Worth upgrading to the new Mathews bow?

[Huntinbouwbow]

I have the Lift, i did not see a need to get the Lift X. Everyone is going nuts over the new ARC. but is it really worth it? I have killed Moose, Deer, and Caribou with my Lift. does wonders during comps. Am i really gaining anything? i watched a bunch of videos but it is just a bunch a youtubers selling Mathews because they are sponsored. Any feedback from unbiased folks would be great.

Cheers

 

[betelgeuse]

Youl pry my my Matthews SOLOCAM from my cold dead hands. I think it turned 15 this year.

Good luck with your decision. There is always a lot of hoopla with Matthews. They are expert marketers.

 

[billysmals]

The tuning feature is helpful, but that is also available on the Lift X.... Soooo is the ARC worth it? Depends on how much you value the tuning feature and how different you feel the ARC is from the Lift X since its on both bows. A used LIFT X is still cheaper than the new ARC. The cam is a little differently oriented on the ARC which supposedly makes the back end of the draw a little different and a little faster....but is that worth $1500??? I don't think the ARC has a lot different compared to the Lift X, but that's just me. So if you felt the Lift X wasn't much different than the Lift, (and you passed on the Lift x) then the ARC isn't going to be much different for you.

I expect every brand (not just mathews) is going to claim their bow is the best made by said brand. It's marketing suicide to say "this new bow is just as good as last years and you should keep what you have."

I was looking real hard at the new Xpedition Nexlite 30. A magnesium riser bow, 3.2lbs, and only $1499ish. That's when I was considering going for a new bow...

FWIW I ended up buying a used Lift x 29.5 because the deal was too good. It came with everything (mathews 1 piece lowpro, limb legs, epsilon v2 rest, SAS, SCS, and 2 sets of strings) but no sight (which I had) for $250 less than a new ARC or Xpedition bow. I don't regret it at all. This was my second bow and is a pure hunting bow for me. My other bow is a more target bow and its not a mathews....

 

[Huntinbouwbow]

The tuning feature is helpful, but that is also available on the Lift X.... Soooo is the ARC worth it? Depends on how much you value the tuning feature and how different you feel the ARC is from the Lift X since its on both bows. A used LIFT X is still cheaper than the new ARC. The cam is a little differently oriented on the ARC which supposedly makes the back end of the draw a little different and a little faster....but is that worth $1500??? I don't think the ARC has a lot different compared to the Lift X, but that's just me. So if you felt the Lift X wasn't much different than the Lift, (and you passed on the Lift x) then the ARC isn't going to be much different for you.

I expect every brand (not just mathews) is going to claim their bow is the best made by said brand. It's marketing suicide to say "this new bow is just as good as last years and you should keep what you have."

I was looking real hard at the new Xpedition Nexlite 30. A magnesium riser bow, 3.2lbs, and only $1499ish. That's when I was considering going for a new bow...

FWIW I ended up buying a used Lift x 29.5 because the deal was too good. It came with everything (mathews 1 piece lowpro, limb legs, epsilon v2 rest, SAS, SCS, and 2 sets of strings) but no sight (which I had) for $250 less than a new ARC or Xpedition bow. I don't regret it at all. This was my second bow and is a pure hunting bow for me. My other bow is a more target bow and its not a mathews....

Thanks for your insight, Yea i own the V3, the lift and a bowtech bow. I mean my lift new all set up is sitting around 3100 dollars. So investing in a new bow that wont change anything for me is not worth it. I have walked up and down the mountains with my lift here in alaska no issue.

I really wish someone would make a bow like a Seekins rife. where i can do everything in the field with one tool. truth of it is, if my mathews goes down, i am pretty ****.

Overall thank you for your thoughts. after diving deep into it. Ill keep with my bow. saves me some time doing a sight tap again hahaha.

 

[Bump79]

I have the Lift, i did not see a need to get the Lift X. Everyone is going nuts over the new ARC. but is it really worth it? I have killed Moose, Deer, and Caribou with my Lift. does wonders during comps. Am i really gaining anything? i watched a bunch of videos but it is just a bunch a youtubers selling Mathews because they are sponsored. Any feedback from unbiased folks would be great.

Cheers

In my opinion, things have stalled out for quite awhile. There really is no way to know without spending a lot of time behind a bow because there are soooo many sponsored influencers. Then add in all the wanna be influencers who pay for it themselves but companies like Mathews gets the benefit. Plus shops putting out content just trying to make ends meet.

My current bow is now 10 yrs old. It still exceeds my abilities for the most part and is right in line speed and draw cycle of the new bows. I had a 22 model I sold after a year as it didn't impress me. I struggle because I honestly don't know how to test a bow at the shop. It means nothing to me how it shoots at 10 yds. I want to know how forgiving it is with a broadhead at 60.. which takes a long time.

The most important thing with a bow is fit and forgiveness. Which for some reason isn't really talked about much and is really tough to tell. It's always speed, vibe, sound, draw cycle. None of which really has anything to do with your ability to shoot it.

 

[Bump79]

I have the Lift, i did not see a need to get the Lift X. Everyone is going nuts over the new ARC. but is it really worth it? I have killed Moose, Deer, and Caribou with my Lift. does wonders during comps. Am i really gaining anything? i watched a bunch of videos but it is just a bunch a youtubers selling Mathews because they are sponsored. Any feedback from unbiased folks would be great.

Cheers

My general thought process is that I plan to get a new bow every 4th model year. I think that jump in tech/shootability is likely measurable but mainly because at that point I'm spending $150+ on strings on a $600 bow. I personally don't see any reason to get an Arc if the Lift is treating you well. It still doesn't really have any features outside of the Limb shift which was on the Lift X.

There's nothing exciting to me about the Limb shift technology. To all this cam/limb tuning stuff is something to go wrong and is pretty gimmicky. Prime and PSE have had quick swap spacers that didn't need a press for years. Now Xpedition came out with a simple method. You should only need to shim your cam once.

It also is funny to me how everyone is now obsessed with not moving your rest out of center at all. But they're fine with their cam way out or leaning. From an engineering standpoint - you're manipulating the bow out to match the archer and maybe the arrow. So it just doesn't jive to me.

Now the Darton and Elite cam timing... that seems useful.