- Product Type: Sporting Goods
- Package Dimensions: 6.4 L X 15.9 W X 153.7 H (Centimeters)
- Package Weight: 2.495 Kilograms
Bear Archery recurve bows are renowned for their craftsmanship and power. The Super Kodiak was one of the first in their line and has helped set the standard for single-piece traditional bows. Because of the popularity of this bow, we decided to do a full, dedicated Bear Super Kodiak review to analyze its features and specs and see who could benefit from them. Overall, we were very impressed with this model, so if you’re looking for a high-quality recurve bow, keep reading.
Our Verdict
The Bear Archery Super Kodiak is such a famous bow for a reason. With beautiful craftsmanship that provides power, stability and durability, it earned our recommendation for passionate traditional archers who are ready for a bow they can use year after year.
Pros:
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Extended riser
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Durable craftsmanship
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Reinforced limb tips
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Compatible with FastFlight strings
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Bear hair rest included
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Range of draw weights from 30 to 65 lbs
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Gorgeous look
Cons:
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No accessory bushings
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Only one finish option
Bear Super Kodiak Features and Specs
Before anything else, let’s take a look at the objective specs of the Grizzly without our opinions. This is the raw data. If any of this isn’t what you need, then this might not be the bow for you. However, if they look good or you aren’t sure what they mean, then it’s important to read on to the detailed pros and cons.
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Available draw weights: 30-65 pounds
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Draw length: 28 inches
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AMO Length: 60 inches
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Riser material: Hard maple wood
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Limb material: Laminated fiberglass and maple wood
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Handedness: Both right- and left-handed
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Arrow rest: Bear hair arrow rest included
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Finishes: Shedua with black stripe
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Bowstring: Dynaflight 97 Flemish twist bowstring
What We Liked About the Bear Super Kodiak
Frankly, we love the Bear Archery Super Kodiak. This list could probably be a lot longer, but these are the most important features and aspects of the bow that we think would benefit most archers and that made it one of our absolute favorite traditional bows.
It Has a Unique Riser
The riser on the Kodiak is uniquely long for a recurve bow. Whereas many other risers meet the limbs and then seem to stop short, the riser on the Kodiak extends up and down from the center point and then travels up the limbs behind them to reinforce them. Not only does that make the bow look really cool, but there are two reasons that this design is highly beneficial for archers:
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It provides more stiffness during the shot cycle, and that’s one of the reasons the bow can handle so much draw weight. It’s manufactured in draw weights of 35-60 pounds. Anything about 50 pounds on a recurve is really getting up there.
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It adds some heft to the bow during the shot process. The bow itself is 60 inches, which is pretty typical for a traditional recurve but pretty short in the grand scheme of things—target bows can get much, much taller than that. It’s nice to have a little extra steadiness and integrity.
The Craftsmanship is Solid and Durable
Bear Archery recurve bows have a long reputation for their rugged design, and many of the other Bear models we’ve looked at like the Bear Grizzly and the Bear Sonoma live up to that reputation. The Kodiak is actually one of the Bear originals, so it definitely makes sense that it falls into this camp.
Let’s take a closer look at the details because the Bear Kodiak actually incorporates some that make it stand out, even among traditional bows:
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Riser design. The Kodiak’s riser is made from laminate pieces, including hardwoods in cherry and maple tones, and if you look at the riser beneath the shelf, you’ll actually see two very slender limb laminations that run from the top of the riser to the bottom of it. Those provide a little extra support for the pressure put on the bow during the draw cycle.
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Belly and back. Both sides of the bow—the belly, which faces the archer, and the back, which faces the target—are both made of a high strength fiberglass with a black matte finish. That, too, provides reinforcement and definitely contributes to this model’s sleek, sophisticated appearance.
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The limb tips. This is the detail that makes the Super Kodiak stand out from other traditional recurves. The tips are handcrafted and layered with fiberglass, which means they’re a lot sturdier than the limbs on most traditional bows and better for your bowstring.
You Can Use FastFlight Strings
This is actually a big debate among archers. For decades, the limb tips on traditional bows were pretty delicate. They weren’t reinforced with any material that would fortify them. Believe it or not, that was fine because traditional bow strings were also pretty weak, and you could use the two together in harmony. Everything would work out. The bow strings used with traditional bows were pretty gentle and wouldn’t degrade the limb tips.
Eventually, though, bowstrings got much stronger, and strings made of FastFlight, one of the newer, tougher string fabrics, would end up eating through the limb tips at the top and bottom of a traditional bow. Consequently, if you wanted to use a traditional bow, you couldn’t use the new type of string because it would destroy the bow. That was a bummer because string design had advanced so much that shooting with one could provide much more accuracy and force. Plus, they were way quieter. All of those factors are pretty important if you’re a bowhunter, and people really wanted to figure out how to use the new bowstrings on their traditional bows.
That’s why the reinforced limb tips on the Kodiak are a big deal: they allow you to use FastFlight strings.
It Includes a Bear Hair Rest
Recurve users tend to think long and hard about the riser and the limbs, but they overlook what could easily be seen as the most important feature of a traditional recurve: the shelf.
