Bear Archery dropped its 2027 lineup on September 30, and within 48 hours the first reviewers had bows on the line, over the chronograph and through paper. Nine new bows, from a $179 takedown recurve kit to a $999 flagship, plus Bear's first serious run at target compounds in years.
We went through every review we could find, video and print, and pulled out what the people who actually shot these bows had to say. Here's the whole lineup, bow by bow.
The 2027 lineup, left to right: Source, Whitetail NXT, Alaskan Pro, Warrant, Paradigm Pro, Legit Pro, Legit NXT, Paramount Pro, Wolverine-X. Product photos: Bear Archery.
Before You Read the Numbers
These are first-look reviews, most of them filmed within a day or two of launch. Treat them as a starting point, not a final verdict.
I know we are trying to keep newcomers to the target archery pursuit from being confused with the whole hunting gear versus target gear thing, but many 3D shooters choose to use their hunting bows pursuing foam. So, all of these get a look.
Speeds are all over the place for a reason: every reviewer set up differently. Mike's Archery shoots at 29 inches and 70 pounds. MFJJ at Podium Archer shoots at 30 inches and also reports a "realistic" number at 65 pounds, 29 inches and a 450-grain arrow. The cleanest side-by-side comes from Lancaster Archery's PJ Reilly, who shot six of the bows at the exact settings used for the published speed rating (70 pounds, 30-inch draw, 350-grain arrow). Every one came in under its rating, which is normal for an out-of-the-box bow.
And the most important point: none of this replaces putting a bow in your own hand. Draw cycle and back wall feel personal. Find a Bear dealer through the National Archery Directory and shoot a few before you decide.
Paramount and Paramount Pro — Bear Steps Back Onto the Target Line
Paramount $799.99 · Paramount Pro $999.99 · 35" axle-to-axle · 6.5" brace · up to 328 fps · 25.5–30" draw · 35–50, 45–60 or 55–70 lb · 80 or 85% let-off
For target archers, this is the headline. Bear announced the Paramount and Paramount Pro in August as purpose-built competition bows. The 35-inch platform, slim grip built right into the riser (you're shooting off the riser with thin panels, easy to tape the way you like), back-bar mounting options and a low front stabilizer position are all target-first choices.
The Pro adds Bear's QPC (Quad Pocket Control) tuning in the limb pockets, wider 7/8-inch machined Gordon limbs and a better string stop. Colors include all white, all black, and a blue riser with white limbs that looks right at home at an indoor league.
No one has published a hands-on review yet. What we do have is Bear's own reasoning. On the BowHunterPlanet podcast, Bear category manager Ryan Shutts said that when they looked at the target market, "there's hardly any bows available for less than $1,400." He also said they had youth archers in mind, specifically S3DA shooters ready to step up from their first bow. The hosts pointed out that most target compounds they see run around $2,200.
Who it fits: Anyone curious about league, 3D or indoor competition who wants a real target platform without a flagship price tag, and young archers moving up through S3DA or JOAD. We'll update this when hands-on reviews land.
Get this one up to 38" with a 7" brace, and I'm in!
Source — The New Flagship
$999.99 · 32" axle-to-axle · 6" brace · up to 340 fps · 25.5–30.5" draw · 45–60 or 55–70 lb · 80 or 85% let-off · QPC tuning
The Source is Bear's 2027 flagship and part of its dealer-only Legend Series. According to Shutts, the riser was redesigned to bring "target features and high-end shooting features" into one bow: two front stabilizer positions (the usual one under the grip and a low one just above the bottom pocket), more back-bar mounting spots, QPC pockets, and all cam adjustments on one side so you don't flip the bow back and forth. It ships with two grips and can be shot right off the riser.
The goal, in his words: "you pick it up and you're like, 'Oh yeah. This feels right.'"
Here's the honest part: as of this writing, nobody outside Bear has published a hands-on test of the Source. Even MFJJ noted in his Legit Pro review that he hadn't received the flagship yet. Until independent reviews arrive, judge it on feel at your local shop.
