Elite Ember vs Elite Varos
Quick take: The Elite Ember costs $619 less; the Elite Varos is rated 28 fps faster (338 fps ATA); the Elite Ember is the lighter carry (3.6 lb bare).
| Spec | Elite Ember | Elite Varos |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $680 | $1,299 |
| Rating | 5★ (2) | 5★ (18) |
| Type | Mid-Range Compound | Flagship Compound |
| ATA/IBO Speed | 310 fps | 338 fps |
| Length | 31.25" | 32" |
| Brace Height | 6.25" | 6.625" |
| Draw Weights | 10-60 lb (single limb set, full range) | 40, 50, 60, 65, 70, 75 lb |
| Draw Length | 15-29 in (rotating mods, half-inch increments) | 25.5–31" |
| Let-Off | 80% | 90% |
| Mass Weight | 3.6 lb | 4.75 lb |
| Construction | Compound | Compound |
| Setup | Sold as a ready-to-shoot package with CBE accessories; a bare-bow option exists through some dealers. Draw length and weight adjust with a hex wrench via rotating mods and limb bolts - no press needed. The yoked dual-cam system benefits from a pro-shop tune out of the box and periodic sync checks. | Sold through Elite dealers, but it's the most home-tunable bow of the group: Micro Splitters handle cam timing and S.E.T. handles cam lean, both without a press, and VX mods set draw length in quarter-inch steps from 25.5–31". Letoff and holding-weight feel are customizable via the SP2 cam system. Registering the bow activates Elite's Hunt Guarantee support program. |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime (original owner) plus Elite Hunt Guarantee | Limited lifetime (original owner) + Elite Hunt Guarantee program |
Pros & cons
Elite Ember
- ✓Massive 10-60 lb / 15-29 in adjustment range fits youth through adults
- ✓Limb-stop back wall is rock solid - rare at this price
- ✓Package accessories (CBE sight/rest, Winner's Choice strings) beat rival RTH kits
- ✓Very light 3.6 lb bare weight for all-day carry
- ✓ArcheryTalk owners report less vibration and better hold than Bear Legit and PSE Stinger
- ✓Fit and finish widely described as a class above other budget bows
- ✓Elite's Hunt Guarantee and lifetime warranty back it
- ✗310 fps IBO is the slowest rating in this class; short draws give up more
- ✗Dual cams with yokes need occasional re-tuning versus binary-cam rivals
- ✗Some shooters find the light bow slightly nervous/unstable at full draw
- ✗No draw weight above 60 lb - heavy-poundage hunters are excluded
- ✗In-store-only at some retailers (e.g., Scheels), limiting online price shopping
Elite Varos
- ✓Most accurate bow in Outdoor Life's 2026 test, and the shoot-off winner
- ✓Perfect 5/5 post-shot score — extremely quiet with no hand shock
- ✓Micro Splitters + S.E.T. = the most complete press-free tuning toolkit of 2026
- ✓Up to 90% letoff with a stable 7.8-lb holding weight
- ✓Huge 25.5–31" draw range in quarter-inch increments
- ✓$1,299 — cheapest flagship here by $170+
- ✓18/18 five-star owner reviews on Elite's site
- ✓6.625" brace height is the most forgiving in this group
- ✗Heaviest bow in the group at 4.75 lb bare
- ✗Abrupt transition into the valley — draw cycle scored just 3/5
- ✗Slippery stock grip; OL testers resorted to grip tape
- ✗285.8 fps measured — the slow end of the 2026 flagship field
- ✗Rating source is the manufacturer's own site, so take the 5.0 with salt