Many people have started taking up archery, with the market set to grow by more than a billion dollars by 2028. New archers need guidance on the proper care and maintenance of their equipment.
Selecting a quality compound bow case plays a big role in the long-term health of one’s equipment. What features do archers need to look for, and how much do hunters’ needs differ from target shooters’?
Sorting through the myriad options available takes time and effort. We’re here to help. Keep reading to learn about the key features of compound bow cases and the best bow case features for any demographic.
Why Get a Compound Bow Case?
Compound bow cases provide protection and portability for your compound bow. Whether traveling through brush and muck on a hunt or driving to a target shooting competition, you need something to keep your bow easy to manage while you get there. Durable bow cases also protect your bow from accidents en route to your destination, such as dropping your equipment or pushing it into trees, walls, and other things that can leave scratches.
Useful Features
Bow cases come in different styles, and our bow case buying guide will look at each. The best bow case features for your situation will depend on considerations like:
- travel frequency
- how you use your bow
- accessories you use
Someone who travels to international archery events and someone who hunts in nearby forests will face different difficulties. As such, they need different cases.
Hard Cases vs. Soft Cases
You might see both hard-sided plastic or aluminum cases and soft fabric cases at your local stores. To decide between the two, consider how often you travel in circumstances that separate you from your bow, such as air or train travel.
Bows and arrows cannot enter a plane as carry-on luggage under current TSA guidelines. Taking a bow on long trips means surrendering it to baggage handlers and the cargo hold, where bags often get tossed around casually without concern for what’s inside. You’ll always want a hard case for situations like these.
Hard cases present difficulties when carried for long distances or on rough terrain, though. If you use your bow to hunt within your state, a soft case will serve you better.
These only represent the most common uses for hard and soft cases. If you know you have another circumstance not listed here that might require a hard case, use your best judgment. Bows can get expensive, so you’d rather be safe with your gear.
Accessory Storage
Almost any archer benefits from accessory storage. Archery comes with a lot of equipment beyond the bow itself. Archers use bow slings, bow rests, string wax, and arrows, and storage space can make any archer happy.
Some archers need space and accessory storage more than others, though. Hunters need archery gear and hunting-specific tools for a safe and successful hunt. Target shooters sometimes amass a lot of small accessories, but their relative size makes them easier to manage than a hunter’s.
Soft cases tend to have more individual storage compartments than hard cases, so if you have trouble organizing your accessories, that may help. Having a dedicated pocket for your sling or sight can make it easier to keep track.
Hard cases can offer similar organizational benefits with a little more effort. Some dedicated archers make custom foam inserts for their hard cases instead of using the ones the case came with. If you can put in the extra effort, hard cases offer precision-tuned protection for your gear.
Waterproofing
You might think a waterproof bow case only matters for hunters who intend to go wading through the river in pursuit of deer. This couldn’t sit further from the truth. Both hunters and target shooters benefit from the measures that make a case waterproof.
When you look for waterproof bow case types, though, check if the case offers simple waterproofing or pressure and temperature sealing. The former helps hunters, but if you’re a target shooter who travels a lot, pressure and temperature sealing will also help your bow survive air travel.
Interior Fasteners
Interior fasteners and tie-downs benefit any bow owner looking for a case. These devices offer your compound bow protection from the jumps and jostles of traveling by holding it in place within the case itself. Movement within the case can deal heavy damage to your bow.
As mentioned earlier, hard cases can use foam inserts for this purpose. A snug fit can keep a bow in place during transit.
Weight
Hard cases weigh more than soft cases, but variation exists within those categories. When you pick a case, consider where you’ll use it and whether you can carry it without discomfort under expected conditions.
Case-Related Maintenance
The moment you store your bow in a case marks a great time to perform a basic inspection of your bow. If your bow comes out of the case worse off than it went in, you can check for faults within the case itself or contact your airline. Before you put your bow away, you should:
- Look at the body of the bow for cosmetic damage
- Check for serious cracks, splinters, and other functional damage
- Assess screws and risers
- Wax your bowstrings
You should perform a similar check each time you take your bow out of the case. The first few times you perform these checks they may take a while, but they speed up with practice.
Just In Case
A good compound bow case will protect your equipment for years to come. Choosing the best case takes effort and research, but you’ll find it if you consider the contexts in which you use your bow. Whether you need consistent cargo protection or lightweight construction, the perfect case awaits you.
No matter what you want to carry, Specialty Gear has you covered. Our product range can handle any carrying needs with tactical backpacks, bow cases, gun cases, or our unique StealthRig system for bow hunters. If you need help identifying the best product for you, contact us and we’ll get back to you with the information you need to make a quality purchase.