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Archery Gear Arrowheads & Rests

10 Best Arrow Rests in 2024 for Beginner & Seasoned Archers

Any seasoned archer or bowhunter knows the importance of an arrow rest. The rest keeps the arrow stable as you draw and release. This accessory can help you achieve that much-desired accuracy and precision.

But there are so many different types of arrow rests and each type is offered by so many different brands. How do you make your choice? The RangerExpert team is here to help!

We listed down and reviewed different types of arrow rests and shared our hands-on experience with them at the range and in the wild.

This is a great opportunity for you to find the best arrow rest for your bow setup!

A Quick View of the Best Arrow Rests

Pick Name Thumbnail Product Name Price
Best Overall Quality Archery Products HDX Arrow Rest Quality Archery Products HDX Arrow Rest $160 at Cabelas
Top Drop Away Rest Quality Archery Designs Ultra-Rest HDX Quality Archery Designs Ultra-Rest HDX $136 at Walmart
Top Whisker Biscuit Trophy Ridge Whisker Biscuit Kill Shot Arrow Rest Trophy Ridge Whisker Biscuit Kill Shot Arrow Rest $50 at Walmart
4th Ultra-Rest Hunter Arrow Rest Drop Away by Quality Archery Designs Ultra-Rest Hunter Arrow Rest Drop Away by Quality Archery Designs $145 at Cabelas
5th Quick Shot Whisker Biscuit by Trophy Ridge Quick Shot Whisker Biscuit by Trophy Ridge $40 at Walmart
6th Pro-V Rest, RH by Vapor Trail Limb Driver Pro-V Rest, RH by Vapor Trail Limb Driver $131 at Walmart
7th The Down-Draft Cable-Driven Drop-Away Arrow Rest by TRUGLO The Down-Draft Cable-Driven Drop-Away Arrow Rest by TRUGLO $54
8th New Archery Products Apache Arrow Rest New Archery Products Apache Arrow Rest $70
9th Pro-Series LD Drop-Away Arrow Rest by Quality Archery Designs Pro-Series LD Drop-Away Arrow Rest by Quality Archery Designs $104 at Walmart
10th NAP Apache Drop-Away Rest Right Hand Camo 360 Degree NAP Apache Drop-Away Rest Right Hand Camo 360 Degree $81

Top 10 Best Arrow Rest Reviews

01 Best Overall: Quality Archery Products HDX Arrow Rest

Quality Archery Products HDX Arrow Rest

The HDX Arrow Rest by Quality Archery Designs is sturdily built with an advanced drop-away technology. When the bowstring is drawn, the rest moves forward; this feature improves the safety of bow draw. Let’s discuss other features that make this product a preferred choice for hunters and target shooters.

Velocity Drop-Away Technology: This technology increases shot accuracy and ensures more versatility by allowing you to turn the bow at all angles. The sleek curved capture bar locks down the shaft of an arrow and helps it fly straight. This technology can also be seen in QAD’s other models including Ultra Rest Hunter.

Robust Build: The black stainless steel of HDX arrow rests is sturdily constructed with a mounting block design. The material’s hardness ensures durability and signifies the high quality of this product. The long-lasting feature of arrow rests, and archery products is a cost-saving measure for buyers.

Advanced Vibration System: It uses a molded rubber to reduce its vibration amplitude is to a minimum level. Low-noise rests are great for hunting because they allow you to strike animals from a close range.

Adjustability: It is convenient to adjust the HDX rest timing, locking and positioning features. The timing cord is cut to an ideal length and clamped to the buss cable. You can use the instruction manual to learn how to use with the full draw indicator.

