I wanted to say thank you. I have gone through all of your videos over the last few months and the content has been great. Your product reviews have been incredibly helpful especially due to similarity in bow specs. I just finished tuning my new Hamskea Trinity Pro and shot my new stabilizer setup for the first time. 3 bare shaft shots to tune. Verified with 3 fletched arrows. Doesn’t get much easier than that. Keep up the good work, the new series is awesome.
I made the same switch last year and absolutely love the hamskea, I run it on my ct5 and vxr now. The small nose button has been a game changer for me and is on both set ups as well👍🇨🇦
I bought the Trinity when I bought my Prime last year. Its build quality and flawless execution after several thousand shots has me won over for life. I will never have to replace this rest.
Always enjoy your stuff as well. Congrats on your progress this year. Let me know if you ever want to come down to Nashville and shoot! I'll set you up in one of our Airbnbs. Seriously 😁
See even with the intergraded qad rests options on my bow. I still went with the trinity hunter pro, And I'm glad I did. They're bulletproof. Nicely done as always
Hamskea is a beast of a rest. Its heavy and you can tell its quality. I ran QAD on other bows but my new revolt x I grabbed a trinity. Hands down it will be a long time runner. I honestly just wish they could machine it down a bit(she thick!) I still put the very light felt on it and its dead quiet and has little to no wear compared to my qad rests. I really enjoy your content, you need some arrow build and component setup vids. You obviously have experience in the archery world and it makes for interesting content! Keep it up!
Funny you mentioned the felt wearing down, I just noticed mine was worn the other day on my Darton. I have the Hamskea Trinity pro on my VXR and love the rest!
It’s funny I was just going through this same thing. I actually had the qad break on me at where it mounts on the dove tail. Just snapped when I was tightening(not very hard) and that was enough for me to move on, thinking this could definitely happen out in the woods. Great videos, keep up the good work.
Bowmar nose button... heck yes. Not more accurate but faster acquisition...also just switch from QAD to Hamski... love it for all the same reasons... thanks for your vids... look forward to each one
Great channel and great content. Really appreciate the unbiased unfiltered reviews. Would love to see some stuff on arrows and broadheads... but the main thing I NEED to know: where did you get that sick hat with the leather bow patch you wear in some of your other videos?
Awesome video as usual. 100% agree about Hamskea vs. QAD. All of my bows over the last 3 years have ran the Hybrid Hunter Pro or Trinity. I tried the integrate on my VXR 31.5, but put the Trinity back on within a week. I gotta try a nose booger sometime. It looks like a great add to be more consistent. Keep up the great work!
It was an ‘ok’ review. I’d like to hear your thoughts on weight to dependability ratio. To me, the Hamskea was better built, but a tank and would add more weight to your bow. I just bought a V3X 33 and a Midwest bow hunter for 18 years. For tune-ability, limb driven rest is easier to tune I believe. Thinking I will go that route again once bow arrives. Thanks for your sharing your thoughts.
I have the hamskea hunter hybrid and love it. Easier to fix in The field of any problems in my opinion! I’ve always referred to the launcher as the “whale tail”!
Thanks for sharing Brandon. Been shooting a Hamskea Hybrid Hunter for about a year now and it’s great. That plastic whale tail lizard tongue thing does wear down where the arrow makes contact though. So I’ve had to move the arrow rest up about a 1/16 to 1/8 inch to compensate for the arrow sitting slightly lower over time.
I've noticed the start of a little bit of wear. Ill watch it and see how far it goes over time. I guess almost any smooth surface is still going to act like light grit sand paper after a few thousand shots at 300 fps.
Been using limb driven rest since I started shooting. Easy to tune, reliable with zero issues. Bought a VXR and Avail for me and the wife and went the Limbdriver Gen7 for both. Couldn't be happier and I know when I'm packing it in to the mountains I will not have any problems. I'm a little pissed that Vaportrail came out with a Gen7 X after I already bought 2 Gen7. I still might switch mine out before hunting season but we'll see. Hamskea was my second choice but since I was using a Limbdriver Pro for 4 years with any problems it was an obvious choice.
Great breakdown of the QAD vs. Hamseka. Guys make a big deal out of the extra cord on cable driven rests but if you bust that cord you just replace it. But if something gets knocked off on the QAD you need to re-tune your bow.
It was my biggest hangup, 100% after having it for a couple months and taking it to Utah, it's not an issue I'm worried about now. Side note, your Instagram is one of my favorite follows.
