Written By Ron Parker
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Every archer and bowhunter who practices the sport long enough will enjoy the experience of replacing their bowstring. For many of us, the hardest part of it ends up being choosing a bowstring out of the market's plethora of options. After extensive testing and use, we've found the six best recurve bow strings for 2024 and reviewed them so you can pick the right string for your bow.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
keshes bowstring
Staff Favorite
Deerseeker bowstring
Best flemish fast flight
FLEMISH FAST FLIGHT Plus
Best Recurve Bow Strings At A Glance
Bow Strings Explained: Materials, Strands, AMO Length
String Material
The best string material is going to be Dacron, Dyneema, or Fast Flight. It is important to regularly apply string wax to your bowstring, regardless of the material used. Let's take a look at each of these below.
Dacron
Most string makers make at least one type of dacron strings. Dacron is a type of polyester material and the fabric you're most likely to find used in bowstrings. It's relatively inexpensive yet strong and stretchy. Most importantly, it's springy. That is to say, it resists permanent stretch. After stretching for a shot, it springs back to its original tension.
More stretch is preferred by hunters as more stretch is usually quieter and more forgiving.
This resistance to stretching is especially important for a recurve bowstring. Since a traditional bow requires instinctive aiming, you need the shot to be consistent shot after shot. This is impossible if the bowstring loses tension easily.
The Bear Grizzly Recurve comes with a dacron string.
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Dyneema
Dyneema is a less common but still effective bowstring fabric. It's very strong and also resists permanent stretch. Dyneema is an especially popular material among hobbyists who like to braid their own bowstrings. You can buy spools of Dyneema thread specifically for the task.
652 Fast Flight
Fast Flight is a high-quality bowstring thread used in some of the best recurve bowstrings. Also manufactured by Dyneema, it's very strong, low stretch, and more durable than a lot of other fabrics. That makes it a good choice for bowhunters or target archers who shoot a lot.
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How Many Strands Do I Need?
The number of strands your bowstring should have is directly related to the draw weight and power of your bow. Recurve bows with higher draw weights need thicker bowstrings with more strands, while youth recurve bows with low draw weights take bow strings with less strands. The table below reflects the general recommendations for strands according to bow weight in the archery community.
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Bow Draw Weight | Recommended Bow String Strand Count |
Under 30 lbs | 10 strands |
30-40 lbs | 12 strands |
40-50 lbs | 14 strands |
50-66 lbs | 16 strands |
Over 66 lbs | 18 strands |
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AMO Length vs Actual Length
One of the most confusing things when you're in the market for a bowstring is getting the right length. This is because some manufacturers rate their bowstrings for the appropriate AMO length of the bows they match. Others, however, simply list the actual length of the bowstrings themselves, which is usually three to four inches shorter than the bow's AMO length.
Pay attention to this when selecting a bowstring. If the manufacturer has listed the actual length, you'll have to check what length of bowstring is right for your AMO length.
Getting the right size string is crucial to getting the best performance out of your bow. A new string that is too short will increase the brace height and make for a very fast and unforgiving bow, while a new string that is too long will result an a shorter brace height that will shoot slower and be more forgiving.
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Here is a great video explaining everything you need to know about bow strings.
Best Recurve Bow String Reviews
KESHES Dacron String
The Keshes Dacron bowstring is basically the industry standard, and we can definitely understand why. This is the newest model, the B-55, upgraded from previous Dacron models in that it's even more resilient and resistant to permanent stretch. This means it will last longer, which gives you more value for the price, but more importantly, it means your shots will be more consistent over time, and that means better accuracy. If you're a beginner, it also makes it easier to learn.
With the Keshes take on the Dacron bowstring, you also get a lot of versatility, which we love. You have three stand options to choose from based on your draw weight as well as 12 AMO lengths, so it's great for just about any recurve.
Finally, for a bowstring, we found the Keshes Dacron to be easy to use and install. This is primarily because of the endless loop design. Without any expertise, you can insert it right into the string groove on your limb tips and get back to shooting.
What We Like:
The new B-55 version resists permanent stretch for more consistent shots.
- You get three thread options to correctly match your draw weight.
- You can choose from multiple lengths.
- The endless loop design makes it easy to install, even for beginners.
- The lengths are rated for AMO lengths, not the actual length of the bowstring, which makes it easier to pick out.
What We Don't Like:
The end loops fray faster than the main bowstring.
The Keshes Dacron bowstring is our favorite overall for a lot of reasons, most of all because it has the versatility and options to fit a range of recurves. Plus, because it's easy to install and resists stretching, it saves you time and can facilitate learning and improving if you're a beginner.
Legend Bow String
Another Dacron string, we love how tough the Legend recurve bowstring is. It's great for repeated use, whether you're a bowhunter or a hobbyist that regularly hits the range.
Like the Keshes bowstring, this one is also the newest B-55 Dacron model. That gives it a smoother shot than past versions. Plus, it keeps its length and tension for longer, which means the shot stays the same over repeated use for more consistency and accuracy.
Lastly, we also liked the endless loop design of this bowstring. It's easy to install, but more importantly, the loops are braided for extra durability. The loops are one of the main places that bowstrings begin to fray, so this helps increase the life of the bowstring considerably.
What We Like:
The tough construction gives the bowstring a longer life.
- The new B-55 version resists stretching and makes for a more consistent shot.
- The endless loop design is easy to install.
- The braided loops don't fray too quickly.
- Strand and length options let you customize the bowstring for your bow.
What We Don't Like:
The serving is a bit thin and can wear with repeated use.