Specifications

  • Weight: 8 ounces
  • Dimensions 2.5 x 5.3 x 7.3 inches
  • Material: Stainless Steel
  • Technology: Patented Advanced Vibration, Velocity Drop-Away, Lock Down

Pros

  • There’s no interference with the shaft or fletching of arrows while using the HDX rest
  • This rest has high-quality full draw indicator that helps you take a proper launcher position at full draw
  • It comes with velocity drop, advanced vibration, and lockdown technology that helps you make successful aims at targets
  • An adjustable timing cord with a cord lock is provided to assist your shooting style

Cons

  • The mounting block design is too thick and may obstruct the vertical adjustment of the HDX arrow rest

Our Verdict

This HDX rest by Quality Archery Designs is available in the option of right-and left-hand shooting orientations. It’s a versatile product with a sleek design that’s compatible with modern compound bows. This rest is the right product for hunters that need advanced technology to increase their shot accuracy. The HDX is designed to supersede the UltraRest MXT model in both design and performance.

02 Top Drop Away Rest: Quality Archery Designs Ultra-Rest HDX, Mossy Oak

Quality Archery Designs Ultra-Rest HDX, Mossy Oak

The Ultra-Rest HDX from Quality Archery Design is covered with camouflage prints for stealth hunting. It’s compatible with different types of bows and highly versatile. This low-noise arrow rest is meant for right-hand orientations and has laser cut felt with rubber dampeners. Here are some features that make this Ultra-Rest HDX accessory a high-end product.

Low-noise Technology: The Ultra-Rest HDX has built-in Harmonic Dampener Technology (HDT) that offers silent loading for arrows. It’s injection molded rubber thumbwheel is a high-end design that minimizes peak vibration amplitude. In plain terms, this technology helps you make successful strikes without scaring any game animal during hunts.

Stealth Mode: This product is ideal if you are looking for arrow rests that puts hunters in a stealth mode. With its sleek camouflage cover, the Ultra-Rest HDX shield may shield an arrow of the die-hard hunter until the tips make a fatal hit on the target.

Strong Material: The strength of this Ultra-Rest HDX’s components lies in a combination of high-quality materials. This rest has been manufactured with precision-machined aluminum components, stainless steel, and internal silicone bumpers. The choice of sturdy components makes this product durable and weather-proof.

Total Arrow Containment: The inclusion of a cam/brake feature enhances spring tension and prevents a bounce-back of the arrow rest. More so, this accessory’s sleek, curved capture bar stabilizes the arrow’s shaft for straight flights.

Specifications

  • Material: Precision CNC Aluminum, and Silicone
  • Weight: 0.48 ounces
  • Orientation: Right-handed
  • Harmonic Dampener Technology

Pros

  • It has a low-noise technology that uses laser-cut felt and rubber dampeners
  • This rest is adjustable with its timing cord and cord lock feature

Cons

  • When ‘fall-away rests’ are not well-tuned, the VDT feature can’t stop arrows from falling on the ground

Our Verdict

The Ultra-Rest HDX suits the passionate bowhunters best. It’s an aluminum body, and silicone bumpers are covered in camouflage film that allows hunters to strike their games at a close range. It’s the right product for those in need of arrow rests that are compatible and versatile.

03 Top Whisker Biscuit: Trophy Ridge Whisker Biscuit Kill Shot Arrow Rest

Trophy Ridge Whisker Biscuit Kill Shot Arrow Rest

The Whisker Biscuit arrow rest by Trophy Ridge is easy to set up; it’s safe and reliable. You can employ a good-quality bow release along with this arrow rest to get the perfect shot. This arrow rest has a ring of bristles (strands) that offers low noise when you draw or release the bowstring. Here are other features that make this product ideal for hunting.

Quiet Shots: This quick, low-noise arrow rest is designed with custom rubber boots for accurate bow hunting. The silent arrow loading feature also prevents metal-on-metal contact that causes friction.

Fail-Safe Rest: The Kill Shot Arrow Rest has a reversible mount design that fits bow users with left and right-hand orientations respectively. It also has laser-engraved reference marks that act as a fail-proof feature to enhance the accuracy of shots at targets.

Sturdy build: This encased whisker biscuit has high-quality aluminum and nylon bushing construction that makes the product durable. Its solid shell doesn’t have dazzling features, but this Trophy Ridge arrow rest can last longer than other types of arrow rest.

User-friendliness: The bristles allow the vanes of arrows to slice-through the ring. More so, the rest is adjustable with advanced windage and elevation adjustments.

