Best Archery Bow And Arrow For Kids
From Hawkeye in The Avengers to Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, archery is a sport growing in popularity and becoming more well known to children. It is a technical sport that requires the right technique and many hours of practice, so getting kids involved early is a great way for them to become skilled archers.
Things To Consider
Buying a bow and arrow for your child is not as simple as buying a baseball glove or a basketball. It is a weapon and should be treated with seriousness and respect to the dangers that can be presented if used improperly. When used correctly and with the proper training, archery can be a fun and safe sport.
Youth Bow and Arrow Safety Tips
To ensure your child is safe when using a bow and arrow, make sure their equipment is in good shape by checking if the limbs on their bow have no bubbles, splinters, or cracks. Also, make sure they are always facing away from people and towards their target, and their clothes are properly secured.
Youth Bow and Arrow Sizes And Weights
Having the right-sized bow for your kid is important for them to have success with a bow and arrow. At 10 or 11-years-old, the average child should be comfortable with a 15-pound recurve bow or a 25-pound compound bow. Children under the age of 10 should keep to a 14-24 pound draw weight, and children 6-8 should keep to a draw weight of 10-13 pounds.
What are the best bow and arrows for kids?
- KESHES Archery Recurve Bow and Arrow Youthbow Set
- Bear Archery 1st Shot Bow Set
- DOSTYLE Outdoor Youth Recurve Bow and Arrow Set
- Adventure Awaits! - 2-Pack Handmade Wooden Bow and Arrow Set
- CenterPoint Archery Elkhorn Youth Compound Bow
- Bear Archery Scout Bow Set
- TOPARCHERY Youth Bow and Arrow Set
- Vogbel Archery Takedown Recurve Bow and Arrow Set
- Wolf Archery 45" Youth Archery Bow and Arrow Set for Kids
- KAINOKAI Recurve Bow and Arrow for Teens and Kids
1. KESHES Archery Recurve Bow and Arrow Youthbow Set
Specifications:
- Price: $36.99
- Rating: 4.4/5
- Brand: KESHES
This KESHES archery set is great for beginners, and easy to assemble, store, and carry around. It also has an ambidextrous build, which makes it easy to use for left and right-handed shooters. With a 16-20 pound draw weight, this set is recommended for children aged 10 and up.
2. Bear Archery 1st Shot Bow Set
Specifications:
- Price: $17.54
- Rating: 4.5/5
- Brand: Bear Archery
This set is made for ages 4-7, carrying a light weight of only 8-12 pounds. The set comes ready to shoot with two arrows and a paper target for practice, making it a safe way for your child to learn the basic techniques of archery. It is not meant for those looking to be competitive in the sport but rather as a learning tool.
3. DOSTYLE Outdoor Youth Recurve Bow and Arrow Set
Specifications:
- Price: $35.99
- Rating: 4.5/5
- Brand: DOSTYLE
This set is an ideal youth bow set for teens and kids. With a draw weight of 16-20 lbs, it is a great set for kids ages 10 and up. The length of the bow itself is 44-inches and comes with eight 29-inch arrows. It can be used by left or right-handed children. This set is good for introducing older children and young teens to the sport but not ideal for those looking to practice more seriously.
Specifications:
- Price: $34.97
- Rating: 4.4/5
- Brand: Adventure Awaits!
This is a more dense product made for children ages 12 and up. This product comes with two bows and 20 wooden arrows. This is not a set for competitive archery but a perfect set to learn archery mechanics as the tips of the arrows are rubber and are not as sharp as traditional arrows. It’s a fun toy that is ideal for kids.
5. CenterPoint Archery Elkhorn Youth Compound Bow
Specifications:
- Price: $44.49
- Rating: 4.5/5
- Brand: CenterPoint Archery
This is a durable, heavy-duty bow set made for right-handed shooters looking to take the next step in their archery skills. This set is more specialized for hitting targets rather than playing in the backyard. The CenterPoint youth compound bow features 16-inch draw length and a draw weight of 15 pounds, making it easy to use for older children or young teens.
