Bear Grizzly vs Bear Super Kodiak
Quick take: The Bear Grizzly costs $130 less.
| Spec | Bear Grizzly | Bear Super Kodiak |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $500 | $630 |
| Rating | 4.8★ (26) | — |
| Type | One-Piece Recurve | One-Piece Recurve |
| ATA/IBO Speed | — | — |
| Length | 58" | 60" |
| Brace Height | 8" | 8.5" |
| Draw Weights | 25-60 lb in 5 lb steps @ 28" (LH limited to 35-55 lb) | 25-65 lb in 5 lb steps @ 28" (RH; LH limited to 45-55 lb) |
| Draw Length | — | — |
| Let-Off | — | — |
| Mass Weight | — | — |
| Construction | One-piece | One-piece |
| Setup | Always string it with a bow stringer — never the step-through method. It comes ready to shoot off the included bear hair rest and leather side plate, and start tuning at the recommended 7.5-8.5 inch brace height, twisting the string up until it quiets down. Keep the stock Dacron-class string; the tips aren't rated fast-flight. For whitetail hunting, 40-45 lb at your draw is plenty; the 50 lb version covers elk-class game. | String only with a bow stringer and keep the included Dynaflight 97 Flemish twist — the reinforced tips are rated for it. 3Rivers recommends an 8-9 inch brace window; start low and add twists until the bow goes quiet. The factory bear hair rest and leather side plate need no upgrades, though many hunters swap to a calf-hair or Velcro rest for silence with feathers. Draw weight scales about ±2.5 lb per inch from 28 inches, so order accordingly; 45-50 lb covers deer through elk for most shooters. |
| Warranty | 1-year limited to original owner (Bear Archery; online registration within 30 days required) | 1-year limited to original owner (Bear Archery; online registration within 30 days required) |
Pros & cons
Bear Grizzly
- ✓75-year production heritage with a proven 1964 design
- ✓Cut-on-center, radiused shelf makes arrow tuning forgiving
- ✓58" length is handy in a stand or blind yet still smooth
- ✓4.8/5 average from Walmart buyers; 67 reviews logged at 3Rivers
- ✓Wide 25-60 lb weight range covers youth practice to elk hunting
- ✓Riser is tapped for a bolt-on quiver
- ✓Quiet and nearly shock-free when brace height is tuned
- ✓Broad parts/string availability and strong resale value
- ✗Not fast-flight rated — you're locked into stretchy Dacron strings
- ✗Grip is blocky compared to custom bows; some shooters reshape it
- ✗Marked draw weights often run 1-3 lb heavy
- ✗Stacks past ~29" draw lengths
- ✗Left-hand weight selection is limited (35-55 lb)
- ✗Frequently backordered 2-3 weeks at major retailers
Bear Super Kodiak
- ✓Direct lineage to Fred Bear's own hunting bow from 1967 onward
- ✓Fast-flight-compatible tips; ships with Dynaflight 97 Flemish string
- ✓60" length is forgiving and stack-free for draws up to ~30"
- ✓Widest weight range in Bear's one-piece line (25-65 lb RH)
- ✓Crowned cut-on-center shelf tunes easily for hunting arrows
- ✓66 customer reviews accumulated at 3Rivers with strong word of mouth
- ✓Full, comfortable grip praised by large-handed shooters
- ✓Riser tapped for a bolt-on quiver
- ✗At ~$630, a $130 premium over the functionally similar Grizzly
- ✗Left-hand availability limited to 45-55 lb
- ✗No numeric review aggregate visible anywhere despite many reviews
- ✗60" length is less handy in tight ground blinds than a 52-58" bow
- ✗Collectors note modern production lacks the hand-finishing of Grayling-era bows