Specifications

  • Material: Aluminum with ringed bristles
  • Weight: 4.8 ounces
  • Design strength: 150% increase

Pros

  • This rest offers quick and silent arrow loading for compound bows
  • The vane slice-through bristles maintain consistent trajectory and velocity for arrows
  • It uses the dual-bolt mount design to secure arrows

Cons

  • The bristles are soft but may alter the speed and the course of an arrow with helical fletching

Our Verdict

These arrow rests are ideal for archers; especially bow hunters with different levels of skill. However, you have to be an expert hunter to overcome the rest’s risk of interference. When you take aims at animals from weird angles, this low-noise rest can impact the direction of an arrow’s flight. However, it’s dual-bolt mount design secures arrows, and might satisfy your purpose if you need rests with high-end designs.

04 Ultra-Rest Hunter Arrow Rest Drop Away by Quality Archery Designs

Ultra-Rest Hunter Arrow Rest Drop Away by Quality Archery Designs

The Ultra-Rest Hunter Arrow Rest by Quality Archery Designs securely holding arrows. It’s Velocity Draw Technology (VDT) is a high-end feature that provides horizontal, overdraw and vertical adjustments. This product attaches well bow frames and shoots shorter arrows too. Let’s discuss other important features that make this Ultra-Rest Hunter Arrow Rest unique.

Break-away Safety Component: The break-away safety feature is a notch that oversees the facts related to arrow trajectories and prevents arrows from falling prematurely after releasing the bowstring. As a safety feature, beginner archers and hunters can practice their shooting skills.

Velocity Draw Technology (VDT): Drop-away arrow rests with the velocity draw technology (VDT) allows adjustability of shots taken from weird positions. When the nock of an arrow is aligned horizontally or vertically, the VDT reduces any risk of speed interference.

Total Arrow Containment: The Ultra-Rest Hunter Arrow Rest has a removable containment arm that adjusts well to arrows with a large shaft diameter. It also boasts a front grabber that offers stability.

Unique Construction: This arrow rest is durable; it has a sturdy construction of precision CNC aluminum, and stainless steel. Also, it has built-in features like the full draw indicator and thumbwheel. They are user-friendly and support fast loading of smaller arrows.

Specifications

  • Material: Aluminum, Stainless Steel
  • Orientation: Right-handed
  • Velocity Draw Technology

Pros

  • In weird positions, you can launch arrows at full draws with the aid of the thumbwheel indicator
  • This arrow rest has an impressive camouflage design that allows hunters go closer to animals without startling them

Cons

  • It’s not ideal for arrows with long shafts but shoots shorter arrows

Our Verdict

The Ultra-Rest Hunter bow accessory is a right-hand rest. This high-end rest has laser cut felt for a precise, silent draw. It’s sturdy aluminum, and stainless steel construction will prevent the arrow rest from shattering when it drops on hard surfaces. Also, it’s easy to adjust the timing cord that’s attached with a cable clamp. In short, you have found the best drop away arrow rest for hunting.

05 Quick Shot Whisker Biscuit by Trophy Ridge

Quick Shot Whisker Biscuit by Trophy Ridge

The Quick Shot Whisker Biscuit by Trophy Ridge is a fully-captured arrow rest for left and right-hand orientations. This is a great choice for hunting game. As a composite-encased whisker biscuit, the manufacturer (Trophy Ridge) has the strength of this arrow rest’s design by 150%. You can get more impressive features of this product that has been tested by our experts.

Fail-safe Rest: This arrow rest’s versatile design ensures it holds arrow shafts firmly and releases with high accuracy. As a fail-safe rest, both right and left-hand bowhunters of all skill levels will find it very easy to set up.

Silent Arrow Loading: It comes with a custom rubber boot that loads arrows silently. This feature reduces metal-on-metal contact, and friction that may occur from interferences of the arrow’s shaft on the bow’s frame.

Easily Adjustable: Apart from being easy to install, both first-timers and seasoned hunters can make quick corrections before releasing the bowstring. This rest comes with a reversible mount design that offers advanced elevation and windage adjustments.

