Archery Supplies Guide: Where to Buy Arrows, Bows & Gear

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Archery Supplies & Equipment Guide

What to buy, where to buy it, and how to use your calculator results to shop with confidence. Every purchase recommendation links to a trusted retailer — no guesswork required.

⚠️ Calculate before you shop

Buying the wrong arrow spine is the most common and expensive beginner mistake. Measure your draw length and find your spine before ordering arrows. Takes 3 minutes and saves you from buying arrows you can't use.

Archery retailer comparison — who to use for what

Not all archery retailers stock the same products or serve the same customer. Here's a plain-English breakdown of which retailer is best suited to each type of purchase.

Retailer Best for Strengths
Optics Planet Compound accessories, sights, rests, broadheads, arrows across all diameters Largest selection for side-by-side brand comparison before ordering; strong on Easton, Gold Tip, Carbon Express, and Black Eagle
3Rivers Archery Traditional archery — wood arrows, longbows, recurves, traditional accessories Best selection of traditional gear, instinctive shooting focus, hard-to-find items
Bass Pro / Cabela's Hunting-focused compound bows and broadheads In-store pickup option, hunting brands, seasonal deals during bow season
Amazon Budget arrows, practice gear, targets, tools, compound accessories Fast shipping, low prices on common items — verify spine specs carefully
Ravin Crossbows Premium hunting crossbows — R29X, R10, accessories, bolts, broadheads Direct from manufacturer, best selection of Ravin-specific bolts and accessories

All links on this page are affiliate links — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link to retailers and products we'd recommend regardless.

Archery equipment checklist — what to buy first

If you're setting up for the first time, buy in this order. Each item depends on knowing the specs from the item before it.

1 Measure your draw length — use the Draw Length Calculator before buying anything else. Your draw length determines which bow size fits you, what arrow length you need, and which spine to order.
2 Choose a bow — beginners typically choose between a recurve (simpler, quieter, lighter) or a compound (adjustable draw weight, let-off, more accessories needed). Use the Bow Poundage Calculator to find a safe starting draw weight.
3 Calculate your arrow spine — use the Arrow Spine Calculator with your draw weight and arrow length. Do not skip this step. Wrong spine = poor accuracy from day one.
4 Buy arrows — order at least 6 arrows to the spine and length your calculator specifies. Buying in bulk without testing first is a common way to waste money — 6 arrows lets you tune before committing to a dozen.
5 Add essential accessories — finger tab or release aid, arm guard, quiver, nocking point or D-loop. These are cheap but critical. Don't skip the arm guard.
6 Get a target — a layered foam block target or bag target handles field points at recreational distances. For broadhead testing you'll need a dedicated broadhead target.
7 Tune the bow — once arrows arrive, use the Paper Tuning Chart to verify your setup is flying cleanly. Fix issues at this stage rather than after you've bought broadheads.

Bows — by type and experience level

Compound bows

Compound bows use a cam system to reduce holding weight at full draw (let-off), making them easier to hold steady for hunting shots. They require more setup and maintenance than recurves but offer adjustable draw weight and length — ideal for growing archers and hunters. Use the Bow Let-Off Calculator to understand what holding weight to expect before you buy.

Recurve bows

Recurve bows are the entry point for most archers and the bow used in Olympic competition. They are simpler than compounds, require no maintenance tools, and develop better form habits. Takedown recurves allow limb replacement as your draw weight increases. Use the Bow Size Calculator to find the right bow length for your draw length.

Longbows and traditional bows

Longbows are the purest form of archery equipment — no sights, no rests, just the bow and the archer. They require heavier draw weights than recurves to achieve the same arrow speed, and traditional shooting technique takes longer to develop. 3Rivers Archery is the best source for traditional equipment.

Crossbows

Crossbows shoot bolts (short arrows) from a horizontal stock and are popular for hunting where vertical bow seasons overlap with crossbow seasons. Use the Crossbow Bolt Calculator to find the correct bolt weight for your crossbow's rated FPS before buying bolts.

Arrows — buying the right spine for your setup

Arrows are where most archers make their first expensive mistake — buying a multipack of "universal" arrows without checking spine. An arrow with incorrect spine will always group poorly, regardless of how well-tuned your bow is.

🎯 Before buying arrows, know these three numbers:

  1. Your draw length → Draw Length Calculator
  2. Your draw weight at your draw length → Draw Weight Calculator
  3. Your required arrow spine → Arrow Spine Calculator

Carbon arrows — compound and recurve

Aluminium arrows

Wood arrows — traditional archery

Arrow shafts (uncut, for custom builds)

Arrow components — points, inserts, nocks, and fletchings

If you're building arrows from shafts, you'll need to buy components separately. Use the Arrow Weight Calculator to total your component weights, the FOC Calculator to check front-of-center balance, and the Insert Weight Calculator to fine-tune FOC via insert selection before ordering.

Field points and broadheads

Inserts

Insert weight directly affects FOC. Check the Insert Weight Calculator to find the right weight before ordering.

Nocks

Fletchings and vanes

Bow accessories — sights, rests, releases, and stabilizers

Compound bows typically need a full set of accessories. Recurves and traditional bows need far less. Below is a category-by-category guide with links to each major retailer.

