Hoyt Helix Compound Bow: Examined and Reviewed

The 2019 Hoyt Helix was a well-liked looking bow. It was quiet and fast, and the general fourth-place finisher of our annual bow check. The Helix Turbo, nonetheless out there, is identical bow with a little bit shorter brace peak, with a superb enchantment to hurry freaks in all places.

Hoyt Helix Turbo Specs

• Velocity: 350 fps ATA
• Axle-to-Axle Size: 31 inches
• Brace Top: 5 7/8 inches
• Weight: 4.4 kilos
• Peak Draw Weights: 40, 50, 60, 65, and 70 kilos
• Draw Lengths: 26-28 inches; 28-30 inches

What Form of Searching Bow Is the Hoyt Helix?

The 2019 Hoyt Helix was a flagship looking bow with a machined aluminum riser. Although the Helix has been discontinued, used fashions are nonetheless out there and Hoyt nonetheless gives the Turbo model of the Helix, which has a shortened, sub-6-inch brace peak for a little bit further pace and a barely modified cam system. We’ve examined each compound bows. The Helix featured the ZT (Zero Torque) cam system, and the Turbo has the ZT Turbo Professional system. Two totally different cam configurations enable for 2 totally different draw size vary settings, and so they include adjustable cable stops, too, so shooters can tweak the back-wall really feel to their liking. The cams are paired with a Cut up-Cable system that’s attention-grabbing and mitigates the necessity for a versatile cable guard (although the bow does have curler guards). The break up cable additionally makes for a handy spot to tie in a drop-away relaxation.   

The Helix has another key updates in comparison with earlier yr fashions, too, together with a extra inflexible, barely heavier riser and a noise-dampening Shock Pod setup on the underside limb, plus an up to date grip and different considerate additions, like rear stabilizer mounts. With a reasonably demanding draw cycle and price ticket, the Helix—and particularly the Turbo model—is a bow that’s in all probability finest fitted to extra superior archers and bowhunters, however it’s a superb bow for anybody prepared to pay for efficiency.

How We Examined the Hoyt Helix

We examined the Hoyt Helix in spring of 2019 as a part of our annual compound bow evaluation. Per process for that check, we acquired two of every collaborating compound bow. One is about to IBO specs: a 30-inch draw size and 70 kilos. The opposite is about to twenty-eight inches and 60 kilos, for hands-on vary testing. We confirm all of the specs of the IBO bows upon arrival, and alter them as wanted. Then we chronograph them with a bare-shaft, 350-grain IBO-spec arrow. We use a Whisker Biscuit relaxation and D-loop for this process, so you’ll be able to assume a lack of 5 toes per second, give or take, with these issues added.

Noise and Vibration

As soon as that’s completed, we take the IBO-spec bows to Stress Engineering, the place we use their tools and procedures to measure noise and vibration for every bow, along with mapping draw drive curves and calculating effectivity. Bows are randomly labeled throughout this part of the check in order that when the outcomes are in, we all know they’re unbiased.

Accuracy and Forgiveness

Subsequent, we arrange the 60-pound bows with drop-away rests, sights, and peeps, after which we paper-tune them. Our capturing panel then evaluates the bows by capturing and measuring a collection of 25-yard teams with every of them, utilizing 340-spine Carbon Categorical arrows, lower to twenty-eight.5 inches. Throughout that, we additionally subjectively consider the classes of draw cycle, match and end, steadiness and dealing with, and grip. Our accuracy and forgiveness check—the place a number of shooters measure a number of teams from a number of bows over the course of a number of days—is exclusive to our evaluation, however we imagine it’s a very powerful a part of the check. Nearly any bow can shoot one-hole teams via a Hooter Shooter. And nearly any particular person shooter can have a nasty day. However with a number of shooters over the course of a number of days, sure developments do certainly emerge from bow to bow, and that’s what we’re after. Everybody makes minor errors in type and launch. The bows that persistently shoot nicely—no matter who’s capturing them—are, by definition, probably the most forgiving.

How the Hoyt Helix Carried out in Our Check

The Hoyt Helix positioned fourth in our 2019 check to seek out one of the best compound bow for looking. The Helix earned excessive marks within the following classes:

• Velocity (and the Hoyt Helix Turbo is even quicker)
• Accuracy and Forgiveness
• Stability and Dealing with
• Noise and Vibration (that’s, a lack of each)
• Match and End

What the Hoyt Helix Does Greatest

The unique Hoyt Helix was one of many quickest compound bow fashions of that yr’s check at 342 fps (on our chronograph). The Helix Turbo is a scorcher at 350 fps. Some bow manufacturers inflate their marketed speeds, however arrange correctly, Hoyt bows nearly at all times shoot as quick as promised. That pace makes the Helix a flat-shooting bow, and that’s by no means a nasty factor. At whitetail looking ranges, extra pace paired with a middle-weight looking arrow means you will get dependable penetration with massive cutting-diameter broadheads. For stalking open-country mule deer and antelope, the place photographs are usually rangy, further pace permits for a flatter-shooting arrow. That’s a giant deal in case your rangefinder reads a yucca plant at 56 yards, however the buck is standing simply past it, at 61. Goal shooters, particularly unknown distance 3D archers, like a quick bow, too, because it compensates for vary estimation errors.

However sufficient of that, as a result of pace isn’t the whole lot. Some pace bows are loud and so they kick, however the Helix shouldn’t be. Actually, it was one of many quieter bows in our check, and nearly dead-in-the-hand to shoot. It dealt with properly and as anticipated from Hoyt, match and end had been flawless. And perhaps better of all, the Helix is a shooter. Our check panel averaged 1.34-inch teams with it, the third smallest of the check.  

What the Hoyt Helix Does Worst

The unique Helix was one thing of a handful. We docked probably the most factors for its demanding draw cycle. The Turbo mannequin, with a shorter brace peak, is much more demanding on the entrance finish of the draw cycle. At full draw, the Helix has a reasonably good again wall, a beneficiant valley and loads of let-off. Drawing this bow could possibly be a chore on a chilly morning, however then once more it’s onerous to fault a bow with Turbo within the identify for being demanding on the entrance finish of the draw cycle. Extra pace at all times comes at some type of value. Talking of value, the Helix Turbo (the one nonetheless out there) is dear ($1,249) in comparison with the aluminum flagship competitors.

Does the Hoyt Helix Ship on its Mission?

Sure. Competitors is tight in our bow check, and any new flagship that cracks the top-five listing is close to flawless. The 2019 Helix might not be out there new, however the Turbo model nonetheless is, and should you’re purchasing for a pace bow, it’s among the best ones on the market proper now. Perhaps do a couple of push-ups earlier than you seize maintain of it, however anticipate the Hoyt Helix to be a premium bow that’s quiet and correct, and one of many quickest fashions in the marketplace in the present day.