Whitetail NXT — The Bow Everyone's Talking About
$729.99 bow only · $829.99 RTH · $969.99 RTH+ · 32" axle-to-axle · 6.25" brace · up to 339 fps · 25.5–30.5" draw · 45–60 or 55–70 lb · 80 or 85% let-off · QPC tuning
Every reviewer landed on the same point: the Whitetail NXT brings press-free limb-pocket tuning to a bow under $750. On camera at Mike's Archery, Bryan shot a small tear through paper, turned an Allen wrench at the pocket, and put the next arrow through as a clean bullet hole. PJ Reilly at Lancaster Archery walked through how it works: turn the bolt under one limb in, the other out, and the cam leans the direction you need. His take: you can tune the bow "right there on the line."
How it shoots:
- Mike's Archery: smooth draw with a slight drop into the back wall: "a little harsh, but rock solid once you get back there." 317.8 fps with a 350-grain arrow and 285.3 fps with a 450 (29", 70 lb). 93.4 dB, which they called nice and quiet. 5.0 lb bare, 6.4 lb with the full accessory package.
- MFJJ at Podium Archer: 333 fps at 30", 70 lb and 278 fps at his realistic setup. He found the back wall a little soft (the optional limb stop would firm it up), wasn't a fan of the stock grip, and said it "feels really good for 700 bucks." He scored it 60 and called the value "insane."
- Lancaster Archery: 328.5 fps at the rating setup, with draw cycles PJ described as "close to what you would get with the flagship bows."
Who it fits: The archer who wants flagship-style tuning and stabilizer options (there are front, low-front and rear mounts) without flagship money. It's not light at around 5 pounds bare, but some of that mass helps it hold on target.
Alaskan Pro — Proven Platform, Bigger Package
$659.99 bow only · $759.99 RTH · $899.99 RTH+ · 33" axle-to-axle · 6.25" brace · up to 339 fps · 25.5–30.5" draw · 45–60 or 55–70 lb · 80 or 85% let-off
The bow itself carries over from last year. What's new for 2027 is the RTH+ package, which adds a Trophy Ridge FIX 5 micro-adjust sight, a SYNC drop-away rest and an 8-inch Seismic stabilizer. Because it's the same bow, it has the deepest review history in the lineup:
- Outdoor Life put it up against that year's flagships. Three archers shooting five-shot groups at 50 yards averaged 3.75 inches. The flagships drew smoother and had less hand shock, but the testers' conclusion was that "you can absolutely be successful with a bow like the Bear Alaskan Pro."
- Bowhunter's Jon E. Silks measured 307.6 fps with a 375-grain arrow and described a draw that breaks over "into a rock-solid back wall," adding that it "sat on the bull's-eye with no effort needed to keep it there."
- Nate at Average Jack Archery said plainly, "you could 3D shoot with this bow," praised its balance, and noted he can't remember a single limb warranty claim on the quad-flared limbs in five years of selling them.
- Lancaster's 2027 test: 329.6 fps at the rating setup, with a nice, solid back wall.
Who it fits: Anyone who wants a stable 33-inch bow that's equally happy on a 3D course and at the range, with tuning-friendly labeled cams and adjustable let-off.
Warrant — Compact, Light, and Built for Long Draws
$699.99 RTH · 30" axle-to-axle · 6.5" brace · up to 330 fps · 26.5–31.5" draw · 45–60 or 55–70 lb · 80% let-off · DHC hybrid cam
The Warrant comes only as a complete package, and its standout spec is a draw length that runs to 31.5 inches on a short, light bow. MFJJ singled that out: so many bows stop at 30 inches that "an average big dude" struggles to find one.
- MFJJ measured it at about 4 pounds bare, with axle-to-axle, brace height and draw length all matching Bear's specs. He got 325 fps at 30", 70 lb (within 5 fps of the rating) and 270 fps at his realistic setup. Draw cycle: "pretty smooth, pretty easy," with a little buzz that hangs around after the shot. No limb-pocket tuning here, just spacers. He scored it 59.
- Lancaster: 321.8 fps at the rating setup and an "okay draw cycle" with no discomfort spots.
Who it fits: Taller archers, and anyone who wants a light, maneuverable all-in-one setup ready to shoot.
Paradigm Pro — The Long-Draw Value Pick
$599.99 bow only · $699.99 RTH · 33" axle-to-axle · 6.5" brace · up to 333 fps · 27–32" draw · 45–60 or 55–70 lb · 80% let-off · DHC hybrid cam
The Paradigm Pro replaces the Paradigm, adds integrated sight and rest mounts, and goes all the way to a 32-inch draw. Bear also added a bow-only option this year because people asked for it.