Finally subscribed lol.. been watching your videos for a while now and love how you are straight to the point and give honest reviews. Had a Trophy Taker lock up on my Xpedition MX16 and it took a crap in less then 100 shots ,their quality went down hill imo.I used to run a Vapor Trail Pro V back in 2014 on my Obsessionand really liked it . I’ve been looking at the Rip Cord Lok, Hamskea Trinity hunter pro and the Vapor Trail Gen 7 to replace the Trophy Taker. I do a lot of spot and stalk for hogs so need a full containment rest that the arrow wont “bounce” around a lot while doing so. In your opinion which would you think be best out of those? Thanks in advance Chris
Good stuff. IF, you leave your d loop material on your rest long, and then it breaks somewhere, you can tie a knot in the d loop to connect the two broken parts, and then repair it when you get back to camp. I cut mine with a broadhead one time by accident. The knot thing worked perfect as I luckily had a long piece of d loop by chance.
I just ordered a Black Gold Widow Maker 5 pin sight and a Hamskea Primer rest from GoHunt. Since I had $75 in points I was able to get the Hamskea for $55 instead of $130. I have only ever shot a whisker biscuit on my old 2006 PSE, but since the Hamskea is a full contain I won't have to worry about the Arrow hitting the riser and scaring a deer like what happened with my youngest brother. It's cable driven which I figured was best since my old bow doesn't have parallel limbs. I may get that nose button to team up with my kisser button.
I ordered one of the other blades (can't remember the name offhand) to see how it wears. I've already got a decent groove I was hoping to avoid. New blade is supposed to be tougher I guess.
I love my hamskea for a year now! One issue is the tension clamp that comes with it for the string . I bought a drop away screw clamp issue gone! If worried about spring breaking hamskea gives you 2 and replacement are cheap!!!
I think in an emergency I could also screw the cable into the screw directly. I k kw it helps with kickback, but I'd take that risk with the right fletching alignment..
I've used QAD and Trophy Taker. Worked great but both eventually had issues with the springs either breaking or the plastic pieces holding the springs breaking. Switched to a Hamskea and haven't had any issues yet but they ain't cheap.
Big fan of the Bowmar button.. a little too sharp for my liking but I heard Josh say in one of his videos that it is heat sensitive so I took a lighter to it slightly and rounded off the sharp points. You should try it if it's too sharp for you. Great content btw. Love your channel. Keep it up!
I have two hamskea hybrid hunters, one hamskea primer. Both hybrid hunters have had to be retreaded the horizontal adjustment screws. The newest one spring was damaged during that and is now in parts box. I’m elk hunting with the primer but it’s just ok. I’m but buying a trinity after I return home. Steel screws and aluminum body is always a problem for me. My backup to my ventum 33 is a Matthews 31.5 with a whisker biscuit, they don’t fail. One more thing, use the limb spring, my straight tied model got worked loose during a tough climb, shot after returning to camp and it threw arrows everywhere. Keep locking bolt tightened regularly. Colo elk hunting getting harder every yr; lots of hunters and I mean lots. ,
So now that you’ve had the VXR for a while now. How does it compare to your Traverse? I know you are a big fan of the Traverse...so what are the differences and similarities between the two? Which one are you planning on hunting with? Thanks!
I have the nose button on all my bows. Absolutely a fantastic product. It is probably one of the cheapest, and yet most expensive products in archery. Cheapest because how many things can you actually get for about $15 that contains 2 in one pack. Most expensive because if used correctly, I recommend not shooting at 1 spot with a bunch of arrows, you will destroy a bunch of arrows before you know it. Down at least a half a dozen in 2 months. Each arrow cost more than the noses buttons. So spent $15 and destroyed over $100 in arrows.
Haha, I like the way you put it. I stopped shooting groups under 50 yards and switched to knock breaker tips instead of arrow splitters. Get some of the more blunt tips and at least all you'll have to do is replace nocks!
Great vid mate I think it’s important to try different brands models & techniques at times it keeps us on our toes it’s made me a better archer over the years.
Brandon great video as always. I used a QAD for years (issue free) but prefer limb driven rests now. I have used and own both hamskea and vapor trails and I will say they both have their advantages; but the vapor trail gen 7 is the most bullet proof rest I’ve used. You may want to give one a try and see what you think. Good luck this season!
I have a question I shot Goldtip Hunter Pro and Kinetic Pierce Platinum ALL with Q2 fusion vanes My BTX with a QAD MTX I have NO problems But wit my SR-6 the Hunter Pro's I'm having fletching contact Barbecue of the diameter of the Pierce arrow's NO contact (looking at 1/16 difference) Have you or anyone had or having this issue ??? Just got a new HDX had this
I switched to the trinity from a smackdown pro this year and I got to say it’s the best rest I have used in 25 years of shooting. And I am trying the nose button just put it in a few days ago I’m not sure about it yet but time will tell.
