Archery Show Hot Items

I recently had an opportunity to attend the Archery Trade Association’s annual show in Indiana. This show is where archery manufacturer’s present their new products to retail store buyers in hopes of getting product placement for the 2005 archery season. Even though Texas’ archery opener is still well over 8 months away, it is not too early to think about upgrading your equipment and accessories.

Although there were hundreds of new products introduced, only a small percentage of them will ever become well accepted by consumers. The following is a brief description of what I believe will be the hottest archery products available this next season.

Mathews has introduced a new top end bow called the Switch Back. One year ago Mathews introduced the Outback, which I thought was a bow that couldn’t be surpassed. But the Switch Back now seems to be the bow every manufacturer needs to put in their sights. Serious archers would understand the technical features on this bow. But most archers (myself included) only care about how it shoots. It is the best combination of speed and smooth shooting I have ever shot, shooting well in excess of 300 feet per second. The best part is that it is forgiving and will make an average shooter into a good shooter. Consistently stacking arrows in forty-yard targets has never been easier.

Archery accessories such as sights, quivers, stabilizers and broadheads are plentiful. Most of these products are what I like to think of as stepping stone products. They are good for the average shooter. But Trophy Ridge has introduced their accessories targeting the shooter that wants to buy the product one time and never have to worry about upgrading. Not only did Trophy Ridge introduce the Rhino sight offering a totally unobstructed view (even on long distance targets), the Ridge Hunter quiver is so innovative that you will be asking yourself “why didn’t I think of that?” The new adjustable XCHANGER stabilizer adjusts to stabilize and quiet virtually any bow. Another big news item is that Trophy Ridge purchased the Rocket Aerohead Company and introduced the Recon broadhead. The Recon is a mechanical broadhead that has no exposed blades, which means it truly flies like a field point.

ThermaCell, manufacturer of insect repellent devices, introduced a product called ThermaScent, which uses heat to disperse any scent into the air. The unit will reportedly disperse seven times more scent into the air than traditional wick systems.

Hunters that worry about coughing and spooking game should check out the new “hands free” Cough Muffler by Ellington & Rush. With no hand movement at all, a hunter can now silence their cough.

Vapor arrows by Blackhawk have introduced the Maxem vane, which is made of a product that doesn’t disfigure like ordinary vanes.

Naturally there are lots of other great new products for the archer next season. These mentioned above are the ones that really got my attention and ones I bet will be hot items in the near future. Archers should ask their favorite shops to tell them more about what they found interesting. It is amazing to me how great products just keep getting better.