The arrow rest makes a big impact on the accuracy and consistency of your bow and is often the first piece to wear out and need replacing.
Once you’ve fitted an arrow rest to your bow, it’s difficult to notice its presence compared to its importance. Whether you’re a novice or an accomplished archer, an upgrade to the arrow rest is an easy way to improve your bow setup.
The best arrow rests for one person may not be the best for another. Some shooters like a soft rest and some prefer a stiff rest. At the top of the range are the magnetic rests which have benefits for hunters. To save you time and effort, we’ve reviewed the best arrow rests for you, hopefully one of them will suit you perfectly.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Trophy Ridge Whisker Biscuit Kill Shot Arrow Rest | Best Overall |  |
| HOYT / EASTON ARCHERY BOW ARROW REST | Budget Pick |  |
| Trophy Taker RH Smackdown Pro Rest | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Trophy Ridge Whisker Biscuit Kill Shot Arrow Rest
Pros:
- Highly Adjustable
- Easy to Install
- Light-weight
Maximize your bow’s performance and accuracy with the Trophy Ridge Whisker Biscuit Kill Shot! This is a solid, no-nonsense arrow rest.
Trophy Ridge is famous for producing high-quality arrow rests that provide premium performance. The Whisker Biscuit Kill Shot is certainly not an exception.
One advantage you get with the Whisker Biscuit Kill Shot it the level of adjustability. You can adjust the front-to-back as well as side-to-side movements.
2. Trophy Taker RH Smackdown Pro Rest
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Easy to set up and adjust
- Bands come pre-cut to size
Cons:
- Expensive
- Trigger lock may be difficult to adjust
This is one of the lightest and most accurate arrow rests you will find out there. Millions of archers worldwide can’t be wrong, which is the reason why this arrow rest is the most sold in North America.
This arrow rest comes with a rubber bottom, but if you want to replace it with a brass one, you have the option to do so. Replacement of the bottom requires you to disassemble the whole thing, but it’s a simple process.
An arrow is guaranteed to shoot straight at the spot where you want it to fly once you get this bow rest. The reason for this is the accuracy of the technology involved in designing such a rest.
3. SAS Brush Capture Arrow Rest
The SAS arrow rest is a tool-free assembly arrow rest that comes with a solid lock at a lesser price. It’s designed with Anti-Reset Technology to hold more arrows than the traditional rests.
This rest is also made to last because it’s one of the best arrow rests because it’s made from a strong and durable type of plastic resin.
It’s also available in different colors.
4. Bear Archery Traditional Hair Rest
Pros:
- Made from real deer hair
- Slit, spring-covered rubber band allows easy replacement of hair
- Keeps your arrows aligned with your sight
- Lightweight and tough
- Inexpensive
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your arrow rest or replace a broken one, we suggest you check out the Bear Archery Traditional Hair rest. It’s a single-notch hair rest that allows you to easily see where your arrow is aligned.
Its features include a slit, spring-covered rubber band, which allows the user to replace the hair easily whenever they need. The Bear Archery Traditional Hair rest uses real deer hair, which makes it easy to see from a distance and maintain, and it sits slightly above the rest of the arrow rest providing you with protection against the elements.
There aren’t any moving parts, so it stays put when you place it on the rest of your arrow. The Bear Archery Traditional Hair rest is easy to install, and will work for your Wood, Carbon, Fiberglass, or Aluminum arrows, regardless of their type, diameter, or length.
5. HOYT / EASTON ARCHERY BOW ARROW REST
Pros:
- Universal fit for all d-loop sizes
- Very easy installation
- Simply install using double-sided foam tape
This Easton/Hoyt Arrow rest is a must-have if you’re looking for comfort and a good grip to draw your arrows.
Installing the rest is very easy: simply get some double-sided foam tape and attach it to the bow’s d-loop. The rest is designed for a universal fit and can fit any size d-loop.
6. TRUGLO Down-Draft Cable-Driven Full-Containment Drop-Away Arrow Rest
This is one of the best drop-away arrow rests on the market this year. The patent-pending integrated trigger mechanism is fully adjustable such that you can easily customize it to fit your finger and set the position of the trigger wherever you prefer.
The three different positions through which the trigger can be configured allow you to get a proper grip on the string as you pull it back. The trigger is released after the set point is reached.
The trigger also has a safety system so that it won’t accidentally fire during transport. With the two-finger design, this rest is one of our favorites for recurve beginners who would otherwise have a difficult time adjust to the size and weight of a three-finger arrow rest.
7. Ultra – Rest Quad Hunter
Pros:
- Available in multiple colors (69 colors to be exact!)
- Can be used for hunting and target practice
- Helps you shoot more accurately
- Quiet during use
- Durably made to last you a long time
- No assembly required
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best arrow rest?
It’s always fun to talk about arrow rests. There are so many and most are pretty similar in how they work and the differences usually come down to personal preference. In my opinion, when it comes to the best arrow rest of the year we have to look at all the requirements our bow needs and then choose based on that.
The first and most important ability is how quiet it is. You want to make sure your rest is smooth and quiet or you are going to get issues with bow accuracy as well as your neighbors.
Next, think about how well it is going to keep your arrow on target and where you want your arrow to land. This affects how an arrow behaves and where it needs to land, so choose your arrow rest based on how important that is.
What arrow rest do the pros use?
Most of the pros use the Whisker Biscuit Arrow Rest simply because it works and takes very little time to set up. Plus, no tools are required for set up. Clamp it on and you are ready to go.
One of the important factors for arrows rests is their ability to withstand the pressures of archery. The Whisker Biscuit Rest is made from lightweight materials that make it easy to make fine adjustments and keep the arrow in place while being shot. Just remember to get good at actually placing your arrow on the rest!
What are the most accurate arrows?
Darton makes some of the most accurate arrows on the market, so if you're worried about those bull's eye shots, go with one of the top manufacturers.
As a general rule, carbon arrows are more accurate than those made of aluminum or other types of materials. If you want to get as close to a hunting experience as possible, consider for a moment the accuracy of an arrow and what contributes to it.
When an arrow is fired, everything has to be nearly perfect for the shot to be a kill shot.
Arrows that are tipped with smaller groups and/or feature higher quality string materials will be more accurate. Check out the arrow quivers for the best experience.
Ensure your grips are straight, symmetrical, and relaxed. Any tension on your bow may affect its performance as well. Make your arrows the best for the best shooting experience.
What is the best arrow rest for a recurve bow?
Actually, the material your arrow rest is made from isn’t as important as the design and size. Large, deep rests are popular for traditional archers but they are not necessary. Either metal or plastic are good material choices, but their design is more important for performance than their material. You should avoid any rests that have sharp, metallic edges which could mark up your bow or scratch your arrows.
Your arrow rest must be able to hold the arrow securely while still allowing a loose fit so the shot is not significantly affected by it. It should also be engineered to take the force of the arrow as it flies off the bow and stop it before it hits the bow.
All of those features come in different designs so you should select a rest that best fits your style and then select a material based on personal preference or considerations like how much noise different materials can generate.
Conclusion
Buying a bow rest is just as important as buying a bow. We believe that this piece is vital to your hunting success. In order to help you choose the right rest for your needs, we’ve put together a detailed buying guide, including information about what to look for when buying a new rest. We hope this guide helps you find the right one for you.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Trophy Ridge Whisker Biscuit Kill Shot Arrow Rest | Best Overall | |
| HOYT / EASTON ARCHERY BOW ARROW REST | Budget Pick | |
| Trophy Taker RH Smackdown Pro Rest | Upgrade Pick | |