LAST UPDATED: May 1st, 2015
When it comes to carrying your bow you have three options. Carry it in your hand, strap it to your back pack, or use a bow sling. Over the years I have employed all of the above tactics. And while I prefer the hands free circumstance that my back pack allows, I’m not always using my back pack. In those instances it is nice to have a bow sling that efficiently carries my bow while at the same time protects it from the harsh elements between the truck and my treestand.
The Cambow Sling might be compact and lightweight but it is loaded with features bowhunters are sure to enjoy.
I have used a variety of bow slings over the years and while some were better at protecting my bow they weren’t very user friendly. And those that were easy to use weren’t exactly the best at protecting my bow. I felt that I really had no choice in the matter until now. Enter the Alpine Products Cambow Sling.
Top Features
The first thing I noticed about the Cambow Sling was how compact the product was when not in use. This opened up the possibility of stuffing it away in a small fanny pack or even a pocket until the time arrived to use it. I also noticed how lightweight the entire thing was. Weighing less than 5 oz. you hardly even know it is in your hand. The next thing I noticed was how quiet the material was. This was due largely to the Neoprene construction which also made the bow sling weather resistant; an added bonus. The Cambow Sling protects bows up to 38” and fits up to 7” diameter cams. Overall it seemed to cover the cams on my Mathews Creed XS just fine. Despite all of those features, the main selling point to this bow sling lies in the fact that you can shoot your bow with it still attached; well, at least partially.
The Cambow Sling does an excellent job of securing itself to your bow thanks to the many connection points located throughout the system.
If you happen to be stalking your prey or maybe walking to your stand and the shot suddenly presents itself you can simply reach up, disconnect the top portion from the bow limb and cam and partially disconnect the unit from the bottom cam and take your shot. The final disconnect portion (around the lower limb) remains in place while you take the shot; saving you a few precious seconds during the moment of truth. I’m not aware of any other bow sling on the market that allows you to shoot the bow without totally removing the unit.
The carrying strap protects the bow string, is very comfortable and can be easily removed thanks to the quick release snaps located on each end of the sling.
Field Test
While I do like the fact that I can shoot my bow without totally removing the bow sling, I felt this particular sling was much better at securing and carrying my bow than any other bow sling I’ve tried. This was due largely to the elastic straps that go around the front portion of the bow limb and the Velcro straps that wrap around the cams. After securing the bow inside of the sling I literally tried to shake my bow out of it; bouncing it up and down much more violently than I would ever carry it in the field. It didn’t budge. I’ve actually had other bow slings come undone in the field and drop my bow to the ground. Not this one. Trust me when I say your bow isn’t going anywhere.
The Cambow Sling doesn’t interfere with the shot despite the fact that it remains on your bow.
Another feature I liked about the Cambow Sling was the Neoprene construction. It provides just enough “bounce” to allow my bow to move with me while walking through the timber; instead of remaining rigid and fighting against my every move. In addition, the bow sling is very quiet and doesn’t make unwanted noise while resting against my favorite hunting jacket. It also lets shooters disconnect the carrying strap and keep the cam and string protection in tack for those times when you want to carry your bow on a back pack but don’t want to sacrifice protection.
Alpine Products also makes the Cambow Sight Guard which is easy to use and highly attractive.
If I could make one change to the Cambow Sling it would be to add a thin layer of foam in the limb protectors. While I feel they do a good job of protecting against minor outside forces, harsher factors such as rocks would pose a real threat to your bow cams.
Overall, I was very pleased with the Alpine Products Cambow Sling. It does a great job of carrying your bow and allows shooters to take the shot without fully removing it. Best of all, I don’t have to worry about connection failure and watching my bow hit the hard ground.
