Best Traditional Bows: Top 7 in 2020

Traditional bows are great!

• Great for practicing the fundamentals, since they don’t have any technology to take away the real challenge that archery presents. They are exciting to shoot and pushes the archer to challenge oneself.
• Great for beginners and experienced archers alike. It’s fun and convenient to use modern bows and gear, but traditional bows remain popular and ideal for beginner and expert archers.
• Great for the pocket, traditional bows are the most cost-effective bows out there. Easy and inexpensive to maintain and repair, there is no reason not to try one.

The most popular traditional bows are longbows and recurve bows. If you want to add a longbow or a traditional recurve bow to your collection, then here are some models of traditional bows that I highly recommend.

Which one should you buy? Start by setting your budget. Next you need to be clear about what you require in a bow to practice the type archery you want to try. This way you will be able to pick the best traditional bow for you from the list. For a list of all the things you should consider read this.

1. IRQ Traditional Longbow

This is a Turkish style longbow If you are in search of a bow with handmade details, then pick the IRQ Traditional bow for you in exchange for $110. Its Turkish inspired design looks beautiful and eye-catching. It is offered in a variety of draw weights that range between 30 and 65 pounds. Beginners or experts, big or small, any archer can use this bow.

2. Bear Montana Longbow

Bear’s Montana Longbows offer simplicity and quality. Designed especially for intermediate and expert archers, its draw weight is 45 pounds. It is available for $400. It is a good investment since the Bear Montana Longbow is reinforced, making it more durable.

3. Longbowmaker PigSkin Handmade Traditional Longbow

This bow is Mongolian in style and made from pigskin, cow leather and beechwood. This traditional longbow is currently available for around $115. Archers of any size and skill level can use this bow as draw weight ranges between 20 and 110 pounds. For such a reasonable price you can get something that feels authentic and performs well.

4. SinoArt Sparrow

This is another budget-friendly bow that you can buy for around $87. Check latest price in Amazon.  At 54 inches in length it is best for beginners and small archers who are right eye dominant and want to practice target archery. The draw weight of SinoArt Sparrow ranges between 30 and 60 pounds. this bow is 54 inches long.

5. TopArchery Traditional Recurve Bow

This exquisitely crafted hunting horse bow was only $85 last time I checked. Check here for the latest price. It is handcrafted with delicate details for an authentic feeling.  TopArchery Traditional Recurve bow is ideal for beginners who are mid-size, or small archers. As far as the draw weight is concerned, it ranges between 30 and 50 pounds, and its draw length is 28 inches.

6. SouthLand Archery Supply Pioneer Longbow

Southland Archery Supply’s Pioneer Longbow is a middle range priced, seamlessly designed longbow. Last time I checked it cost around $180. The Pioneer is ready to shoot and has a grip which is universal (right or left hand). The riser is Makore Wood and Cassia Siamea, and the limbs are made with fiberglass, topped with maple laminations. It suits both big and small archers. The longbow is 68 inches long and has different draw weights that range from 40 to 55 pounds.

7. Obert Archery Takedown Recurve Bow

This recurve bow features and simple an ergonomic design hard maple and fiberglass limbs, wooden handle, and designed for efficiency. Last time I checked it was $115. Check here for latest price.  Obert Archery Traditional Recurve Bow’s draw weight ranges from 30 and 60 pounds, and its draw length is 28 inches. It is ideal for those looking for a small to midsize at a fair price without compromising on quality.

CAVEAT: This recurve bow might not be fully traditional in some archer’s point of view since it is a takedown bow. Take down bows offer the advantage of being able to transport them easily since the limbs come off.  It looks similar to TopArchery Traditional Recurve Bow so I have included it in this list. If you want a bow that looks like a traditional bow, and can be used as such,  but has the advantage of being reinforced with fiberglass and is easily transportable, then this is the bow you should buy.

Wrap Up

I hope this list has inspired you to try a traditional bow. They are a great option to practice and refine your archery skills. Whether you are buying your fist bow or getting back to archery after a long hiatus, traditional bows will truly help you to hone your skills, have lots of fun, and taste the organic and timeless flavor of traditional archery.