The best bow release for archery is just a click away, you just have to do your research. Luckily, we’ve done it for you. Through a variety of testing, we’ve come across and studied the best archery releases.
Here are the top 10 best bow releases for archery:
- Spot Hogg – WiseGuy Release
- Carter Enterprises Wise Choice Release
- Tru-Fire Edge 4-Finger
- TruFire Patriot Archery
- SCOTT Release Little Goose
- Tru-Fire Hardcore
- TruFire Foldback Adjustable
- Hot Shot Vapor 4-Release
- Tru Ball Archery Fang
- Truglo Detonator Ultra-Smooth
My Top 10 Picks Of The Best Bow Releases
1. Spot Hogg – WiseGuy Bow Release
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Design: Full Radius Handle
Weight: 2.4 ounces
Dimensions: 11.1 x 5 x 2.3 inches
Out of the different archery releases that I tried out, the Spot Hogg was definitely one of my favorites. It was lightweight, but heavy enough to have some substance to it. The design itself was more slim that I anticipated from the pictures, but this was a plus when I got to shooting. The padding on the handle itself was pleasant and it didn’t cause any chaffing.
Adjusting the strap was fairly easy, but I don’t think that it’s something that you could do on-the-go. You would have to stop for a few seconds to fix it, but that’s to be expected
To get a good idea of the efficiency of the design, I experimented with the self-reloading hook and forward trigger. I don’t really have any complaints, since it was so easy to use and relatively smooth. The open jaw was also a plus because it allowed me the fire pretty quickly.
2. Carter Enterprises Wise Choice Release
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Design: 3-Finger Release
Weight: 4.8 ounces
Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 1.5 inches
If you’re looking for something a little more elegant and sturdy, this release by Carter Enterprises may be perfect for you. The 3-finger release is simple, but fully functional. I tried shooting with it and didn’t find anything to complain about.
But while this release is perfect in many senses, I’m not sure that it’s coloring would be the best for hunting. I would have preferred camouflage or something darker that wouldn’t be so noticeable in the woods. However, with this in mind, this isn’t something that would stop me from buying. Because it really is such as lovely piece, it would do well for those that shoot with still targets.
Overall, while this product may initially seem a little pricey, this piece is definitely worth the money. As opposed to buying several inexpensive, perhaps mediocre, releases, this high-quality release would be the one that lasts.
3. Tru-Fire Edge 4-Finger Bow Release
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Design: 4-Finger Release
Weight: 4.8 ounces
Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 1.2 inches
The first thing that I immediately noticed about the Tru-Fire Edge 4-Finger release was its feel. Holding in my hand, it felt comfortable and it was much like something that I would buy myself. The body of the release felt durable and I could tell that it was well-made.
When shooting, my favorite thing about this release was that I could rotate it a full 360 degrees. While this isn’t something that I would purposely look for myself, it was definitely a plus when shooting. Something else that I noticed is that the release comes with an adjustable thumb, which made it pretty easy to shoot from both hands.
Overall, I think that this release would be good for still-target shooting, hunting, or anything in between.
4. TruFire Patriot Archery
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Design: Full Radius Handle
Weight: 0.32 ounces
Dimensions: 10.5 x 5.2 x 1.8 inches
From looking at the picture, I wasn’t immediately sold on this product, but since TruFire Patriot Archery was an Amazon best seller at such a ridiculously low price, I decided to give it a shot.
After trying it out and shooting with it for a bit, I can understand why this product sells. To be honest, it’s not the best in the world, but I can’t say that it’s a terrible product either.
The release itself does the job and I think that it’s a perfect starter for people who are just getting into archery. However, I’m not sure that it would be great for everyone and I, for sure, wouldn’t buy it for hunting. While the strap was easy to adjust, the velcro was fairly loud and would surely spook any animals.
Beyond this note, the full 360 rotation was quite nice and, like the release above, it was easy to switch between hands. Overall, I would recommend this product, but more for beginners who are not yet ready to invest a ton of money into equipment.
