Stabilizer Test?
 

Hey guys,

I was just sitting here thinking about stabilizers and I was wondering if anybody has done side by side comparison and tests on stabilizers.

I would like to see someone take a bow, shoot about a dozen times without any stabilizer, and get the average dB rating. After that, attach a stabilizer, and repeat the process. Do this with a bunch of stabilizers and see which stabilizer reduces the dB rating the most. Maybe even a graph that represents the effectivness in noise reduction from different size/weight stabilizers.

If anybody knows of a web-site that has done this, let me know. If not, I may e-mail Hunters Friend and tell them my idea!

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

Jason,
It's been done.........I did testing that was pretty much just a "Blind taste test" of stabilizer effectiveness, by actually shooting them side by side on many different bows, and arrow weights actually BLINDFOLDED over the course of a few weeks........

Saggitarius did the same thing I did.......had a head to head "Shootout" of many popular and not so popular stabilizers.........

Another member.......I forget who??? Did the same thing by testing side by side a bunch of popular stabilizers, except this time he actually DID use a decible meter to measure which one made his bows the quietest.

All 3 of these had one thing in common. Stealth "Hunter" stabilizers came out as best in recoil, vibration and noise reduction even against the SIMS stuff and COMBINATIONS of the SIMS stuff.
There were some that were close........some that were not, but none quite equalled the performance of the Stealth. And don't get me wrong, I've always liked and do like SIMS products , I have purchased 5 different stabilizers with their technology. I still haven't found one that works better than a Stealth.

Now a stabilizer's function is not just as a noise, vibration reduction gizmo so it is vitally important to get one that fits your own personal idea of proper balance. Put the 2 together and you have your ideal stabilizer.

I would love to see an independently done "LABORATORY" test which would leave no personal bias.......Throw all major and popular brands into the ring to be tested in all categories, recoil reduction, noise and vibration. I bet that would be pretty interesting reading.

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

Ditto, to the last thing that Matt said. I also would like to see an independent laboratory test all the popular stabilizers and tell us which one reduces vibration, noise, and shock the best. That way there wouldn't be any archery company advertising B.S. involved and we'd actually get the truth. Maybe huntersfriend would undertake this endevor.

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

Matt.

The only problem I can see with this idea altho it is a great idea is cost.

Not only would they have to test every stabilizer out there but also test them on every bow.
Which would be a long drawn out affair and most probably by the time the tests where done there would be a whole new line of bows as well as new stabilizers.

As we all know there is not one stabilizer that is going to do the job for everyone on every bow.

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RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

I wonder if CONSUMER REPORTS magazine has an outdoor division where they could do exaclty that. what the heck the test a bunch of other stuff why not stab's.:D

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RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

I may be mistaken but didn't Vic (500 fps) say that he purchased or was going to purchase a decibel meter for use with his bows. I have not seen him post lately so I honestly do not know.

Then there was a former forum member who actually rigged up his computer to act as a decibel meter for him to conduct tests on but that was many years ago and many messageboards from here....:).

The stealth that Matt mentioned always gets rave reviews. Eventually I will get around to trying one but continue to use a variety of other ones as part of my setups.

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

SOUNDA PRETTY INTERESTING I AM LOOKING FOR A NEW STABILIZER ANYHOW WHERE CAN I BUY THE STEALTH?

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

Cabela's carries them. I think they are around $45.00. I plan on getting one soon!;)

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

The problem with this line of thinking is that what will attenuate sound with one bow, may not work at all with another. You need to have some kind of harmonic convergence (?), meaning that the vibe of the bow has to be in the same range the stab can net out, or the stab has to be adjustible. Bows vibrate at different freequencies, so there isn't any one system that will work for every bow. There is actualy, but not within this reference.

In my view, and I recognize from the past I am in the vast (if correct:D) minority, The purpose of a stab has nothing to do with vibe. They don't call them Vibrators, they call them stabilizers. As far a stability is concerned, a fairly large number of the hunting ones are negative to neutral in effect. But either way, I wouldn't want to likely buy the winner, since it would be a winner in an irrelevant category.

Third, there are so many good vibe attennuating things that can either be added to a stab, or attached to the bow, who would care about such tests?

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

I am on the opposite end here in regards to stabilizer theory.

I firmly believe that all bows produce the same type of noise/vibration. The variations are slight compared to the possible noises and vibrations from other sources.

What I am saying is...if you find a stabilizer that dampens recoil/vibration, and noise better on a Bowtec...the same stab will be better on a Hoyt, and a Mathews, and a Martin, and so on.

Now balance is a different matter altogether.

That said...I also performed a very rudimentary test using 5 different bow brands, and 5 different stabilizer brands.

I felt the recoil/vibration, and listened without the aid of a decibel meter.

I found in my rough testing that my KyberShock stabilizer performed much better on all bows than the other brands. Except one. My stealth 8", 10", and 24" stabilizers outperformed the Kybershocks....not by a mile, but the difference was noticable.

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

I think you're on to something. Market a Doinker Vibrator, may get more females interested in archery...

Sorry... :)

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

Range, I was thinking the same thing, but you beat me to it....Great minds....;) (or maybe dirty minds)

JMAC

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RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

I prefer great... :)

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

Somehow I just new that somebody here was going to breach that subject....esspecially after Arthur's "Dilidio drive" comments.

Dirty old men.

:)

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

The Stealth line of stabilizers address`s the issue of differing frequency vibration by having the dual chamber design!
A high frequency absorbing chamber and a low frequency absorbing chamber,allowing it to absorb more vibration, on "most" of the many different designs of bows out there!

