Best Bowcases Of 2023 // Field & Stream —
(Article by Jace Bauserman, of Field & Stream)
As with most lessons, the importance of having excellent bow cases was one I learned the hard way. In my twenties, some friends and I were camping in our trucks and hunting elk during the day. On the second night of the hunt, the heavens unleashed buckets of rain, and it didn’t stop for two days. My bow was in a sub-par case I purchased at a yard sale and was sitting in the open. When I cracked my case to go hunting after the monsoon ended, my bow was sitting in water, and rust was already showing.
Then there was the time I opted to fly to a 3-D shoot, and the sight housing on my target bow was cracked and bent when I landed. Something heavy had been dropped on the top of the cheapest bow case I could fly with at the time, dented it, and smashed into my sight.
I’ve learned the value of a good bow case the hard way, and I promise, it’s a piece of gear you want to pay attention to. I rounded up some of the best bow cases—hard and soft—available to hunters right now, so your bow is ready to go no matter where you take it.
How We Made Our Picks
I spend over 150 days hunting every year, and that’s not counting the time I spend flying or driving to and from my hunts. Having a dependable bow case is an absolute necessity for me, and over the years, I’ve let TSA abuse the best cases the industry could dish out. Of course, I’ve also given all my bow cases a thorough test. If the case claims to be waterproof, I put it under the sprinkler for two hours. If the case promises durability, I put a bow in it and roll it out of a tailgate onto an asphalt road going 55 mph.
I don’t take case testing lightly, and whether you’re heading to your backwoods in a UTV or jumping on a Delta flight to your next hunt, I recommend you take advantage of what I’ve discovered and pick one of the following cases that meets your needs.
Best Soft Case: Easton BowTruk Travel Bow Case GEN 2
Specs
- Length: 36″, 40″, 47″
- Width: 16″, 17″
- Weight: Varies depending on model
Pros
- TPU-coated 1680D ballistic nylon outer shell
- YKK woven-in main zipper
- Holds two bows
- Sealed-bearing skate wheels
- 3 outside-in pockets
Cons
- No camo or color options
- Not fully waterproof
The BowTruk is one of my favorite cases because I can tote a single bow and all my necessary gear or two bows and some gear. This is also the most durable soft case available due to the TPU-coated 1680D ballistic nylon outer shell—the same material used to craft military body armor. The zippers are heavy-duty, and I like how easily the case’s twin oversized wheels pull. Three outside pockets allow right-now access to key compartments inside the case, and the trailer-hitch strap means you can latch additional luggage to this case and roll it through the airport. The inside is extremely roomy, and 360-degree padding equals quality protection for your bow. I prefer a total hard case for airline travel, but this rig is my go-to when I’m driving across the country to chase Whitetails in November.
Our thanks to Jace Bauserman and Field & Stream for the mention. Read the full article here: https://www.fieldandstream.com/gear/best-bow-cases-of-2023/