Our favorite thing about the Legend bowstring is its durability. It's tough enough to handle frequent shooting, so if you hunt or target shoot often, it can save you time and money. This is on top of the fact that it's easy to install and get in the right size for your bow.
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Deerseeker Dacron String
The first thing to notice on the Deerseeker Dacron string is its ability to absorb vibration. This is ideal for bowhunting for a couple reasons. First of all, this cuts down on sound that might spook game enough for it to jolt and ruin your shot. More significantly, it helps with accuracy since it allows the arrow to get a better spin and straighter trajectory.
Another thing that makes the Deerseeker bowstring great for bowhunting is its range of sizes and strand counts. Specifically, you can get it with 16 strands for bows with higher draw weights approaching 70 pounds as well as longer AMO lengths up to 70 inches.
Last of all, we also love the endless loop design. If you're a bowhunter, you likely aren't interested in spending a ton of time maintaining your bow or learning about all its innerworkings. This design makes installation easy so you can focus on hunting.
What We Like:
The bowstring absorbs vibration to make quieter, more accurate shots.
You can get strand counts and AMO lengths that suit bigger, more powerful recurves.
The endless loop design makes installation easy and saves you time.
The included brass nocks help you set up your bow for consistent shots from tree stands.
What We Don't Like:
The loops may fray faster than the main bowstring.
We recommend the Deerseeker Dacron bowstring for recurve bowhunters. This is because its design can improve accuracy by minimizing vibration. Plus, it's a quiet bowstring that's easy to install, including the provided nocks.
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If you're looking for a super tough bowstring with over 16 strands, this is one of the best—and only—options on the market. In other words, it's the best option for the most powerful recurve bows, those over 60 pounds of draw weight. We use this bowstring on our Bear Super Kodiak hunting recurve bow.
A unique feature of this string that we really like is the braided design. This decreases fraying and increases the life of the bowstring by quite a bit, so it's also good for repeated use under the tension of large, powerful recurves.
Overall, we found this bowstring easy to install, and it even has a bit of adjustability so you can get it just right. You just need to make sure and get the right length. Flemish didn't rate the bowstring for certain AMO lengths, rather they just list the length of the string itself, so you need to look up which length of bowstring is right for your bow.
What We Like:
The 18 strands make it a good choice for recurve bows with high draw weights.
- The braided design increases durability and minimizes fraying, even under repeated use at high power.
- It's easy to install and adjust for the right fit on your bow.
- It resists stretching for more accurate shots.
What We Don't Like
You can only get an 18-strand version, which is better for powerful bows.
- The length is listed as the bowstring length, not the rated AMO bow length, which makes it harder to choose the right one for your bow.
- The serving area is thin, making it hard to attach nocks.
If you have a powerful recurve with 60 or even 70 pounds of draw weight or are considering trading up for one, you'll need a bowstring with more than 16 strands like this Flemish string. With 18 strands and a braided construction, it's tough enough to handle powerful recurve bows, even if you hunt or target shoot a lot.
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If the 18-strand version above is too thick for you, here's a 16-strand version from SAS. This makes it a better choice for recurve bows in the range of 50 to 66 pounds of draw weight, still powerful but a bit more manageable.
This version has the same braided design that provides durability and consistent shooting. It's easy to install and adjustable, just keep in mind the same issue with fit. The size isn't the AMO length of your bow but rather the actual length of the bowstring, usually three to four inches shorter than the AMO length.
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What We Like:
- The 16 strands make it a good choice for recurve bows with high draw weights that aren't enough for the 18-strand version.
- The braided design increases durability and minimizes fraying, even under repeated use at high power.
- It's easy to install and adjust for the right fit on your bow.
- It resists stretching for more accurate shots.
What We Don't Like
- You can only get a 16-strand version, which is better for powerful bows.
- The length is listed as the bowstring length, not the rated AMO bow length, which makes it harder to choose the right one for your bow.
- The serving area is thin, making it hard to attach nocks.
Like the 18-strand version, the SAS Flemish string is a solid choice for frequent shooters who need the tough braided design. However, it's a bit thinner for less powerful bows, but with 16 strands still thick enough for hunting models with high draw weights over 50 pounds.
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We love how straightforward this bowstring is. Made of Dacron B-55 thread, it's tough and resists stretch, so it keeps the same amount of tension for long periods of time. This is really important on a recurve bow because you have to aim instinctively. Even a slight change in the bow's shot might throw you off.
Additionally, you get a lot of options that are easy to choose from because they're listed simply. Although we were disappointed the lengths only go up to an AMO of 66 inches, we were happy that it was specifically rated for AMO and not just the length of the string.
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What We Like:
- The B-55 Dacron thread resists stretching so it provides for more consistent shots.
- The lengths are rated for your bow's AMO length.
- There are three strand options, so you can get the right one for your draw weight.
- The straightforward endless loop design of the bowstring makes it easy to install.
What We Don't Like:
- The length only goes up to an AMO of 66 inches, so it's not good for large bows.
If you need a quick replacement for your bowstring, the Three Archers string is a basic model that gets the job done at a great value. What we really like is how easy it is to pick the right version and size for your bow and then easily and correctly install it.
RELATED: Samick Sage Recurve Bow Review
Final Thoughts
It can be hard to tell the difference at first glance, but not all bowstrings are created equal. A good bowstring is especially important for recurve bows because it allows for consistent and therefore accurate shots. When it is time to replace a bowstring, we recommend sticking with one of the above six to maximize your recurve bow's potential.
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