Sims String Leech
 

Sims String Leech:

Construction: NAVCOM shock absorbent material

Weight: 1.5 grams
Silencers Per Package: 4 (2 sets)
Cost: $8.99 (BassPro Shops)

Overview:
Sims first hit the archery industry by storm with their revolutionary Limbsavers. The String Leech is a string silencer made from the same rubber like material known as NAVCOM. They slide between the strands of your bowstring so you may or may not need a bow press to install them.

Rating system: 1 = poor, 10 = best.

Durablilty: 2 - Sting Leeches really have a short life span. I have noticed will only last between 200-500 shots depending on the bow. This isn't a long life for a product that costs about 8 times more than Catwhiskers.

Quality: 8 - Overall quality is good with a few minor flaws in each leech. The reason for this appears to be caused by them being made in molds or casts and air bubbles sometimes cause imperfections. These really do not take away from the products affectiveness.

Noise Reduction: 10 - I have used these on a few bows now and they really do reduce string noise. They are the best string silencer I have seen as far as reducing string virbation and noise. The product does a great job without lowing arrow speed. you might get a 1 or 2 feet per second reduction. Some bows may be a little more so this is based on my bows that I use them on.

Price: 5 - I really think they are a bit overpriced for the short life of the product. They do work good as far as what they do so you have to decide if the short life is worth it.

Total Score: 6.25

Final Comment: The string leech is a good noise reducer but like I stated it has a short life. Out of a package you get 4 and maybe a 1000 shots. If you shoot a lot of arrows each week I don't think they are worth changing all the time. I use them only during hunting season and then I leave them off when I shoot in the spring and summer.

I wish Sims could make them more durable and lower the cost. I really think the price is a bit much for what they are. Overall I will continue to use them for now but I get tired of putting my bow in a press to replace them when they break. I have not made up my mind as to how long I will continue to use them. Catwhiskers always did a good job and last forever and the price is right.

RE: Sims String Leech
 

moonge, man you get great life out of yours. I shoot a darton maverick and get around 50 to 75 shots at best. Never any more than that. I called them and they told me what to try and got up to 75 shots before distruction. They even sent me 2 packs as I was going through 2 packs a day when shooting so left them off during off season. But I wont buy them anymore. But they do work great.

Brian

RE: Sims String Leech
 

I heard that they SLOW DOWN the arrow speed alot. Is that the case? If not i might go get some.

Corbin Berent

RE: Sims String Leech
 

I havn't seen a but a few feet per second drop with them. I keep them as close to the cam as I can. I would imagine they would vary from bow to bow on how much they hurt your speed. I have heard some people say they clocked no change & some up to around 10. so I would say it would be safe to say anywhere from 0-10 would be realistic.

445 supermag if I was you I would stop too! I think a lot could be how soft or hard your cam is on how long they last. I still think that even at 200 shots that isn't good life for a 9 dollar product!

RE: Sims String Leech
 

how well do the catwhiskers work?????? do they really make the bow quieter? this summer i am going to do some things to my bow to make it quieter, and i am getting either the whiskers or the leech but i don;'t like the life span of the leech.

"Trophies are not measured in Inches!"

RE: Sims String Leech
 

moonge I will be going to cat wiskers this coming year. I just cant afford to shoot them anymore.

brian

RE: Sims String Leech
 

Amen 445! the more I think about it the more I appreciate the good old catwhisker! I think once my leeches fall apart I am going back to whiskers too, just too much money for something that dosn't last.

RE: Sims String Leech
 

I dont know how hard they are to put on. But it seams you dont need to use them during off season so why put them on. If you can easily take them off only put them on when you go hunting. If you cant then just put them on for the hunting season. Your not going to spoke your tarket with a lot of noise when practicing.

RE: Sims String Leech
 

my string leeches lasted about 225 ish shots

RE: Sims String Leech
 

Moonge,

I would agree with your assessment of the leeches....

