Arrow Rests

[MitchParker]

Hey all,
Been out of the archery game for a bit, but getting back in.

Are the normal players in arrow rests still the go to? Or has something new come out that I should take a look at?

• QAD HDX
• Ripcord
• Limb Driver

[Hoss163]

Whisker biscuits

[BBReezen]

I really like my QAD, but i've only had a whisker biscuit and a Mathews downforce before that.

[BBReezen]

Originally Posted by Hoss163

Whisker biscuits SUCK

FIFY

[txoutdoorsman24]

Really depends on what you wanna spend. Rests go from $50 to 300 right now. QAD is prob the most popular brand right now.

[ShaBow]

Been bowhunting 40yrs this season and will only shoot a Whisker Biscuit for hunting on my compound bows. Its definitely ALWAYS good to go!

[Ruttin&Struttin]

I switched from QAD to Hamskea about two years ago. I really like the Hamskea.

[MitchParker]

Ruttin,
I hear a lot of good things about the Hamskea.

[antiparadigm]

Similarly I just switched from QAD HDX to Trophy taker Smackdown pro. Love it so far, but my recommendation is to get something that is micro adjustable. Makes tuning so so much easier!

Sent from my Mi 9T using Tapatalk

[Outlaw_6]

I ran QADs on all my bows for years with no problems what so ever - hunting and 3D. A couple of years ago I switched to Hamskea and I couldn’t be happier. I noticed an immediate improvement in my groups after the switch.

[jlcroston]

I would say Limb Drive, Vapor Trail. Was a QAD guy for 10 years, but the limb drive is the way to go and super simple.

[sectxag06]

Best part about limbdriven rests is if the activation cord ever gets cut, you can replace it in the field. Timing is still fine. With cable driven rests like a QAD, no such luck.

[MnM]

Limbdriver pro v for me. But not the Gen 7, the older model.

[Rat]

QAD - Cable driven and you can lock the launcher up. If you like having the launcher locked up this is the rest for you, no limb driven rest will do this.

Ripcord - I dislike; I have seen more failures with the Ripcord than any other rest. The bearing and/or the lock/release mechanism is not very smooth and only seems to get worse over time and it will eventually get to the point where is doesn't fall at all.

Limb Driver - Still a great rest and the just released Gen 7x is both bottom limb activated and micro-tune.

Trophy Taker Smackdown Pro Click - Also a great rest and bottom limb activated with micro-tune. A really good rest for the money.

Hamskea Trinity Hunter - Bottom limb activated, micro-tune and adjustable launcher angle with several options for launchers. Probably the best built rest with three load bearing bearings for smooth launcher operation with almost zero deflection. Overbuilt? Yes, but worth every penny.

Whisker Biscuit V Max (or original) - Simple, light and will never fail to operate. Hard on fletchings but very consistent if you do your part. For a hunting rig where absolute dependability is required and distances are relatively short (out to 40 yards or so) you can't go wrong. Not as forgiving of shooting form errors as fall away rests; so if you plan on shooting foam for score there are better options.

AAE Pro Drop - Limb activated, micro-tune and uses a steel cable for the rest activation, very light, not very popular but a decent rest.

[mikeyb_23]

I have a axiom pulse x and have been happy with it so far. My old qad wouldn't fit on my new bow so I switched it up a bit.

[oktx]

Whisker Buscuits are the best hunting rest ever made.

[Sleepy]

Originally Posted by sectxag06

Best part about limbdriven rests is if the activation cord ever gets cut, you can replace it in the field. Timing is still fine. With cable driven rests like a QAD, no such luck.

You can tie a D loop knot onto your cable instead of pressing it to thread it through the cable strands. Works great.


OP, I’ve been a QAD user for years. I bought another bow about a month ago and it came with a Rip Cord Ace Micro Adjustment and I LOVE it, especially for tuning purposes. Just bought another one for another bow I have coming in on Monday. I have shot a couple of bows with limb driven rests and quite frankly, I despise them. I do not like the fact that the arrow is moving during the draw cycle. And it is more cumbersome to get the arrow knocked vs the QAD and Ripcord

[taylormade820]

I personally like the QAD HDX

[TX_DReezen]

I shoot QAD’s mainly due to being able to lock the rest up with the arrow in it ready to go. Arrow’s not bouncing all around while walking through the woods or drawing it back. I’ll be switching to the newer QAD this spring, but have NEVER had an issue out of mine for the past ten years.

[JB_Archery]

QAD MXT... anything with a micro tune adjustment is money. Allows for tuning arrow flight with ease... hamskea’s are great, I’m just not much of a limb driven rest kind of guy

[Rat]

Originally Posted by Sleepy

... I do not like the fact that the arrow is moving during the draw cycle. And it is more cumbersome to get the arrow knocked vs the QAD and Ripcord

I don't understand what you mean here Sleepy; do you mean you don't like the the arrow is being raised during the draw cycle?

And how do you feel it is more cumbersome to load the limb driven than the locked-up type?

I'm not trying to convert you to limb driven, I'm genuinely interested in your thoughts on these two things.

[TannaciousZ]

Been shooting my Limb Driver since '07. Zero issues with it at all. Would buy again if I had to.

[TannaciousZ]

But if money were no object, definitely the Hamskea Trinity Hunter. Those are arguably the best limb driven rest on the market for hunting setup.

