Carbon, Aluminum, and Wooden Arrows: Which is Best?

Many factors translate to consistent shooting, but arrow selection can be a fun rabbit hole to follow. While many types of arrows are available, there are three popular shaft materials to choose from: carbon, aluminum, and wood arrows. 

Today, we talk about these three shaft materials and how to choose the best one for a successful hunt – no matter what you hunt with your bow.

What is Arrow Spine?

Spine is a term used to describe an arrow's stiffness or how much it bends when shot from the bow. Each arrow manufacturer will have a different spine rating for specific arrows, and it's important to review a chart when selecting an arrow that matches your draw weight. 

Carbon, Aluminum, and Wooden Arrows: What's the Difference?

Everyone prefers something different, so you'll have to explore what works best for you. I shoot carbon with my compound bow when hunting, so I'll give my thoughts and share some things I've learned about aluminum and wood along the way. 

Carbon Arrows

Most folks I shoot with use carbon arrows, which are my choice for 3D and hunting. Carbon arrows have many positive attributes that make them consistent and easy to work with.

First of all, they're easy to get and have many options available. I like that I can order the same shaft year after year and build trust in my equipment's performance. 

They are durable and consistent compared to wood and don't bend like aluminum. A carbon arrow will either be straight or broken – pretty simple.

They can chip or splinter, so you should inspect carbons before your hunt. Never shoot a damaged arrow because it can lead to injury.

Aluminum Arrows

Aluminum arrows are great, and they get the job done similarly to carbons. You can hunt with them and use them for nearly any kind of range. They are consistent and available in many lengths and spines.

Many shooters preferred aluminum shafts before carbons gained popularity. However, one drawback to aluminum is that it can bend, but that also means you can straighten it with the right equipment and a little patience. 

Wooden Arrows

Cedar and other wooden shafts have been popular with archers for decades and remain still. Some archers prefer wood because of its flexible properties that make arrows forgiving.

However, compared to carbon and aluminum arrows, most wooden arrows lack consistency. The wood varies in density and weight, so shafts need to be matched for spine and weight. Wooden shafts are more fragile and can be affected by humidity and warp when wet. 

Wooden arrows can be works of art, and one day, I hope to explore the process of making my own. 

How to Choose the Best Arrow

Now that you have an understanding of three types of arrows and how they compare, how can you choose the right one for your next hunt? As I mentioned earlier, everyone has different preferences for how they shoot with arrows or what they want out of their bow-arrow setup.

For the most part, choosing the "right" arrow means trying different types of arrows and finding the one that helps you shoot accurately. However, here are a few things to keep in mind as you hone in on the best arrow for your needs.

• Your Bow Type: Make sure the arrows you choose are compatible with your bow (compound, recurve, or longbow).
   
• Draw Weight: Choose arrows that can handle your bow's draw weight with ease.
   
• Your Hunting Style: Consider the game you're hunting and the typical shooting distance where you are most accurate.
   
• Environmental Conditions: Even if you have a go-to type of arrow, consider the weather and terrain where you'll be hunting. It's okay to change your arrow depending on the weather and day-of conditions.

Even if you land on a type of arrow you prefer, it's always okay to mix things up and shoot with different arrows based on what, where, and when you hunt.

Just make sure you practice ahead of time with the arrows you plan to take with you. You never want to get out in the field with arrows you've never used before and risk missing that big buck or the turkey you have your eye on.

Grab Your Bow, Arrows, and HuntWise for Your Next Hunt

Have fun and explore with different equipment so you know what's best for you. I've shot a number of different carbon arrows and find that I prefer them for hunting because they're convenient and low maintenance.

I've never worried about my arrows once I'm in the tree, and I know they're going to perform.

With arrows you can depend on and your bow, you also need the right tool to find public or private hunting land and the best spot to post up and wait for that buck. Make sure you have HuntWise – before and while in the field – to scout land and mark spots that could be animal bedding areas, food sources, or potential locations to place your stand or blind.

With HuntWise, you have hundreds of available map layers, 3D mapping, and predictive tools like HuntCast, RutCast, and WindCast to help you plan the ideal day in the field.

If you don't yet have the app, now is the time to download it and plan your next hunt! You'll have access to every feature in the app – free – for your first week.