- Mike's Archery: 6.0 pounds with every accessory installed. 310 fps with a 350-grain arrow and 280.9 with a 450 (29", 70 lb). 93.8 dB, "not a loud bow at all." The DHC cam was "really smooth coming over," with no dump into a "pretty solid" back wall.
- Lancaster: 317.6 fps at the rating setup, and a draw that felt a bit smoother than the Warrant's.
Who it fits: Long-draw archers on a budget, who, as Mike's Archery put it, "don't have a lot of options on the market." The longer 33-inch platform and 6.5-inch brace are forgiving for anyone building form.
Legit Pro — Grow-With-You, With a Better Cam
$619.99 RTH · 30" axle-to-axle · 6.25" brace · up to 320 fps · 18–30.5" draw · 14–70 lb · 85% let-off · new OMNI cam
The Legit Pro is the step-up model in Bear's famously adjustable Legit family, built for archers who are still growing, or anyone who wants one bow that can be dialed way down or way up. Draw length changes need no press; the cam shows your setting in a little window.
- Lancaster: 305.6 fps at the rating setup. Compared with the Legit NXT, the 85% let-off "felt much more comfortable," with a much more solid back wall.
- Mike's Archery: 5.0 pounds fully rigged, and a few fps faster than the NXT. The all-aluminum cam and modules make the back wall "much nicer," worth the step up in their view.
- BowHunterPlanet's Dave Thomas: "Very smooth. Reminds me of the DHC cam." He said it shoots nice and flat and "feels wonderful."
- MFJJ was less impressed with the feel, describing a lot of vibration and noise (his test bow also turned up loose modules mid-test). He measured 306 fps at 30", 70 lb, close to Lancaster's number, and still called it "a hell of a nice bow for that money."
Who it fits: Young and growing archers, families sharing one bow, and adults starting out who want room to grow in draw weight.
Legit NXT — The Most Adjustable Starting Point
$499.99 RTH · 30" axle-to-axle · 6.25" brace · up to 315 fps · 14–30" draw · 10–70 lb · 75% let-off · dual cam
The Legit NXT replaces the Legit Maxx and keeps the widest adjustment range in the lineup: 10 to 70 pounds, 14 to 30 inches. That's a bow a young archer can start on and grow into.
- Lancaster: 291.7 fps at the rating setup. PJ noticed the 75% let-off and a "bit spongy" back wall, but said it wasn't rough: "if this is the only bow you're shooting, you're going to get used to it."
- Mike's Archery: 285.9 fps with a 350-grain arrow (29", 70 lb), 97.6 dB, and 5.6 pounds rigged. They noted the plastic rotating modules make it a little harder to tune than the Pro.
- BowHunterPlanet found it "very straight shooting, flat shooting," and highlighted nine finishes, including Fred Bear Fire, Electric, Twilight and White Out, so a young archer can pick a bow that feels like theirs.
One honest note from Mike's Archery that applies to every super-adjustable bow: at the very bottom of the weight and length range these bows aren't built for performance. They're built to get someone started and grow with them, and that's exactly the job.
Who it fits: Kids, first-time archers and anyone who isn't sure yet where they'll land on draw length and weight.
Wolverine-X — A Recurve Kit for Getting Started
$179.99 · takedown recurve kit · Tech Wood riser with maple and padauk accents · 30, 35, 40 or 45 lb limbs
The Wolverine-X is the only traditional bow in the 2027 announcement: riser, limbs and string in one box, built to make getting into recurve simple. There are no reviews yet. One thing to keep in mind: limbs start at 30 pounds, and many coaches start brand-new archers lighter than that. Ask your shop which weight fits you before you buy.
