Mathews ARC 34 vs Elite Varos
Quick take: The Elite Varos costs $170 less; the Mathews ARC 34 is rated 5 fps faster (343 fps ATA); the Mathews ARC 34 is the lighter carry (4.3 lb bare).
| Spec | Mathews ARC 34 | Elite Varos |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,469 | $1,299 |
| Rating | 5★ (9) | 5★ (18) |
| Type | Flagship Compound | Flagship Compound |
| ATA/IBO Speed | 343 fps | 338 fps |
| Length | 34" | 32" |
| Brace Height | 6.5" | 6.625" |
| Draw Weights | 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80 lb | 40, 50, 60, 65, 70, 75 lb |
| Draw Length | 26.5–32" | 25.5–31" |
| Let-Off | 85% | 90% |
| Mass Weight | 4.3 lb | 4.75 lb |
| Construction | Compound | Compound |
| Setup | Mathews is dealer-only — no online sales, so plan an in-store fitting. Draw length changes are mod-based (26.5–32" via SWX-2 mods, sold per length/letoff), and Limb Shift lets your shop micro-tune cam lean with a wrench instead of a press. The integrated Silent Connect anchor and Mathews' Bridge-Lock/LowPro accessory ecosystem keep the finished bow slim, but you're largely buying into Mathews-branded accessories. | 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, via authorized dealer) | Limited lifetime (original owner) + Elite Hunt Guarantee program |
Pros & cons
Mathews ARC 34
- ✓Unanimous best draw cycle in Outdoor Life's 2026 seven-bow test (5/5)
- ✓Rock-steady on target — testers and owners report it aims like a longer target bow
- ✓Press-free Limb Shift tuning; owners call it 'a snap to tune'
- ✓Quiet and dead in the hand, consistent with recent Mathews flagships
- ✓Wide 26.5–32" draw range covers long-draw shooters most flagships ignore
- ✓Choice of standard SWX (faster) or SWX-Z (smoother) mods
- ✓$1,469 undercuts carbon-riser rivals by $500+
- ✓Perfect 5.0 across 9 Scheels customer reviews so far
- ✗Short valley — it wants constant pressure into the stops or it jumps off the wall
- ✗Some owners find the first third of the draw stiff despite the hype
- ✗Engage/Bond grip is polarizing; a common ArcheryTalk complaint
- ✗Accuracy trailed the Elite Varos in Outdoor Life's testing (3.56" vs 2.79" at 50 yd)
- ✗Dealer-only purchase; mods cost extra if your draw specs change
- ✗4.3 lb bare is mid-pack — noticeably heavier than the Lift X it replaced
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