Whether you call them arm guards or bracers, they’re the same piece of gear. “Bracer” is the traditional medieval term, while “arm guard” is what most modern archers use.
A quality arm guard protects your forearm from painful bowstring slap during the release. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or competitive shooter.
The right guard makes a noticeable difference in comfort and confidence.
Not all arm guards are built the same, though. Material, strap design, ventilation, and coverage area all vary between models.
Read through our top 10 picks below to find the one that fits your shooting style.
Quick Comparison Chart
| # | Guards | Our Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ![]() |
prowithlin Archery Arm Guards 2-Pack | ★★★★★ | Check Price |
| 2 | ![]() |
Bohning Archery - Slip On Armguard - Com | ★★★★★ | Check Price |
| 3 | ![]() |
TOP ARCHERY 12\" Cow Leather Arm Guard Pr | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 4 | ![]() |
SAS 8\" Armguard Archery Bow Range With 3 | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 5 | ![]() |
Wizard Youth Archery Arm Guard | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 6 | ![]() |
Sportsman's Tarantula Sleeve Wrap Armgua | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 7 | ![]() |
HZMAN Adults Faux Leather Arm Guard | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 8 | ![]() |
Yls Archery Arm Guard | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 9 | ![]() |
Easton Deluxe Oval Armguard | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 10 | ![]() |
Saunders Ventilated Target Armguard | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
1. prowithlin Archery Arm Guards 2-Pack — Best Overall
prowithlin Archery Arm Guards 2-Pack
The prowithlin Archery Arm Guards come in a 2-pack with 3-strap adjustable quick-release buckles. Made of durable cowhide leather, they protect your forearm from bowstring slap for both recurve and compound bows.
Pros
- Light-weight
- Tiny perforations providing airflow
- One size that fits all
Cons
- Leather can feel stiff until broken in
- One-size design may not fit very small forearms well
If you want a unique type of arm guard to be generally used for adolescents, then this prowithlin Archery Arm Guards 2-Pack is the best for you.
This arm guard, as its name says, is made up of a hard mesh at the front to avoid the slapping of the bowstring when releasing the arrow and with soft material under the guard making it quite comfortable to wear.
The mesh also ensures airflow keeping the arm cool during hot temperatures. Pairing a quality arm guard with a good set of archery gloves gives you complete hand and forearm protection.
The design used to make it’s through ergonomics which notifies its users for not worrying about the fitness of this bracer over the forearm, thus making it a modern technology.
An armed guard is used to protect the archer’s forearm from injury against the string of the bow or from the fletching of the arrow. For full upper body protection, you should also consider pairing it with a chest guard to prevent string slap to the torso.
Kids frequently get injured due to incompetence, but by buying this protective gear, you don’t have to worry at all.
This usually comes in one size with adjustable straps so it can fit all of its users eliminating exceptional users. If you’re looking for even more protection, check out our picks for the best archery gloves and hand guards as well.
The buckles used to hold the forearm can be clipped/unclipped by just one hand, so making it easy to wear/remove.
Its dimensions include 1 x 1 x 1.
Lastly, it comes with green, orange, and pink colors making it attractive for youngsters.
2. Bohning Archery - Slip On Armguard - Compression Snug Fit — Runner Up
Bohning Archery - Slip On Armguard - Compression Snug Fit
If someone goes to market for buying archery-related products among the top companies that scroll down his mind is the \"Bohning Company.\" The quality of the Slip ON armguard can be judged by the fact that Bohning had been into the market from the 1940s and 1950s.
Pros
- It provides corrosion resistance
- Lightweight and flexible
- Recyclable
Cons
- Compression fit may feel too tight on larger forearms
- Less protection than full-length leather guards
If someone goes to market for buying archery-related products among the top companies that scroll down his mind is the “Bohning Company.”
The quality of the Slip ON armguard can be judged by the fact that Bohning had been into the market from the 1940s and 1950s.
So you can buy their products with your eyes closed as they have reached up to 80 years of excellence.
If we talk about its design and color, then it usually comes in black color giving it a professional look.
Nevertheless, the material used is also a very widely used metal aluminum.
The company has carefully selected Aluminum because it’s great for manufacturing the archery arm guard.
It has several advantages.
