Best Bow Sights – Single pin, Garmin, IQ & more

Mar 27, 2021

Best single pin, 3 pin, 5 pin, and digital bow sights

A bow sight is a crucial part of your bow. It will make the difference between a bulls-eye and missing your target. Or in hunting terms, harvesting an animal or walking away empty-handed.

So how do you go about choosing the right sight for your bow? Luckily bow sights are pretty straightforward.

We broke up our selected sights into the following categories:

Single pin sights
3 pin sights
5 pin sights
Digital sights

Single Pin Bow Sights

Why choose a single pin bow sight:

The biggest benefit of a single-pin bow sight is the clutter-free view it offers. Some people prefer this, especially while hunting. Fewer pins equal fewer distractions. And less distraction could help you get on target faster when speed matters, like when hunting deer.

If you go the single pin route, it’s crucial to practice, practice, practice. You’ll only have one pin to judge your angle on. You could sight your single pin in for a distance you know well, but what if you get a perfect opportunity to shoot a deer that’s further away? Do you risk spooking the deer by moving in closer? Or do you take your chance guessing?

If you are an avid hunter, it could be worth going with a top-of-the-line digital pin sight instead. These sights offer a built-in rangefinder and adjust the red dot accordingly. No distractions, no guesswork.

Budget-friendly

TRUGLO Range Rover Single-Pin Bow Sight

Truglo is a well-known name in the bow shooting world. They offer high-quality, competitive bow attachments, usually at half the cost. This single pin sight is easy to adjust with the turn of a knob.

Additionally, it allows a bow-mounted arrow quiver to be mounted directly onto the sight for optimal slot usage.

You can sight it in at various distances

Like the Trophy Ridge, you can sight in this sight for various distances. This sight includes a pre-marked 80 yardage tape.

See more details

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Easy to use

IQ Bowsight Pro One

IQ has been a well-known brand in archery, both for ease of use and reliability. The Pro One is no different. While this bow sight only offers one pin, you can still sight it in at different distances. Mark the correct lines with a pencil, and once you’re confident, you can use something permanent.

If a minimal clutter bow sight is what you’re going for, the IQ Pro One won’t disappoint. The knobs offer a convenient, tool-free way of micro-adjustments.

Keep in mind that this is a single-pin sight only. There’s no way to add more pins down the line. So if you’re not quite sure if a single pin is right for you, you may want to opt for the 3 pin version instead.

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Simple & Effective

Trophy Ridge Pursuit Vertical

Trophy Ridge is another well-known name in the world of bow shooting. The Trophy Ridge Pursuit single pin bow sight features a super bright vertical fiber optic pin. It has high-performance knobs that are super quiet. Windy day? Adjust it with ease.

If you find yourself hunting in the evening or at night, you’ll benefit from the glow-in-the-dark ring. It helps to get your bearings much faster. All in all, this sight has received 300 positive reviews, and it’s easy to see why.

You can sight it in at various distances

While this sight only offers one pin, you can still sight it in for various distances. The blank range indicator can be marked at whichever distance you like. Then all it takes is a twist of a knob, and you’ve dialed in at your preferred distance.
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3 Pin Bow Sights

Why choose a 3-pin bow sight:

To some, a 3 pin bow sight is the best of both worlds. It offers less distraction than a 5 or 7 pin sight. Yet, it allows you to sight in 2 additional distances compared to a single pin.

A 3 pin sight will reduce a lot of guesswork. If you sight the pins in at 20, 40, and 60 yards, you’ll have the majority of bow ranges covered, whether for target practice or hunting.

If you have a target that falls in between the 20, 40, or 60 yards, you’ll aim a bit above or below the pin. Again, this is when practice pays off.

Lowest cost

Affordable 3-pin aluminum bow sight

If you’re looking for a 3-pin bow sight on a tight budget, this sight is it. It’s made from all-aluminum, making it extremely light and durable. It offers a no-frills approach. That means no LED light, no micro-adjustable knobs, and no glow in the dark ring. But if you’re ok with that, this is a splendid sight.

The pins are easily adjustable; they require an Allen key. It includes a bubble level to make sure you’re aiming straight, and the 3 pins can be sighted in at any distance you prefer.

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Budget-Friendly

TRUGLO Storm Ultra-Lightweight Budget 3-Pin Bow Sight

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly starter sight, this bow sight is a great buy. At just $20, you get a reliable 3-pin sight that’s easy to adjust. While a LED light isn’t included, you can buy one separately for about $10-$20. But, if you don’t plan on bow shooting in dark conditions, you won’t be missing it.

All in all, this is a very simple yet effective beginner bow sight.

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Simple & effective

Trophy Ridge Fix 3 pin sight

This 3-pin bow sight by Trophy Ridge features dependable precision with micro-adjustable pins. While the adjustments require a tool, the tool is built-in into the sight itself. So you’ll always have it handy, and no need for 3 different Allen keys.

The rheostat light allows you to fine-tune the LED light based on your lighting conditions.

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Retina technology

IQ Bowsight Micro 3 Pin Retina Bow Sight

Another IQ bow sight to make this list. This 3-pin bow sight by IQ comes with Retina technology. This allows you to know if you are looking at the pin accurately instantly. Basically, it’s a dot within a circle. If the dot is positioned center of the circle, you’ll know you’re lined up perfectly.

This retina technology allows you to ditch the peep sight if you want to do that. Furthermore, this sight includes micro knobs to adjust things on the fly without any Allen keys easily.

Available in 3 and 5 pins.