Lightweight Construction: With a weight of 4.8 ounces, this arrow rest doesn’t exert undue tension on the bow’s weight. Instead, the lightweight rest has an improved design of a 150% increase in strength when you compare with previous models.

Specifications

  • Weight: 4.8 ounce
  • Design strength: 150% increase
  • Material: Aluminum

Pros

  • The manufacturer of this Quick Shot Whisker Biscuit considered usability while making this rest for left and right-hand bow hunters
  • It comes with a reversible medium mount design that’s easily adjustable

Cons

  • Whisker Biscuit rests can alter the speed and direction of arrows

Our Verdict

This whisker biscuit arrow rest by Trophy Ridge is hard to beat for hunting purposes. Unlike previous models, this product has high-end features that allow for concise and accurate shots on targets. It also comes with a ring of bristles for silent loading. Bowhunters might consider this arrow rest if close-range hunting excites them.

06 Pro-V Rest, RH by Vapor Trail Limb Driver

Pro-V Rest, RH by Vapor Trail Limb Driver

The Pro-V drop away bow rests by Vapor Trail Limb Driver is easy to set up. It offers full fletching clearance for arrow shafts of large diameters. However, you need to have a big budget for this model. Usually, expensive arrow rests have great reputations for impressive qualities. Let’s guide you to discover other amazing features that make this drop away rest unique.

Limb Driven: This Pro-V model is the best limb driven arrow rest on the market with a full-capture feature. It offers stability with better performance for vertical, horizontal and downrange shots.

Full containment: The containment ring of this Pro-V rest is a remarkable feature that allows an arrow rise to the launcher. Regardless of the shaft’s diameter, the ring is convenient to draw your bow from horizontal and vertical positions.

Adjustable Spring Tension: Apart from its user-friendliness and ease of setup, this rest comes with free-floating launcher arm and adjustable spring tension. Also, there’s a contoured bumper design with a rubber dampener that reduces noise while drawing your bow’s string.

Full fletching clearance: These Trail Pro V rests give full fletching clearance that minimizes interference of straight flying arrows.

Specifications

  • Weight: 6.4 ounces
  • Efficiency: 70% arrow shot cycle support
  • Material: Metal

Pros

  • Comes with a free floating launcher arm and offers full fletching clearance for arrows
  • The Pro-V rest comes with adjustable spring tension and a full-capture option

Cons

  • Expensive

Our Verdict

The Pro V by Vapor Trail LimbDriver beings a high level of improvement to archery and bowhunting accessories and is essentially a good buy for the money. As the pioneer arrow rest with limb-driven technology, its fine-tuning option offers great performance. Give it a try and thank us later!

07 The Down-Draft Cable-Driven Drop-Away Arrow Rest by TRUGLO

The Down-Draft Cable-Driven Drop-Away Arrow Rest by TRUGLO

This full-containment rest by TRUGLO has everything to offer. When you are out in the field, this cable-driven drop-away arrow rest is easy to install. Here are the exciting reasons why you must buy this product.

Quick Set Up : The installation of this rest on bow frames is easy and it doesn’t require a bow press. However, you’ll need a set of Allen keys to make adjustments on the rest according to your orientation.

Drop-Away Design : The high-performance drop-away design allows this rest to hold arrow shafts securely. Unlike whisker biscuit, it has the right combination of durable components that suit your style of shooting. Also, it is ergonomically enhanced with eye-catchy features. You enjoy its durability because the camouflage cover, rubber dampeners, and metal construction are solid.

Low-Noise Rests : This cable-driven rest comes with rubber dampeners for quiet arrow loading. Its low-noise feature allows bow hunters to take aims at game animals without startling them.

Optimum Arrow Speed : Beginner archers and hunters can upgrade their skills, and enjoy an increase in arrow speed with the sealed bushings on this rest. Apart from consistent performance, the design prevents the bounce back of an arrow after releasing the bowstring.