We’re pleased to report the shelf is cut-past-center, wide enough for arrow passage, and floored with a thin layer of bear hair to provide a soft but sturdy cushion as the arrow flies over it in addition to a leather side plate to reduce some of the side-to-side motion that may occur because of the archer’s paradox. In other words, it’s well-designed.
It Has a Range of Draw Weights
The Bear Archery Super Kodiak is a single-piece recurve, so you can’t change out the limbs to change the draw weight, but there are a lot of different draw weight versions to choose from. Specifically, you can get draw weights from 30 to 65 pounds.
That’s nice because you can calibrate it to your upper body strength, your goals and your experience level. Most states require at least 40 pounds for bowhunting, but target shooters may want 30 pounds to train on. Meanwhile, 65 pounds is especially high for a recurve bow, meaning you can hunt bigger game over longer ranges.
It’s Gorgeous
We’re partial to the recurve design in the first place, but we have to say that the Bear Super Kodiak stands out above most other models in this regard. Made of beautiful maple hardwood, it looks both sleek and traditional. It just oozes confidence and encourages you to take your best shot, whether it’s on the range or in the tree stand.
What We Didn’t Like
It’s our role as reviewers to provide possible negatives about the products we discuss, and that’s what we’re doing here in our Bear Super Kodiak review. In our opinion, these cons don’t even come close to outweighing the numerous pros of the Super Kodiak, but you should get the entire picture before making a decision.
There Are No Accessory Bushings
While takedown bows usually have threaded bushings for attaching things like sights and stabilizers, single-piece bows like the Super Kodiak tend to have very few options for many of the accessories that modern archers use to enhance their accuracy. It’s designed more for traditional, instinctive shooting, so if this is a drawback for you, you may want to consider a modern takedown model like the The Samick Sage, which allows you to add a bow sight, a stabilizer, and a number of other aim-enhancing pieces of equipment.
The Shedua Finish Varies
We love the style and traditional look of the Super Kodiak, but you should still be aware that, one, you don’t get any finish options beyond the Shedua design, and two, that design can vary a bit from the demo photo because each bow is made from unique materials and different pieces of wood. Sometimes the colors in the actual riser may be different than what you expect, a little lighter or darker for example. It’s also common to get a few blemishes in the wood of the riser.
For us, we think these imperfections actually add to the unique look of the bow, but you should definitely be aware of this so you aren’t disappointed.
The Bear Super Kodiak: Things to Keep in Mind
These aren’t pros or cons exactly, but rather unique aspects of the Bear Archery Super Kodiak that may still play a role in your decision. As you read this, consider how they apply to your personal situation.
You Need to Know Your Draw Weight
If you want to make a Kodiak yours, be sure you know what draw weight you can handle. You can’t change the draw weight on a traditional recurve by changing out the limbs like on a takedown model, so you need to be certain you’re getting a bow with a draw weight you can work with. Also remember that even if you can pull a high draw weight, that doesn’t mean you can pull a high draw weight over and over again, as you’ll often do when you’re on the range.
If you’re new to archery, we’d advise you to go to a pro shop or a range and do some practicing with some recurves of varying weights, and see what you can handle. It’s a true-blue bummer when you buy a bow and find out it’s too weak or strong.
However, you have to balance your own capabilities and preferences with hunting requirements as well. Many states require you to use at least 40 pounds of draw weight when hunting game like whitetail deer, so if you’re getting the Super Kodiak for bowhunting, you’ll need at least this much. This isn’t an issue since it comes in draw weights up to 65 pounds, but it is something to keep in mind.
The Draw Length Is Short
The Super Kodiak is 60 inches long, so it’s kind of surprising that its draw length is only 28 inches. This is a spec you need to pay attention to because if it’s too long for you, you won’t be able to use the full power of the bow, and if it’s too short, you will have difficulty holding the draw steady and aiming accurately at full draw.
Although an archery shop can measure your draw length precisely, you can estimate it by measuring your wingspan and dividing by 2.5. Your wingspan is the distance from the tip of one middle finger to the other with your arms outstretched like a T.
Because most people’s wingspans are close to their height, the Bear Super Kodiak is designed for someone around 5’10”. It’s probably for people within a couple of inches of this, but if you’re taller than 6’0″ or shorter than 5’8″, you might need a different draw length.
In other words, the Bear Super Kodiak is a good size for the average-sized man, but the draw length might not be appropriate for especially tall or short men, women, or youth.
Who Should Use the Bear Super Kodiak?
With an advanced and stable design, not to mention serious power, we primarily recommend the Bear Super Kodiak for experienced archers who have learned the ins and outs of archeries on various models and are now looking for their go-to recurve bow to use year after year. Whether you hunt or target shoot regularly, it has the durability and expert craftsmanship to take your archery career to the next level.
- Product Type: Sporting Goods
- Package Dimensions: 6.4 L X 15.9 W X 153.7 H (Centimeters)
- Package Weight: 2.495 Kilograms
