Pros
- Best-in-class noise and vibration
- SwitchWeight modules change peak weight in minutes
- Outstanding balance offhand
- Holds resale value like nothing else in archery
Cons
- Premium price before accessories
- SwitchWeight mods are a dealer item
- Short brace height demands decent form
Field Test Results
Scored against our published methodology
Key Specs
| Axle-to-axle | 29.5" |
|---|---|
| Draw weight | 55–80 lbs (SwitchWeight) |
| Draw length | 25.5–30" |
| Speed | 348 fps IBO |
| Let-off | 80/85% |
| Mass weight | 3.99 lbs |
The Lift is the most complete flagship Mathews has built — absurdly light, dead quiet, and more tunable than anything in its class. The price is the only con that survives a week of shooting it.
At some point every committed bowhunter wonders whether flagship bows are marketing or substance. We spent a season with the Lift 29.5 to find out.
Performance Testing
Our 70 lb, 28.5″ test rig sent a 450-grain arrow at 296 fps and the shot felt like closing a luxury car door — a dull, dense thud with zero ring. Broadhead tune took one yoke twist. At 60 yards our average group size beat our reference bow by just under two inches, which we attribute mostly to how well the bow holds.
Real-World Use
Carried for a week of November whitetail sits, the 4 lb bare weight and grip-up balance matter more than any spec sheet suggests. Cold-weather draws stayed smooth at 70 lbs, and the bow shrugged off a treestand rainstorm.
Alternatives Worth Considering
- Hoyt Carbon RX-9 — the carbon-riser rival, warmer in hand, louder at the shot
- Bowtech Carbon Hunter — better-priced carbon option
- Hoyt Torrex — 90% of the hunt-ability for 65% of the price
Final Verdict
If the budget exists, the Lift 29.5 is the best hunting bow we have tested. If it doesn’t, nothing here will make a mid-range bow feel inadequate — that is how good modern mid-range bows are. But the flagship difference is real, measurable and audible.
How the Mathews Lift 29.5 compares
| Product | Rating | Key spec | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathews Lift 29.5 Reviewed here | 9.7/10 | 348 fps | $1,299 | Check Price |
| Hoyt Torrex | 9.3/10 | 327 fps | $849 | Check Price |
| Bear Archery Cruzer G3 | 9.0/10 | 300 fps | $399 | Check Price |
| Bear Archery Royale Youth Bow | 8.9/10 | 5–50 lbs | $299 | Check Price |
| Diamond Infinite 305 | 8.8/10 | 305 fps | $449 | Check Price |
Mathews Lift 29.5
Check Today's Price on AmazonTop Compound Bows right now
Bear Archery Royale Youth Bow
A real bow scaled down — 5–50 lb adjustability covers a kid's entire growth curve.
Check PriceMathews Lift 29.5
The benchmark flagship: unmatched tunability, balance, and resale value for serious hunters.
Check PriceBear Archery Cruzer G3
Adjustable 10–70 lb compound that grows with you — the safest first hunting bow money can…
Check PriceFrequently Asked Questions
Is the Mathews Lift worth it?
For hunters who shoot year-round and keep bows for many seasons, yes — the noise, balance and resale value justify the premium. Casual shooters get better value in the $400–$800 class.
What is SwitchWeight?
Mathews' modular cam system that changes peak draw weight (55–80 lbs) and let-off by swapping modules instead of buying new limbs.