Archery Talk Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Is the Garmin Xero worth $200

Jump to Latest
21 - 40 of 162 Posts
#22 ·
Not really a fair comparison in my opinion. Having a sight with an integrated range finder takes a huge step out of the process. It really is a personal choice. To me no the Garmin sight is not worth the extra money beyond a basic pin sight with a built in rangefinder, IE the IQ define sight. It can be had for less than half the cost of the Garmin and yet eliminate the extra step required to range an animal in a hunting situation with a separate rangefinder. Just up to the individual if the extra features of the Garmin are worth 450 bucks.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
Discussion starter · #26 ·
trucker3573 said:
Not really a fair comparison in my opinion. Having a sight with an integrated range finder takes a huge step out of the process. It really is a personal choice. To me no the Garmin sight is not worth the extra money beyond a basic pin sight with a built in rangefinder, IE the IQ define sight. It can be had for less than half the cost of the Garmin and yet eliminate the extra step required to range an animal in a hunting situation with a separate rangefinder. Just up to the individual if the extra features of the Garmin are worth 450 bucks.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
The IQ is a nice sight, but it is a fixed pin sight. The Garmin would be more like a one-pin slider, that you don’t have to slide. In my mind it would be the best of both worlds.
 
#27 ·
The Old Guy said:
The IQ is a nice sight, but it is a fixed pin sight. The Garmin would be more like a one-pin slider, that you don’t have to slide. In my mind it would be the best of both worlds.
Click to expand...
Certainly right on that. Just personal choice if that difference is worth 450 bucks. To me it isn't. Killed many deer over the years with fixed pins. Work great.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
#28 ·
I don't buy a new range finder every year so the price would be as listed , $800+. Plus still need a range finder for gun season.

Cool sight though, interested to see how it works out in the long run.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#29 ·
My HHA 5519 and my Bushnell rangefinder come out quite a bit less than the Zero pricing.. they have yet to fail me .. the Zero dosnt impress me one bit ...
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#30 ·
The Old Guy said:
There are over 1000 threads on this forum alone discussing a multi-pin sight vs. a single pin sight. It appears that the Garmin Xero could be the best of both worlds. However, it doesn’t come cheap.

The Garmin Xero is priced at $800+. A rangefinder is $150-$600 (average $300) and a Spot Hogg sight is $300, so we are actually talking about $200. The question becomes, “Is the new Garmin sight $200 better than everything else?”

I am waiting for real world reviews, but if it performs as expected, for me it will be a yes.

PS: I have no ties to Garmin, it just looks like a game changer........
Click to expand...
it may or may not be, for me......................no thanks
 
#31 ·
What happens when you draw on an animal that you are positive is no further away then 40yrds but for whatever reason the sight keeps thinking it is 66yrds. Without any set pins there is no way you could make the shot. Not haveing any type of non electronic pin reference as well as having it as my only rangefinder is what would stop me from buying this sight.
 
Discussion starter · #32 ·
4IDARCHER said:
What happens when you draw on an animal that you are positive is no further away then 40yrds but for whatever reason the sight keeps thinking it is 66yrds. Without any set pins there is no way you could make the shot. Not haveing any type of non electronic pin reference as well as having it as my only rangefinder is what would stop me from buying this sight.
Click to expand...
I can’t see this scenario ever happening. If it does, Garmin will be out of the bow sight business as quick as they got in. However, I understand that you can set up fixed pins and use it as a fixed pin sight.
 
#33 ·
If it works flawlessly it's worth every penny. If it doesn't then it's not. In todays world $800 is not that much money. I'm more interested to see if it works as advertised in the field without any quirks. If they are a success I'll buy one a year or 2 down the road.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#34 ·
I'm not about to spend $800 on a sight. It may not even be legal in your state. According to Garmin its illegal in "Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Florida, and Hawaii. For the remaining states you’ll need to research your local laws."
 
#35 ·
don't have to even think about it. not legal up here. but wonder how it would work in the fog/rain with the glass.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #36 ·
BuLzEyE said:
don't have to even think about it. not legal up here. but wonder how it would work in the fog/rain with the glass.
Click to expand...
I can’t think that it will be “illegal” long, since it does not project a light, which seems to be what the law is intended to stop. I am interested in how it functions in less than optimum conditions.
 
#37 ·
bigbucks170 said:
do you use a range finder now? what do you do in the same situation ? I would keep fresh batteries in my sight and spares on me
I think electronics are used to guide planes and ships should be ok to guide arrows too....
Click to expand...
If my rangefinder batteries go dead in the field, I can still use my 40 years of bowhunting experience to estimate distance and CBE sight to make a shot. If the Xero goes dead and a game animal you intend to shoot comes in, you are really up the proverbial "creek". And are you really contending the quality of electronics that guide planes and ships are available in a bow sight??? My concern is if this unit gets drenched or there is slushy snow followed by colder temps that freeze....which seems to happen to me a couple times each season in west Michigan....what is going to happen to the reliability of this unit? Maybe it is all conjecture and they work perfectly.....but I have been around archery long enough to have seen the hype about Trijicon sights for $500.....then fade as quickly from view.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#39 ·
I think it depends alot on what speed arrow you throw. Faster arrows allow for a more error in range estimates. Slower arrows need much more precision when it comes to yardage estimates. For me, if it ranges accurately, it takes out much of the error in my shot, the rest is up to me.
 
#40 ·
Alaska at heart said:
If my rangefinder batteries go dead in the field, I can still use my 40 years of bowhunting experience to estimate distance and CBE sight to make a shot. If the Xero goes dead and a game animal you intend to shoot comes in, you are really up the proverbial "creek". And are you really contending the quality of electronics that guide planes and ships are available in a bow sight??? My concern is if this unit gets drenched or there is slushy snow followed by colder temps that freeze....which seems to happen to me a couple times each season in west Michigan....what is going to happen to the reliability of this unit? Maybe it is all conjecture and they work perfectly.....but I have been around archery long enough to have seen the hype about Trijicon sights for $500.....then fade as quickly from view.
Click to expand...
I have thought a lot about the Trijicon sights when this sight comes up for discussion. The number of people that are willing to pay close to 1K for a rifle scope are really few and far between when you get out of the Internet forums and the gun magazines. The number of people willing to pay that for a bow sight.... a whole lot less. I am very curious to see how the popularity of this sight lasts. I know the company must of done a ton of research but I wonder just how many they will need to sell for them to consider refining, updating, and continuing further generations of this sight.
 
21 - 40 of 162 Posts
About this Discussion
161 Replies
67 Participants
Last post:
Kaizoku
Archery Talk Forum
posts
39M
members
240K
Since
2001
A forum community dedicated to bow and crossbow owners and archery enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, performance, troubleshooting, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Archery Discussion Bowhunting and Bowhunter Showcases Traditional Archery Crossbow Forum - General Crossbow Discussion F.I.T.A, N.A.A., Collegiate Archery, And J.O.A.D.