Hoyt Maxxis 31

October 28, 2010 By Jon E. Silks

By Jon E. Silks

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Last year, Hoyt hit a home run with the AlphaMax -- the company's first flagship bow under four pounds. It featured Hoyt's signature smooth draw, solid speed and a nearly shock-free shooting experience. Many expressed doubt Hoyt could improve on the AlphaMax.

Well, the Hoyt design team dug in and did exactly what it has done for many years -- took it to the next level and produced another top-notch hunting rig. Hoyt's new Maxxis features an In-Line Roller Guard, Pro Fit Custom Grip, ARC Limb Technology, XTR Cam & 1/2 and StealthShot String Suppression System.

Past Parallel ARC
Hoyt introduces its new ARC Limb Technology on the Maxxis. You will notice the difference as soon as you lay eyes on the bow, as the limbs have a defined curl and are near parallel at rest. The XTS split limbs are highly pre-loaded and reach far beyond parallel at full draw. To get an idea of just how far past parallel these limbs go, visit www.hoyt.com for a photo of the Maxxis at full draw.

While the pre-loaded limbs store a tremendous amount of energy for propelling arrows down range, the position of the limbs is key to taming any energy left over after propelling the arrow. Limbs that reach a past parallel position at full draw act in opposition to one another at the shot, causing much of the leftover energy to be cancelled out. The result is a considerable reduction in shock, vibration and noise.

Designed to withstand 1,000 dry fires, the Maxxis limbs are made with Hoyt's proprietary, five-layer fiberglass lamination process. In testing, the bow produced little shock, vibration or noise at the shot.

TEC LITE Plus
Hoyt sticks with its unique and proven TEC riser design, outfitting the Maxxis with the TEC LITE version -- a lightweight version of the original. The basic TEC platform consists of a thin strut/truss that loops back behind the shooter's bow hand and acts as a shock absorber that channels shot vibration through the truss and away from the grip. The truss in the TEC system is compared to the structural design of a bridge in which the load and stress is distributed through its trusses, creating stability and reduced flex on the travel surface. Strength and stiffness resulting from the truss design goes a long way in lengthening the life of the product, reducing vibration through the grip and increasing accuracy.

Moving away from the traditional cable rod and slide, Hoyt introduces the new aluminum In-Line Roller Guard that places one cable in front of the other rather than stacking them side by side. This positioning, along with Hoyt's exclusive advanced bearing technology, serve to increase efficiency and speed.

Compatible with the Pro Fit Custom Grip System, the one-piece 180 Grip is made from a thermo plastic elastomer with an inlayed Hoyt logo on the heel. The grip is soft to the touch and should be an effective insulator when temperatures drop.

Another plus on the riser is the StealthShot String Suppressor, which protrudes rearward opposite the stainless steel stabilizer insert to meet the string. Hoyt says the StealthShot reduces string oscillation and movement by more than 70 percent.

Smooth Power
Hoyt powers the Maxxis with its smooth-drawing XTR Cam & 1/2 eccentric system, advertised to hit IBO speeds reaching 323 feet per second. This cam is used for draw lengths from 26-30 inches, while short-draw archers (23€‰1„2-25€‰1„2 inches) will need the Z3 Cam & 1/2.

The XTR produces a letoff of approximately 75 percent and uses interchangeable modules to adjust draw lengths in half-inch increments.

In testing, the XTR Cam & 1/2 performed as expected, offering a silky smooth draw from start to finish. The Maxxis 31 is a testament to Hoyt's ability to produce bows that set the standard for smooth.