Outdoor Life calls the Varos “the most accurate bow we tested” after a three-day, seven-bow shootout.
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WEST HENRIETTA, NY — Elite Archery's new Varos compound bow has been named Outdoor Life's 2026 Bow of the Year, the top honor in the publication's annual head-to-head evaluation of seven flagship hunting bows. After three days of scoring, 405 arrows of accuracy testing, and a final 30-arrow shootoff among the top three, Outdoor Life named the Varos its 2026 Bow of the Year, calling it "the most accurate bow we tested."
"We are all very proud of the products we produce, and this recognition of the Varos as Bow of the Year solidifies what we believe — that the Elite Varos is the perfect hunting bow," said Josh Sidebottom, COO of The Outdoor Group. "The shootability and adjustability that we strive for in every bow we build is something that really needs to be experienced to appreciate. It's not something that can be easily seen in a quick review; the time that the Outdoor Life team puts into evaluating the bows is really where the Varos shines — elevating the archer's performance and making their job easier. I would encourage anyone to visit their local dealer to experience this for themselves."
Outdoor Life described this year's field as "by far the most competitive we've seen," with less than one point separating the top three bows after the initial round of scoring. The Varos pulled away in the finals. "When the dust settled, the Elite Varos was the clear winner in accuracy, scores, and the test team's pick," the publication wrote, adding that the bow "has a full suite of user-friendly tuning features, the best post-shot experience in this year's test, and it's not weak in any area of its design."
On accuracy, Outdoor Life's three-shooter test team averaged a 2.79-inch group at 50 yards with the Varos. In the final shootoff, the Varos's groups were on average 0.6 inches smaller than the other two finalists. "It was the easiest bow to be accurate with, and it didn't punish marginal shots as severely as other bows did," the testers reported. The Varos also won the features category outright, which the publication attributed to Elite's new Micro Splitters — press-free cam timing adjustments made with a single screw — alongside S.E.T. Technology and ¼-inch draw length adjustment.
Reviewers also called out the Varos for being noticeably quieter than the field and for its low holding weight, which made it "the bow you want in your hands" for long holds. Outdoor Life noted the Varos was the least expensive bow in the lineup, calling it "a great value" given the depth of features and overall quality.
Elite Varos at a Glance
- Press-free cam timing via Elite's Micro Splitters — Outdoor Life's standout feature in the field
- Up to 338 FPS IBO, 32'' axle-to-axle, 6 5/8'' brace height
- 25.5''—31'' draw range with ¼'' adjustability; SP2 Cam + VX Mods + S.E.T. Technology
Visit your local dealer to shoot the Elite Varos and see why it was named the #1 bow of 2026.
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About The Outdoor Group
Elite Archery is a proud member of The Outdoor Group's family of brands. Established in 2012 and headquartered in West Henrietta, New York, The Outdoor Group is the parent company of Altra Arrows, Scott Archery, Custom Bow Equipment, and Slick Trick Broadheads.