Best Arrows for Beginners
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By James Holbert · Explained Archery
The best first arrows are the ones whose spine and length match your bow, which is why there is no single answer. If you shoot a Genesis or a school-program bow, Easton Genesis aluminum arrows need no spine decision at all. For a recurve or compound, work out your spine first and then buy Gold Tip Warrior for a general carbon set, or Easton Carbon Legacy if you shoot traditional. Buy six to test before you buy a dozen.
Quick answer
| If you shoot | Buy | Spine decision |
|---|---|---|
| A Genesis or school-program bow | Easton Genesis aluminum | None. One spine fits the whole line |
| A beginner recurve, 25 to 40 lb | Easton Carbon Legacy or a carbon set by spine | Usually 600 to 1100, worked out from your numbers |
| A compound with a release | Gold Tip Warrior or a carbon set by spine | Usually 340 to 600 |
| A traditional bow off the shelf | Easton Carbon Legacy with feathers | Weaker than a chart suggests, and feathers not vanes |
Run your own numbers through the arrow spine calculator before you order anything.
One rule covers every case: an arrow that is too light can damage the bow. Never go below 5 grains of total arrow weight per pound of draw weight.
Work out the numbers first
Arrows are not bought by brand, they are bought by spine and length. Four numbers decide it, and each one follows from the last.
Finger shooters need a weaker spine than a compound shooter at the same draw weight, which is why a compound chart sends recurve archers to shafts that are far too stiff.
The full method for a recurve is in how to choose arrows for a recurve bow, and the tables for every bow type are on the arrow spine chart.
The picks
Easiest start: Easton Genesis aluminum
The arrow used across school archery programs. Because a Genesis bow has no let-off and no draw-length setting, one spine suits every archer on the line, so the spine decision disappears entirely. Aluminum bends rather than splinters, which makes a bent arrow obvious and safe to retire. If you are buying for a child, a class or a first bow of that type, this removes the part people get wrong.
Best general carbon set: Gold Tip Warrior
Tough, inexpensive and sold fletched and ready in the common spines. A sensible first carbon set for a compound or a heavier recurve, and cheap enough that losing one in long grass is not an event. Carbon keeps its straightness far better than aluminum, which is why most archers end up there.
Best for traditional and recurve: Easton Carbon Legacy
Carbon with a wood-grain finish and feather options, made for shooters who want the look of wood with the consistency of carbon. Check the spine range before ordering: a light recurve needs weaker shafts than many carbon ranges carry, so confirm yours is covered.
If you already know your spine
Buy by the number rather than the name. Any reputable shaft in the right spine, cut to the right length, will outshoot a fancier arrow in the wrong one.
| Arrows | Material | Suits | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easton Genesis | Aluminum | School bows, children, first sets | Bends permanently on a hard hit |
| Gold Tip Warrior | Carbon | Compound and heavier recurve | Check it comes in your spine |
| Easton Carbon Legacy | Carbon | Traditional and light recurve | Use feathers if you shoot off the shelf |
| Any shaft by spine | Carbon or aluminum | Anyone who has run the numbers | Buy six first, then a dozen |
Fletching matters more than most beginners expect: a bow shot off the shelf needs feathers, because a plastic vane strikes the shelf and kicks the arrow sideways.
How many arrows to buy
Buy three to six of your best guess, shoot them, and only then buy a dozen from the same batch. A dozen is the standard set because target rounds are shot in ends of three or six, and arrows get damaged.
| Use | Sensible set | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Testing a spine | 3 to 6 | Enough to see a pattern without committing |
| Range practice | A dozen matched | Fewer trips to the target, and a spare when one breaks |
| Target competition | A dozen plus spares | Same batch, so a replacement matches |
| Hunting | 6 matched | With broadheads that weigh the same as your field points |
Write down the spine, length and point weight you settled on so a replacement dozen matches.
You also need somewhere to put them. Quiver capacity by type covers that, and the archery equipment list covers the rest of a first setup.
Arrow safety basics
- Flex every carbon shaft and listen for a crack before each session; a damaged carbon arrow can splinter on release
- Never shoot an arrow below 5 grains per pound of draw weight: see dry firing a compound bow
- Replace cracked nocks rather than shooting them out
- Check the point is tight before every end
- Use field points for practice and keep broadheads capped until you hunt
- Confirm the arrow is long enough that the point sits ahead of the rest at full draw
A short arrow or a cracked shaft is the one arrow problem that can injure the archer rather than just cost a point.
Related guides and tools
Everything the arrow decision depends on.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions people ask before buying a first set of arrows.
What arrows should a beginner buy?
Arrows matched to your bow's draw weight and your arrow length. Easton Genesis aluminum if you shoot a school-program bow, Gold Tip Warrior for a general carbon set, or Easton Carbon Legacy for traditional and light recurve.
What spine arrow do I need?
It depends on draw weight, arrow length and point weight. A 30 lb recurve usually starts near an 800 to 900 spine and a 60 lb compound near a 340 to 400. Run your numbers through the arrow spine calculator.
Are carbon or aluminum arrows better for beginners?
Carbon keeps its straightness and survives hard hits better, so most archers end up there. Aluminum is cheaper to start with, bends visibly rather than splintering, and is the standard in school programs.
How many arrows should I buy to start?
Three to six to test the spine, then a dozen of whatever flew well, bought from the same batch so they match.
How much do beginner arrows cost?
Prices move, so check the current listing. A ready-fletched budget carbon dozen is one of the cheapest parts of a setup, and far cheaper than replacing a bow damaged by an underweight arrow.
Do I need feathers or plastic vanes?
Feathers if the arrow rests directly on the shelf, because they fold flat on contact. Vanes are fine and last longer on a bow with an elevated rest.
Can I use any arrows with my bow?
No. An arrow that is too short can come off the rest and into your hand, and one that is too light can damage the bow. Match length to your draw and keep total weight at or above 5 grains per pound of draw weight.
References
These sources support the spine, material and safety guidance on this page.