Pros

  • Designed with technical rubber dampeners that allows quiet and quick loading of arrows
  • Doesn’t require a bow press during installation and the set up is very easy on compound bows

Cons

  • The rubber dampeners are not as weather-proof as the arrow rest’s metal construction

Our Verdict

One of the best arrow rest for compound bows, this amazing archery accessory is easy to use, silent, durable, and works well with extreme accuracy. No doubt it’s well worth the money.

08 New Archery Products Apache Arrow Rest (Black)

New Archery Products Apache Arrow Rest (Black)

This Arrow Rest (Black) by New Archery Apache has right-hand orientation but it’s not compatible with recurve bows. The Ranger Expert team found impressive results when we tested this model. So, intended buyers should be confident that every shot taken with this arrow rest will be perfectly aligned. Let’s share the qualities that make this product unique.

Easy Installation: A simple DIY approach is needed to install this rest on your bow’s frame. It’s pretty easy to install this arrow rest without using a wrench. While hunting in the wilds, you can also make adjustments to the arrow rest with ease.

Drop-away Design: The drop-away design comes with ample containment for the shaft and fletching of your arrows. Without making any interference, arrow shafts with regular diameters can fly straight with great speed.

360 degree Sound Dampening Pad: This piece of archery accessory might have a metal construction, but its sound dampening system ensures zero noise while loading arrows. With this stealth feature, the hunters can get close to the prey, and strike without startling it.

Durable Construction: The black metal construction has high-end components that are also durable. They are built to resist any unfavorable weather conditions. Also, this rest comes with a pre-installed felt silencer and tool-less adjustment knobs.

Specifications

  • Material: Metal
  • Orientation: Right-handed
  • Weight: 6.5 ounce
  • 360-degree sound dampening pad

Pros

  • Comes with a 360 degree sound dampening pad that prevents metal-to-metal contact
  • The metallic body, tool-less adjustment knobs, and felt silencer components are weather-resistant

Cons

  • A simple design with no advanced features

Our Verdict

Besides being easy to set up, this arrow rest has quick, and a whisper-quiet arrow loading feature. It’s designed for right-hand orientation, but not compatible with recurve bows. We are thrilled by its lightweight design and can assure you that this rest will provide accurate shots on targets. Above all, this product definitely generates good value for its price.

09 Pro-Series LD Drop-Away Arrow Rest by Quality Archery Designs (QAD)

Pro-Series LD Drop-Away Arrow Rest by Quality Archery Designs (QAD)

This lightweight Pro Series LD Drop-Away is a great choice for target shooting. However, it’s designed for left-handed shooters no matter their archery skills. According to the results from our field tests, this arrow rest’s full containment offers 100% arrow clearance.

Lock-Down Technology: It doesn’t matter whether you are a novice hunter or an seasoned target shooter, this rest prevents bounce-back of arrows with this technology. The bounce-back mode is a safety feature that helps your arrow to maintain a straight-flying trajectory.

Velocity Drop-Away Technology (VDT): Without impeding the speed of arrows, this arrow rest uses its Velocity Drop-Away Technology (VDT) to achieve at least 400 FPS after a full drawback. Also, the VDT feature of this Pro-Series doesn’t allow arrows to fall off the rest.

Noise Dampening Pad: This archery accessory comes with noise-diminishing rubber dampeners, and a pre-installed laser-cut felt. Die-hard hunters that love close-range aims at game animals will easily load their arrows with this rest.

Durability: This sturdily built Pro Series LD Drop-Away Arrow Rest has a range of components. Firstly, its stainless steel frame is covered with a piece of camouflage material. Also, the arrow rest has the Delrin and CNC aluminum components.

Specifications

  • Weight: 8 ounces
  • Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 3 inches
  • Material: Stainless steel, Delrin, CNC aluminum
  • Orientation Left-handed
  • Velocity Drop-Away Technology, Lock-Down technology

Pros

  • This drop-away rest offers total fletching clearance and enhances the accuracy of shots with the Velocity Drop-Away Technology
  • It comes with high-end components like the HD extended lever, thumbwheel with a timing cord, and lock that helps archers take precise aims.

Cons

  • It might be difficult to set up this arrow rest without reading the installation manual.