..but here is one for you....Have you ever installed the leeches so that they resemble a &quot;Z&quot; shape instead of the &quot;N&quot;. If not then give it a try and see what that does to the durability...<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: Sims String Leech
 

Pa good idea! I bet they would last longer. I have used them by cutting the tails off so to speak & they still work just as good & last about 3 times longer. They just look a little goofy with out the head & tail!

RE: Sims String Leech
 

i had my string leeches on my hoyt magnatech for a little over a year and thats shooting 1 to 3 times a week with as many as 100 shots taken each time im saying thousands of shots i dont blame you if you dont believe it, I couldnt believe it, all I did was kept them pushed down as far as possible and i actually never wore them out i took them out for 3d shooting. I have a hoyt ultratech now and probably wont put anything on the string because the bow is already deadly quiet. good shooting Sbay

Edited by - sbay on 03/30/2002 11:57:10

RE: Sims String Leech
 

I think their worthless as well as the all the other little gagets they have come forth with since the 'Limb Saver' product. I have those on My bow and think I am receiving some sort of beneficial value from them. I just think that they have flooded the market so to speak to prompt sales which is the captalistic way! I dont think any of their stuff hurts anything except the string leeches are anoying at the shooting range with those thinps flipping of all over the place.B)

RE: Sims String Leech
 

I put some leeches on my Patriot and the lower one came off in less than 25 shots. The top one is still there. I'll see how long it lasts. So far about 75 shots.

Phil.

RE: Sims String Leech
 

Tried them out this year. They were considerably noisier than the good old cat whiskers. They did'nt last 200 shots. Both sets are in the trash now. Where they belong.

RE: Sims String Leech
 

Franks I tried to do what you stated a while ago with the z thing and got only 5 shots out of it and bam gone for good. Whiskers for me next year.

Brian

RE: Sims String Leech
 

I wrapped a small piece of moleskin around the center of the leach (where the string hits). Then I served them in place, rather tightly so they wouldn't move. With this setup on a relatively fast shooting single cam, they lasted at least a couple thousand shots (3 months of shooting almost every day). Even at that rate, I'll only put a pair on my bow just before hunting season starts.

RE: Sims String Leech
 

The other leech came off my bow last night. It lasted a total of about 85 shots. I'll put the other 2 from the package on this fall and use something else after they fall off again.

Phil.

RE: Sims String Leech
 

I have had the same problems as everyone else with the life of the. One big problem I have is safety, seems liek when the break, they can go in any direction. I'd hate to get one in the eye. But, they seem to work better than any other product. I think that I'll just use them for hunting.

RE: Sims String Leech
 

They dropped me for about 10fps and I hated the things! They did work in quieting the bow but come on, they didn't work much (really any) better than the whiskers. Sims won with Limb Savers and the rest is hype IMO. The &quot;Enhancer&quot; is OK, not great but OK.:)

RE: Sims String Leech
 

i Just bought some string leaches today and put them on. Did anyone tie a pice os string above and below it to stop it from moveing? it said to do it in the packet so i did. just wanted to know if it helps any?

Corbin Berent

RE: Sims String Leech
 

I always have them to break in the same spot.....the fins break off. I havn't had any to get cut in half by the string yet. just as an FYI, I just went back to catwhiskers.....they work almost as good & last a heck of a lot longer & are a lot cheaper to boot.

RE: Sims String Leech
 

Sims is making a new string leech now thatis reinforced with kevlar fibers. Supposed to GREATLY improve durability.

RE: Sims String Leech
 

CG,I read about the Kevlar strands too,I hope this helps or I am sticking with the whiskers!

RE: Sims String Leech
 

I hope they don't raise the price. I'd try them again if they last longer. At least 100 shots. LOL.

Phil.

RE: Sims String Leech
 

I put a set on my recurve. Had to put all 4 on there but they really quietened it down. They didn't last very long though. I'll bet the kevlar reinforced ones ARE more expensive. I might have to try a set anyway.

Romans 8:28