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If you’ve been putting off the crossbow upgrade, 2026 is a tough year to keep making excuses.
If you need 515 fps, TenPoint has it. Or if you prefer a $600 whitetail workhorse, Wicked Ridge has you covered. We dug into new models, ranked from most to least expensive, so you can find the one that fits your hunting style and your credit card limit.
TenPoint TRX Ultra
The TRX Ultra pushes a 410-grain bolt to a staggering 515 fps, making it the fastest production choice on the market.
That kind of speed comes from TenPoint’s Zero- Torsion Technology, which pairs all-new 8mm axles (175% stronger and 215% stiffer than standard) with X-Wide Limbs that are 20% broader and 120% stronger than conventional limbs. Nothing flexes that shouldn’t flex, and the arrow goes exactly where you aim it.
The reverse-draw layout moves mass rearward for better balance. The ACUslide Maxx lets you safely de-cock without firing a shot. An upgraded string and snap-on ACU-X nock extend string life by 200% over previous generations. At 8.4 pounds, it’s not the lightest, but with 242 foot-pounds (ft-lbs) of energy, it’s a fair trade.
Ships with an EVO-X Marksman Elite Scope, three Pro Elite 400 carbon bolts, quiver, and bow hanger.
MSRP: $3,549

Ravin R10X Pro
The R10X Pro is promising accuracy over outright speed.
Ravin’s HeliCoil platform is behind that accuracy with the cams rotating a full 340 degrees while staying perfectly level, and the Trac-Trigger Firing System clasps dead-center on the string every time for straight-line nock travel. A 2-pound, 6-ounce trigger is smooth and reliable.
The Fully Integrated Silent Cocking System replaces the original R10’s ratcheting sound with a genuinely quiet drawing motion, and it takes just 12 pounds of effort to cock.
Clocking in around 420 fps, it’s plenty quick, and a new full-length optics rail adds rigidity over the original R10. Ships with a 100-yard illuminated scope, three Ravin 0.003 arrows, a removable draw handle, and quiver. Comes in black or XK7 Camo.
MSRP: $1,849
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Excalibur RevX TD
Excalibur has been building recurve crossbows since before most of today’s hunters were born, but the RevX TD has added a slick new one-button take-down feature. You simply separate the limb and string assembly, drop it in the included case, and snap it back together later without changing your point of impact.
The Quick-Loc Technology locks the assembly into the same position every time, which means you can fly to a remote camp, reassemble in the dark, and trust that your bolts will hit the same spot as before the ride.
The CeaseFire Technology means the crossbow cannot physically discharge unless an arrow is properly nocked, the safety is off, and the trigger is pulled. The ChargerX crank handles cocking smoothly regardless of strength or fatigue, and the recurve format means you can replace a string in the field without a bow press.
The RevX TD launches bolts at 400 fps and weighs 7.5 pounds. Available in Mossy Oak Bottomland or Stealth Gray, with the Overwatch scope, three-bolt quiver, and takedown hard case all included.
MSRP: $1,999.99

Barnett Hyper Raptor T-REX
The Hyper Raptor T-REX is Barnett’s speed flagship, delivering up to 440 fps thanks to the Raptor Series step-through riser, parabolic limbs, and self-timing Infinity cams.
The Integrated Planetary De-Cocking System lets you cock and de-cock safely without a manual draw, paired with a floating TriggerTech trigger for a smooth, crisp pull. The Halo System eliminates cable crossing and cam lean for consistent string travel, while pivoting limb pockets and the Soft-Lok Bristle Retainer System add durability and keep bolts seated through the shot.
At just 8.2 pounds and a tight 7.25-inch axle-to-axle width when cocked, it’s compact and easy to carry, with 220 pounds of draw weight and 163 ft-lbs of kinetic energy behind every shot. The package includes three 22-inch HyperFlite arrows, a 2-7x36mm illuminated multireticle scope, a three-arrow quiver, and an integrated planetary gear cocking system with quick-detach crank handle.
MSRP: $1,199

Killer Instinct NEO-XDC
The NEO-X gets its 415 fps with a reverse-limb design that moves mass toward the center of the bow for better balance and reduced felt recoil, paired with a Synchronized X-Cam System.
The DC Trigger Box handles cocking and de-cocking quietly and safely, which is a function you typically have to spend a lot more to get. Measuring 28 inches long and 6.75 inches wide when cocked, it’s one of the most compact sub-$700 crossbows on the market.
It weighs in at 8.2 pounds with solid balance, and its 3.5-pound trigger pull is smooth and predictable. The package includes two 390-grain bolts, an illuminated Lumix XLR 4×32 scope, a three-arrow quiver, a MaxPad foot stirrup, and rail lube.
MSRP: $649.99

Wicked Ridge Commander 400
Surprisingly well-built, the Commander 400 will do everything a whitetail hunter needs, at a price of just $599. Gordon Glass double-laminated limbs are standard and normally live on bows costing considerably more.
The MDX Cam System generates 400 fps and 146 ft-lbs of kinetic energy, and at 7.3 pounds is one of the lighter models in the group. A built-in ACUdraw cocking device makes drawing smooth and repeatable at half the bow’s draw weight. For 2026, Wicked Ridge also refined the comb height, length-of-pull, and grip geometry, and the bow ships sighted in from the factory at 20 yards. Package includes the 70-Yard Pro-View 400 Lighted Scope, three carbon arrows, quiver, and bow hanger.
MSRP: $599