Arrow rests

After changing your rest position, verify the tune held with the Paper Tuning Chart and Bare Shaft Tuning Chart.

Bow sights

If you buy a single-pin adjustable sight, use the Sight Tape Calculator to generate a custom tape for your arrow speed and weight.

Release aids (compound bow)

Stabilizers

Use the Stabilizer Balance Calculator to find the correct front-to-side ratio before ordering weights or rods.

Quivers

Finger tabs and arm guards (recurve / traditional)

Bowstrings

Use the String Length Calculator to find the correct string length before ordering.

Archery targets

A layered foam block or bag target handles field points at recreational distances. For hunting practice with broadheads, use a dedicated broadhead target — field point targets won't stop broadheads cleanly and become unsafe quickly. For 3D practice, foam animal targets are the standard.

Target type Best for Point type
Bag target Recreational shooting, beginners Field points only
Layered foam block Easy arrow removal, indoor / outdoor practice Field points
Broadhead target Pre-hunt practice, broadhead tuning Fixed and mechanical broadheads
3D animal target 3D competition, hunting shot practice Field points
Paper face Paper tuning — mounted on foam backer Field points

Tuning tools and maintenance equipment

These tools let you set up and tune your bow at home rather than paying for every pro shop visit. A bow scale is the single most useful tool — it tells you your actual peak draw weight and holding weight, which feed directly into the Draw Weight and Let-Off Calculator.

Tool What it does Priority
Bow scale Measures actual peak and holding weight — essential for tuning and calculator inputs High
Arrow square / T-square Sets nocking point height and measures brace height High
Grain scale Weighs arrow components — needed for FOC and arrow weight calculations Medium
Arrow spine tester Confirms spine deflection — useful when comparing shafts Medium
Chronograph Measures actual arrow speed — feeds into KE and sight mark calculations Medium
Arrow saw Cuts carbon shafts cleanly — needed for custom arrow builds Low (pro shop alternative)
Bow press Required for string/cable work and cam module changes on compound bows Low (pro shop alternative)

Archery equipment budget guide — what to expect to spend

Archery has a wide price range. These are realistic budgets for complete, functional setups at each level — not the cheapest possible, and not top-of-the-range competition gear.

Setup type Typical budget What's included
Beginner recurve $150–$300 Takedown recurve, 6 arrows, finger tab, arm guard, quiver, target
Intermediate recurve $400–$800 Quality riser + limbs, carbon arrows, sight, arrow rest, stabilizer
Olympic recurve $1,000–$2,500+ Competition riser, carbon limbs, full stabilizer system, clicker, sight
Beginner compound $400–$700 Entry compound bow, 6 carbon arrows, release aid, sight, rest, quiver
Hunting compound $700–$1,500 Quality hunting bow, 12 carbon arrows, release, sight, rest, quiver, broadheads
Traditional longbow $200–$600 Longbow, wood or carbon arrows, finger tab, arm guard, quiver
Hunting crossbow $999–$2,649 Crossbow, bolts, scope, cocking device — Ravin Crossbows is the benchmark for premium quality

Use the Archery Cost Calculator to build a detailed breakdown for your specific setup, including annual consumables like arrows and targets.

Calculate your specs before you shop

Run these in order to know exactly what to buy:

Archery supplies FAQs

What archery equipment do I need to start?

You need a bow, correctly spined arrows, a finger tab or release aid, an arm guard, a quiver, and a target. Calculate your draw length first, then use the Arrow Spine Calculator to find your spine before buying arrows. Budget $150–$300 for a beginner recurve setup or $400–$700 for compound including accessories.

Where is the best place to buy archery arrows?

Optics Planet is the best source for traditional arrows including wood, bamboo, and carbon shafts for recurve and longbow. For compound and general carbon arrows, Amazon carries a wide selection — verify spine specs carefully before ordering.

Do I need to calculate my specs before buying arrows?

Yes. Buying arrows without knowing your draw length, draw weight, and required spine is the most common and expensive beginner mistake. Wrong spine means poor accuracy regardless of form or bow quality. Use the Draw Length Calculator and Arrow Spine Calculator first — it takes three minutes and saves you from buying arrows you can't use.

What is the best archery retailer for compound bow accessories?

Amazon carries the widest range of compound accessories across all price points — sights, rests, releases, and stabilizers. For hunting-focused accessories, Optics Planet stocks popular hunting brands with competitive seasonal pricing.

Do I need a bow press to set up a compound bow?

Not for basic setup — you can attach accessories, set a nocking point, and tune rest position without a press. You do need a press for string and cable replacement, peep sight installation, and cam module changes. Most pro shops will press a bow for $10–$20 per visit, which is more practical than owning a press for occasional use.

What is the difference between field points and broadheads?

Field points are solid metal tips used for practice — they are inexpensive, durable, and pull cleanly from targets. Broadheads are cutting-tip heads used for hunting — they are expensive, easily damaged, and require a dedicated broadhead target for practice. Always verify broadheads group with your field points before hunting season using the Paper Tuning Chart.