First of all, it’s very lightweight while being durable and sturdy, so it’s an excellent choice for making the bracer.
Secondly, it has a low maintenance cost, so it’s not an expensive option for bowmen.
Thirdly, it has fantastic manufacturing flexibility, i.e., it’s ductile and malleable, so it can easily be made by the company, again reducing the manufacturing cost and thus cheaper for the final consumer.
Fourth, it has a life of more than fifty years, so it’s a one-time investment of money.
Lastly, it provides corrosion resistance, and thus, the user doesn’t have to worry about losing its attractiveness.
On the contrary, aluminum does have some disadvantages.
These include being an excellent thermal and electrical conductor like all other metals and thus can be very dangerous for the user.
Now returning to the arm guard.
It comes in three sizes, and all the sizes fit correctly from the wrist to the elbow.
The material used, Aluminum, is also very stretchable and there are no buckles or straps, thus, making it like sleeves, you just have to slide them over your forearm.
3. TOP ARCHERY 12” Cow Leather Arm Guard Protector — Best Value
TOP ARCHERY 12\" Cow Leather Arm Guard Protector
TopArchery, just like Bohning, is one of the most famous companies for buying archery products for amateurs or professionals. This protective gear for archery is remarkable as this product is made up of cow leather making it highly durable, flexible, and comfortable.
Pros
- Durable and lightweight
- Water-proof
- Four-strap buckle system making it fit for all sizes
Cons
- 12-inch length can feel bulky on shorter arms
- Leather needs occasional conditioning to stay supple
TopArchery, just like Bohning, is one of the most famous companies for buying archery products for amateurs or professionals.
This protective gear for archery is remarkable as this product is made up of cow leather making it highly durable, flexible, and comfortable.
It usually comes in camouflage color.
Top archery has chosen cow leather to make this arm guard.
There are many benefits of using this leather and some include its high resistant capability making it extremely durable.
Once you’ve bought this 12-inch cow leather arm guard, it will last for years.
Leather is also a timeless fabric, i.e., it has been used for centuries for making products, so its reliability is unquestionable.
If we talk about style and fashion, then again, leather wins the race among its fellow competitors as it gives a professional and elegant look, whether dyed or natural.
Some people say that original leather has some scratches and marks, but you don’t have to be worried as those marks indicate that the leather is pure.
For products that have to be worn over the body or any product that comes in contact with the skin, people always choose natural fabrics as they don’t cause any irritation.
This is the reason among others that Top Archery has chosen this leather as it’s highly optimized for human wear.
Leather is also the best option when you’ve to add strength to your product as it’s resistant to dry abrasion and dust mites and fungal attacks.
Now just imagine what would happen if you had sealed the whole room.
The room would be attacked by fungus, would become dry or too moist, all of this because air isn’t flowing.
But this isn’t the case with leather as it’s shockingly, breathable.
We’ve made all this conversation about leather being durable and sturdy that you might question its flexibility.
Leather at first is indeed very stiff, but with time its flexibility increases as it molds to the owner’s lifestyle.
Last but not least, you can be an eco-conscious consumer when you would buy this forearm protective gear as it’s entirely natural and no toxic substances are released when it’s processed in a factory.
Nevertheless, the disadvantages are also present for using this cow leather arm guard.
Mainly, the high demand for leather has turned the manufacturers into merciless butchers slaughtering millions of cows each day.
Leather is also very costly.
Now returning to the properties of this Bohning arm guard.
It’s very lightweight, only 68 grams, and the dimensions of 30 x 4 cm fit the forearm perfectly.
The unique characteristic of it’s that it comes with four adjustable straps, so you don’t have to be worried about the size when buying it.
4. SAS 8” Armguard Archery Bow Range With 3-Strap Buckles — Premium Pick
SAS 8\" Armguard Archery Bow Range With 3-Strap Buckles
SAS which stands for Southland Archery Supply is also a company famous among bowmen. The material used by SAS in manufacturing this 8-inch arm guard is very comfy and thick.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Properly vented
- Gives a professional look
Cons
- 8-inch length doesn't cover the full forearm
- Can feel slightly stiff out of the box
SAS which stands for Southland Archery Supply is also a company famous among bowmen.
The material used by SAS in manufacturing this 8-inch arm guard is very comfy and thick.