To me, There's no magic with the button. I just like it for the pressure aspect. I need to do a video on face pressure alone. I don't think people understand how much it messes with nock travel.
Love the videos bud noticed your elbow you got a bit of tennis elbow I suffer at the min and have started my left handed journey hope it heals soon I have had mine for 5mths
I've had mine all year... Got it a bunch as a kid playing tennis. Itll go away during hunting season when I'm not shooting as much. Just hoping i don't tear something first!
Have you already done an overview of your hunting arrow build for 2020/2021? If not, is that something you're planning on doing? I'd be interested in seeing what you've decided to shoot for hunting.
Ditto on the nose button, tightened groups plus cured a problem I couldn't identify... occasional unexplained left fliers. As for rests, been a QAD shooter for quite a while but had to send one back last year as it was hanging up. Next build I may be using a hammy.
I have been using a vapor trail micro elite for the last 3 years with zero failures. Its tune ability and repeatability is great. I also just purchased a nose button, why....... because its $10. Im not a fan of it yet but hopefully it will grow on me.
I switched from a QAD ultra rest to a Hamskea hybrid hunter pro. I don't think one is better than the other BUT I do prefer the Hamskea for some reason. I like the fact that it doesn't need felt and that it has micro adjust where the qad doesn't. As for the Bowmar nose button I do like it to for the same reasons. I was shooting out to 100 yards and my nose wasn't on the button because my sight housing was so low. Still good stuff though!
Weird question. I have 1 bow. But i want to shoot 2 different kinda arrow. Hunting arrows (micro) and target arrows (fat boys). Would the hanskea easily adjust to the difference in the arrow diameter to keep the arrows leveled?
Yeah. The rest has the ability to micro adjust up and down. Loosen an screw and twist a knob to move it. There are hash marks for reference. Most guys I know will either take a picture or just remember "fat arrows are down 10 clicks" or whatever it ended up being. As long as you don't forget, 30 second adjustment
I was really hoping the integrated would work on my VXR 31.5 however when my groups were not wnat I thought they should be, off it went and my Hamskea Trinity Pro took it's place. Problem solved! Shooting darts and good groups out to 90 yds. Havent stretched it out further than that yet but plan to in the next little while.
My V3 just will not tune properly with the QAD integrated. It doesn’t support the arrow long enough and you have to run a quarter inch nock high or take the cams out of sync to get it to shoot at all. Oh threw a whisker biscuit on to check and it tuned dead level, like it’s supposed to. Needless to say, my Hamksea is on the way and the extra support should cure my problem.
Tip for QAD: I never run their felt because it wears out and that can slightly change tune or make noise. Get some UHMW (ultra high molecular weight) tape (similar to dyneema) that is very thin and slick as teflon and doesn't wear (can't tear with hands). Cut small pieces and put on QAD. Then before a hunt make sure your arrows are clean and wipe a little bow string wax on that tape (I use cobalt ice). It is as quiet as fleece and does not wear out or change.
@@brandonmcdonald6121 Thanks. My current piece of tape has lasted a year, but if it ever runs out then it is easy and cheap to change without affecting tune. The tape is thin as scotch tape and I had to use two pairs of pliers and pull hard to break it (I probably sliced it with the pliers edge and didn't actually tear it). Cool stuff in general. If I go to a Hamskea on my next rig, then I might consider putting that UHMW tape over the dragon tongue launcher so that it will never experience any wear and also be guaranteed quiet.
Go to a local shop and see if they do lessons with shop bows. Even if it's a stick bow to start. Decide on an amount of times you will show up. Measure your progress as you go so you'll be excited to show up again to best yourself.
So I’ve always heard over the years the QAD rests had the potential to freeze in cold weather .... rare but possible. Well... in Mississippi I figured my version of cold was no where near cold enough to do such a thing . Wrong! During the pre rut last year we had one day in the 20s heavy frost. I was in the tree before daylight and before the frost really set in. After daylight I drew the bow one time , just to keep my blood flowing and make sure I could draw it in the cold. I had not actually stood the rest up yet, forgot somehow , we’ll when you draw it stands it up anyway right.... not this time. Frozen.... of course I cycled it a bunch of times and got working , but dang I never would have thought my rest would freeze in the southeast. I never like it anyway, I’ve been looking for an excuse to ditch the qad for years and now I have one
When I rotate my phone you become hard to hear? Weird. Thanks. I’ve had a qad ultra rest hunter (cheap one) that’s given me nothing but problems my 1st 2 weeks of shooting bows. Just ordered this
You implied you previously had reservations over a limb driven rest, but that you may have found a solution to address those concerns. I THINK I see you running the activation cable to the lower yoke, versus the limb. Was that your solution? Less cord/more central location? Also, why the Trinity, over the also-wonderful (and smaller/lighter) Hybrid Hunter Pro? Just curious.
