BowTech Carbon ZION

[@rf6934]

I have a Diamond Deploy SB, basically the same bow, 70 lb. version, that I purchased from Bass Pro Shop July 2023. I am new to archery and I am very pleased with this bow. First I love how lightweight the bow is, and second this bow feels more premium than it is. I sling 425 grain Easton Hunter Classics extremely fast, never Chrony’ed myself. The accuracy of my setup surprises me quite often. I put a Trophy Ridge Hotwire sight on and I splashed out and put a Hamskea Epsilon on it. What I think made a little bit of a difference is that I placed two Limbsaver Broadband Dampers on (one on top and one on bottom) and to me, this bow is pretty vibration free in the hand. I have used a variety of short and long stabilizers up front, and I have even used a back bar on this but I usually take all that gear off to just go to a single, 12” stabilizer up front with a 2 oz. weight. This bow only has a front stabilizer mount hole, but I found a cheap front and back gizmo on amazon for pretty cheap. For me, this rig is very enjoyable. I spent some money on this but I didn’t break the bank. Last things on my bow are a Hamskea Raptor sight and a Trophy Ridge QR side quiver. The only upgrade I can see doing to this bow is to maybe add some Gas custom strings and cables, mostly just for looks because I’m not thrilled with the factory yellow and grey strings on it now. Like I said, I’m rather pleased with this bow and set up. I would recommend it to anyone. Last I checked my draw length is about 28.5” and my draw weight is at about 62 pounds. I’m a little bit older, 5’ 10” and I shoot this sucker easily in the backyard all afternoon long. Thank you for the video sir. Thank you Diamond Archery for the affordable bow. ✌️✌️

[@seansoutdoors]

👍 sounds good.. enjoy it

[@wesleywaldron3050]

Bowtech/Diamond carbon risers warp. They will not cover it under warranty also.

[@seansoutdoors]

Bummer

[@joelmcmahan7386]

Thanks for the review SMOA. A lot to learn in this one. Gods speed to Sean the family & channel. 👍🇺🇸🎥🥇🙏🏻

[@seansoutdoors]

Thanks same to you and yours

[@osulxa]

I am currently shopping this bow. I have also shot the PSE Carbon mach 1. For some reason that I can't explain, I am preferring the Bowtech Carbon Zion. Price has nothing to do with it. I personally think the hand vibration is less than the PSE and the draw is definitely smoother. I feel it has something to do with the solid limbs. But that's me. I am not a bow hunter this is my first bow.

[@seansoutdoors]

Go with what gives you the most confidence

[@olehemlock]

Black Diamond was the first carbon bow. I think they came out around 1998.

[@seansoutdoors]

👍

[@Wsmith247]

HCA had a carbon bow way before Hoyt.

[@seansoutdoors]

👍

[@charlesparker2369]

Thanks for the info Sean, keep um coming.

[@seansoutdoors]

Thanks!

[@chrississon2646]

High country had a carbon before hoyt

[@seansoutdoors]

👍

[@tbagsnh]

I love my bowtech carbon icon, but only have an old buckmaster 2000 to compare it to. I have had it for about 4 or 5 years, and it is holding up great.

[@seansoutdoors]

Great

[@aymanjoudar5425]

What are the two types of carbon materials uses again??

[@seansoutdoors]

I think I mention it in the video but I don't have it memorized.

[@kveritas1]

The biggest difference in carbon and cost is because the Bowtech riser is actually carbon infused polymer. The primary material in the riser is polymer. The carbon is used to strengthen that polymer. So in reality, it is not a true carbon bow. Hence the massive price difference. Both Hoyt and PSE use real carbon fiber as the primary material in the riser.

[@seansoutdoors]

I wish the people I talked to at BowTech knew as much as you do. The guy at Hour didn't know either but I was thinking to myself that they should know what the competition is doing and why it's different than their own product....

[@kveritas1]

@@seansoutdoors - even if the guy at Bowtech knew, he wouldn’t say it. They aren’t gonna get caught saying it’s actually a plastic riser. Especially since they like to say it’s “the lightest and least expensive carbon bow on the market.” It’s also the same riser as on the Diamond Deploy.