[TX_DReezen]

Originally Posted by sectxag06

Best part about limbdriven rests is if the activation cord ever gets cut, you can replace it in the field. Timing is still fine. With cable driven rests like a QAD, no such luck.

QAD offers a clamp on style now to the cable, so should be fairly easy to replace in the field (if need be and parts are available).

[tonytx]

Vapor Trail Gen 7 or the new Gen 7x for added micro tuning. Hamskea makes top notch rests as well.

[TannaciousZ]

Will report back next week after I have some range and field time with my new Hamskea Hybrid Hunter. Got a smoking good deal so I couldn't pass it up. I expect it to be even better than my old Limb driver that has been solid so far, no complaints or problems.

[whakm]

Qad

[WilliamL]

Qad hdx

[Traildust]

Qad....flawless!

[Tbarile]

Limbdriver pro v. Can’t go wrong with limb drive rests

[progolferv1]

love the qad

[Sleepy]

Originally Posted by Rat

I don't understand what you mean here Sleepy; do you mean you don't like the the arrow is being raised during the draw cycle?

And how do you feel it is more cumbersome to load the limb driven than the locked-up type?

I'm not trying to convert you to limb driven, I'm genuinely interested in your thoughts on these two things.

Just seeing this.

Yes, I don’t like the fact that my arrow is moving upwards as the limbs load the rest during the draw cycle. I want the arrow positioned and stationary besides going back with the draw.

Any of the limb driven I have seen or used, it is captured all the way around. You have to “thread” your arrow through the front or rear. A QAD or RipCord type fall away I can side load. Just less movement.

Even though the limbdriven are full captured, the arrow is still capable of ALOT of movement if walking around with a nocked arrow. The QAD type have a tighter capture.


A lot of people love the limb driven rests. I just don’t care for them.

[clffrdfdge]

Yup Hamskea.

[Aggies96]

I'm a QAD fan. A bow I purchased 7-8 years ago had one and I haven't looked for another since. Never had any issues. I haven't had to do it but basically they come with a life time warranty. For $25 they will rebuild the rest and supply the consumables that come with a new one - no proof of purchase required. The new UMXT model is pretty sweet with that it's micro-adjustable. Very easy to fine tune and know exactly how much you are moving.

[TannaciousZ]

Originally Posted by Sleepy

Just seeing this.

Yes, I don’t like the fact that my arrow is moving upwards as the limbs load the rest during the draw cycle. I want the arrow positioned and stationary besides going back with the draw.

Any of the limb driven I have seen or used, it is captured all the way around. You have to “thread” your arrow through the front or rear. A QAD or RipCord type fall away I can side load. Just less movement.

Even though the limbdriven are full captured, the arrow is still capable of ALOT of movement if walking around with a nocked arrow. The QAD type have a tighter capture.


A lot of people love the limb driven rests. I just don’t care for them.

The Hamskea Hybrid Pro Hunter is full containment but has the ability to side load through a narrow rubber bendable gap. To further fully secure the arrow while at rest, Limbdriver offers a small rubber triangle that mounts to the arrow shelf with double sided adhesive backing. The arrow clips into it and it holds the arrow still until you begin to draw. I used it for many years with my original Limbdriver rest with no containment, without any issues. When I switched to the Hamskea, I ordered a new triangle arrow holder and mounted it on so now I have the full containment plus that rubber arrow holder. Works awesome.

[TannaciousZ]

Here's the rubber arrow holder that came with my old Limbdriver rest. Ram used to make them, but I've only been able to find them on Vapor Trail's website. They work great as long as your arrow shelf is flat.

[Jspradley]

Hamskea Trinity Hunter is legit! Pricey but I really dig mine.

[Csmith52779]

Originally Posted by TX_DReezen

QAD offers a clamp on style now to the cable, so should be fairly easy to replace in the field (if need be and parts are available).

Unless you have a hunter QAD it’s a PIA to put a new cord thru the thum cocking part and getting the rubber thumb piece back on and line up seamlessly again.

[smende1]

on the hamskea hunter micro tune, is the micro tune adjustment worth the extra $20?

[Beargrasstx]

QAD. When hunting I like to keep my rest locked up and ready to go.

[jds247]

Originally Posted by smende1

on the hamskea hunter micro tune, is the micro tune adjustment worth the extra $20?

In my opinion yes.. I switched from qad a couple months ago.. I hated trying to tune with the qad because when I would loosen the bolt enough to move the rest it would either move way too much or the bolt would move it when tightening it back .. micro tune and the hamskea are both better...

[Rat]

Originally Posted by smende1

on the hamskea hunter micro tune, is the micro tune adjustment worth the extra $20?

Keep in mind you are paying for a feature you are only going to use once, when setting it up, and then maybe never again. While non-micro tune rests are more finicky to set up initially, you only have to do it once.

Having said that, I buy the micro tune rests; so yes, I think they are worth the extra price.

[Bryan11]

I run the Hamskea hybrid pro and really like it. I went back and forth between it and the QAD. Sometimes i wish i had the ability to lock the rest in the up position, but overall i think the Hamskea is a better quality rest.

[cbd10pt]

If you want to shoot super accurate long distance go limb driven with spring steel launcher.
If you're furthest shot is 30 yards just get a qad or ripcord

[Sleepy]

I have a Hamskea Trinity in the classifieds if anyone is interested.

[Fcap60]

I have a few QAD HDXs and really think they are great.