The market for crossbows is incredibly wide and varied partly due to the popularity of crossbow sports and hunting, which has been on the rise as a safe and inclusive family adventure pastime. The growth of crossbow sports has meant an increase in the types of people participating, with women and younger kids on the rise. It is important to acknowledge that for crossbows to be used effectively, they should be catered to the physical characteristics of the shooters as best as possible. Women’s physique tends to require more lightweight equipment in order to ensure the most effective and efficient crossbow use.
This article provides in-depth reviews of four of the best crossbows for women currently available to buy on the market. These individual reviews will discuss their key features as well as the pros and cons of purchasing certain crossbow models. Some of the key features examined include the velocity, draw weight, weight, warranty and type. These are some basic indicators that you should look out for when comparing different crossbows. We compiled a list of top 4 picks, and the Barnett Explorer XP400 deserved our Editor’s Choice nomination.
More features: 16.25″ axle-to-axle width, 34.5″ x 37″ dimensions, comes with 4×32 millimeters multi-reticle scope, two 20″ carbon arrows, quiver, lube wax
The first thing that strikes you about the crossbow is the style. It looks aggressive, which many people are going to love. Behind the good looks is a crossbow that ticks all the right boxes and excels in both accuracy and power.
The velocity is impressive at 400 fps. The downside to that is a high draw weight of 200lbs, which some may struggle with. If you do want to get this model, it’s a good idea to check if you’ll be able to draw it. While you want it to be powerful, it can be tiring pulling a high draw weight.
You get plenty in the package here. Included is a 4×32 multi-reticle scope that works very well. Along with that, you get two carbon arrows, some lube wax, and a lightweight side mount quiver. It is delivered mostly assembled, and putting the final pieces together is very easy.
We didn’t see any problems, but some users have noted quality control issues. Given how highly-rated the crossbow is, the issues are clearly very rare. In terms of performance, it’s hard to pick any fault with it at all. It’s comfortable to use, has a good level of adjustability and has high-performance capability.
Portability is high with this crossbow. It folds up quite well and isn’t too heavy, allowing you to take it wherever you need to go. We were very impressed, and you’ll have a lot of fun with it. It’s a serious piece of equipment, and the distance and speed you’ll get from the arrows is fantastic.
More features: 103 ft-lbs kinetic energy, 34.25” length, 12.5” power stroke, TriggerTech Frictionless Release Technology™, anti-dry fire system, pass-through foregrip
No matter whether you are new to a crossbow or have many years of experience, the Whitetail Hunter II should tick most boxes for a crossbow that is both effective and reliable in performance.
At a lightweight 6.4 lbs, the Whitetail Hunter II is ideal for women and those with smaller frames to ensure that the weight of the crossbow is not too much of a burden. While there is a perception that lighter crossbows may not deliver the top velocity, the Whitetail Hunter II is able to circumvent that theory by delivering an impressive 350 fps speed. Such speed if shot accurately will, without doubt, neutralize your target.
The pattern of the Whitetail Hunter II is Realtree Xtra, which gives a great degree of versatility, ensuring that shooters are able to stalk game all year round while maintaining decent camouflage.
A unique technological aspect to the Whitetail Hunter II is the use of a Trigger Tech assembly which creates a smooth and light trigger through having a free-floating roller the sear and trigger. Safety is also ensured by having nock sensors, a pass-through foregrip and anti-dry fire technology to give shooters every confidence of a safe, reliable shot.
At an affordable price, the Whitetail Hunter II comes with a multi-reticle scope, a rope cocking device, two Headhunter arrows and wax for lubrications. The wax is really important in maintaining your crossbow to ensure it can be effective over a long period of time.
More features: 18″ axle-to-axle at full draw, fully adjustable stock and foregrip, comes with three 20-inch carbon arrows, parallel quiver, 4×32 mm scope and rope cocker
CenterPoint has been able to make a truly impressive crossbow. It has a great mix of qualities with some impressive specifications. One of those is the 370-fps velocity, which comes from the draw weight of 185lbs. The performance is excellent, and it measures 18” from axle-to-axle.
A very useful feature of the crossbow is the stock and foregrip that are both fully adjustable. That allows you to get the perfect fit on your shoulder. Whatever your body shape, you should find this crossbow fairly easy to use.
Whether it is a gun, bow or crossbow, the balance between power and accuracy can be very hard to find. The balance here is fantastic, which is due to the quad limbs and precision cams that ensure the arrows fly true.
