Fiberglass Arrows: Who Should Use Them?

Fiberglass arrows are heavy, tough, inexpensive shafts, and today they are used mainly in youth sets, camps and bowfishing. They are not a performance target or hunting shaft: 3Rivers Archery says fiberglass is "not very common on the target range or in the woods any longer". So in the carbon arrows vs fiberglass question, carbon is the lighter, more versatile shaft, and fiberglass is the tough one for kids and fish.

What fiberglass arrows are

A fiberglass arrow has a glass-fibre shaft and is sold either as a finished youth arrow or as a heavy bowfishing shaft. Three maker listings show the range:

• Bear Archery Youth Safetyglass: "strong, durable, and safe fiberglass construction", sold three to a card in 26 or 28 in lengths, with points, nocks and vanes already fitted.
• Muzzy Classic White Fiberglass Fish Arrow: a 32 in shaft, 5/16 in in diameter, "cross-hole drilled", with a carp or gar tip installed.
• Cajun Bowfishing Fiberglass Arrow: a shaft of "durable red fiberglass" with a Piranha XT point whose barbs reverse for removing fish.

Fiberglass vs carbon and aluminium

The carbon and aluminium columns come from our carbon vs aluminium comparison. No maker we found publishes like-for-like speed or accuracy figures for the three, so we quote none.

Who fiberglass arrows suit

Children, camps and first sets. 3Rivers' case for fiberglass is durability: "For young shooters the advantage is the durability," it says; young archers "will be hard pressed to break a fiberglass arrow under normal shooting conditions and bow weights." Bear adds a sizing rule: "Arrow spine weight must match or be higher than bow weight." Check length against the child's draw too; our guide to choosing a bow for a child covers sizing.

Bowfishers. A bowfishing arrow is tied to a line and shot at close range into water, so weight and toughness count for more than speed. That is why Muzzy and Cajun both list fiberglass fish arrows, and why the Cajun Sucker Punch package in our Sucker Punch review ships with fibreglass arrows. Muzzy also sells carbon composite fish arrows.

Not adult target archers or hunters. Once an archer shoots a fitted bow at a club or in the field, aluminium or carbon cut to the right spine and length is the usual step; see our arrow selection guide.

Are fiberglass arrows safe? Inspect them

Bear's listing says its youth arrows have "high-flexing qualities and will not splinter". Treat that as a product claim, not a guarantee: any arrow can be damaged, and 3Rivers lists splinters among the faults to check for on every shaft.

3Rivers describes a flex test. Wear safety glasses, hold the arrow by each end, and press with slight pressure to bend it away from you "no more than 2 inches (5 centimeters)". Hold the bend only for a moment, then rotate the shaft 45–90 degrees and repeat until you have tested all the way round. You can also twist the arrow lightly along its length and listen.

You can browse fiberglass youth arrows or Bear Archery youth arrows on Amazon. Bear's Youth Safetyglass arrows are one example to consider; check the length and the bow's draw weight first.

Frequently asked questions

Are fiberglass arrows better than carbon?

Not for target shooting or hunting. Carbon is lighter for its stiffness and comes in far more spines. Fiberglass is better where toughness and low cost matter most: kids' sets, camps and bowfishing, where a heavy shaft tied to a line helps.

Are fiberglass arrows safe for kids?

They can be, if they match the bow and are checked. Bear says arrow spine must match or exceed bow weight; length should also suit the child's draw. Toughness does not make any arrow immune to damage, so an adult should flex-test and inspect each one before shooting.

Can you shoot fiberglass arrows from a compound bow?

Yes, in the right setting. Bowfishing compounds such as the Cajun Sucker Punch ship with fiberglass arrows. For youth arrows on any bow, follow Bear's rule that spine must match or be higher than draw weight, and check length against draw length.