ATA PART 2
Bow completes its round up of new products from the biggest archery trade show
Over 8,500 people from 31 countries attended the 2020 ATA. In Issue 140, we looked at new products from Easton, Win & Win, Axcel, Last Chance Archery, Tophat, STAN and others. In this issue, we wrap up our ATA coverage with some more of the many new products on display.
AAE
Arizona Archery Enterprises, aka AAE is responsible for some of the best known products worldwide, including their Elite recurve tab (formerly known as the Cavalier) and the WAV vane, used by recurve and compound alike. They also manufacture Easton's nocks and do R&D for other companies (they are keen for you to get in touch if you have any bright ideas for new archery gear).
New and newish gear they had out in Indianapolis include the Trad Vane, designed as a feather replacement that will be longer lasting and work in all conditions. They claim they have been getting a fantastic response from the trad community. As usual, they had their Advante-x and Nitrous stabiliser systems out, the Nitrous still looking smarter than most with its 'hidden' weight system. Given that most people, once they've finished experimenting, don't change their stabiliser weights, it seems like a sensible idea to have them closed out, as it were. More at: arizonaarchery.com
Shibuya
Hasn't Phil got nice hands? A perennial presence at tournaments across the world, Phil Knall of Shibuya was showing off some seriously cool brand new stuff on both their recurve and compound lines.
The new Ultima Okulus scope for their CPX II sight has an active diameter on the inside of 29mm, front and back sunshades, and the impressive sounding Gravity Shift, which allows you to move the centre of gravity of the scope depending on what sunshade you are using, to avoid pulling on threads and rattling loose. It features matt anodising with 'anti-reflective grooves', three different mounting positions for sight lights. Also for compounders, they had an Ultima Scale Magnifier, with an optional blinder for hiding your 3D marks from prying eyes.
Shibuya have also re-entered the stabiliser market, in co-operation with Japanese sport manufacturer Mizuno. Specifically optimised for recurve use, the Ultima MZS is a 14mm diameter 'aircraft-grade' carbon rod, with damping material woven directly into the carbon layer but only in certain 'zones where it needs it'. Phil was tight lipped about what the new dampening material actually was, but it apparently wasn't the organic flax material, as seen in the new Axcel rods. The Japanese national team have apparently all happily switched to the new system.
Their biggest new product is the Ultima RC Pro, the latest update to their sequence of recurve sights in the eternal arms race with Axcel. A new 'polygonal' arm mountain system, with inset circles for more contact with the carbon, Shibuya claim it is ever more rattle-proof than before. They have also replaced the hex bolt on the front with a thumb screw for easier adjustment. The tastiest product of all is an ultra-short elevation bar designed specifically for 70m use, with less weight and they claim even less vibration. With a double rear mount allowing for two different positions, the bar will still cover the range of a standard sight. According to Takaharu Furukawa, "it feels like there's no sight on the bow". Available very soon, apparently.
More at: shibuya-archery.com
PSE
George Tekmitchov, best known for his work with Hoyt and Easton, is now consulting for PSE, with a wider goal of developing compound in Asia. He was on hand to talk about their newest gear. PSE is now the only company making an all-carbon compound bow in the USA, from their factory in Tuscon, Arizona. The Mach 1 Stealth, in collaboration with John Dudley, is a hunting bow that PSE are considering refining into a target bow; extremely low mass and hollow. It uses the Evolve cam system, which allows adjustments without using a bow press. The kickstand is a unique design. It will certainly be of a lot of interest to target shooters.
More at: psearchery.com
RAGIM
Ragim is an Italian manufacturer of traditional wood bows using traditional techniques. They produce a very wide range of equipment, from pro-level longbows and flatbows to beginner wooden recurves, including hunting, recreation and target lines. With a huge range - by far the biggest at the show - their top line longbow is the 64 inch Cobra. They had a lot of very lovely one piece bows; pictured here [right] is the Red Deer, made of paddock, amazaque, maple, and elm. Look out for a full-review of one of their top models in the next issue of Bow.
More at: ragim.org
Beiter
Andreas Lorenz was in his usual irrepressible mood behind the Beiter stall. A name that needs little introduction in the archery world, their products, especially for recurve, can be found somewhere in almost every bowcase. Their newest product is the Lock System, which aspires to universality and which aims to do away with 'weak' adapters and improve the speed and strength of connections. A conical adapter fits into the usual bushings, which is then fixed firmly and mounted on the bow. A corresponding conical adapter is added to the stabiliser. Two turns, and it is fixed. There are already two V-bars available with the bushing fitted, a key hub for locking issues. The speed of connection is certainly massively improved, although the speciality tools required will grate with some. More at: wernerbeiter.com
SOME OF THE BEST OF THE REST
Akusta had as usual an impressive range of low-cost limbs and risers out, which we we keen to shoot and see if they matched up to expectations – unfortunately they didn't have a range available for us. (More details at akusta-archery.com).
Brand new company Pulse Archery have developed what they claim is the world's first fully automatic arrow rest, with a cable triggered release moving it away up to five times faster than spring-loaded versions. Lots more detail at pulsearchery.com
X Factor had a singe-adjust, 365 degree sidebar mount they claim is unique in the industry. With no teeth, it is fully microtunable, in sexy black anodise too. More at xfactoroutdoors.com
We'll be back at the ATA next year, and hope to be reviewing several of the above products in future issues of Bow.