Summary
If you are looking to get your hands on a true flagship bow, the Bear Escape is worth a look. Not only does it have the top end speed and accuracy you would expect from a top bow, but it has the style to match. Experienced shooters should find this bow a pleasure to shoot and plenty quiet as well.
Table of Contents
Intro
One of the more enjoyable aspects of archery is the escape it provides. Archery offers us the escape from the worries of life, and the hustle and bustle it can become. In 2016 Bear released a flagship bow that might help you enjoy your escape on the range. The Bear Escape is a top of the line bow that boasts some serious performance. This bow is well suited for anyone who is looking to see just how far they can push their skills.
Ratings, Pros and Cons
What we liked:
- Speed
- Styling
- Versatility
What we didn’t:
- Short axle to axle
- Short brace height
Features / Specifications
| IBO Speed Rating (fps): | 350 |
| Bow Weight (lbs) | 4 |
| Brace Height (inches): | 6 |
| Axle-To-Axle (inches): | 32 |
| Draw Length Range: | 25.5-30″ |
| Let-Off: | 75% |
| Draw Weight Range: | 45-70 |
| Riser Construction Material: | Aluminium |
| Limb Construction Material: | Composite |
| Price Range: | High |
| Handedness Availability: | Both Left and Right Hand |
| Warranty: | Limited Lifetime |
Videos
Compound Comparison Tables
All the bows we review (and some we haven’t yet) get added to our comparison tables. They’re a great place to get a quick overview of what’s on the market, and find something that fits with your requirements. We’ve also a great guide that helps you understand what all features and specifications actually mean as part of our article on the best compound bows.
In-Depth Review
Riser
This machined aluminum riser of the Bear Escape is a quality riser, and has a few features worth discussing. First off, the riser has been tapped so it is capable of accepting any accessory you want. This is a nice feature and will allow you to get your stabilizers, quivers, and sights on without a problem. Secondly, the riser sports a few string stoppers on the belly of the bow. These string stoppers are located at the top and bottom of the bow, and really contribute to the quietness of the shot. Finally, the Bear Escape comes with a unique cable guard called the Bear Hinge Guard. This system has been designed to reduce the lateral torque on the bow, which would help increase the overall accuracy of the bow.
Grip
The grip on the Bear Escape is a point where the engineers made a point to make this bow different. Like many other bows in the Bear lineup, this bow offers an integrated grip right on the riser. Unlike their other bows though, the Escape comes with a rubber grip you can add if you are looking for a different feel. This versatility is great and should help make the bow the most comfortable in your hand.
Cam System
Engineers at Bear opted to affix their H15 cam system to the Escape. This dual cam system is mostly responsible for the blazing 350 fps arrow speeds the bow is capable of. Fast bows appeal to many shooters for a variety of reasons. Not only will fast arrow will close the distance between a hunter and their quarry quicker, but they shoot flatter as well which makes aiming easier. Like the grip of the bow, the cams of the Escape offer some adjustability. Not only can you adjust the draw length by easily rotating the modules, but you can adjust between a cable stop and a limb stop. The adjustment allows you to choose between a softer back wall as a cable stop, and a harder back wall with the limb stop, making it great for fine tuning.
Draw Length and Draw Weight Adjustment
Like many bows on the market, the draw weight can be adjusted by twisting the limb bolts of the bow. Unlike other bows though, the Escape offers 15 pound weight adjustments. This gives the Escape more range than most other bows, which will appeal to shooters who are looking for that range. The draw length can also be easily adjusted by rotating the modules on the cams. This chore can be taken care of without a bowpress, which can help you tinker on the bow in your own shop.
Limbs
These split limbs have a few nice touches that were new to Bear bows when they were released. For one, Bear redesigned the limb pockets on the bow. This not only was supposed to increase the accuracy of the bow, but changed up the style as well. Secondly, Bear installed a few dampeners on the limbs that contribute to the quiet nature of the bow. This would be helpful for hunters in the field.
Styling
The Bear Escape is a good looking bow that certainly does have some style. The style on this bow begins with the waffling design the bow uses. Although waffling is certainly par for the course these days, Bear gave this bow some longer cutouts, that really give this bow a unique look overall. If you are the type that likes to have your bow standout at a shoot, this might be a good option for you. Secondly, the Escape comes in 4 color options including RealTree, olive, sand, and shadow. The olive and sand are unique and could provide you with a one of a kind bow. In terms of branding this bow has a little more branding than other Bear bows, but still not over the top. It has the Bear logo on each limb, on the riser, and on the grip. It also has a small “B” on the limb pockets, something other Bear bows don’t include. All told, if you are looking for a unique Bear bow, the Escape is a good choice.
Shooting
How does the Bear Escape perform where it counts? Well, in the shootability department, this bow certainly excels for several reasons. This bow has really earned its reputation for being a quiet shooter. Quiet bows are a must for folks looking to hit the woods and do some hunting. Not only is it quiet, but the Escape is also an accurate bow as well for an experienced shooter. The 32” axle to axle and 6” brace height both make this a touchy shooter. If you are an experienced archer, who has a clean release and good follow through, the Escape likely won’t give you any troubles.
“How does it compare?”
Escape vs Infinite Edge Pro
If you are looking for a totally different shooting experience you may consider taking a look at the Diamond Infinite Edge Pro (our review is here). The Edge Pro is not only designed to meet the needs of mature shooters, but also is a perfect bow for the up and coming archer. Several factors contribute to this reputation. First, this bow has a draw weight range from 5 to 70 pounds. This incredible range is ideal for a youngster who is looking to grow with a bow.
On the plus side, it also packs more than enough punch for a serious bowhunter. Not only does the draw weight adjust easily, but the draw length adjusts from 13” to 31”. This not only gives the bow much more range on the bottom end, but it also adds an extra inch of draw length for long armed shooters. Although this bow is a solid investment, it can’t stack up against the Escape in terms of arrow speed or accuracy.
Escape vs Carbon Knight
If you don’t think the Bear Escape is quite right for you, you may consider looking at another flagship bow; the Bowtech Carbon Knight. This carbon riser bow is a dandy as well. The carbon riser not only makes this bow awful light (3.2 pounds), it also also makes the bow much easier to handle in cold weather.
In terms of shootability this bow is comparable to the Escape. It is an inch shorter in the axle to axle measurement, but an in longer in the brace height measurement. These measurements also make the Knight a good bow for the experienced archer. Finally, you will take a bit of a speed reduction if you choose the Knight over the Escape. The Knight still zips plenty fast through the chronograph at 335 feet per second.
Escape vs Brute Force
If you are looking for flagship quality, but can’t afford flagship price, you might consider taking a look at the PSE Brute Force (our review is here). This popular bow from PSE is a good shooting bow and is more versatile than the Bear Escape in draw weight.
The Brute comes with #50, #60, or #70 limbs, and these limbs have a 20 pound weight range. That would be ideal for someone who is either new to shooting, or coming off an injury. Another ideal aspect of the Brute Force is the cams. The cams are the same exact cams that are used on the ultra popular PSE Bow Madness lineup.
These cams have earned a reputation as being fast, but still very smooth to draw. On the downside, the Brute does clock in at 330 feet per second, which is 20 fps slower than the Escape.
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