Hoyt Defiant Bow Review

I have somewhat dropped the ball on my bow reviews for 2016. In the past, I seem to have been pretty quick to publish my opinions following the release of the new year's models. I'm behind this year, but better late than never.

The way technology is today, we seem to see huge changes in the archery industry every year. Last year it was Mathews with the new NoCam, and Hoyt with their first ever speed bow in both a Carbon and Aluminum riser design. Elite had their super smooth Synergy, and BowTech brought the new Prodigy.

This year, things continue to change. Mathews now has their new Halon line. PSE has built a carbon bow. And Hoyt has an all new design in aluminum and carbon riser yet again, along with a completely redesigned UltraFlex limb structure. Today, I am going to touch on what Hoyt has to offer for 2016.

The bow I got to play with the most was the Hoyt Defiant 30 in an aluminum riser design. The bow has a 30 1/2 inch axle-to-axle length, a 7 inch brace height, and clocking in at 331 FPS. I have not yet gotten my hands on a Carbon Defiant, but seeing as it has the exact same cam and specs as the aluminum riser design, with the exception of net weight, I have a good idea of what to expect.

When I first picked up the new Defiant 30, I immediately was impressed with the balance of the bow. It's net weight bare is 4 lbs., and it settles very comfortably in the hand. The draw cycle on the new DFX cam seemed very typical for a Hoyt, with similarities to the previous Z5 cam system.

While the DFX cam draw cycle may have seemed similar to to previous Hoyt draw cycles, there were some features to the new cam that I was not impressed with. This year, Hoyt went to a rotating cam module for draw length adjustment, opposed to the module replacement option they have chosen to go with in years past. I myself am not a fan of a rotating module, but that’s just me. In many situations, I believe they result in more of a "spongy" back-wall when at full draw, which is the case with the Defiant.

Granted, I have heard people complain about how previous Hoyt models did not have a rock solid back-wall. I think that is true to some degree, as they are definitely not as solid as a Prime or Elite bow, or even last year's Mathews NoCam. But Hoyt did have several models in which they did much better on with the back-wall, my 2015 Nitrum Turbo being one of them.

Some people may even like to have a little play in their back-wall, I’ve had encounters with these folks as well. But for me personally, even a 1/4 inch of play is way too much. That's what I felt in the Defiant...and yes, the cams were in time. I double checked that. Now Hoyt did give a limb stop option on their bows this year, which I am sure would solidify the back-wall. However, I did not proceed to set the limb stop to my liking this go around.

Lastly, let's look at the release and the shot itself. The bow shoots fast and hits hard, but I felt more hand-shock then I recall in any previous Hoyt models. Upon executing the shot, the bow has a little bit of jump to it as well, but that's to be somewhat expected, seeing as it was bare and not weighted down with accessories. The shock I partially contribute to the fact that they have a new limb pocket design, and, in creating the new UltraFlex limbs, they were unable to incorporate the AirShox into this year's models. They have returned to the simple rubber dampener as seen in models older than 2013.

I have heard other bits and pieces about the new Hoyt bows from different people over the past few weeks, and unfortunately most of the comments I heard were negative. I've heard that the ZeroTorque cable system is causing tuning issues. No, I did not have the time to play with the tuning on the Defiant, but I can say that I haven't had any issues with my 2015 Hoyt, which runs the same cable system.

Everyone has their own opinions, just as all this is mine. As always, I recommend that you shoot one for yourself and see what you think. I cannot say this is my favorite Hoyt bow, but I do respect the opinion of those to which it may be. The Hoyt Defiant is not the only 2016 bow I shot. Look for my reviews on the new Mathews Halon, PSE Carbon Air, and Elite Impulse 34 in the days and weeks to come!

-Sam Thrash, Fall Obsession Pro Staff