The exceptional property of this arm guard is that it’s appropriately vented because it has big rectangular spaces on its sides and cylindrical spaces on its base.
It has three-strap buckles making it one less than the previous arm guard, but still, it’s easily wearable by all users.
It comes with fascinating black and red colors.
5. Wizard Youth Archery Arm Guard — Budget Pick
Wizard Youth Archery Arm Guard
This model Wizard is manufactured by Bear Archery which works mostly on youth archery products or archery products for recreational activities. This company is known to be the number one for manufacturing archery products for kids.
Pros
- Durable
- Light-weight
- Great for kids
Cons
- Won't fit adult or teenage archers
- Thin padding offers less protection than leather guards
This model Wizard is manufactured by Bear Archery which works mostly on youth archery products or archery products for recreational activities.
This company is known to be the number one for manufacturing archery products for kids.
The excellent quality of this guard relies on the fact that it has been in the manufacturing industry for over eight decades.
This is initially designed for younger people and one rare quality that doesn’t exist in many of the arm guards is that it’s designed ambidextrously.
It has a length of 6.5 inches, so it can easily cover the forearm of kids.
It usually comes in black color and the material is also lightweight making it portable.
The two-strap detaching system makes it good for children as they can comfortably wear or remove it.
6. Sportsman’s Tarantula Sleeve Wrap Armguard (Camo) — Most Popular
Sportsman's Tarantula Sleeve Wrap Armguard (Camo)
Sportsmen have been manufacturing archery gears over a long period and their expertise is depicted on this Tarantula Sleeve Wrap.
Pros
- Light-weight
- It can fit all sizes
- Tough and rugged material
Cons
- Sleeve design can slide during intense shooting sessions
- Limited size range compared to adjustable strap models
Sportsmen have been manufacturing archery gears over a long period and their expertise is depicted on this Tarantula Sleeve Wrap.
If we study its name, then it seems, for instance, that does it refer to the biggest spider on the planet Earth, Tarantula?
Yes, it refers to the spider’s name, but that’s not all.
The Tarantula symbolizes that one should nourish their body, mind, and soul.
But how does it relate to archery?
It relates as archery does nourish the body, mind, and soul as it’s not just a sport for amusement, but rather, it’s also an activity that nurtures our mind and soul.
Now coming to the boring yet important facts.
It’s made up of hard material, therefore, it absorbs the tension forces when the arrow is released by the archer.
It also has tiny holes on the base of the arm guard for aeration and so keeping the arm cooler in high-temperature environments.
Sometimes, the cloth interferes during arrow release, but wearing this tarantula armguard won’t allow this to happen.
It’s made up of three elastic belts and buckles making it fit for all sizes and it usually comes with an eight-inch long length size.
It has a mossy oak pattern and thus has a killer look.
7. HZMAN Adults Faux Leather Arm Guard — Best Design
HZMAN Adults Faux Leather Arm Guard
This is made up of Faux leather also known as artificial leather just like the leather used in sofas. Artificial leather or synthetic leather is an alternative to original leather and is made from different plastics.
Pros
- Gives a professional look
- Great for cosplay
- Comfortable to wear
Cons
- Faux leather isn't as durable as genuine cowhide
- Lace-up system is slower to put on than buckle straps
This is made up of Faux leather also known as artificial leather just like the leather used in sofas.
Artificial leather or synthetic leather is an alternative to original leather and is made from different plastics.
Faux leather is cheaper than the original leather while giving exceptional durability, but it’s not as durable as the original leather.
This leather, also called PU-Polyurethane leather, is fade-resistant, so when buying arm guard, one doesn’t have to worry about losing its beauty.
PU leather can be cost-effective as it needs fewer resources.
One notable thing about it’s that it’s straightforward to clean as it doesn’t absorb liquids and so can give a new look every time the user cleans it.
Now discussing its drawbacks, the first thing is that it’s not as breathable as the original leather.
It’s not degradable just like rubber and thus would pollute the environment.
Lastly, it also has a longer lifespan than genuine leather.
But overall, if one can’t purchase an original leather armguard or is worried about the pollution it may cause to the environment, this may be the best option for you.
Now returning to the features of this bracer.
This bracer is specially designed for adults and is excellent in LARP-Live Action Role Playing.
