Archive for Archers Rest Archers rest is a new place for archers of all kinds to come and have a natter about anything archery or anything else, please feel free to browse the forums and join in the fun, go on sign up today, you know you want to :-)
|
wintellect
|
Are brand names a bad thing for new archers?As I "grow" in the archery world I have noticed that I like two particular brands of manufacturer - Beiter and Hoyt. I like their respective kits and feel that both have proven that they certainly make their items well (no, I'm not implying others don't).
As such, I have noticed that I want to buy things that come from wither of them where possible. Each time I have the opportunity to buy something new or "upgrade" something, I look at their items. And let me be clear, I like what I buy from them - I'm not in any way unhappy.
Thing is - does it reflect badly on a young archer like me? Will others just think of me as a "fanboy"? Will other archers merely think I'm buying kit I'm useless at using? OR, in fact, there is nothing wrong with it as long as I'm happy with my setup - I mean, at the end of the day it's me that shoots it anyhow, right?
|
Liam
|
Nothing wrong with that IMO mate, I would say to keep an open mind though, for example Merlin are bringing out some great equipment at the moment as I'm sure will many other 'smaller' brands in the future, always try as many things as you can before you buy even if you end up with Hoyt or Beiter, at least you explored the other alternatives first 
|
AFB
|
I agree with Liam on this one
|
Chedawan
|
Agreed. The big names offer a quality product backed up by their name... however you pay a premium for the name, not for the product quality. I've got a full set of Beiter stabilisers decking out my bow, but I picked them after trying out a lot of others (the fact I can make them in black and yellow's a bonus). Also some of the cheaper brands out there do offer real bargains... I wouldn't trade my Sebastian Flute carbon limbs out for the similar Hoyt M1's, tried them, and mine outshoot them (for me... your mileage may vary), again, I find my Cartel Activa sight to be identical in performance to the sure-Loc's I've tried at less than half the price, again, a lot of people advocate the merits of the Beiter button, and yes they're easy to tune, but I'll only really tune my button once or twice, and I like to know it's locked down and not going to move... for me the Beiter button looks like there's too much to go wrong on it, that'd be bothering me as I shoot and my scores would drop due to this mental aspect.
My advice would be that if you're interested in becoming a really good shot, you try as many things as you can out, and buy what works for you. If you can get it to look good with your set up that's a Brucey Bonus. However, if you like everything to be matching, and look pretty then that's fine too. It may not result in the best set up you could ever have,but if deep down that's what would make you happy... then do it, and compete for the best set up rig. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks, they don't have to shoot it, they don't even have to look at it if they don't want to. It's your money, and your evenings spent out shooting. The only 'F word' in archery should be Fun, so you do whatever enables you to have the most fun with what you're doing.
|
zetabow
|
As Archery is 90% mental so it's vital that you have 100% faith in you choice of equipment, it doesn't have to be the best or the most expensive, just right for you. 
|
pHz
|
i agree that some archers are drawn to certain brands or types of brands for whatever reason(s) but it affect people in different ways
personally (and not just in archery) i nearly always go for smaller offbeat or 'boutique' brands somewhere out of the centre mainstream - at my lowly level of archery how the kit performs at a high level isnt that important so im happy with using gear that is different to most other archers but that still WAY outperforms the numpty using it
spig riser (soon - next day or two - to be a merlin instead)
border / merlin limbs
AGF sight
jager grip
spig stabs
etc
slainte  rob
|
Selwoc
|
| zetabow wrote: | | As Archery is 90% mental so it's vital that you have 100% faith in you choice of equipment, it doesn't have to be the best or the most expensive, just right for you. |
Completely agree with Steve, he has summed it up in one sentence
|
Desert Archer
|
Re: Are brand names a bad thing for new archers? | wintellect wrote: | | Thing is - does it reflect badly on a young archer like me? Will others just think of me as a "fanboy"? Will other archers merely think I'm buying kit I'm useless at using? |
Thing is...the vast majority of other archers aren't paying any attention to you or your stuff. They are (or should be) focused on what they are doing with their own stuff. If you encounter someone who is critical of your choice of equipment, particularly without your asking their opinion, disregard anything they have to say. It's none of their (expletive deleted) business.
You will no doubt make mistakes in some of the stuff you buy...no reason you should be any different than the rest of us. It's just part of the learning process. Enjoy the journey and quit worrying about what everyone else thinks.
Dave
(old archery geezer)
|
Steve B
|
Great words of advice Dave .....you could do a lot worse than listening to this advice Wintellect 
|
sunmouse
|
I have to say I recently had some illusions shattered. I had been looking at the Hoyt Nexus and thought 'What a fantastic looking bow!'
Then I spotted a Nexus riser in our local archery shop and picked it. It weighed a ton to me. I came back to reality in a second.
Suffice to say, if I ever get GOOD enough to shoot a Nexus, then I'll save up the pennies and be ready for one.
|
|