The Lineup at a Glance
| Bow | MSRP | ATA | Brace | Rated speed | Draw length | Let-off | Lancaster measured* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Source | $999.99 | 32" | 6" | 340 | 25.5–30.5" | 80/85% | — |
| Paramount Pro | $999.99 | 35" | 6.5" | 328 | 25.5–30" | 80/85% | — |
| Paramount | $799.99 | 35" | 6.5" | 328 | 25.5–30" | 80/85% | — |
| Whitetail NXT | from $729.99 | 32" | 6.25" | 339 | 25.5–30.5" | 80/85% | 328.5 |
| Alaskan Pro | from $659.99 | 33" | 6.25" | 339 | 25.5–30.5" | 80/85% | 329.6 |
| Warrant RTH | $699.99 | 30" | 6.5" | 330 | 26.5–31.5" | 80% | 321.8 |
| Paradigm Pro | from $599.99 | 33" | 6.5" | 333 | 27–32" | 80% | 317.6 |
| Legit Pro RTH | $619.99 | 30" | 6.25" | 320 | 18–30.5" | 85% | 305.6 |
| Legit NXT RTH | $499.99 | 30" | 6.25" | 315 | 14–30" | 75% | 291.7 |
*Three-arrow average at 70 lb, 30" draw, 350-grain arrow, from Lancaster Archery's 2027 Bear comparison. Specs and prices from Bear Archery.
The Bottom Line
The clear theme of Bear's 2027 lineup is putting features that used to live on flagship bows, like press-free tuning, integrated mounts and multiple stabilizer positions, into bows most archers can actually reach. The Whitetail NXT is the reviewers' early standout. The Paramount and Paramount Pro are the ones target archers should watch most closely once hands-on reviews come in.
But a spec sheet never shot a ten. The right bow is the one that fits you and feels good at full draw. Go shoot a few at a shop near you, using the National Archery Directory to find one. Reviews of this lineup, plus this year's bows from every other major brand, are collected in our REVIEWS – Compound Bows playlist on YouTube. And if you pick one up, tell us how it shoots in the Thwack Life community.
Now go shoot something. (A target. Obviously.)
Thwack Life Archery Addiction is a national culture-first community platform for U.S. target archers — recreational, competitive, and adaptive. No gatekeeping. No gear elitism. Just real archery.
References
Manufacturer
1. Bear Archery. Bear Archery Introduces Its Most Advanced Bow Lineup Yet. September 30, 2026.
2. Bear Archery. Bear Archery Launches Paramount and Paramount Pro, Built for the Competition Line. August 21, 2026.
3. Bear Archery product pages: Source, Whitetail NXT, Alaskan Pro RTH+, Warrant RTH, Paradigm Pro, Legit Pro RTH, Legit NXT RTH, Paramount, Paramount Pro, Wolverine-X. Accessed October 3, 2026. Product photography © Bear Archery.
4. Lancaster Archery Supply. Bear Warrant RTH product specifications. Accessed October 3, 2026.
Video reviews
5. Lancaster Archery Supply (PJ Reilly). 2027 Bear Archery Budget Bows: Legit, Warrant, Paradigm, Alaskan Pro, Whitetail NXT. YouTube, October 2026.
6. Mike's Archery. Bear Whitetail NXT 2027 First Shots at Mike's Archery. YouTube, September 2026.
7. Podium Archer (MFJJ). 2027 Bear Whitetail NXT Review | 339 FPS Legend Series Bow. YouTube, September 2026.
8. Podium Archer (MFJJ). Bear Archery Warrant 2027 Review | Is This the New Budget Bow to Beat? YouTube, September 2026.
9. Podium Archer (MFJJ). Bear Legit Pro Review — Is This the Best Budget Bow? YouTube, September 2026.
10. Mike's Archery. Bear Paradigm Pro 2027 HONEST Review Results. YouTube, September 2026.
11. Mike's Archery. Bear Legit NXT and Legit Pro, Best Entry Level Bows for 2027!? YouTube, September 2026.
12. BowHunterPlanet (Dave Thomas). 2027 Bear Legit Pro Speed Test & Review. YouTube, September 2026.
13. BowHunterPlanet (Dave Thomas). 2027 Bear Legit NXT Review. YouTube, September 2026.
14. BowHunterPlanet Outdoor Podcast. Unveiling the 2027 Bear Archery Lineup with Ryan Shutts. YouTube, September 2026.
15. Average Jack Archery. Best Bow for the Buck? 3D and Bowhunting? Bear Archery Alaskan Pro Review! YouTube, 2026.
Print reviews
16. Scott Einsmann, Outdoor Life. Bear Alaskan Pro Review: This Budget Bow Is Shockingly Good. August 2026.
17. Jon E. Silks, Bowhunter. Bow Review: Bear Alaskan Pro. February 2026.
18. Bowhunter staff. Bear Archery Unveils 2027 Compound and Traditional Bow Lineup. October 1, 2026.
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