The scope on this model isn’t of the highest quality, but it’s good enough for most activities. There is also a little bit of trigger creep, which some don’t like. Aside from those minor issues, it’s a high-rated model that has an endless list of positive reviews.
You’ll find the crossbow easy to assemble, and it’s simply a case of following the steps, and you’ll have it ready to fire in no time. Three 20” carbon arrows are included along with a parallel quiver. It’s also backed by a 5-year warranty, and that gives you plenty of confidence in its build quality. All of that adds up to wonderful value for money and a crossbow you’ll love.
More features: 4 lbs trigger pull, 4-bolt quiver, fold-away verticle grip, dual string stops, 4×32 illuminated scope, neoprene quick detach sling
The Velocity Archery Defiant XB-350 is constructed with a compact frame and vertical grip to provide shooters of all physical builds and shooting styles with accessible shooting options.
Although the XB-350 is compact in construction, it does deliver strong power, delivering a velocity of 325 fps at a distance of 98.48 ft. This power will certainly give shooters confidence of success when heading out on a hunting session.
In addition to power, the XB-350 contains dual string suppressors which are designed to reduce vibration and prevent shock after the release of an arrow. Preventing shock also ensure that the noise level is considerably reduced, which prevents stray arrows from being potentially ruining your cover by alerting targets of your presence.
The design of the XB-350 is also very ergonomic. Featuring a cheek rest, panel grips and a rubber butt plate, the design ensures shooters can stay for longer periods and even last during some of the toughest weather conditions.
One of the bonuses of purchasing the XB-350 is all the additional features included in the purchasing package which include rail lube, cocking rope and window decal. A potentially useful additional feature is the ambidextrous safety selector which enables shooters to comfortably operate the crossbow regardless of whether you are right or left-handed. This demonstrates real attention to detail in the product to design to increase accessibility of the XB-350 to as many people as possible.
Purchasers are also well protected with a 5-year limited warranty that accompanies the purchase of the XB-350.
This buying guide and FAQ section will provide information for you to consider before you commit to purchasing a lady’s crossbow. Take note of the technical nuances to be aware of.
It may seem strange that there is a specific market for Crossbows for women.
The criteria, however for this crossbow, is pretty logical. One of the main criteria of focus when distinguishing the best crossbows for women is the overall weight of the crossbow, as women tend to be smaller size shooters who wish to also conduct long hunting sessions and do not want to be suffering from arm fatigue because their crossbow is too heavy.
Your first port of call must be the weight of the crossbow.
The second aspect you should focus on is the draw weight of your crossbow.
You want the crossbow to be effective, so do not buy something that simply looks nice. It must be able to be cocked, otherwise, the crossbow will lack the precision required to make the hunting experience worthwhile.
You should also ask yourself what your level (or the level of the person operating the crossbow) is.
If you are a beginner who has never fired a crossbow before, you should research the most basic crossbow models available on the market to ensure that you can understand the basic processes and mechanisms.
If you are more experienced, you should focus more on mid-range crossbows which require more skilled handling in order to be effective.
A final consideration is speed. Are you hunting or target shooting?
Speed will be very important if you are hunting as you wish to maximize your chances of success against moving targets. Stationary target shooting is less focused on speed but more on handling and accuracy.
Examine the velocities various crossbows to best understand the relative speeds. For hunting speeds nearer to or in excess of 300 fps, like the Barnett Whitetail Hunter II, are required compared to target shooting where 200 fps will suffice.
Most of the best crossbows for women will lie somewhere between the $300 to $500 mark. The crossbows that have higher velocities and are more geared towards hunting will typically be more expensive than crossbows designed for target shooting within women’s market.
Detailed below are some important factors you should consider before purchasing crossbows for women.
Compound Crossbows: A compound crossbow maximizes stored energy by using cams or pulleys to draw the string up creating a “let-off” effect.
This effect reduces the draw weight as the cams take over the process. This process enables cocking to be very straightforward and may be ideal for beginners.
The variety of mechanisms may mean that the crossbow feels front heavy which may cause shooters to be slower in bringing the crossbow up to aim. Compounds are also louder when the shooting mechanism operates and you will need to carry a spare string if it breaks down which can be impractical.
Recurve Crossbows: A recurve crossbow comes with some advantages.
