Rests
Your arrow rest is the last thing the arrow touches, so it has more say over broadhead flight than most shooters expect. This shelf has drop-away and containment arrow rests for compound bows from Hamskea, QAD and Trophy Ridge, plus bowfishing rests from Muzzy, AMS and TruGlo. Pick the style first, then check hand and mounting for your bow.
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archery equipment · hunting arrows · broadheads · bow releases · bow sights · bow stabilizers · bowfishing gear
Drop-away arrow rests vs. containment rests
A drop-away arrow rest supports the arrow at full draw, then falls out of the way as the shot breaks. With almost no contact during the launch, fletching clearance is excellent, and fixed-blade broadheads tend to fly better. The catch is timing. A drop-away has to be cabled or limb-driven and set up correctly.
Containment rests hold the arrow on all sides. Nothing moves, so there is nothing to time, and the arrow stays put when you are climbing or the bow is tipped sideways in a stand. Most of them touch the arrow through the shot, which can make vane contact a tuning issue.
What is on the shelf
Hamskea is the deepest brand here, with the Hybrid, Primer, Everest, Epsilon and R7. QAD offers the UltraRest family (UltraRest, HDX, LD and MXT) and the Integrate R2 and MX2. Trophy Ridge's Sync, TruGlo's EZ Rest and the 30-06 Outdoors rest cover the lower price end. Ravin lists a premium arrow rest as well.
Rests are handed. The Hamskea Primer is listed separately in RH and LH, and other cards that look like duplicates are usually hand splits. Mounting differs by riser as well, so confirm your bow model on the product page before ordering.
Bowfishing rests
Bowfishing arrows are heavy, solid and attached to line, so they need a rest that holds a fat shaft and does not snag. The Muzzy, AMS and TruGlo Bowfishing rests here are built for that. You will find more of that hardware in bowfishing gear.
Tuning after you install
New rest, new tune. Set the center shot and height, then paper-tune or bare-shaft tune with your hunting arrows. Re-zero your bow sight afterward, and shoot your broadheads alongside field points before trusting the setup. If you also changed your bow release, tune once with everything in place.
Rests and the rest of the bow
A rest shares space with everything else on the riser. A bow quiver mounted close to the shelf can crowd a drop-away's arm, so mount the quiver and check clearance through the full draw cycle. Crossbow shooters should note that Ravin's premium rest is a crossbow-brand part, and pair it with the bolts and crossbow broadheads that brand recommends. For travel, a bow case keeps the rest from being knocked out of position. Before you hunt, confirm distances with a rangefinder and shoot every pin with your hunting setup.
Arrow Rest FAQs
Is a drop-away arrow rest better for hunting?
It gives the best fletching clearance and often better broadhead flight. A containment rest is simpler and holds the arrow securely while you move. Both kill deer.
How do I know if I need a right-hand or left-hand rest?
Match the rest to your bow's hand, which is the hand that draws the string. A right-handed bow takes a right-hand rest.
Do I need to re-tune after installing a new rest?
Yes. Set center shot and height, paper or bare-shaft tune, then re-zero your sight pins.