carry around Durable Affordable Doesn’t require assembly Suitable for left and right-handed persons | Fairly limited arrow speed Weak arrow rest |
- Ambidextrous design - works for right or left hand shooters
- Draw weight - 16 to 22 lbs.
- Almost indestructible
Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Ambidextrous Combat Archery Recurve Bow
This takedown recurves bow features a draw length of 54 inches with a fun design. Thanks to its robust grip, it is easy to use by both beginners and experts alike.
More importantly, it is aesthetically pleasing, lightweight, compact, and accurate. The bow limbs feature a durable construction made of fiberglass, giving it a sturdy feel.
It can be used for a range of events and games, including LARP battles and archery attack games. You’ll notice it gets the job done and can be used for an extended period of time.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
| CE and SETM certifications Ambidextrous design for use with both left and right-handed archers Ideal for LARP battle events 25 lbs draw weight | Does not come with an instructional manual |
- 25Lbs Draw weight Takedown Recurve Archery Bow
- Suitable for Left & Right Handed
- CE & ASTM Certification Approved
Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
PSE Precision Shooting Equip Razorback
Admittedly, this bow isn’t quite under the $100 mark, but we think the extra few dollars are worth it.
Designed from beech wood, nurma white, and laminated walnut, the PSE Razorback is a rugged and durable recurve bow. The limbs are made of fiberglass and laminated marbles for added flexibility, allowing them to be quickly packed in a compact area for transport.
In a nutshell, it is incredibly nimble at 2.2 pounds, is made to be ambidextrous for use with left and right-handed people, and comes with a draw length of up to 30 inches.
While it is not designed for power users, the PSE Razorback is built to offer a fair bit of power for young people and beginners. Unfortunately, this also means it cannot be used for hunting, where you really need that extra power to bring down big game.
On the flip side, it is compatible with many accessories such as AMO strings.
Most users will find this bow reasonably comfortable as it will enable you to perfect your accuracy for up to 30 yards, making it ideal for use in any shooting range. The recurve bow is quick to assemble with just a few screws, and the string can be adjusted based on your needs by hand.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
| Affordable Durable construction Compatibility with other accessories Great for young children and beginners Light in weight Easy to assemble Great shooting accuracy | Not built for power Cannot be used for hunting Low draw power Does not come with many accessories |
- CRAFTED FROM HARDWOOD - Made from hand-selected Walnut, Burma White, and Beech Wood with Hard Maple and Fiberglass limbs
- RELIABLE STABILIZER – The built-in stabilizer of the recurve bow helps minimize vibrations, minimize shock and produce less noise
- SIGHT BUSHINGS - Sight bushings provide increased optimal performance
Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Wrapping Up
Now that you’ve seen our recommendations, which ones do you think are the most impressive? For us, it would be the Black Bear for its combination of power and aesthetics.
All the recurve bows in this list are made with roughly the same materials, so the durability is almost the same.
Steven Lines is a hunter and outdoorsman from Safford, Arizona, USA. Since he was a child, he has been hunting and fishing and has over 20 years of outdoor experience. Steven works as a hunting guide in Arizona during his spare time and runs a Youtube channel dedicated to sharing his outdoor adventures with others.