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5 Pin Bow Sights

Why choose a 5 pin bow sight:

These bow sights are great for beginners, intermediaries, and experts alike. Being able to have a visual indicator for multiple ranges will be a tremendous help. Most users will opt for a 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60-yard pin.

It really comes down to your bow poundage and your needs. If you have a 40lb bow, and all you do is target shoot up to 30 yards, a 5-pin sight is absolutely overkill.

Then again, if you have a 70lb bow and shoot targets or hunt at ranges up to 80 yards, a 5-pin bow sight may make more sense.

I initially thought a 5 pin bow sight was ridiculous. It felt so cluttered, and how often would you ever use all pins? Until I actually started using it. Accurately landing shots anywhere from 10 to 70 yards without much guesswork is hard to beat.

Budget-friendly

Trophy Ridge Volt 5-pin Bow Sight

This budget-friendly 5 pin bow sight from Trophy Ridge offers the basics at a fair cost. It offers the reliability of Trophy Ridge, without the advanced features and frills.

This bow sight has 5 ultra-bright fiber optic pins that are easy to adjust with an Allen key. This sight is made as strong as aluminum but 25% lighter and reduces vibration.

Also available in a 3-piece combo that includes:

Trophy Ridge Volt 5 pin bow sight
6″ Static Stabilizer
Whisker Biscuit

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Budget-friendly

Affordable Topoint 5 pin bow sight

This sight is an affordable 5-pin bow sight option. It’s made from aluminum, which is both light and durable.

This sight features micro knobs for easy fine-tuning on the fly. The pins are durable and adjustable with an Allen key.

If you’re looking for a basic yet reliable 5 pin bow sight on a budget, this is a great choice.

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Feature-packed

IQ Bowsight Define 5 Pin Bow Sight

Eliminate guesswork with the IQ Bowsight Define 5 pin bow sight. It features 5 pins and a built-in rangefinder. This is the ultimate combo for those that prefer manual pins, but the convenience of a built-in rangefinder.

It also has a built-in laser that makes sighting in your bow easier than ever—no need to guess whether your sight or pins are horizontally aligned.

All in all, this IQ bow sight has plenty of features for the advanced target shooter or hunter.

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Digital LED Bow Sights

Why choose a Digital LED bow sight:

These sights truly bring technology to an ancient sport. Digital sights offer you one or multiple red dots that you can sight in at different distances. Other more advanced digital sights come with a built-in rangefinder and automatically adjust the red dot based on the target you’re aiming at.

It’s no surprise that these sights cost more than simplistic sights, but if you hunt, that cost difference could very well be worth every penny. If you are a novice hunter, both adrenaline and having to make split-second decisions can totally throw off your estimation of distance.

Having a sight that knows the distance and adjusts itself automatically eliminates any guesswork and confusion.

Single pin bow sight with adjustable range

Our favorite

TRUGLO Range-Rover PRO LED

Truglo is a rising name in bow attachments. They offer innovative, high-quality attachments without a hefty price tag. And the Range-Rover PRO LED is a perfect example of that. This sight is everything you want from a single pin bow sight. It offers a clutter-free view with 1 or 2 dots. But the biggest benefit this bow sight offers is the effortless way to adjust the range of your “pin.”

With the turn of a knob, you’re adjusting the range down to the yard.

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Pinnacle

Garmin Xero A1 Bow Sight

If the price tag isn’t an issue, the Garmin Xero A1 is the bow sights’ pinnacle. It truly revolutionizes bow shooting.

The Garmin Xero offers a large 2″ screen that is entirely unobstructed. The range is calculated automatically with its built-in rangefinder. And the LED red dot is automatically positioned according to the rangefinder up to 100 yards.

Furthermore, this digital sight allows 1 or multiple red dots on the screen. This allows you to dial in at a certain distance and aim at a pin slightly lower or higher for the ideal kill shot.

And lastly, this sight is compatible with a Garmin GPS device, which will register when and where the shot was taken, and at what distance.

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Final thoughts
A bow sight is a vital part of your bow. An inaccurate sight will affect your accuracy. And shooting a bow inaccurately makes it tough to enjoy it truly.

But a sight doesn’t have to be expensive—the products we listed here range from $15 to $200, with a few exceptions.

If you want to keep reading about bow-related topics, we recommend our archery for beginner’s post. Also, be sure to check our top arrow quiver picks!

What's your favorite bow sight?

Have you tried a sight on this list? Feel like we missed one? Let us know below!

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Best Bow Sights – Single pin, Garmin, IQ & more

Single Pin Bow Sights

Why choose a single pin bow sight:

TRUGLO Range Rover Single-Pin Bow Sight

You can sight it in at various distances

IQ Bowsight Pro One

Trophy Ridge Pursuit Vertical

You can sight it in at various distances

3 Pin Bow Sights

Why choose a 3-pin bow sight:

Affordable 3-pin aluminum bow sight

TRUGLO Storm Ultra-Lightweight Budget 3-Pin Bow Sight

Trophy Ridge Fix 3 pin sight

IQ Bowsight Micro 3 Pin Retina Bow Sight

5 Pin Bow Sights

Why choose a 5 pin bow sight:

Trophy Ridge Volt 5-pin Bow Sight

Affordable Topoint 5 pin bow sight

IQ Bowsight Define 5 Pin Bow Sight

Digital LED Bow Sights

Why choose a Digital LED bow sight:

TRUGLO Range-Rover PRO LED

Garmin Xero A1 Bow Sight

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