Mines the Trinity hybrid hunter pro. I should have clarified... And they should use less names! Haha. you are correct about the tie off location. The second is the tight spot quiver that provides a little bit more protection on the right hand side of the bow
So far I’m very impressed with my nose button. Only took a couple shots to get used to and now I don’t even notice it really, it’s just simply a “check” when I got to anchor
Brandon, did you have to run the Hamskea way left to get a center shot? If not did you have to rearrange the top hats to move the string right to get alignment? Trying to set up a V3 with a Hamskea Hybrid Hunter Pro micro. Played with it last nigh and it seems pretty far our of whack.
Set the rest to the manufacture spec center shot 13/16ths and then adjust the top hats for paper tears. Get as close as you can and then make micro adjustments to the rest.
Thanks. Moved the top and its better but nowhere near gone. Will try the bottom tomorrow then buy a shim kit if still no good. I just find it weird how I had to move the rest so far left to get 13/16”. I’ve gotta be over almost 1/2”. Have you had any issues with the rest cord tied to the cable yoke? Way better setup if it works. Really appreciate all your help and outstanding content. Thanks.
Like has been said in other comments you will see some wear on the hamskea launcher. I have switched to the g flex launcher blades on all 3 hamskeas I have. They're not as quiet as the overmolded blades but they wear better and are lighter.
Hamskea looks like copy of 🏆 Taker but with exposed springs. Might be good for Competitive archery but to many things could catch and break on that during a hunt to take a chance on it. Good luck 🍀
One thing you didn't touch on with the QAD if they aren't installed and set the exact perfect length the timing of the launcher drop can have a big affect on the flight of the arrow and contact. I always recommend timing your bow perfectly with the QAD cord out as well. I have seen the cord of the rest be too tight by 32nd and cause false timing indications and bad arrow flight. Which initially appeared to be bow timing when in fact was cable length. You will not have these issues as often, if ever with a Hameskea or most limb driven. It is critical to make sure to mount the cord for the Hamskea to a portion of the limb with enough movement to activate it generally anywhere on the back of the limb will work.
Whisker Biscuit with an Axcel Accutouch Pro single pin AV31 slider sight all the way on my VXR - Whisker biscuit is unbeatable in my opinion with accuracy, arrow retention, quietness thus piece of mind,,,one less thing to think about when shots need to happen now. I removed my Hamskea Trinity,,,too noisy when/if it bounces around inside the arrow holding system, and during the draw when the arrow slides back on the plastic paddle. Not a noise I want when an animal is at 5 yards.
So with the nose button, apparently it just came out recently (first I’ve heard of it was a couple weeks ago) and seems like everybody’s into it. But I shoot a 3-pin slider(hha kingpin) and if I slide my sight out past 40yds, which is bottom pin, to 50/60/70yds etc, my anchor point changes slightly. It has to or else I couldn’t see through my peepsight. I know there’s lots of guys who shoot slider sights, anybody else thought of this? I don’t see how it provides any better anchor point, especially when shooting a slider and your anchor points have to change anyway
That's why I said for me it's a bit more about facial pressure. I shoot a black gold slider. That said, my hunting setup will be fixed out to 70 so I'll be solid unless I'm shooting a follow up shot.
Shit.... noob here and am buying everything for my first bow (V3), I bought the QAD Integrate because I was afraid of the open spring on the Hamskea. Did I make a mistake?
I've had a hamskea hunted with it a week into the rain and the bearings went corroded, thus not picking up the launcher be careful nice rest in ideal conditions
Hunted turkeys in the rain this year and use a Limbdriver Gen7 that held up great. No issues with rust or failures. The new Gen7 X can go top or bottom limb as well.
@@brandonmcdonald6121 I think the bearings are brass and after a few days of continuous rain I could feel bearings in the launcher, thus intermittently coming up part the way. Look it up, but it does rain a lot here too thou.