5. SCOTT Releases Little Goose
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Design: Full Radius Handle
Weight: 4 ounces
Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
While I didn’t know what to expect, the Scott Little Goose had a few innovations that really exceeded my expectations and impressed me. The first thing that I noticed about the release was how amazingly sensitive it could be. I played around with the trigger, since it had a few different sensitivities that you could try out, and was pleasantly surprised. The soft trigger was pretty fun to use and it would probably be good for hunting.
Another innovation that I found on this product was the design of the length adjustment. In order to change the length of the release, I had to take out a little screw, slide the trigger up, and then put it back. While it was a little confusing at first, it was pretty simple once you got the hang of it.
6. Tru-Fire Hardcore Bow Release
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Design: Full Radius Handle
Weight: 6.4 ounces
Dimensions: 10.5 x 5.2 x 1.8 inches
The TruFire Hardcore release claims to have over 2 times the padding of other traditional bow releases. I’m not sure if I agree with the statement, but I will admit that it was pretty comfortable. The slightly wider and rolled edges were are a nice touch, but I wouldn’t have thought too much about it if they hadn’t mentioned it in the product description.
What interested me more about this product was its trigger, which can be adjusted from 3 ounces to more than 16 ounces. I tried it out and found it on par with the Little Goose release, despite the different design.
Shooting-wise, I tried firing with both hands and it was quite a pleasant experience, so I have no complaints.
7. TruFire Foldback Adjustable Bow Release
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Design: Full Radius Handle
Weight: 4 ounces
The TruFire Foldback Adjustable Release had a similar feel to the Little Goose. The leather was pleasant and did not slide, so it was very comfortable. In fact, it was possible for me to shoot with one hand and work with the other simultaneously. And while I didn’t do any extensive training with it, I’m sure that it would be perfect for climbing or hunting.
The release was also quite versatile with an adjustment length of about an inch, making it perfect for hands of all sizes.
Like the release above, this one also has a head that pivots either left or right buy a full 20 degrees. I found that this was effective at reducing torque. In addition, I did not have any trouble with the swept-back trigger and it was effective in not letting the string slip.
8. Hot Shot Vapor 4-Release
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Design: 4-Finger Release
Weight: 1.6 ounces
The Hot Shot Vapor 4-Release has been quite popular among the archery community. Though a few reviews have mentioned this release getting stuck or releasing prematurely, I personally didn’t have any of these problems. And luckily, from the looks of it, most people only had positive things to say about this released.
In my experience, the release was crisp and it was easy to adjust the trigger tension, trigger level, and angle. It was also very quiet, so it would probably be perfect for hunting.
9. Tru Ball Archery Fang
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Design: 3-Finger Release & 4-Finger Release
Weight: 4 ounces
The Tru Ball Archery Fang is similar to the Hot Shot and is an amazing release at a slightly higher cost. I shot with both the 3- & 4-Finger release and found the pinkie a bit weak. For this reason, I preferred the 3-Finger.
Some people in the comments have stated that it didn’t fit with larger hands, so this is something that you might want to consider when purchasing. Other than that, this was a good release, but not much different from the one above.
10. Truglo Detonator Ultra-Smooth
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Design: Full Radius Handle
Weight: 5.8 ounces
Dimensions: 12 x 7 x 2 inches
The Truglo Detonator Ultra-Smooth Release was another one of my favorites out of the releases that I tried. It was streamlined and pretty easy to use. The strap was comfortable and well-padded, so it didn’t cause any chaffing. The hook at the front also made it easy to load it up quickly.
My favorite part about this release was the stainless steel jaw, because you could tell that it was high-quality and built to last. The 360-degree rotating head was also a plus, but admittedly, I didn’t use it that much.
Why Should You Use A Bow Release For Accuracy?
Shooting without a bow release can be painful. Repeated use can hurt your fingers, so much so that they can get worn, calloused, or numb. Since the string puts a lot of pressure on your fingers, there are a lot of benefits to using a bow release.
You’ll find that with a bow release, your shots will be cleaner and more consistent. You’ll also find that it will improve your accuracy. There will be less slip-ups and as a result, you can use better arrows.
