What qualities would define "best" for you? Your best and my best probably won't be the same. So it would help to know what you are looking for, what you feel you need, from your stab choice.
Cutter, Conquest, Axcel, Beestinger, Shrewd...geez the list just continues on, defining best for oneself is likely easier and more likely what responses you will get than what is actually the best, as that is pretty subjective.
Stabilizers are over rated these days. With all these new high end bows not nearly as Important as it was 15 years ago. Get a good quality one you like. I picked up the Mathew’s flatline. Mainly cause I like the way it looks. Most all quality ones do the job of balancing the bow and minimizing vibration
George Ryls has a great video out on stabilizers - I highly recommend it.
Stabilizers have 2 main purposes - the first one is for prior to hitting the release, and the second is for after.
1. To stabilize the bow, as the name implies. To help balance it in your hand and help steady your aiming.
2. To increase the Moment of Inertia, or the ability of an object to resist torque and twisting. Stabilizers need to have 2 properties - be light and be stiff. By moving the weight away from the center of the bow this increases its resistance to movement when you hit that release and all that force is unleashed upon the bow.
As far as vibraton damping, modern compound bows have plenty of vibration damping built in already. You don't really need stabilizers for that.
Tons of options out there. Depends on what you want to spend. I have Wick Sticks on most things these days. They run good black friday sales and have had weights on closeout before. I added Bee stinger micro hex dampeners to them. I don't know if they are the best, but they work well for the price I think.
From a pure stabilizing stand point. Conquest. SMAC (not the Control Freaks) They are so light you feel every single ounce you add. But they do little as far vibration is concerned.
If vibration is more of what you are looking for in conjunction with weight distribution, Axcel Antler Ridge are by far the best I've used.
I will say the CBE micros are very nice for the price.
After trying a few I still use Bee Stingers. I sold my two 12" Cutters because I feel they added a vibration that the Bee's did not. Again everyone will have a different "best"
I really like the Axcel Antler Ridge. They're expensive but you get 4 ounces of weight and the Kryptos Arc dampener which you can use or not. Plus I like that their weights are 1 inch diameter. And they look really good too.
I like Bee Stingers because I am a beekeeper and I put their stickers they include in the package on my golf cart that I do my Apiary chores in. Corney, I know but hey,I didn't say I was playing with a full deck.
I used to go to Lancaster archery supply and buy the cheapest recurve back bars I could find and use them for hunting. All the stabilization, half the price. 😎
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