If you’ve ever stepped into a bow shop or browsed archery gear online, you’ve probably noticed that bows can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. Naturally, the question arises: Is a $2,500 premium bow really that much better than a $429 budget bow?
In this deep dive, we’re comparing two bows at opposite ends of the spectrum:
• The Bear Cruzer G2 – a budget-friendly, ready-to-shoot package at $429.
• The Mathews Lift X – a top-tier flagship bow with a total setup cost of around $2,500.
Let’s explore real-world differences in speed, shootability, sound, and build quality. Whether you’re a first-time shooter or a seasoned archer, understanding these differences will help you decide where your money is best spent.
Speed Test – 70 lbs Bow vs 70 lbs Bow
Testing Conditions:
Both bows were tested under identical conditions to ensure a fair comparison:
• Draw Weight: 70 lbs
• Draw Length: 30 inches
• Arrow Weight: 467 grains (a realistic hunting arrow)
• Chronograph: Used to measure arrow speed
Results:
• Bear Cruzer G2: 263 feet per second (fps)
• Mathews Lift: 297 fps
That’s a 34 fps difference in favor of the Mathews. To the untrained eye, this might seem like just a number—but in archery, speed equals performance in many scenarios.
What Does This Speed Difference Mean?
• Flatter Trajectory: Faster arrows drop less over distance, making it easier to hit targets accurately at range.
• Kinetic Energy: More speed translates into more penetration, especially important for hunting larger game where you need deep arrow impact.
• Forgiveness: Higher speeds are less forgiving of mistakes, but with a refined bow like the Matthews, speed is controlled and manageable.
For Beginners:
Speed is less critical early on. Most beginners shoot at closer distances (10–30 yards), where the trajectory is still manageable even with a slower bow. That said, as you progress, you’ll appreciate extra speed, especially for longer shots and hunting scenarios.
Shootability – The Feel of the Shot
This is where things start to get noticeably different, even to an inexperienced shooter.
Draw Cycle:
• Mathews Lift: The draw is buttery smooth with consistent resistance throughout, finishing with a solid back wall. This gives a predictable, repeatable feel, crucial for building good form.
• Bear Cruzer G2: The draw is choppy and uneven. There’s no clear back wall, so you’re often guessing whether you’re at full draw, which makes anchor point consistency difficult.
Vibration and Hand Shock:
• Mathews Lift: The shot is dead in the hand—you feel almost nothing after releasing the arrow. That’s a hallmark of premium bows: they absorb energy efficiently, so it doesn’t translate into your grip.
• Bear Cruzer G2: There’s a significant amount of vibration and hand shock. This feedback might not be painful, but over a session of 20-30 shots, it becomes fatiguing and can even affect accuracy.
Noise:
• Mathews Lift: Whisper quiet—ideal for hunting, where any sound can spook game.
• Bear Cruzer G2: Noticeably louder on release. This is due to less effective damping systems and lower-grade materials.
Real Talk:
The difference in shootability is immediately apparent. The Mathews makes every shot feel like an extension of your body, while the Bear requires more effort to manage the shot and follow-through. For beginners, the Bear is fine for starting out, but the premium feel of a Mathews will make you fall in love with shooting.
Accuracy and Grouping – Can Both Hunting Bows Hit the Target?
Even with all the differences in feel and speed, both bows can shoot accurately.
60-Yard Test:
• Mathews Lift: Tight grouping, with one flyer due to the shooter pulling the shot—not the bow’s fault.
• Bear Cruzer G2: Surprisingly good grouping, but one arrow went high due to a twisted peep sight, caused by the cheap rubber connector.
Key Insight:
The Bear can perform well, but consistency is harder to achieve. Little issues—like peep sight twist or hand shock—can throw off your shot, especially under pressure or fatigue.
With the Mathews, everything works together to help you shoot better. There are fewer distractions and less need to manage variables, which allows you to focus entirely on your form and the shot.
Build Quality – You Get What You Pay For
Here’s where price really shows.
Bear Cruzer G2:
• Materials: Cast aluminum riser, basic plastic components.
• Cables and Slide: Uses a simple plastic cable slide which causes wear on strings over time.
• Accessories: Comes with a whisker biscuit rest, basic 3-pin sight, and a cheap stabilizer.
• Peep Sight: Held by a twisted rubber tube—prone to misalignment and inconsistency.
Mathews Lift:
• Materials: Machined aluminum, tight tolerances, premium finishes.
• Cables and Slide: Features ball bearing rollers—smooth, minimizes string wear, and increases lifespan.
• Accessories: Top-of-the-line sight, stabilizer, and quiver, all made to work in perfect harmony with the bow.
• Peep Sight: No rubber tubing; uses natural alignment and better strings to keep everything in place.
Longevity:
A Mathews bow is built to last for years, even decades, with minimal wear and high resale value. The Bear is more prone to component failure, string wear, and limited upgrade potential.
The Hidden Cost – Enjoyment and Frustration
Let’s be real: shooting should be fun. If your bow constantly gives you problems—twisted sights, inconsistent shots, noise, shock—you’ll eventually shoot less.
With a premium bow like the Mathews, every shot feels rewarding, and you’ll likely shoot more often, improve faster, and enjoy the process more.
Cost Breakdown – Where Does the Money Go?
Bear Cruzer G2 Package – $429
• Bow
• Basic sight, rest, stabilizer, and quiver
• Ready to shoot, but limited upgradeability.
Mathews Lift Setup – ~$2,500
• Bow: $1,359
• Sight: $699 (high-end adjustable sight)
• Stabilizer: ~$200 (precision balance and vibration reduction)
• Quiver: $249
• Customization and tuning potential unmatched.
Is It Worth It?
• For Beginners: It could make sense to start with the Bear bow or something similar unless you have the money for a premium bow like the Mathews Lift X. Learn form, safety, and shot process. When you’re ready, the jump to premium will be transformative.
• For Experienced Archers: The Mathews Lift is a game-changer—worth the money if you want peak performance, enjoyment, and precision.
Final Thoughts – Which Bow is Right for You?
Budget Bow (Bear Cruzer G2): Ideal for new shooters, tight budgets, or those who want a lightweight, forgiving bow to learn on. It will get you shooting, but you’ll quickly hit its limitations as your skill improves. You can find one of these fully setup budget bows at Smith & Edwards.
• Premium Bow (Mathews Lift): Built for shooters who want the best experience, refinement, and performance. Every detail is engineered to help you shoot better, more comfortably, and more consistently. If you are curious about the Lift or other Mathews products go here.
The question isn’t just about price—it’s about what kind of experience you want from your bow. A budget bow gets you started; a premium bow keeps you coming back.