Our Verdict

This Pro-Series LD Drop-Away Arrow Rest comes with a sleek design and looks tough for daily use. Its lightweight and can resist tough weather conditions. Also, our review team recommends this arrow rest for bowhunters or field archers that need to increase their shot accuracy.

10 NAP Apache Drop-Away Rest Right Hand Camo 360 Degree

NAP Apache Drop-Away Rest Right Hand Camo 360 Degree

According to the results of field tests conducted, the owners of The New Archery Apache didn’t require any tools (Allen key or wrenches) to adjust it. However, those who used the best arrow rest for recurve couldn’t use this rest. Let’s find out those features that make this drop away rest unique.

Drop-away Design: The drop away design allows users to position arrows horizontally and vertically. While holding them securely, the rest will not interfere with the direction of flight.

360-degree Sound Dampening Arrow Rest: This arrow rest’s containment has sufficient room for arrows with thicker shafts. So, the containment is attached to a sound dampener that allows it to load quietly and prevents metal-to-metal contact.

Easy Installation: The New Archery Apache arrow rest is easy to install on compound bows. Simply read the instruction manual, and use your do-it-yourself (DIY) skills. It’s also adjustable even after setting the rest on your bow’s frame.

Impressive Construction: The durable metal construction is an impressive feature of this arrow rest. It has rust-proof camouflage coats that allow a hunter to strike preys at a close range without startling them. Even when this accessory falls on hard surfaces, you are sure to pick it up in one piece.

Specifications

  • Material: Metal
  • Orientation: Right-handed
  • Weight: 6.6 ounce

Pros

  • Comes with a sound dampening design that ensures your preys are not startled during hunts
  • The metal construction is rugged and resistant to the effects of weather conditions

Cons

  • Every moving part of this arrow rest is not covered with layers of camouflage film

Our Verdict

This New Archery Apache Drop Away Arrow Rest is designed for right-hand orientation. It has a sound dampening system that allows for whisper-quiet loading of arrows. Though not suitable for recurve bows, it is a nice compound bow arrow rest and you’ll be pleased to own this high-end accessory.

Best Archery Arrow Rest Buying Guide

1. Your Intended Purpose

  • Hunting

Drop-away and capture both are ideal for bowhunting. Usually, during game hunts it not common to find hunters shoot from straight (level) positions. Instead, they take aims from inconveniencing positions. Sometimes they assume sharp downward angles or weird positions to avoid startling their game animals.

The drop away arrow rest will not also interfere with straight flying arrows nor alter their direction of flight. More so, noisy arrow rests will draw the attention of animals while you hunt.

  • Target Shooting

If you’re planning to buy the best arrow rest for target shooting, practice or competition, you need one that will help you make accurate and precise shots. During competitions, an arrow rest that allows the adjustability of prongs to fit the diameter of arrows is ideal for this category. The shoot-through arrow rests allows field archers to aim accurately with center shots.

Beginners in archery can build their skills by using lightweight arrow rests too. Target archers that desire consistent shots will need rests that offer stability to arrows.

  • Center Shot Alignment

The full capture arrow rest can interfere with the course of arrows. It’s important to consider the center point alignment during bow hunting or archery competitions. By ensuring center point alignment, the arrow’s nock point maintains a straight line with the arrow rest.

This alignment allows arrows to fly straight (without interference) along the path of the bowstring. Plunger adjustments are also necessary when considering center point alignments. They complement the flight of arrows in straight trajectories.

2. Durability

Durability of compound bow accessories is important in archery. A durable arrow rest is sturdily built to hold arrows in place. The strength of an arrow rest’s material ensures its weather-proof.

Durable arrow rests prevent snapping when they hit a hard surface. If an arrow rest is tough, it can serve while you draw the bowstring, run, or jump during bow hunting. Usual build materials are leather, high-quality nylon, stainless steel, aluminum etc.

3. Smoothness & Noise

Nobody wants a noisy arrow rest that distracts you and may spook out the game you’re shooting. Some rests come with noise dampeners that should be in your consideration.