6. Bear Archery Scout Bow Set
Specifications:
- Price: $29.99
- Rating: 4.6/5
- Brand: Bear Archery
This is a great bow for beginners, with an ambidextrous build, two safety glass arrows, and a sight pin to help your child aim. With only an 8-pound draw weight, this bow is perfect for younger children ages four to seven. This bow is more of a teaching tool and is not meant for intermediate practice.
7. TOPARCHERY Youth Bow and Arrow Set
Specifications:
- Price: $35.99
- Rating: 4.6/5
- Brand: TOPARCHERY
This set is ambidextrous and helpful for beginners ready to rise to an intermediate level. The set is great for developing technique in children over the age of seven, with a 15-20 lb draw weight. This may be a difficult set for children picking up a bow for the first time. Toparchery also offers a package that comes with a quiver, arm guard, and targets for a slightly higher price.
8. Vogbel Archery Takedown Recurve Bow and Arrow Set
Specifications:
- Price: $82.99
- Rating: 4.4/5
- Brand: Vogbel
For those just beginning to pick up a bow, this is a great learning tool. Designed for both left and right-handed shooters, this bow’s simple design makes it very easy to use. It is quality tested and ensured for maximum durability. The bow comes with a 30-pound draw weight, making it best suited for older children and teenagers.
9. Wolf Archery 45" Youth Archery Bow and Arrow Set for Kids
Specifications:
- Price: $29.99
- Rating: 4.3/5
- Brand: Wolf Archery
The Wolf Archery set comes with a draw weight of 20 pounds, making it ideal for children 11 and up. The set comes with seven arrows and three target face paper sheets perfect for beginner practicing. This set is a great value for its low price.
10. KAINOKAI Recurve Bow and Arrow for Teens and Kids
Specifications:
- Price: $59.99
- Rating: 4/5
- Brand: KAINOKAI
This is a great set for older children aged ten and up, having an 8-14 pound draw weight and 14-28 inch draw length. This set comes with one bow, six fiberglass arrows, three paper targets, an arm guard, a hand guard, and bow string wax. It is built for both left and right-handed shooters. The bow’s size and the amount of equipment that comes with it makes this a great purchase for both beginners and intermediate-level shooters.
FAQ
What features should a beginner archer look for in a bow and arrow set?
As a general rule, beginners should learn to shoot on bows with a relatively low draw weight, as the muscles used to draw the string have not been strengthened yet. This usually means starting out with a bow that has less than 20 pounds of draw weight for children. Another key feature in a bow and arrow set you should look for as a beginner archer is arrows that do not contain a sharp pointed end. Since you are still learning the basics of getting the arrow where you want it to go, there is cause for safety concerns. For example, if you purchase a set with rubber-tipped arrows, there is less of a chance for injury.
What are the differences between adult and children’s bow and arrow sets?
There are a few main differences between most bow and arrow sets for adults and those meant for children. Most importantly, children’s bows are shorter in length and have less draw weight compared to adult bows. Children’s recurve and traditional bows typically range in length from 40” to 50”, while adult bows can measure anywhere between 54” and 70”. Children’s bows should have a draw weight of 10-25lbs.; most adult bows have draw weights ranging from 30-70lbs. Adult bows also tend to use higher quality materials such as fiberglass and may come with extra features including sights, arm guards, and release aids. For obvious reasons, adult bow and arrow sets will generally be more expensive than children’s sets.
What is a good age to start archery?
USA Archery, the leading governing body for archery in the United States, suggests that parents looking to get their children involved in archery start them off at the age of eight. By the time a child is eight years old, they possess the physical ability to use low draw weight bows, which will make their introduction to the sport all the easier. However, at such a young age, it may be advisable to stick to rubber-tipped arrows until the aspiring archer has mastered the technique, discipline, and safety knowledge necessary to shoot pointed arrows responsibly.