I dont know how much longer the Stealth is going to be available thru Cabelas as I recieved a call from their purchasing dept. a couple of weeks ago.
It seems that sales of the Stealth Hunter were not high enough to justify them placeing it in the 04 archery catalog!
The gentelman I spoke with said " The Stealth perfomed better than most of the stabilizer`s hes tried"! and that he personally uses a Stealth on his bow!
He also said if Stealth picked up some more momentum in sales it would be no problem to get them back in the catalog in the future!

I guess without a big advertising budget, just not enough people out there Know about the Stealth Hunter stabilizer and what a quality product it is!
At this point I am wondering if having them camo film dipped would put them "Over the hill" so to speak and increase sales enough to compete with the "Big Boys"!
What do you guys think, will the camo Stealth be a big success?
I still wont have the big advertising budget.....

Jerry

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

Jerry,

My personal opinion would be that the camo may help, but using the extra $ you'd spend getting them dipped (unless it's cheaper than anodize for you) would be to use that money to advertise. I've never seen an ad in any bowhunting mag. Putting a small B&W ad in one of the "equipment guide" issues of Petersens or Bowhunting world would be my suggestion.

Will you have a booth at the ATA?

I think it would also be wise to try and work with some of the bow manufacturers to get them to help distribute yuor product as thier recommended stabilizer. If it's in the manufacturers catalog, fans of X bow are more likely to buy one for their bow (e.g. I see a ton fo guys at the shop w/ the Hoyt stabs on thier Hoyts, even though we carry deisgns that work much better..they just want a Hoyt stab, ya know?)

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

JeffB the camo will more than help the sales of the stab's. In my almost two years in dealing with and selling the stealth's at my shop I would say first hand that the camo dipping will help the sales. Archery shooters are some of the vainest people I know....lol :D When I sell a bow and guys are looking at stabilizers they really consider camo and the fact that Jerry's come in black are a big consideration when purchasing one to match the bows camo pattern.

There were a few times when I literally spent 20-30 min. discussing what stabilizer would not just work better but what would look better. [:o]

But I do agree with JeffB that you need to spend some $$ on advertising. Because Jerry does have a good product and the public needs to know that it is out there.;):D JMHO.

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

Advertising would help for sure, but I remember when I took my bow into the local archery shop and had the Stealth on it. I told the owner how well it seemed to work and let him shoot my bow. He seemed impressed with the effectiveness of the Stealth, but asked only one question. "Does it come in camo?";)

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

Stealman,
I agree with the others. I don't know if it would be cost prohibitive or not, but I think alot of guys like to have their stabilizer match their bows. Please let us know if you decide to go ahead with it. I was planning on sending a 6" Steath hunter to Trebark this spring to have it dipped. But they charge around $35 I think. You definately would have one MO obsession sold if it was available :D.

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

Hey Jerry,

I think that within the next few weeks I will be placing an order. I e-mailed you a few weeks ago about it, and I just can't pass up these results. Whenever I get the extra $$$ I will be ordering one.

The camo isn't a "big" thing with the guys on here, but, lets face it, we aren't the typical archers on here. All of these guys are dedicated to this sport and know our way around bow, atleast most of us do. But, there are alot of guys out there that wont even buy a bow unless it matches the camo clothes they wear.

I have talked to several people about black sightes and stabilizers and most people say that they look "cheap". I personally don't see it that way, actually, with my new bow, I am keeping all my accessories black as it gives it a nice "two tone" effect :D

The camo would probablly help. Another thing though is the weight. Alot of guys have bows that balance well already and they don't want or need the extra weight of a stabilizer. I can shoot my bow very accurately without a stabilizer (atleast for hunting) so I really don't need that extra weight for pin point accuracy. If there was also a "lightweight" version of the Stealth, I think that it would be a big hit for the hunters!

Advertising always helps. Just look at Mmmmm....... Mmmmm...... (hahaha, I just couldn't help myself :D) A small add would be a good idea, but, I would spend the extra money to get it put in a big magazine, such as Outdoor Life or Field and Stream. I would also try to get a color add, but that isn't nessicary.

I have been, and will continue to suggest your stabilizer on all the forums I visit when someone asks for the best Stabilizer. Your stabilizers have grown such a reputation that I havn't even used one, but I am willing to tell others to get it. Matt told me a good bit about them and his experiences and I trust him.

A suggestion that I may make to others is maybe add a link in their signatures on different forums to your web-site. I know that a few would be more than willing to do it.

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

LOL..Yeah I know Frank. Some guys have to have everything match regardless. Funny thing is I think I see more "clashing" of camo than anything in my area. Must just be that New Yorkers have less fashion sense. :D

Regardless of color, like you said, if folks don't know about them (i.e through advertising) it won't matter. Word of mouth only goes so far.

I do also agree that a shorter, lighter option would be neccessary.Say around 4-5" and 5-7 oz. Most folks don't like long, heavier stabilizers despite the benefits (I do, but I'm not most folks :D)

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

You guys have all brought up good points,I think that with a marketing plan and camo the Stealth stabilizers would really open some eyes!
I really liked the idea of hooking up with a bow manufacture and building a "house" stabilizer for them.....hmmmmmm.
Its really just a matter of having the capital to market these stabilizers,it sounds so easy!
Whomever said "It takes money to make money" was sooooo right!;)LOL
Jerry

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

Hmmm... We have Jerry with Stealth Stabilizers, then we have all these BowTech guys............ the wheels are spinning........... hmmmmmm.... maybe BowTech and Stealth could hook up!!!!! That is just too good to be true :D

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

Jerry,

If you will be at the ATA show, please stop by the BowTech booth and say hi! (might wanna bring a couple of stabilizers by to show the BowTech folks too ;):D

RE: Stabilizer Test?
 

Jerry.

You have a PM