Carbon arrow recommendations for youth.
 

My 12 year old daughter has shot for years with a compound and release. Aluminum arrows are biting the dust as she shoots more 3D. Looking for some more durable carbons for 35#-45# draw.

Just for 3d and target? What is the cam style of her compound? Solo or dual cam? Hard or soft. Or is it simply a "wheel" compound? Draw length? Need a little more info before determining the proper arrow.

What Super said. As for brand though I would recommend Gold Tip arrows. You can buy more expensive ones but the GTs are hard to beat. The GT chart calls for a 500 spine arrow in the 45-49# draw weight range and 26"-29" total arrow length. If to be used for hunting however, I like to go up one spine stiffer - in your case a 400 spine. For strictly target shooting the 500 spine should suffice.
And if you fletch your own arrows, you can get cosmetic blems on Ebay for a real good price.

I think the draw weight is basically what's required, but here is the rest....

Diamond Infinite Edge
Dual cam
Release
D Loop
http://www.basspro.com/Diamond-Infin...6403/#desc-tab

But you forgot one of the most important aspects of determining arrow spine and that is total arrow length. Measure one of her alum arrows from base of nock to end of shaft and also what tip weight she is using.

Having taught archery for many years, I can tell you that draw weight is only ONE of the many things needed for a proper arrow matching. If your daughter is serious and loves the sport (what's not to love?!!) then you will want to equip her with the best possible match for her shooting. There is a vast difference between target/3d arrows and a good hunting arrow. A good hunting arrow has to be tough and you really want a heavier arrow for hunting for kinetic energy transfer. An arrow for target/3d purposes needs to be matched up for straightness against each other (consistency kind of like match grade ammo for a rifle) and can be a much lighter setup for less "rainbow" effect. Since you will probably be wanting lighter, then you will definitely be needing the draw length to calculate total overall arrow length so that you can calculate spine which, with a lighter arrow, will need to be fairly stiff. You also don't want to go TOO light as that will eventually cause damage to her bow. Gold Tip Falcons are usually an excellent choice for the beginning/youth target/3d shooter. They aren't too salty in price but they aren't elcheapos either.

I wasn't clear enough, I guess. Was just looking for a recommendation for a good shaft that will work with such a low draw weight. I can read the manufacturer's arrow selection charts, and I've likely been doing that for longer than most of the folks on here have been able to type.
I'll ask elsewhere.
Thank you for your input, Superhunt and Bronko

BTW, she isn't a beginner, as I stated before. ugh. This is why I rarely come here any more.

Well its obvious you don't know how to pick out a correct arrow. You asked a question no one could possibly answer without you providing all the necessary information.
This is everything you need to supply:
Bow cam type (soft, radical, wheels)
speed
draw weight
draw length (or total arrow length)
Tip weight
type of release (fingers or release aid)
main purpose (hunting or target shooting)

But if you don't want to supply the information needed don't be a snob if you don't get an answer to your question.

And here I was thinking you asked about a good shaft for your daughter to use for target/3d archery. And I simply responded with the need for more information to give you the best INFORMED opinion for your daughters needs. Considering I'm playing slap and tickle with 70 and have been drawing stick and string since I could sustain an upright position I highly doubt you have been in this game longer than I sir.

At 12 years of age I highly doubt she is in the "expert" class either. I did state in my recommendation "beginner/junior" class correct? Just "low draw weight" is absolutely NO basis for forming an opinion on a type of arrow shaft to be used. At 12 you may be wanting to get her into hunting with stick and string! Asking for more information isn't, in my opinion anyway, a bad thing. My apologies if my asking for a bit more information to be able to give you a more informed opinion on your daughters needs offended you. Have a nice day :o

Don't you love it? Some people ask for advice and we, as fairly knowledgeable individuals in the sport, require additional information to give them a correct answer. Then they come back with such snobbish comments. If this person was such and "expert" in looking at arrow selection charts then why did he ask our advice in the first place? Geez

Why?
Because the charts don't tell you how an arrow performs in the real world with regards to shaft-to-shaft consistency, actual durability, and product manufacturing quality.

Anyone can read a chart and pick a shaft, and every maker will tell you theirs is the best. Forums are where people come to find out people's real experience with the products.

Thank you for your effort and your time.
I'm no longer interested in the opinions if you have not personally used those shafts.

As I stated previously, I TEACH archery and have for 40+ years. Just got into compounds 25 or 30 years ago and I have taught a fairly good amount of young AND older shooters. The reason I was asking the questions I was asking was for an informed opinion on the BEST matchup for your child. There is really no need for $10-15 buck a piece arrows if she isn't competing on a collegiate or Olympic level. But if she is serious then she will need a matching set of higher quality shafts for consistency in both weight and straightness. But therein lies the little need for information. There are many different performance based shafts and SOME of them perform better than others at DIFFERENT lengths and weights. Hence why I wanted to know her draw length as well as the type of shooting she is falling towards mostly, 3d or target. Also, what is it that is buggering her aluminum's up? At her draw weight she shouldn't be having so much speed, especially with heavy aluminium shafts, that she is damaging them with simple impact of a 3d target. Even the hard McKenzie 3d targets shouldn't hurt them.

Something else that those little charts on the boxes DON'T tell you is the difference between static and dynamic spine. I touched on that slightly with asking if they were going to be mainly for target or if they were going to be for hunting as well. Lighter is flatter but it is also LESS forgiving of ANY form defects in your girls shooting. Multiple spine arrows with lighter spine in front section and stiffer in the rear recover more quickly and are much more forgiving. But they tend to be a little heavier.

Now, after typing all this I can tell you that I have used, or my students have used, MANY different brands, types, weights, lengths, and tip weight arrows as each and every one had their own personal performance expectations as well as abilities and form so matching a proper arrow to their setups require MUCH more info than just 35-45 pound draw weight. For a true competitive archer finding a proper arrow requires MUCH more thought as well as facts than just a couple of minor details. Your initial post led me to believe that your child may be wanting to excel in this sport which makes me a happy camper. The more the merrier. My answers were and still are based in wanting the same for her.

Ive had great luck with victory vforce arrows. I get them for about $5 per. Ive watched a lot of people have a lot less luck with much more expensive arrows.

I tried some gold tips this year because I could get them local instead of ordering the victorys.......A week later I ordered the victorys.

Honestly Rockport I can't imagine shooting any better than I am with my Gold Tips. I'm all for improving myself. But man anything better would be down right scary.
But maybe I will try those Victorys. I'll get 1/2 doz and see how good they are. What model shaft do you use?

Just preference mostly I reckon. I don't know that they really shot any different. I didn't like the stuff they put on the arrows (fletching,nocks) and I felt like the victory arrows were made better.

Hey Bulzeye, sent ya a PM.