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Published June 30, 2015 in Product InfoBy P.J. Reilly
Buying a bow case: 5 things to consider
You've got your bow, and now you're on the hunt for a case to protect it."Which bow case is right for me?"Here are five things you should consider before making a selection.1. What kind of bow do I have?This is a no-brainer, but answering the question will steer you toward certain cases and away from others. And be specific in your answer. Do you have a target compound? Or is it a hunting compound? A target compound bow won't fit into every compound case.There are cases made for all types of compounds, cases made for takedown recurves, cases made for traditional recurves and cases made for longbows. Choose accordingly.2. How am I going to use this case?Think about where you're going to take your bow case and how you'll be transporting it. If it's going to sit on the cushioned back seat of your car as you drive to and from an indoor range, then your needs are different than if it's going to bounce around the back of a pickup truck en route to outdoor 3-D shoots or your favorite hunting spot.Also, do you envision your bow case being the place where you store your bow at home? If so, then you need to think about where it will be, and whether that location demands a certain type of protection from running kids, curious pets, falling tools, weather, etc.3. Do I want a hard case or a soft case?How you answered No. 2 will play a key role in addressing this question. A soft case isn't going to provide the same level of protection as a hard case. But hard cases are heavier, and they usually take up more space. It's up to you to determine which is practical, and which will protect your bow the way you haul it and store it.There's actually a third choice - hybrid cases - which are soft cases with a bit of rigid foam built in. Hybrids give you a little more protection than standard soft cases, but still aren't quite as rugged as hard cases.4. Will I be flying with my bow?If there's one thing you can count on from airport baggage handlers, it's that they will be rough with your luggage. Look for the term "airline grade," or something similar, on any case you plan to buy for air travel. They're going to be sturdier than other cases, and they're going to be lockable. And even though it's rated for airline use, there's no reason you can't use your travel case for everyday archery activities.5. How much gear do I want the case to hold?If your case must hold your bow, arrows and everything else you need to shoot, and all you want to do to when you head out the door is grab it and go, then that requirement is going to steer you toward certain models.Some cases are basically designed to hold your bow - and that's it. Others have pockets, straps and related features to hold all sorts of equipment.Some takedown recurve cases made to hold your entire rig have built-in, padded straps so you can haul everything on your back.Click on any of these links to check out the different types of bow cases carried by Lancaster Archery Supply:Hard compound casesSoft compound casesHard take-down recurve casesSoft take-down recurve cases and packsSoft one-piece recurve and longbow cases
2. How am I going to use this case?Think about where you're going to take your bow case and how you'll be transporting it. If it's going to sit on the cushioned back seat of your car as you drive to and from an indoor range, then your needs are different than if it's going to bounce around the back of a pickup truck en route to outdoor 3-D shoots or your favorite hunting spot.Also, do you envision your bow case being the place where you store your bow at home? If so, then you need to think about where it will be, and whether that location demands a certain type of protection from running kids, curious pets, falling tools, weather, etc.3. Do I want a hard case or a soft case?How you answered No. 2 will play a key role in addressing this question. A soft case isn't going to provide the same level of protection as a hard case. But hard cases are heavier, and they usually take up more space. It's up to you to determine which is practical, and which will protect your bow the way you haul it and store it.
There's actually a third choice - hybrid cases - which are soft cases with a bit of rigid foam built in. Hybrids give you a little more protection than standard soft cases, but still aren't quite as rugged as hard cases.4. Will I be flying with my bow?If there's one thing you can count on from airport baggage handlers, it's that they will be rough with your luggage. Look for the term "airline grade," or something similar, on any case you plan to buy for air travel. They're going to be sturdier than other cases, and they're going to be lockable. And even though it's rated for airline use, there's no reason you can't use your travel case for everyday archery activities.5. How much gear do I want the case to hold?If your case must hold your bow, arrows and everything else you need to shoot, and all you want to do to when you head out the door is grab it and go, then that requirement is going to steer you toward certain models.
Some cases are basically designed to hold your bow - and that's it. Others have pockets, straps and related features to hold all sorts of equipment.Some takedown recurve cases made to hold your entire rig have built-in, padded straps so you can haul everything on your back.Click on any of these links to check out the different types of bow cases carried by Lancaster Archery Supply:Hard compound casesSoft compound casesHard take-down recurve casesSoft take-down recurve cases and packsSoft one-piece recurve and longbow cases