Bear Cruzer G4 Review: The Bow That Fits Almost Anyone

14 to 30 inches of draw and 10 to 70 lb, in a 3.2 lb package.

Specifications

Specifications above come from Bear Archery's published specifications on the current listing. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.

What it does well

• The adjustment range is the product. 14 to 30 inches of draw covers a ten year old and a tall adult on the same riser.
• 3.2 lb of mass weight is light to carry and easy for a smaller archer to hold up at the end of a long sit.
• 29 inches axle to axle is short enough for a blind or a stand without being twitchy.
• The package is complete enough to shoot the day it arrives, including the peep and the quiver most kits leave out.
• Bear parts and support are widely available, which matters for a bow you expect to re-set several times.

Where it falls short

• A bow that fits everyone fits nobody perfectly. At the extremes of the draw range the cam geometry is a compromise, and a dedicated bow will out-shoot it.
• The included 4 pin sight and V-Biscuit rest are entry-level parts. They work, and they are what most owners replace first.
• A 6.25 inch brace height with a short axle to axle makes form errors more visible than a longer, more forgiving rig would.
• Ready to Hunt does not mean ready to hunt. It needs a d-loop set, a peep rotated true, arrows matched to your actual draw, and broadheads that fly with your field points.
• It is sold hand-specific. A right-hand bow is not convertible, so eye dominance needs checking before you order.

What owners report

Published owner reviews of the Cruzer family are unusually consistent, which is what you would expect from a bow that has been in the catalogue in one form or another for years. The recurring theme is fit: parents buying one bow that a child will not outgrow, adults buying a first bow before they know their numbers, and households sharing one riser across two archers. The second recurring theme is that owners replace the sight before they replace the bow.

Reviews from experienced archers tend to be fair rather than dismissive. The common assessment is that the Cruzer is not as smooth through the draw cycle as a dedicated hunting bow and does not need to be, because it is doing something no dedicated bow does. Complaints about the package accessories come up far more often than complaints about the riser, limbs or cams.

The thing to get right before you shoot it is the draw length setting, because the entire benefit of this bow depends on it being set correctly rather than approximately. Measure yours with the draw length calculator and then have a pro shop confirm it at full draw, since a bow set an inch long teaches a form error that follows you to every bow after it. If you are cross-shopping at this price, the Cruzer G4 versus Sanlida Dragon X8 comparison is the direct head to head, and the beginner compound bow guide puts both in context.

One safety note worth repeating: draw weight legal minimums for hunting vary by state and by species and they do change, so set your poundage against your own wildlife agency's current rule rather than a number you read somewhere. Have any draw length or draw weight change checked by a qualified pro shop.

Who it suits

• Growing archers and families sharing one bow.
• Adults buying a first compound before their draw length is settled.
• Anyone who wants a complete rig with nothing else to buy on day one.

Who should skip it

• Archers with a known draw length who want maximum performance for the money.
• Target archers who want a long axle to axle bow for known-distance accuracy.
• Anyone who intends to replace every package accessory anyway, who should buy a bare bow and better parts.

Alternatives worth considering

Keep reading

• Bear Cruzer G4 vs Sanlida Dragon X8
• Best compound bows for beginners
• Draw length calculator
• PSE Stinger ATK review
• Bear Limitless youth bow review

This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.