The Best Bow Cases of 2025

Why Should You Trust Us

Long ago, I remember bow season only lasted a few weeks in the fall. With time, though, and a growing obsession, I now hunt with a bow throughout most of the year. And I do an immense amount of traveling in the name of chasing my bowhunting dreams. So, keeping my bow protected is something I take in the highest regard.

Through a variety of different conditions, be it my bow case or a hunting partner’s case on the road with me, bow cases are put through their paces. And with some cases having literal years of testing, I’ve uncovered both sturdy platforms to stand on, as well as holes to avoid.

When testing a bow case, I’m looking for potential areas of failure and hiccups in efficiency. I’m also looking for practical layouts that make sense. They’re left out in the elements, whether it’s sun, rain, snow, etc. And they travel in the beds of trucks, back seats, and airplanes. No stone is left unturned, and I’m intentionally looking for fail points.

In addition to my personal experience with many bow cases throughout the years, I also took into consideration the opinions and experiences of fellow seasoned bowhunters and archers around me, along with taking into account the top-selling bow cases on the market and paying attention to a variety of price points.

The bow cases listed above will suit the needs of a wide variety of bowhunting/archery enthusiasts across the globe.

Buyers Guide: How to Choose the Best Bow Case

So, you’ve bought a new bow, arrows, release, and all of the other accessories needed to start flinging arrows. The last thing to get is protection for your investment.

Gear Junkie contributor Morgan Nowels has worked at an archery shop and has watched numerous customers treat cases as a brief afterthought after getting set up with a new rig. But, isn’t it kind of crazy to stick a multi-thousand-dollar investment into the cheapest thing you can find?

At a minimum, take some time to think about how and where you plan on using your bow before you select a case. For some, a budget case is just fine, but others may need a little more protection. Here are the different types of cases and the pros and cons of each. Check it out before adding something to your cart.

Hard Shell vs. Soft Shell vs. Hybrid Bow Cases

Soft Shell Bow Cases

I think it’s safe to say that a soft shell bow case is probably the first kind of bow case that folks start with. Some bows even are sold with a soft shell bow case, and if they’re not, they’re usually pretty affordable.

They’re lightweight, easy to use, and make carrying around your newfound hobby a breeze. And they’ll also, for the most part, keep your bow safe from the immediate elements. Most cases will have additional pockets for arrows, releases, and other archery accessories you might have. With that, their often pliable nature and smaller size make them easy to store.

On the other hand, soft shell bow cases lack durability as well as how much protection they provide. While there is padding within them, that padding will only go so far. Don’t think you’ll be able to throw your bow around in them because you’ll likely inflict unwanted damage.

On that note, this is not a case you’ll be able to take with you on a flight either. Furthermore, I mentioned these would keep your bow safe from the elements “for the most part.” That is because most of them, except the Rugid RGD, are not waterproof. So, if left out in the rain for too long, your rig is gonna get soaked.

Pros

• Affordable
• Easy to store
• Lightweight

Cons

• Not as durable
• Not waterproof
• Offers only so much protection

Hard Shell Bow Cases

On the opposite end of the bow case spectrum, we have hard shell bow cases. These are exactly what they sound like. They offer a hard molded shell of protection against shock, weather, etc. Durability is much higher with these as well, so their longevity stands tall. For the bowhunter or shooter looking to travel, it doesn’t get any better in terms of protection.

Most hard shell bow cases are airline-approved, in fact. Most also offer locking features and have wheels for easy transport.

Along with the good, there are also some downsides, the first being the price of entry. These hard shell cases offer a lot, but to take advantage of those benefits, you’re gonna pay. This makes pulling the trigger on a hard shell case a little harder, especially for beginners. It will also be harder to store these due to their large and static size. To bounce off of that, these are going to be much heavier than other cases. Some hard shells are upward of 20 pounds.

Pros

• Very durable
• Superb protection
• Airline-approved

Cons

• Expensive
• Harder to store
• Heavy

Hybrid Bow Cases

Hybrid bow cases are a blend between hard shell and soft shell designs. The goal is to take everything good about each and put them into one case. They offer fantastic protection and have great durability. This makes hybrid cases a good option for the traveling bowhunter, as they are also airline-approved. Plenty of pockets exist throughout, offering you options a-plenty to store any extra gear for your bow.

While hybrid bow cases indeed bring together a soft shell and a hard shell case, I wouldn’t say they are perfect by any stretch. They’re not as heavy as some hard shell bow cases out there, but they are still pretty dang heavy, with some over 17 pounds. And the extra room for storage is appreciated. However, it makes these a bigger kind of bow case, which will make storing it, or even fitting it in a vehicle for that matter, difficult.

Lastly — the price. You pay for convenience, and hybrid bow cases are right on par in terms of damage to the wallet as many hard shell cases out there.

Pros

• Great protection
• Airline-approved
• Plenty of places to store extra gear

Cons

• Heavy
• Expensive
• Hard to store

So, Which Is the Best for Who?

To conclude, if you’re just starting, you’ve bought your first bow, and are looking for a basic case to hold it, then a soft shell bow case is a great option. If you’re more of a casual bow enthusiast rather than someone who lives this stuff, a soft shell bow case will also be fine.

If, however, you are an addict that crosses state lines with your bow, whether traveling out of state for bowhunting adventures or heading to archery competitions, a hard shell or hybrid case is going to be your best option. You invest an immense amount of effort already into living the bow life. Your bow case should be a reflection of that.

FAQ