Reddit mentions: The best archery protective gear

You have a lot of options to go on the cheap. I mean actually cheap. They won't feel premium or awe inspiring but you can still get quite good (I'm currently retraining myself to use thumb, so I have both those bows below but I have the 18lbs version of the snake)
You can try the famous Snake Bow, or the Youth Titan Bow, Both capable of being drawn to 31" safely, both capable of shooting on the left or right side. Perfect for finding your particular style before choosing better equipment. Both have a reputation of being tanks in terms of durability.

I recommend This armguard

As for arrows, there are a lot of amazon sellers, with 25~30lbs being the kind of weight you want to start with, most of the sellers on amazon give you okay-ish arrows to start, I wouldn't get the cheapest option but if I had to choose, I'd get these. Do not expect to be splitting arrows though.


If you chose those 3 options, that's about 100$ leaving 50$ for a tab, back quiver or target bag. Tab/target bag should be the higher priority, all 3 would be best.


These bows and arrows I linked are for, real budget entry level "I've never shot a bow before" archers. Easy enough to pull, forgiving and more forgiving on the wallet.

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At least I think so.

Don't give up! I was in the same position as you! I had an string knock lock take a chunk out of my arm the first time I went shooting, but then I was using a 55# recurve too. It left a scar after it healed.

Grab one or two of these and one of these and you you'll be all set to go shooting with your forearm and fingers protected.

The reason I say to get two of those guards is that some people will take the bar from two and put it on one set of straps to give better coverage. I also find it to be the best guard because it's super light and my arm stays nice and cool.

I hear you buddy! I tried hard for years to build calluses, but never could. (And I know how to suffer through blood blisters, cause I used to dance ballet in pointe shoes!) Eventually I just gave up and started playing with a leather archery glove on my picking hand. If you can't get the calluses to grow it may be a good option. It's certainly cleaner and easier than tape!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003DR0Z0W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Mine is really old - but this one from Martin is pretty much it.

I trimmed it down to fit my hand, and removed the no-pinch plastic thing (I shoot barebow, so it's really just in my way, it might work for you if you always shoot one finger over, but if not it just pops right out.)

I really don't remember how long it took for my fingers to stop hurting/going numb. I pretty much shot every day when I started out, though, so I think it went by pretty fast. If you find you're consistently hitting to the left, what's probably going on is you're plucking the string a little. As your release gets smoother (basically as you learn to just let go) it gets easier on your fingers.

I'm brand new too. I got the mandarin Duck Black hunter, waited like two weeks shipping from China then found this on amazon and it's the exact same thing.

I got 40lbs. After shooting i was really sore the next day and thought *shit, did i get too heavy? I'm just shooting targets not looking to take down a deer. After Getting used to it though and my form got better I could shoot more arrows and almost wish I got a tad heavier to shoot from farther away and punch it in. I think 40 is the sweet spot for a guy like you.
when getting arrows with this bow , get feathers, not vanes.
This is what I got as a Brand Noob

Arrows

Wrist guard (I cut it an half) I'm sure there are better ones

Finger tab

The zombies ate my brains yet I was able to come up with a couple items:

• Cricket Bat - not necessarily unusual thanks to Shawn of the Dead, but unusual to own in the US. Would be great for smashing heads.
  
• Sickle - not quite as good for range, but would be good for beheading.
  
• A Spear would be good to keep them at range and run less risk of a bite.
  
• You could be a badass like Tyrese in the Walking Dead comic and use a regular old Claw Hammer
  
• Some leather forearm guards would be good for reducing your chance of a bite while using any melee weapons.
  
• You could also go all Dead Rising and carry around a stack of traffic cones to slap on their heads...
  
  Gotta get back to work, but thanks for this it was amusing...

Here are some links
They should give you some guide to what you are looking for. The fletching kit is rather nice and cheap. (i have one) it works great!

The arrows there are carbon and aluminium variants. I own the aluminium variant and they work fabulously.

The tab is another must have or get yourself a shooting glove


http://www.amazon.com/Bohning-Class-Fletching-Straight-Clamp/dp/B0000AVE3W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1407609711&sr=8-2&keywords=fletch+jig


http://www.amazon.com/NuoYa001-Aluminum-feather-40-55lb-Compound/dp/B00K4MNMX6/ref=sr_1_68?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1407609797&sr=1-68

http://www.amazon.com/NuoYa001-Carbon-Streamlined-Feathers-Longbow/dp/B00H8KX32C/ref=sr_1_133?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1407609832&sr=1-133

http://www.amazon.com/Archery-Cowskin-Finger-Shooting-Protector/dp/B00LBU0YKE/ref=sr_1_30?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1407609886&sr=1-30&keywords=archery+tab

Buffalo 3 Finger Design Archery Protect Glove Archery Shooting Glove Leather Archery Single Seam Glove Traditional Shooters Glove Medium https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LGAUQ2A/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_wMdDwb241RVKZ

I'd recommend getting something like this if not a release. Not necessarily this one, it's just an example. But you'll be most consistent with a mechanical release.

Just to elaborate on protective gear. THIS is like the arm guard I use and THIS is like my glove. I am big on not being maimed by my hobbies :-)

I would personally recommend always wearing an armguard or some kind of protection because slapping the bajesus out of your arm just once is enough to throw you off your mental game for the rest of your archery session (trying to concentrate on a shot while worrying about slapping your arm is hard!)

More power to you if you don't need it, but since you're beginners I'd highly recommend it.

Soft armguards do exist as well: https://www.amazon.com/Bohning-801009LG-Slip-On-Armguard-Large/dp/B006QP9PFE/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1481190879&sr=8-10&keywords=archery+armguard

I personally prefer leather for my armguards, but most anything will work if you're using a lower poundage bow

I use the deerskin glove from Neet. For me it's the perfect blend of feel and protection for my fingers.
https://www.amazon.com/Neet-34806-Deerskin-Glove-Medium/dp/B001RMUMUI

Yeah, fingerless gloves don't do anything for me. I've been wearing some of these 5.11 gloves for years, for any situation that my hands need some protection so I figured they'd work fine on the trails ... and they do.

I use some ratty old camo bow hunting mittens similar to these I got for $5 at the Goodwill. They're the best! The mitten and thumbs fold back for when your hands start to get too hot. Ugly as all hell but who cares?

It looks reminiscent of an archery guard like the second picture here. The way it’s snugged to the wrist is different.

Yup, glove used for arching like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Neet-Suede-Leather-Glove/dp/B0754YXBT6

P.P.S. You may want to get a tab to protect your fingers as you draw the string and an arm guard to protect from string slap. Quivers are nice too, but not totally necessary. I like the kind that goes on your back, the hip kind always annoyed me.