Best Bows for Contortion Archery
Best Bows for Contortion Archery
I can’t remember what inspired me to want to start shooting things with my feet - it may have been the fever of the Hunger Games recently being released, or it may simply have been the result of watching too many of Orissa Kelly’s amazing contortion archery videos on Youtube. Lo and behold my disappointment when I started researching and no amount of feverish Googling could find any resources on the subject. I mean, this is the internet, I thought EVERYTHING was on here (especially foot stuff…).
But thanks to the wonders of an Amazon Prime account I found a couple of great beginner bows (and plenty of not-so-great) for foot archery. Read on for some recommendations on what to look for in a beginner bow for foot and contortion archery and my top recommended bows for newbies who want to give foot archery a shot. (But first let’s please take a moment to appreciate that amazing pun.)
What to Look for in a Contortion Bow
What’s the draw weight?
“Draw weight” is the amount of force it takes to pull back the string on a bow. Legitimate archery bows are rated by the pounds of force it takes to shoot (ex. 45lb or 45#). If you’re just starting out, look for anything less than 10# (if the draw weight is listed at all). Better yet, start with a toy kids’ bow - they’re cheap, lightweight, and basically made to match the strength of a five year old so you won’t give your poor foot a charlie horse trying to pull back the string with your toes. Toy bows likely won’t have a draw weight listed, but that’s fine.
How heavy is the bow?
If you’re buying a bow online, don’t forget to double-check how much the bow actually weighs. The difference between 1lb and 3lb is surprisingly big when it’s for something you’re trying to desperately grasp between your toes. Look for bows that are less than 1lb (16oz).
Will the arrow rest help hold an arrow in place?
Look for bows like this or this that allow you to load the arrow straight through the middle (not resting on the side). If your bow does not come with an arrow rest, you may have to fashion one yourself out of some wire or tape.
Can I practice with the arrows inside?
Are you planning on practicing indoors or outside? If you want to practice with real arrows, make sure you have an outside space and target you can work with (unless your landlord is OK with a couple of practice holes in the drywall). Otherwise stick to suction cups.
Note: “real” arrows have nice nocks that will “lock” into the bow string. Cheapo kids’ suction cup arrows’ nocks will NOT hold them in place, so they can slide right off the string. When I started that meant I had to physically hold the arrow on the string with my toes which was insanely hard (especially while rolling into a chest stand!). An easy DIY solution is to get some kind of putty - I used a rubber eraser I got at the craft store for like $3, but even something like Silly Putty would work - and put a small blob on the string to hold the arrow in place. You should be able to smoosh the arrow into the putty and give it a like shake without it coming dislodged, but it should still be loose enough that the arrow will actually fly when the string is released.
The Best (and Worst) Bows I’ve Tried
Best of the Best: Petron Stealth Archery Set
Bow: Petron Sports Stealth Archery Set
Price: $50.03
If you’re willing to spend the money up front, this one is hands down the best bang for your buck. At $50, it’s a bit pricey for a “toy” bow, but it is lightweight, easy to grip, and best of all it doesn’t look like a cheesy straight-out-of-a-Nickelodeon-commercial prop. You could use this bow for practice as well as performance.
Pros:
Super lightweight (~1 lb) and sturdy (middle part is plastic, bow “arms” are fiberglass)
Shoot-through hole in the center of the bow means arrows won’t fall out
Low/negligible draw weight, but shoots with a good amount of force (could probably shoot 20 ft)
Comes with 6 suction-cup arrows
Sleek all-black design makes it look less like a toy
Cons:
Can’t work with “real” arrows, only with the provided sucker arrows
It’s a bit pricey for a “toy”
Best on a Budget: Dazzling Toys Toy Bow Play Set
Bow: Dazzling Toys Toy Bow and Arrow Play Set
Price: $15
This was the first bow I bought because I wanted something cheap to test out to see if foot archery was even a thing I could learn (surprise! It’s not actually that hard if you have a good chest stand or strong back bend control). I would recommend this (or a similar sized/priced plastic bow) to anyone who just wants to give foot archery a try without spending a lot of money.
Pros:
Can’t get any cheaper than this
Super lightweight plastic, 6oz feels like nothing
Draw weight is negligible
24” tall is great for trying this out, not super large and unwieldy
Comes with suction cup arrows so can practice indoors
Cons:
Very obviously a kids bow (I wouldn’t even use this in a student show performance)
Pretty tiny (although that does make it very easy to work with!)
Not terribly accurate
Plastic will break if you crush it (learned this when I tipped out of a forearmstand and landed bow-first on the ground. It didn’t survive)
Runner Up: Bear Archery 1st Shot
Bow: Bear Archery 1st Shot Youth Bow
Price: $22
This bow is a nice mix between the $50 Petron and the $15 will-break-if-you-drop-it Dazzling Toys bows. It’s still super light and has a toe-friendly draw weight. The only catch is there’s no arrow rest to hold the arrow in place, so it takes a little MacGyver-ing to fashion an arrow rest yourself (I used some wire).
Pros:
Lightweight, sturdy (non-plastic) bow
No frills, easy to grab with toes
36” long is closer to a “real” bow size
Could easily be spray-painted to be performance-appropriate
Cons:
Need to make some modifications to make your own arrow rest
Need to purchase suction cup arrows for indoor practice separately (it only comes with regular outdoor arrows)
Would Not Recommend: Bear Archery Youth Bow
Price: $49
I wanted to like this bow. My other Bear bow was so foot-friendly, and this one had a build in center arrow rest (jackpot!). Unfortunately it’s honestly just too big - it’s pretty heavy for feet to hold, and it’s long and unwieldy compared to the others in this list.
Pros:
Legitimate youth bow (more a bow, less a toy)
Comes with actual non-suction cup arrows for outside target practice
Can still use suction cup arrows for inside practice
Center built “whisker biscuit” arrow rest lets you shoot arrows straight through the bow
Low to moderate draw weight (5# - 18lb), I didn’t notice it feeling too heavy to pull
Cons:
HEAVY. This is almost 3lb and was a noticeable struggle to hold with my toes. I actually had to return it for this reason
46.5” tall - this is a bit awkwardly large and cumbersome for shooting from a cheststand or an many floor poses
More to come soon on getting started with foot archery! In the meantime, do you have any recommendations I should add to this list? Leave a comment below and I’ll update this over time.
