Best Bowcases of 2023 // Field & Stream –
(Article by Jace Bauserman, Field & Stream)
As with most lessons, I learned the hard way the importance of having great bow cases. In our twenties, friends and I camped in our trucks and hunted elk during the day. The second night of the hunt, the skies dropped buckets of rain, and it didn’t stop for two days. My bow was in an inferior case that I bought at a yard sale and was sitting out in the open. When I broke my case to go hunting after the monsoon ended, my bow was sitting in the water and the rust was already visible.
Then there was the time when I chose to fly to a 3D shoot, and my target bow sight housing was cracked and bent when I landed. Something heavy had fallen on top of the cheapest bow case I could fly at the time, dented it, and crashed into my sight.
I learned the value of a good bow case the hard way, and I promise this is one piece of gear you want to be careful of. I’ve 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 choices
I spend over 150 days hunting every year, not counting the time I spend by plane or car to and from my hunts. Having a reliable bow holster is an absolute necessity for me, and over the years I’ve let the TSA abuse the best holsters the industry has to offer. Of course, I also subjected all my bow cases to 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 on a paved road going 55 mph.
I don’t take case testing lightly, and whether you’re heading to your backwoods in a UTV or hopping on a Delta flight for your next hunt, I recommend you take advantage of what I’ve discovered and Choose one of the following cases that meets your needs.
Specifications
- Length: 36″, 40″, 47″
- Width: 16″, 17″
- Lester: Varies by model
Benefits
- TPU coated 1680D ballistic nylon outer shell
- YKK woven main zipper
- Holds two bows
- Sealed Bearing Skate Wheels
- 3 outside-inside pockets
The inconvenients
- No camouflage or color options
- Not fully waterproof
The BowTruk is one of my favorite cases because I can carry a single bow and all my necessary gear or two bows and gear. It’s also the most durable soft case available thanks to the TPU coated 1680D ballistic nylon outer shell, the same material used to make military body armor. The zippers are very strong and I like how easily the oversized twin wheels of the case pull easily. Three exterior pockets provide immediate access to key compartments inside the case, and the trailer hitch strap lets you attach additional luggage to this case and roll it around the airport. The interior is extremely spacious and the 360 degree padding equals quality protection for your bow. I prefer a total hard case for air travel, but this rig is my go-to when driving across the country hunting Whitetails in November.
Our thanks to Jace Bauserman and Field & Stream for the mention. Read the full article here:
