Top 10 Best Youth Crossbows Reviews

The use of crossbows has been around since the ancient times. An alternative choice to the classic bow and arrow, crossbows do not require rigorous training to use. People who are not well-trained with the use of bow and arrow appreciate crossbows because they are simpler and easier to use, and are also cheaper. In recent times, crossbows are largely used in archery and hunting.

Many young people are becoming more and more interested in the use of crossbows whether for sports or leisure. With the many available crossbow models available in the market today, choosing the best especially intended for young users can be quite confusing. If you’re looking for the best youth crossbows, then worry no more. This article is specifically meant for you. We’ll take a look at the factors to consider before buying a youth then review the top 10 best youth crossbows that are worth buying today.

Factors To Consider When Buying The Best Youth Crossbows

There are certain things to be considered to make sure that a crossbow is well suited for the youth. Here are some of them:

Size and Weight

When buying a youth crossbow, size, and weight matter. It is important that they are able to carry and fire it safely and comfortably. A 50-lb crossbow may not be very appropriate for a young user as he or she may have a difficulty handling it. The ideal youth crossbow should have an adjustable butt stock and should weigh less than 15 lbs.

Safety

All weapon have risks. It is just right to consider the user’s safety, first and foremost, when choosing a crossbow for our children.
Youth crossbows are supposed to have high-quality trigger and safety mechanism. An automatic trigger feature is essential for a youth crossbow, as this will prevent unintentional trigger pulling. The trigger system should ideally be made completely out of strong and sturdy metal.

Prize

A practical consideration in choosing the best youth crossbow is the value for your money. Especially if it is your child’s first time trying out a crossbow, the price point can be a deciding factor, as you are not sure yet if he or she is going to enjoy the weapon or maybe get bored after a use or two. There are many crossbows suited for younger users that are competitively priced.

Function

It is important to be specific with how you intend to use a crossbow so you can choose the model that suits you best. Is it for purely hunting? If so, the size of animals you intend to hunt and the estimated range of distance will matter greatly when choosing a crossbow. Is it for leisure crossbow archery? Models for archery vary greatly in many different aspects than the ones for hunting or shooting.

Compound and Recurve Crossbows

Generally speaking, compound crossbows are more appropriate for younger users because it is easier to use and typically has higher arrow speed. They are also more portable and narrower, thus making it more convenient to carry and use. However, the presence several moving cables and pulleys may result to potential failures.

On the other hand, recurve types are also simple and quite straightforward, as there are no cables and pulleys that need adjusting. This also means that recurve crossbows are more reliable and have fewer chances of falling. Despite this, these types of crossbows are usually heavier and wider and present with slower arrow speed.

Top 10 Best Youth Crossbows

After taking a look at the factors to consider before buying a youth crossbow, below is a list of the 10 best youth crossbows that you might want to consider buying for your child.

1. Barnett Recruit Compound Crossbow

The Barnett Recruit Compound crossbow is designed for users with petite body frames, thus ideal for amateur females and younger users. Despite it being lightweight at 6.5 lbs., it has a competitive arrow speed of 300 feet per second with a draw weight of 130 lbs. It has a reliable trigger safety system, including highly fabricated finger reminders, pass-through fore-grip, and tight tolerance trigger. It also has a red dot scope and a rope cocking device. It comes with three 20-inch arrows.

Pros:

· It is lightweight and narrow

· It has advanced safety features

· It is powerful with competitive draw weight and arrow speed

· It is easy and comfortable to use

Cons

· It is more suitable for those who already have experience in firing crossbows, thus, if your child is a complete beginner, this may not be the one

2. Barnett Youth 30 Recruit Recurve

The Youth 30 Recruit Recurve is probably the most ideal for amateur crossbow users. It has a 30 lb. draw weight, and arrow speed of 140 feet per second. Because of its rather weak features, it is not intended for hunting bears or deer, but rather, it is designed to practice proper crossbow use.

It may not be the most powerful model, but it is equipped with a premium red dot scope and a rope cocking device just like the Recruit Compound model. It also has advanced features such as trigger safety system, finger reminders, pass through foregrip, and tight tolerance trigger. It is lightweight at 6.2 lbs. and comes in bright yellow color.

The Youth 30 is one of the more popular crossbows with its advanced safety features and price point. It is ideally designed for beginners who have no experience with crossbows whatsoever. It is safe and still provides enough power providing the right range of distance from your target. Some users also opt to use the Youth 30 for archery or practice shooting.

Pros:

· It is lightweight and narrow

· It is ideal for beginners

· It has safety features designed for both beginners and experts alike

· It can be safely used in practice shooting and archery

Cons

· It only has 30 lbs. draw weight and 140 feet per second speed, thus, one has to be close enough to the target for optimal damage

· Experienced shooters may not be drawn to using the Youth 30

3. Arrow Precision Inferno Fury

The Inferno Fury is another model designed with the youth hunters in mind. While it does have a heavy draw weight of 175 lbs. and an arrow speed of 235 feet per second, it still is ideal for young users because it is only under 5 lbs. in weight and has advanced safety features. It has an anti-dry fire trigger, thumb guard, and ambidextrous rear stock. It comes in an attractive camouflage pattern.

Pros

· It has a heavy draw weight and impressive arrow speed

· It has safety features made perfectly for first-time users

· It has an ambidextrous rear stock which makes firing with either hand a breeze

· It is lightweight

Cons

· Some amateur hunters may find the draw weight and its recoil too strong

4. Barnett Youth 100 Recruit Recurve Crossbow

Ideal as an introductory crossbow, the Barnett Youth 100 Recurve has 100 lb. draw weight and a 256 feet per second arrow speed. This combination makes this model a very powerful beginner crossbow. It weighs only 6.5 lbs., and just like the other Barnett products, it is equipped with trigger safety features. It also comes with a red dot scope and a rope cocking device.

