Vista Monarch Bow Review: Is This the Best Budget Recurve for Beginners?

​If you're diving into traditional archery for the first time, you’ve likely come across the Vista Monarch Bow.

It's marketed as a budget-friendly recurve perfect for beginners. But does it live up to the hype?

​In this comprehensive Vista Monarch Bow review, we’ll explore everything you need to know so you can decide if it’s the right fit for your archery journey.

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Quick Overview of the Vista Monarch Bow

​Length: 62 inches

Draw Weights: 25–40 lbs

Riser Material: Hardwood laminate

Limb Material: Maple core with black fiberglass

Hand Orientation: Only available Right-handed

The Vista Monarch is ideal for entry-level archers and recreational shooters looking for a stylish budget bow.

It comes in at a very reasonable price point, around $150, which means it won’t break the bank for most newer archers.

Vista Monarch Pros and Cons

Vista Monarch Pro's

​The biggest pro of the Vista Monarch is its price point.

Because it’s designed with beginners in mind, the Monarch is extremely affordable

Since the Monarch is a recurve with lower draw weights, it is more forgiving than some other bows on the market.

This is a big plus for beginners who are just learning the ropes

Vista Monarch Cons

The biggest con of the Monarch is its lack of variations.

It’s only available in right handed models and only has 3 draw weights.

This isn’t too concerning for beginners, but it limits the uses of the bow.

Another con is that it’s not available as a bundle with everything else a beginner needs to get started with traditional archery.

So you’ll still have to go get a finger tab, ​arrows and other equipment before you can go out and shoot.

Vista Monarch vs Samick Sage

When looking to compare budget bows, the first name that comes up is the Samick Sage.

The sage is one of the most popular bows on the market for beginners and has set the new standard for entry level bows

So how does the Vista Monarch compare to it?

Performance wise, the Monarch stands toe to toe with the Sage.

Both are great starter bows!

The edge the Sage has over the Monarch is that it is available in more variations.

There’s a wider range of draw weights and it’s available as a Left Hand bow.

So as a left handed archer, the Monarch isn’t ideal for me.

Buuuuuttttt….

Since most archers are right handed, the Monarch is a great fit.

Here's my full review of the Samick Sage

Who Should Buy the Vista Monarch?

​This question comes up with every bow…

How do you know if the Vista Monarch is the right bow for you?

Here’s the answer.

The Monarch is ideal for beginners and recreational shooters.

With a max draw weight of 40 pounds, it’s not ideal for any hunting situations, so if you’re a bowhunter, this definitely isn’t the bow for you.

(Here's the Best Traditional Bows for Hunting)

Once you move up to the skills of an “intermediate” archer, you’re really going to want to upgrade past the Monarch.

Maybe to something like the Bear Grizzly or the Fred Bear Take Down bow

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the Vista Monarch good for hunting?

​Not really. Its max draw weight (40 lbs) is on the low side for ethical hunting.

What arrows should I use?

​Lightweight carbon or wood arrows matched to your draw weight and length work best.

Having a higher FOC helps too, but that can be a little in the weeds for a beginner.

Here's my top arrows for trad bows

Can I upgrade the string?

​Yes! A Dacron B-50 or Flemish twist string will enhance performance.