[@seansoutdoors]

Lol, I wonder if that is why the guys was studdering so excessively when I asked him that. How did you find out this information?

[@kveritas1]

@@seansoutdoors - I saw it somewhere on a Diamond forum. Had a couple Bowtech guys call me out for divulging secrets.

[@seansoutdoors]

@@kveritas1 oof, I stay away from forums. When it comes to archery there are some pretty nasty people out there and I really don't like being around that.

[@jonbrown9490]

I guess my question would be is how the bowtech is made? Is it actually tubular carbon?

[@seansoutdoors]

I think so

[@bearfootbowhunter3054]

Did you confirm what carbon bowtec use? Also zion vs. Pse evo nxt 31? Main reason im looking at the zion is the weight

[@seansoutdoors]

I spoke with someone from Hoyt who said BowTech uses a different process than them so it's not as strong as the Hoyt carbon riser bows. PSE Evo is nice too.

[@Dan77845]

So, I bought this as my first bow. Mine is 70.3 lbs on the scale at 28.5 draw length. Not sure what was going on with the one you were reviewing. Another observation I made was the one you were shooting is significantly louder than the one I have. Don’t know how or why.

[@seansoutdoors]

It has to do with how much twist they put in the strings and cables. When they are not exact then it changes the peak draw weight and draw length etc. With some tweaking this bow would be able to hit the intended specs.

[@Dan77845]

@@seansoutdoors fantastic. Thanks for the education.

[@seansoutdoors]

Sure thing

[@osulxa]

I think it because he shooting in a basement or indoors. There's lots of echo in that alley.

[@jamesmarshall5794]

how does this bow compare to the bowtech carbon icon? I've heard great things about the icon but am having a hard time finding an unused one.

[@seansoutdoors]

The Zion is basically their newer model to replace the icon. I never shot an icon so I can't give you the best answer. Sorry. God bless you.

[@jamesmarshall5794]

@@seansoutdoors Awesome thanks you for always replying! One more question about the Zion. Do you know what the let off is? I cannot find this information anywhere.

[@seansoutdoors]

I tested the draw weight at every inch during the draw cycle. At the 30 inch draw setting the letoff was around 81%. I suspect it is rated at 80% letoff for this bow.

[@jamesmarshall5794]

@@seansoutdoors You're the man!

[@seansoutdoors]

Lol. Thank you

[@leafinitup1]

Looks pretty sweet. Does it have the same tuning features as the other new Bowtech’s?

[@seansoutdoors]

I didn't see that on the axle.

[@kveritas1]

No, this is a low end Bowtech. Only the flagship bows use the DeadLoc tech.

[@leafinitup1]

@@kveritas1 Thats unfortunate.

[@osulxa]

@@leafinitup1 To save weight possibly?

[@Waty8413]

You should have asked Hoyt why their carbon bows also WEIGH more! Double the price for a "true" carbon riser and still weigh half a metric ton. not that the Hoyts aren't good bows, but why go carbon if their is no weight savings and double the price. It's true that the Bowtech's are more plastic than carbon, but at least they delivered on weight savings. That said, the Bowtech Carbon risers are really getting long in the tooth. Every couple years they just throw new cams on a Carbon Knight and call it a "new" bow. At least the Carbon Overdrive had a totally different cam/cable system when it was available..

[@seansoutdoors]

Thanks brother. God bless you

[@BamBamSecretAgentXer]

Which rest is that?

[@seansoutdoors]

Whisker Biscuit

[@jimschmitt650]

I’d never buy another Bowtech carbon riser bows. They are known to warp… you’ll be replacing in 4-5 years from now as the cams start to lean so bad you’ll be afraid to shoot it. Do a search for “carbon riser warping” and you’ll see what I mean

[@seansoutdoors]

Thanks for the update

[@cscarms1]

-12 degrees. You must be in Alaska

[@seansoutdoors]

Iowa. It's freezing here in the winter. Last year it was colder here than in Alaska.

[@Tylerknight225]

Hi Sean

[@seansoutdoors]

Hi brother.

[@brianrobinson6832]

Baaaaa nice mask

[@seansoutdoors]

Really, I couldn't stand it, but it was the law to wear one indoors when I filmed this review.