Navigating the archery sight market can be daunting. With the pure number of sights available to choose from, it can seem impossible to find the sight that truly fits you best. Maybe you want a mid-price, dedicated Total Archery Challenge sight. Perhaps you're wondering what the best beginner sight is for your son or daughter to get started with. Whatever you're looking for, there is no one-size-fits-all option. What I like isn't necessarily going to be what you like, what you like isn't necessarily going to be what the guy at your local shop says is the best, and so on. Just like our cars, friends, politicians, and houses, everyone has what they prefer.
In the pursuit of helping our customers out with their searches, and reminding them they don't just have to buy the "most popular" option every year, I rounded up some of our staff and asked them, if they could only use one, what their favorite bow sight would be - I also asked if they had any honorable mentions, too. Remember, this is not a list of the objectively best bow sights out there. This is a list to show you that liking something different is alright. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the wide variety of responses from this rag-tag group of archery enthusiasts.
I did you the favor of slapping them all into a chart at the beginning here, just in case you wanted a quick overview of what you'll find below:
Dawne's Top Pick: Black Gold Hunter HD 5-Pin
"I like my Black Gold Hunter because the pins are the brightest I have encountered - I don't ever need a sight light. The sight is sturdy and always holds firm in hunting situations. It's very easy to sight in and it will always stay where you put it. The whole thing is simple and sturdy, and it isn't as heavy as some other sights I have tried in the past, but it isn't TOO light that it seems like it will break if you happen to drop your bow. My main reason is that the pins are the best out there."
Moose's Top Pick: Black Gold Dual Trac
Honorable Mention: HHA NYTRX Pro
"If I could only have one sight for the rest of my life, I would choose the Black Gold Dual Trac. The pins are super bright (for aging eyesight) when needed, and dimmed automatically with the photochromatic pin guard. I can dial the sight and use the top pin as a target sight at the distance I need in that moment. I can also set the second pin to the distance I feel is the best for the current application (or not use it at all). If I would like to add a lens for target, that option is also available. My honorable mention, I guess, would be the HHA NYTRX Pro."
Tre's Top Pick: B3 Exact Rize X
Honorable Mention: CBE Tactic 3-Pin
"There are a ton of great sights on the market - way more than anyone could cover in a single article or sight comparison video. Thankfully, this question isn't "what is the objective best archery sight ever made?" This is about what we like, and I am more of a simple man than anything. Sure, I'll take a slider sight, but I'd be happy in the woods with a horizontal fixed pin all the same. Anyway, my choice is the B3 Exact Rize X. It was built off of the main body of their original Linx flagship sight, and it is a budget-conscious choice compared to a lot that you see on the market nowadays. It has a bright, 4-pin scope, comes in Bridge-Lock, Dovetail, and Picatinny mounts, has killer metal sight tapes, a great gear system, and super approachable three-axis adjustments. It also doesn't weigh a ton, so it would feel as at home on shot 13 of a TAC course just as much as it would in a treestand in north-central PA. Best of all, it's designed, manufactured, and assembled in the good ol' US of A.
As for my, "I'd be happy in the woods with a horizontal fixed pin all the same," claim above, a GREAT and affordable option there is the Tactic 3-pin from the folks at CBE. I could run that sight whitetail hunting for the rest of my life and never complain."
Riley's Top Pick: Axcel Achieve XP Pro 9" with Axcel Curve RX Pro Recurve Scope
Honorable Mention: Axcel Driver
"If I could only shoot one sight for the rest of my life, it would be the Axcel Achieve XP Pro 9”. For any recurve target archer, this sight is hard to beat because of its micro-adjustability, solid construction, and vibration dampening. It allows for extremely precise adjustments on the line, which is something every competitive archer appreciates. I’ve personally shot Axcel sights for years, and they’ve consistently been some of the most reliable equipment I have.
When it comes to an honorable mention, I would recommend the Axcel Driver sight. I prefer to keep my hunting bows as lightweight as I can and the Driver fits that setup perfectly. It’s lightweight and designed to perform in tough conditions without adding unnecessary bulk to the bow."
Jasmynn's Top Pick: Shibuya Ultima CPX with Shrewd 35mm Optum Scope
"I like my Shibuya CPX sight that I use with a Shrewd 35mm Optum scope. I use this setup for 3D Target, but could easily be used in any hunting setup, too. The Optum has great accessory options with lenses in premade threaded housings, sun-shades, and pins. The Shibuya CPX also has great micro and rapid adjustability - and it is very lightweight and sturdy."
Hunter's Top Pick: HHA Nytrx Pro
Honorable Mention: HHA Tetra Max (discontinued)
"I would go with the HHA Nytrx Pro X2 - specifically with the dovetail mount. I used the earlier model, the Tetra Max, before the Nytrx came out, and the Nytrx is a more fine-tuned version of the Tetra. I’m setting up my bows to hunt whitetails in the East or chase big game out West, so I’m always looking for what’s going to be the most compatible all around.
HHA sights are built like tanks. I’ve dropped, dragged, and taken my bow through rough terrain and haven’t had any problems with the sight changing or taking any serious damage. All parts, including the bolts, feel well built. Although the sight is on the heavier side, I’ll take reliability over a few extra ounces any day. Another reason I like it is how easy it is to sight in. Having a wheel just for getting a sight tape is really nice, and with it being a fixed two-pin, yeah it might kind of stink that you can’t move your second pin, but with the amount of gapping on most bows, that second pin usually falls in that 30–40 yard range. Lets not forget to mention, super bright pin fibers. The gap isn’t overly big, and I still find it super easy to shoot between the pins even though I have about a 20-yard difference between the two. Less pins means less moving parts, less chance to make a mistake, and less chance to mess something up."