Firstly, they tend to be much lighter than compounds which best suits operators with smaller frames such as women. Lighter weight also reduces the chances of fatigue, ensuring that you can go hunting for long periods of time.
Recurves are also much quieter when being fired which can enable greater hunting success as targets are unaware of arrows being fired. They are also much lower maintenance, you simply need to ensure that the mechanisms are lubed periodically and the crossbow will be fine for a long period of time.
A significant disadvantage is that recurves are harder to cock as the shooter pulls the weight until it reaches the cocked position which can be pretty hard work. The cocked position is also harder to maneuver in enclosed spaces which may ruin your opportunity for a clear shot.
Reverse limb crossbows: Reverse draw technology (RDT) is a recent development in crossbow technology which reverses the limbs of a conventional compound crossbow.
This gives RDT crossbows a particularly unique appearance while also radically changing their performance capability to a more powerful and quieter shooting operation.
Advantages include the improved balance as the altered orientation brings the riser and limb pocket assembly nearer to the trigger, which leads to a significant shift in the center of gravity towards the shooter.
Also, the power stroke is radically increased in RDT models as contact between the string and the barrel is maintained for the full length of the barrel.
The weight of the crossbow is extremely important and should be one of the most important factors in determining your choice of a crossbow. Particularly when hunting, lighter crossbows will not tire you out as easily as heavier crossbows.
Lighter crossbows will also ensure your shooting setup is more stable which increase your chances of hunting success.
Weight is completely down to personal preference. You may prefer the slightly heavier feel of the Velocity Archery Defiant XB-350 compared to the super light Barnett Whitetail Hunter II.
Ideally, you should carry crossbows of different weights to figure out the most suitable weight for you.
If you are new to crossbows, taking a look at the safety mechanisms fitted onto a crossbow is really important to ensure a safe shoot. Most crossbows require disengaging a safety lock before you can fire the arrow from a cocked or loaded position.
There are degrees of safety system that different across different models. Some paying minimal attention whereas others includes a variety of different locks and sensors.
You should consult experts as to the relative strength of the safety system on a crossbow that you are interested in.
It is quite simple, the faster your bow the more likely you are to hit your prey. If you plan to purchase your crossbow for hunting, the velocity of the crossbow is really important to maximize your chances of success.
For fast-moving targets such as deer, a minimum speed of 300 feet per second is vital to generate sufficient speed and power to neutralize the target.
The Barnett Whitetail Hunter II and Velocity Archery Defiant XB-350 reviewed in this article far exceed this minimum hunting speed threshold.
As previously discussed, speed is not very important when firing at stationary targets.
The draw weight is essentially the amount of power and effort required to draw the arrow back for a shot. Crossbows with heavier draw weights will carry faster in the air compared to crossbows with lighter draw weights.
You need to balance draw weight with accuracy and fatigue, as the ache on your arms will inevitably be higher for crossbows with heavy draw weights.
A cocking device reduces the strain of the draw weight by up to 50 per cent when loading your arrow. They are typically made from two types of material a rope with two pulleys or a crank cocking device.
The quieter crossbows are able to best maintain cover when out hunting. Moving prey will have strong sensors for any load shooting equipment. To maximize your chances of success, bows with recurve or RDT designs will have the quietest shooting operation.
The best crossbows for women are ones that are easy to maneuver. Crossbow length has a big part to play in this many preferring smaller crossbows as they are much more versatile to movement.
If you want some purchasing protection you should always have a look at the warranty offer available with the product. Some models such as Barnett Explorer XP Crossbow offer 5-year warranties. This may be useful for new purchasers who may be unsure about how to operate a crossbow.
Crossbow Maintenance Checklist
Our verdict on the top three choices of crossbows for women are:
The Barnett Whitetail Hunter II wins the top award because of the advanced safety features which ensure a safe crossbow adventure.
The Barnett Explorer XP Crossbow comes second for having the strongest velocity of all crossbows reviewed while also offering customers great protection with a lifetime warranty.
The CenterPoint Sniper 370 Crossbow finishes in third place for being supremely reliable while maintaining a remarkably high velocity. It is perfect for women or for anyone with a lighter frame who is wanting to hunt for long periods.
Clearly, choosing the best crossbow for women is not a straightforward choice. It is imperative that you examine the buying guide in detail to give you some guidance and expertise when you are looking for a suitable crossbow. Taking time to do product research is really important.
We hope this guide has helped you find the right crossbow for you.