QAD warranty is lifetime I have sent back two and had new QAD rest back in no time. I don’t put any felt on mine it suppose to be silencing stuff but I haven’t seen any difference.
Rusty Shackleford that’s good to know I don’t know why but I really like how the QAD traps my arrow nice and tight when it’s up. I didn’t like it being so loose. But I have tried the limb driven both great rest think it comes down to personal preference how you like your arrow to sit.
I have almost the same set up, I have a hoyt pro drop as a rest. But I don't have the arrow containment( bought used online😆). I do have to draw carefully, Hopefully I will never have to draw my bow horizontally while hunting😅
I just like walking with my arrow nocked and finger over the arrow. Can't really do that with the QAD unless it's down. I should probably have shown a draw with the QAD off to the side to see how far you had to go to tip it off.
This fork under arrow is wearing fast on hamskea and they will send you New, white plastic look. I had this happend but contact with hamskea and no problem , ship to GERMANY from USA in 3-4 days
Ive had Gas and liked them as well. I have Winners Choice on mine and they're doing fine. The thing with strings is you really only notice the bad things. Good means nothings going wrong!
Thanks! It was a fun project a couple of years ago. We airbnbd it for a while but then I wanted all my crap out of the house. It's made a good archery/ video spot.
After about 1500 arrows my whisker biscuit looked scruffy. Guys at the shop said get a Hamskea, they are usually around $200 and this one is marked $139.99. Since I saw this video that rang a bell and bought the Hamskea. It's logo, Built like a Panzer and Peforms like a Swiss watch. That's assuring. We'll see. I'm installing it today.
@@brandonmcdonald6121 The Bow Tech is installing. It may be ready today. It was the Hybrid Pro and not the Trinity. Still though that thing is well belt. I'll let you know. I do believe it will be better than a $22 whisker biscuit, especially a scruffy one.
@@brandonmcdonald6121 I had a bow tech install the Hamskea Hybrid Pro arrow rest. He did a great job! You could tell a difference right away. It was more accurate and the arrows flew faster. Glad I watched your video.
I definitely prefer this style rest. I think you'll find the Trophy Taker Smackdown Pro is essentially the same rest, while far less expensive, and carries a fully unconditional lifetime warranty. You certainly took a step up from the QAD though. I don't like anything about those rests. Never have.
I've never had issues with them, just like the ham more. I had the non micro adjustable trophy taker. Pretty similar. Some of these are so similar to each other I don't know how there's not lawsuits floating around!
Contact QAD, I did this week...mine did too after 11 years my HDX died. They're fixing it for free and free return shipping...worth doing if it's just to keep as a backup or pay it forward.
I just switched to the trinity from the hdx and the trinity is louder. I like the trinity more than the qad but it is definitely louder. I ordered a nylon screw for the down adjustment on the lizard tounge. Ive tried more and less tension on the string. Some people say there’s is silent, mine is not.
Brandon Mcdonald started back in the early 70s with recurve then bear compound whitetail hunter bow then several years ago bought a creed but have always had a bow pro set them up for me it’s so technical.. so I only hunted with gun . bows just for target shooting pretty lame I guess 🤔
They only problem with the Hamski is that if you shoot narrow arrow‘s they get stuck on the top of the rest usually on the left and you shoe 5 feet off, it’s costed me three arrows , so for that reasonI will never use it again, the QAD always shoots straight and does not lock arrows to the left or right,If they ever make a different rest I would switch back, but I believe that is a huge mistake on their part, it should never fail, not ever
You mean they fall to the side of the whale tail? I put the little rubber trough on my shelf and haven't even been close to having an issue yet. I'll follow back up after the season though.
Hey bud, your vocals were extremely low throughout all my devices. Cell, tablet, laptop, & T.V. There was a high volume background hiss. Great information though. Thank you for that.
I know it's fickle, but I like that the QAD has the custom bow manufacturer branding on their HDX/Ultrarest. When I spend $1,000 plus on a bare bow I like having the matching rest. So there's that for me, AND I've never had a single issue with any of my QAD rests. Shot the same felt for thousands of shots, still looks new too. I really enjoy your content, thanks Brandon!
I have the integrate QAD on my VXR. My only beef with the Hamskea is how HUUGE the damn thing is. I’m not completely sold on the QAD but the Hamskea is ridiculously oversized
Hiked into my white tail spot one wet morning, temp was dropping and the rain got a little slushy. That slushy water on the whiskers turned into a perfectly good fletching stripper. Luckily I didn't have a deer walk by that day but I had to let the rest thaw out before I could get the arrow out. Plus with a hard helical it interferes too much.