Crossbow Accessories Reviews 2026

Accessories are where small decisions pay back. A cocking aid makes a heavy crossbow manageable and, just as important, repeatable. A good broadhead choice depends on your crossbow's energy and your bolts. Basic care gear costs little compared with what it protects.

A note on scope first: I have reviewed four accessories so far, two cocking aids and two broadheads. We have not yet reviewed cases, quivers, slings or stands, so this page is deliberately focused on what we can support with testing, and it says plainly where general knowledge takes over.

The sections below cover how to decide, how the numbers work, what the reviewed products cost to own, and the mistakes that cause most compatibility problems.

What counts as a crossbow accessory

For this hub, accessories are the items that sit around the crossbow rather than being part of the bow assembly: cocking aids, broadheads, cases and the basic care kit. Scopes and bolts have their own hubs: see crossbow scopes and crossbow bolts.

Which accessory for which buyer

Cocking aids in depth

A cocking aid reduces the pull needed to draw the string and, more importantly, draws it evenly. If one side of the string reaches the latch before the other, the crossbow tilts the bolt path and groups open up.

Rope cockers

A cocking rope uses pulleys to halve the effort. The Barnett Premium Rope Cocking Device is a 50-inch ambidextrous rope that Barnett says cuts tension by up to 50 percent; in our review it reduced effective effort by roughly half. As a simple example of the arithmetic, a crossbow with a 150 lb draw weight would feel closer to 75 lb of pull through such a rope, though the stroke is longer.

Built-in cranks

A crank cocking device trades a longer, gentler stroke for far less effort. The TenPoint ACUdraw reduces effective effort to roughly 5 lb in my testing. At the same example of 150 lb, that is a 30-to-1 reduction in felt load.

At the low ends of the quoted prices, the ACUdraw costs about $266 more than the rope. What you buy for that is convenience, no separate part to lose and the least effort.

The compatibility catch

Both products exclude certain designs. The Barnett rope is incompatible with Barnett Reverse Draw Cam models, Hyper RAPTOR crossbows and several listed model numbers. TenPoint states the ACUdraw is not for ultra-narrow or reverse-draw crossbows and fits only select TenPoint, Wicked Ridge and Horton models. Read the maker's list before purchase. Related terms: reverse-draw crossbows have different geometry that often rules out generic aids.

Broadheads in depth

A broadhead is the cutting tip used on hunting bolts. The main choice is between a mechanical broadhead, whose blades fold for flight and open on impact, and a fixed-blade broadhead, whose blades never move. Mechanical heads typically fly closer to a field point and need adequate kinetic energy to open; fixed heads are simpler with fewer parts to fail.

The Nemesis cut works out as a 2-inch entry plus 1.75 inches opened by the rear blades, which sums to 3.75. Per head, its pack price is about $16 to $26 ($49 divided by three, $79 divided by three). The R102 review does not state pack size, so a per-head price is not given here. Compare the choice in more depth in our broadheads guide and our fixed-blade guide.

Care and storage basics

The cheapest accessories are the care kit. String wax keeps the string and cables from fraying, and rail lubricant protects the flight rail and string contact surface. Check fasteners at intervals your manual recommends. The routine is in how to maintain a crossbow. For cases, general principles apply: a rigid case protects scope zero and cams during travel, and rules for transporting a crossbow vary, so verify with the relevant transport authority or wildlife agency rather than assuming.

Crossbow cases and slings

A crossbow case and a crossbow sling solve two different problems. The case protects the crossbow between trips, and the sling frees your hands while you walk in.

• Hard case: the better choice when the crossbow travels in a vehicle or on a plane, or when you want the scope to hold its zero. Look for an interior that fits your crossbow's cocked or uncocked width, a lock point, and room for bolts kept separate from the string.
• Soft case: lighter and cheaper, and fine for short drives and storage at home. It guards against scratches and dust more than impacts.
• Sling: check that your stock has sling studs or mounting points before you buy one. A padded, non-slip strap matters more than looks, because a crossbow carried for an hour sits heavy on one shoulder.

Never carry or store a crossbow cocked in a case or on a sling. Transport rules for crossbows differ by state and province, so check with your wildlife agency before you travel.

Quivers, targets, rests and lighted nocks

These are the accessories readers ask about next, and we have not formally reviewed them yet, so this is general guidance rather than test results.

• Quivers. Most crossbow kits include one; the Hyper Whitetail 410, Anaconda and Mag Air packages all do. A detachable quiver is worth having in a blind, where the mounted quiver adds width and snags. Keep broadheads in a hood that covers the blades fully.
• Targets. Buy a target rated for crossbow speeds, and keep separate faces for field points and broadheads: broadhead blades cut up a field-point bag quickly, and retrieving deployed mechanical blades from dense foam takes care, as the Nemesis review notes. A target that stops a 400-plus FPS bolt will also be heavy to move, so plan where it lives.
• Rests and shooting sticks. Any rest goes under the fore-end or stock, never under or against the limbs, and the cocked limbs need clear space on both sides before the shot. Limbs striking a blind frame or a rail can break them and send parts toward you.
• Lighted nocks. Useful for seeing the hit and finding the bolt at dusk; the TenPoint Lighted Pro Elite 400 and Ravin R133 are reviewed sets. Some jurisdictions restrict lighted nocks or electronic devices on arrows for hunting, so check with your wildlife agency before the season.

Cost of ownership

For a wider budget view see how much a crossbow costs.

Common mistakes and myths

• Assuming universal fit. Cocking aids are model-specific. Confirm your model number.
• Leaving the rope at home. The Barnett review notes a separate rope is easy to forget; clip it to your pack or sling.
• Believing a cocking aid is only for weak shooters. Even cocking is an accuracy factor; guidance on draw weight by body size helps you choose well.
• Treating mechanical heads as universal. They need enough energy and a matching speed rating.
• Shooting broadheads into the wrong target. Retrieval of deployed blades from dense material takes care, per the Nemesis review; use targets rated for broadheads.
• Skipping care items until something wears. Waxing is far cheaper than a new string.

Who should skip this category (for now)

If your crossbow is low in draw weight and you shoot a few bolts at a time, you may not need a cocking aid yet. If you are practicing only with field points, hold off on broadheads. If you have a reverse-draw or ultra-narrow crossbow, both reviewed cocking aids are likely excluded, so check the manufacturer's own system.