Considered as one of the safest youth crossbows, it is ideal for users who have a small body built, and it has an adjustable butt pad for a more comfortable firing experience. You can also choose from a black or pink stock color, whichever appeals more to the user.

Pros

· It has powerful draw weight and arrow speed

· It is lightweight

· It has an adjustable butt pad for better fit and handling

· It comes in black and pink

· It is furnished with trigger safety

Cons

· The price is quite steeper than other youth crossbows

5. Parker Bows Bushwacker

Parker Bows boasts of the Bushwacker as its safest crossbow model. With a draw weight of 150 lbs. and an arrow speed of 285 feet per second, it blends the right amount of speed and weight for optimal and safe beginner use. It is equipped with the G2 trigger system, which has an ambidextrous safety and auto-engage property. Its contoured pistol and forearm grip also adds to safer and more comfortable handling. It weighs 7 lbs., which may be heavy for some users, but is still pretty lightweight for most.

Pros

· It is a powerful beginner crossbow

· It has advanced and comprehensive safety system

· It comes with three-point multi-reticle scope for more precise shooting

Cons

· It is more expensive that most youth crossbow

· It can be a little heavy especially for younger users

6. Barnett Outdoors Raptor FX

If you are on a hunt for a fully equipped youth crossbow, the Barnett Outdoors Raptor FX may be the one for you. Designed for petite hunters, the Raptor FX has a 4×32 multi-reticle scope and a rope cocking device. Weighing only 6.5 lbs., it is arrayed with a 150 lb. draw weight at 330 feet per second arrow velocity. Despite its power, it is relatively small, which is perfect for youth hunters.

It features Barnett’s safety innovations, such as finger reminders and automatic trigger safety. It also has an adjustable cheek piece and butt stock, so your child can grow with it.

Pros

· It has a powerful draw weight and arrow speed

· It has adjustable parts so you can ensure the best fit and comfort

· It has advanced safety features

· It is lightweight

· It’s multi-reticle scope ensures precision and accuracy

Cons

· It is relatively expensive compared to other youth crossbows

7. Excalibur Vixen II

Ideal for users with small body frames, the Excalibur Vixen II is a great choice for youth hunters. Although not as affordable as many other youth crossbows, you sure can get the best value for your money with this model. It has a multi-range scope, scope rings, and a rope cocking device. It’s arrow speed is at 285 feet per second with a draw weight of 150 lbs. it is lightweight at just under 6 lbs. and comes with a really attractive camouflage design. It has automatic trigger safety system that is ideal for the youth
users.

Pros

· Its draw weight and arrow speed are impressive

· It has a trigger safety system

· It comes with multi range scope for better precision

· It looks good with is popping camouflage design

· It is lightweight

Cons

· Its price is quite expensive

8. SA Sports Fever Crossbow

Some may think that a draw weight of 175 lbs. is too much for a beginner, but the SA Sports Fever can prove you wrong because its rope cocking device can aid the user in firing it efficiently. It’s arrow velocity is 235 feet per second, which is perfect for hunting many types and sizes of animals. It comes with a 4×32 scope and an easily detachable quiver. Weighing only 4.85 lbs., the SA Sports Fever perfectly fuses power, comfort, safety, and functionality.

Pros

· It has a powerful draw weight and arrow speed

· It is lightweight

· It is equipped with safety features

· It’s 4×32 scope ensures precise firing

Cons

· It can have a strong recoil force

9. iGlow 150 Pounds Hunting Crossbow

At a very competitive price point, the iGlow 150 lbs. Hunting crossbow a favorite among youth hunters. It is almost identical to the
Manticore 150 but with a slightly faster velocity at 220 feet per second. It is furnished with an automatic trigger safety and comes in a variety of patterns including desert camouflage, wood stock, autumn camouflage, or a simple and plain black.

Pros

· It is powerful but still ideal for young users

· It has a trigger safety feature

· It comes with different patterns and designs

· It has a 4×20 scope that makes precise firing achievable

Cons

· It is loud

· Its recoil force can be strong

10. Manticore 150 Pounds Crossbow with Scope

Possibly the most affordable crossbow on the market today, the Manticore 150 lbs. Crossbow is ideal for beginners who do not want to spend too much. It is equipped with a rope cocking device and a 4×20 scope. It also comes with 6 arrows and a 5-spot paper target. You can choose from three different stock designs — green autumn, wood, or brown desert camouflage — which is appealing to younger users.

Despite being inexpensive, the Manticore is outfitted with strong features — a 150 lb. draw weight and 210 feet per second arrow speed, which is perfect for hunting even at long distances. It does have a strong recoil and can be extremely loud, but it is furnished with an automatic trigger safety, making it still appropriate and safe for young hunters.

Pros

· Its features are more advanced and stronger than most youth crossbows

· It comes with an automatic trigger safety feature

· It is inexpensive

· It comes with three designs to choose from

Cons

· It has a strong recoil

· It is loud

· It can be a bit heavy for first-time users

Conclusion

Hunting can be a good way to bond between you and your child. Introducing him or her to the use of a crossbow is a fun and interesting hobby to spend your weekends together. While you want to give the best, most efficient crossbow to your youth, it is essential to consider its safety, function, and price. There are literally hundreds of youth crossbows with powerful properties on the market. Choosing the one that meets the safety requirement, functions effectively, and budget-friendly for your child is crucial. Consider the ones on this list to narrow down your options for the best crossbow for your child.