I buy brands I have confidence in. I entered archery with what would now be “cheapo Chinese” (but back then was actually Korean). It shot OK but had limits (539 Portsmouth kind of thing). I bought a UK reputable brand upgrade (Marksman KG1) shot 575 within a few months and 1192 Fita that year but broke it within 18 months and they offered no service. I bought a
Hoyt - hated it. I bought a Stylist loved it. Destroyed a set of limbs - Stylist replaced them - repeat quite a few times (1240 Fitas) - eventually gave up on Stylist limbs when a pair delaminated after 24 shots - tried everything… bought a
Hoyt Avalon (1250Fitas/1140 York) and stayed with
Hoyt even through the cracking Avalon phase (5 cracked in 2 years) because each time caused very little grief… they replaced them without question (Limbs survived an attack from an Audi 80) Risers are much easier to replace than limbs. I’ve been with
Hoyt ever since (although have tried Samick, W&W and Border (a few times) along the way. Our experience with the brand influences our future purchasing decisions.
I guess I am lucky enough to be able to afford the kit I want (Not so much before the
Hoyt Avalon in the timeline above).
Nowadays things are less clear, the trickle down of production and materials means there are some very good contenders in the mid-field also but something like a
Shibuya sight is so worth the investment. Some of the mid-field do their homework and create their own stuff (the new Seb Flute bows being a good example) some just knock-off designs of recently popular bows - I’d agree that some folks are disparaging about knock-offs…me included. If you think your fake GMX shoots like a GMX you never shot a GMX - it probably shoots OK but…
So just taking limbs as an example… the difference between £100 limbs and £300 limbs is a chasm. The difference between £300 and £800 limbs is noticeable. However if someone wanted the best limbs they could buy at a mid-point they most like wouldn’t be the “top brand”.
Stretch