4. Lightweight

The draw weight of a bow is an important factor for bow hunting and archery. However, lightweight rests are easily adjustable in the middle of a hunt. They also ensure minimal contact with the vanes of arrows when you release the bowstring.

5. Arrow Alignments

The shaft and nock point of arrows must align with the arrow rest. Arrow alignments are adjustable with many rests, and it helps to make concise aims at targets.

6. User-Friendliness

The ease of use of a properly tuned bow and rest is important. The best arrow rests for hunting don’t usually exert undue pressure or tension on the arrow shaft. To become user-friendly, all features of the rest must be pleasant for shooting experience.

7. Interference with the Arrow

Interference of the rest on the shaft will alter its speed and course. When the direction of travel is altered, arrows might oscillate wrongly or crash on the ground without reaching the target.

Different Types of Arrow Rests

Different types of arrow rest

1. Drop Away

Drop Away Arrow Rest

Drop away or fall away rests are popular because they don’t impede the arrows when tuned right. Instead, they allow the maximum feet per second of arrow speed.

They may have different types of designs but their “V” shape makes them popular. When the end of an arrow is pulled at full draw and released, the V-shaped rest falls forward to avoid interfering with the arrow (‘fall-away rests’) or its fletching.

The drop away, also known as ‘fall away’, rest review shows that field shooters are concerned about two properties of this drop away arrow rest.

Timing: Except for veteran archers, getting the right timing of the drop can be tricky while using the drop-away type. The rest should be tuned properly to avoid the arrow from falling on the ground before taking a shot.

Reliability: A drop away arrow rest without a notch will not be reliable because an arrow might fall prematurely from the rest. It’s the notch that secures an arrow on the rest when you hold the bow straight up or down.

2. Containment Rests

Containment Arrow Rests

This style of rest encircles the shaft an arrow with its thick frame and guards it after releasing the bowstring. Containment rests have rings of bristles (strands) and are made for the locking systems.

However, the bristles should be cleaned regularly to reduce interference with the speed of arrows that fly from this rest. However, archers and bow hunters are concerned about a property of this containment arrow rest.

Interference: Regardless of the soft bristles, sometimes the helical fletching of arrows interfere with the sides of a containment rest. Many people prefer to use straight-fletched arrows to avoid velocity changes or course alteration.

3. Shoot-Through Rests

Shoot Through Arrow Rests

They have simple designs of two-prong supports and are adjustable to fit with the widths of arrows. Its pair of prongs is spring-loaded and has a disk of stiff bristles.

So, when a field archer releases the bowstring the prongs tilt forward and down after taking the shot. These shoot-through rests (also called the prong-style arrow rests) also optimizes the stability of arrows.

However, some bowhunters that shoot downrange on the target often think these rests give a poor shooting form. Hand nervousness during inclined shots can create a shaky stroke on the draw, and your arrow might fall from the prongs.

Apart from holding arrows securely, it’s possible to lose some feet per second of arrow speed when the cock vane is wrongly positioned. It might be a great rest for target archery, but not for bow hunting.

4. Pressure Rests

Pressure Arrow Rests

This type of arrow rest is pretty traditional, and it operates manually by using the archer’s fingers to aim at targets. The pressure arrow rest has a simple design of arrow pulling space. It doesn’t have a locking or pointing features to support straight-flying arrows.

5. Whisker Biscuits

Whisker Biscuit Arrow Rest

The whisker biscuit is a type of containment arrow rest that’s solid and suited for the skilled toxophilites. It uses 3 brush or whisker parts through which the arrow is shot. These part is made of calf hair or hair of other animals.

6. Total Captures

Total Captures Arrow Rest

These types come with rings of bristles (strands) as the containment rests, and they interfere with shafts of arrows. But they work well with compound bows, not recurve bows.

7. Butterfly Rests

Butterfly Arrow Rests

This is a cheap arrow rest that is designed for recurve bows. The butterfly rest is very adjustable because of its small size.

