I don't think there's much difference between them, really. They all still require you to point thearrow at thetarget and pull trigger. That said, I really like the "swing away" designs, b/c you can get your hands in your pockets,climb into your treestand, operate your calls, eat your lunch, grab a drink - allwithout it clanking around or tangled up in your fingers.

They'll all let go of the arrow for ya, just don't go too cheap, or you run the risk of getting something that will rust apart.

I'd go with a caliper release. They're really popular, and there's no fumbling with strings/ropes, etc. One is the same as the next - easy to replace if you lose it. I wouldn't spend under $30, or you run the risk of getting a pizza crap. Scott-TruFire-TruBall are all good brands. Calipers generally are pretty easy on your servings, too.

No need to spend $100 on a release for hunting. Look for something practical and priced right. Pay close attention to the calipers, oftentimes, manufacturers will make 2-3 versions of the same release, using the same caliper, but they'll "dress" each one differently, with pretty camo and logos on it, different wrist strap materials, and hike the price by 40-80%. Don't fall into that trap. A black strap with a plain trigger is fine. Deer aren't going to spook because your release isn't the newest style of Realtree camo.