Antonio's Top Pick: Spot Hogg Hogg Father (discontinued) - NEW Hogg Father Pro
Honorable Mention: HHA Optimizers
"If I could only use one bow sight for the rest of my life it would be the Spot Hogg Hogg Father. It was the first professional-level bow sight I ever owned, and it’s still the one I rely on today. Over the years it has proven itself to be incredibly durable and dependable, but what really stands out is how adaptable it is to the shooter. Whether I’m dialing in for close hunting shots or stretching things out for longer-range shooting, the Hogg Father handles it without compromise. It’s a sight that grows with you as your shooting evolves. Maybe there’s a little bias because it was my first high-end sight, but I honestly think anyone who spends time behind one would come away impressed with how well it performs.
If I had to give an honorable mention for a more budget-friendly option, it would be the HHA Optimizer line. They’re solid, affordable sights that still deliver excellent performance in the field. For hunters who want a dependable dial-style sight without spending top-tier money, the HHA Optimizer is hard to beat."
Conner's Top Pick: Axcel Achieve XP Pro 6" with AVX-41 Scope and Ranger Pins
Honorable Mention: Duct Tape Wrapped Around The Riser with Ball-head Pins
"If I was limited to only one bow sight for the rest of my life, I would have to go with the Axcel Achieve XP Pro with a 6" bar. While this choice will forever separate me from my slider wheels that I have come to love, I feel that having micro-adjust when I need it is too valuable to go without in a lifetime of archery. If I feel like I need to move my sight as fast as possible, I can always press that fast adjust button on the bottom of the sight block and move my sight way past where I wanted to in one smooth motion. The Achieve XP Pro's removable block system will allow me to use different scope housings and pin configurations depending on the situation I find myself in, which is something that will be very valuable in this one-sight life. This is also a sight that I have used for much of my time shooting compound target archery, and from that I feel like I can make it work for my hunting needs while being perfect for all things target compound. Overall, the precise adjustability, scope options, and familiarity bring me to my choice of the Axcel Achieve XP Pro as my sight for life.
If this challenge had a price limit of 2 dollars instead of being unlimited, I would wrap the sight window of my riser in duct tape and place a ball head pin in the duct tape as my aiming pin. With this setup I can run in multiple different configurations, using as many pins as my heart desires or using a single pin and pushing it in at a different location if I need to adjust distance. Of course during this process I will need to be very careful to get my left and right adjustment correct. The duct tape should be able to hold up to weather and time and hold my pins somewhat securely in place.
If I had slightly more budget I would probably fashion up some sort of pin guard, but we will make due."
Eric's Top Pick: UV Slider
Honorable Mention: Black Gold Ascent Whitetail Single Pin, Triple Pin
"My bow sight of choice is the UltraView UV Slider. I prefer the single pin, picatinny mount version as it allows for better balance compared to a side mount. I am very happy with the single pin setup since I mostly shoot 3D and hunt in the East within 40 yards. Setting up the sight was a breeze - it allows for fast yardage and wind adjustment with one hand, and the sight bubble is quick to bring to and hold level. I had my eye on this sight for a long time, and was thrilled when the price drop was announced prior to the UV Slider 2 being released.
I have a Black Gold Whitetail sight on my old bow, but I found myself needing to switch hands to unlock, set the yardage, and then relock into position. Takes a little longer to set and requires extra movement to do so, which when hunting can be annoying, but it has great pins, is very reliable, and it was more cost effective than many other options in the category."
Craig's Top Pick: HHA NYTRX PRO
Honorable Mention: HHA Optimizer Lite
"I would choose the HHA NYTRX PRO, with the X2 scope option. I would go up to .019" for my pin size (would prefer .015" but whatever) so as my eyes get worse I don't lose the .010" from my sight. I'd also take it in their Graveyard color. It comes with 2 yardage wheels, can accept multiple different scope options if need be, and I know I can trust the consistency of an HHA sight. Plus Graveyard looks good with anything. Honorable mention would be the Optimizer because who doesn't love an Optimizer?"
So, there you have it. Ten different answers to the same question from ten different people who work at the same archery company. Sure, the HHA Nytrx Pro and the Optimizers appeared a few times throughout, but the variety in many of the setups is extreme. You have "target-focused-but-can-be-used-for-hunting" builds up there. You have "hunting-focused-but-can-be-used-for-target" options well represented. You even have the classic "this is specifically for whitetail deer within 40 yards," setup and one "this is specifically for recurve target" setup popping up, too. There are also definitely notable omissions from this list that many other archers (including you, reader) would pick for their top sight - or at least in their top three.
This just goes to show you, like I mentioned above, that there is something out there for everyone, and just because a sight is new and popular doesn't mean it'll be the best one for you. Our list included nine different brands, with options at various price points (not including Conner's duct tape and pins sight), all focused on a range of archery pursuits. It is alright to shoot a sight model that is a few years old, and it is alright to switch it up every year to try something new. There are no wrong answers - unless your answer is Conner's duct tape and pins sight.
If you happen to be in the market for a new sight, or you just like "window" shopping, feel free to click here to view our hunting sight collection, click here to view our target sight collection, or even click here to view all the sights mentioned in this article.