8. Blade Rests

Blade arrow Rests

People also call it ‘lizard tongue’ particularly for its building structure that uses a tiny spring which supports and controls the arrow. It’s a popular rest for its simple design allowing repetitive shots without hindering the feather of the arrow while being shot.

Drop-Away or Whisker Biscuits?

It could be tough deciding which arrow rest might suit your hunting technique the most. Unlike target shooting where archers hold their bows straight out, hunting is different.

When hunting in the wild, bow hunters can assume weird angles, and even take aims for a treetop. Apart from using an arrow rest that securely guides the arrow’s shafts, uses quiet rests that won’t rattle game animals.

Drop-Away Pros

  • These rest improve sighting by not having any interference with the arrow’s shaft.
  • The drop-away rest has a notch where an arrow can rest before making precise aims at targets.

Drop-Away Cons

  • The set up is not seamless
  • The rest makes noise when you draw or release the arrow
  • The archer needs to reset drop-away rest every time it’s used.

Whisker Biscuit Pros

  • These rests hold the arrow securely in place
  • They allow you to take aims for difficult angles
  • They produce low noise when you draw or release the arrow
  • These arrow rests have an easy installation process
  • They are made of simple parts that are reliable

Whisker Biscuit Cons

  • These rests make slight contact with shafts
  • The course of an arrow with helical fletching will be altered because of interference with this rest
  • Seasoned archers will find both the Drop-Away or Whisker biscuits arrow rests useful. However, the Whisker biscuits arrow rest is used for skill set building if you are a novice archer or bowhunter.

FAQs

1. Are arrow rests really necessary?

Ans. If yours is a recurve bow or longbow, you usually won’t need one. They are mostly necessary for compound bows so you can aim your bow through the sight.

2. Where should I place my arrow rest?

Ans. We recommend that you nock your arrow at the string’s 1/2 point that’ll need a 2-inch long upper limb. You’ll find this setup comfortable to shoot with a good stress distribution between the limbs.

3. Are drop away rests better?

Ans. While whisker biscuits do have accuracy, that reduces over time as the bristles get weaker and then shift. This means the accuracy of whisker biscuits is inconsistent. On the other hand, you’ll get to enjoy consistent accuracy with drop away rests.

4. Are arrow rests necessary for all kinds of bows?

Ans. You won’t need these bow accessories for recurve bows because you can shoot them off the shelf. But you should still use “shelf rests” to protect the wooden part of the bow.

5. Does an arrow rest affect accuracy?

Ans. Yes. The purpose of an arrow rest is to support the arrow during the shot, and any inconsistencies or misalignments can affect the flight path of the arrow. For instance, if you fail to align the rest properly, it can cause the arrow to be misaligned with the bow’s center shot, which will cause the arrow to fly off-course.

6. How do I tune an arrow rest?

Ans.  Here are some general steps:

  • Start with your bow’s basic setup, including brace height and nocking point.
  • Adjust the rest’s vertical and horizontal position to align it with your bow’s center shot.
  • Use a paper tuning or bare shaft tuning method to check arrow flight and make fine adjustments to the rest’s position.
  • Test shoot your arrows and evaluate their grouping and consistency. Make further adjustments as needed.

7. How do I know when my arrow rest is worn out and needs replacement?

Ans.  Nothing lasts forever and over time, your arrow rest might experience wear and tear. Some signs of a worn-out arrow rest are excessive noise, decreased accuracy, inconsistent arrow flight, and visible damage. Regularly inspect the rest and replace it if you notice any significant wear or if it is no longer functioning properly.

About the author

Catherine Weeks

Cathy believes that hunting is not about downing an animal; rather, it’s about enjoying the purity of this challenge and making a connection with nature.

She loves country music, horses, shooting, and hunting; and spends her weekends in the great outdoors with her husband and two kids.

Though Cathy has hunted most of her life, it was not until her partner gave her a bow that she realized she had finally found her passion.

She is always determined to share her missed opportunities, dedication, emotions, and small details that people often forget to mention when they talk about their hunting experiences.

Cathy also works to promote wildlife preservation and protect natural resources. She thinks “patience” is the most important thing that can make a big difference.

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