The specialty of this armor is that it doesn’t have detachable straps neither does it have the two, three, or four straps buckle system, but instead it has strings which can be tied through the holes made explicitly so that it can fit on the forearm just like tying your shoelaces.
It comes with a brown color and gauntlet design making it highly professional.
It has one size which can cover the adults’ forearms from wrist to elbow completely.
The package dimensions are 7.87 x 7.87 x 0.59 inches.
8. Yls Archery Arm Guard — Most Durable
Yls Archery Arm Guard
The material that's used in manufacturing this product is a light-weighted silicon rubber making it comfortable and easy to wear. Rubber, famous by the name of 'latex' is extracted from rubber trees.
Pros
- Light-weight
- Durable
- It can fit all sizes of children
Cons
- Silicone doesn't look as traditional as leather options
- Thinner material provides less impact cushioning
The material that’s used in manufacturing this product is a light-weighted silicon rubber making it comfortable and easy to wear.
Rubber, famous by the name of ‘latex’ is extracted from rubber trees.
It consists of polymers along with other organic compounds including water.
Now why Yls has chosen rubber for manufacturing this arm guard is because rubber is very elastic making it fit all sizes.
Rubber is also very highly resistant to pressures, so it’s good for the arm guard because it had to absorb the pressure of the coming bowstring when the arrow is released.
Rubber also has incredible chemical stability.
Price-wise, the rubber is also very cheap, and surprisingly, the rubber is biodegradable, so no more litter addition to Earth.
One of the many disadvantages of using rubber is that it has a negligible resistance to oil and greases, and a little contact with these substances may distort the physical structure of the rubber.
Others include its weak tensile strength and a shorter lifespan.
Now coming back to discuss this arm guard by Yls.
This arm guard is designed for children which comes with different bright colors like blue, green, pink, red, etc., and it’s adequately vented.
It has adjustable straps so they can perfectly fit over the forearm and the dimensions of this product by Yls is 13.8 x 4.6 x 6.4 cm.
Two rods can protect from the injury caused by the bow when practicing archery.
9. Easton Deluxe Oval Armguard — Best for Beginners
Easton Deluxe Oval Armguard
Easton Archery started in 1922, and since then, it has evolved into the world's leading clever archery products supplier. This model, Deluxe Oval Armguard, is designed for both children and adults.
Pros
- Durable and tough
- It can maintain rigidity up to temperatures as high as 140°C and as low as 20°C
- The color doesn't fade quickly
Cons
- Oval shape doesn't protect as much forearm area as full-length
- Elastic straps can lose tension over time with heavy use
Easton Archery started in 1922, and since then, it has evolved into the world’s leading clever archery products supplier.
This model, Deluxe Oval Armguard, is designed for both children and adults.
It’s made up of the most common thermoplastic, polycarbonate making it sturdy and durable.
Thermoplastic is a synthetic polymer that becomes soft when heated and hard when cooled.
It’s this property of thermoplastic that the Easton Company has engraved in their mind when producing the arm guard.
There are many types of thermoplastics, and these include polycarbonate, acrylic, nylon, etc.
If we talk about polycarbonate, then it gives several benefits to its user.
First of all, it can easily be mold making it flexible and thus ergonomically fit over the forearm.
Thermoplastic is also lightweight, flame resistant, and it’s also resistant to high pressures.
Some disadvantages include its high price and it’s a very deplorable fact that it’s even more expensive than plastic or glass.
Thermoplastics are also very toxic and they can be hazardous when they come in contact with food.
Returning to the arm guard.
The dimensions of this product by Easton Archery are 1 x 1 x 1, the same as the mesh armguard by Allen Company and it usually comes with grey and green colors on guard and with black color on the straps.
10. Saunders Ventilated Target Armguard — Honorable Mention
Saunders Ventilated Target Armguard
Saunders Archery operating in the United States is also very popular for making archery gears. This product is made up of a D-75 material which shows users the sampling so you can judge the quality of the material.
Pros
- Light-weight
- Durable and elastic
- Great for rare slaps that happen through the bowstring after the archer has reached the anchor point and the arrow has released
Cons
- Ventilation holes mean less surface protection area
- Designed for target use, not good for heavy hunting bows
Saunders Archery operating in the United States is also very popular for making archery gears.
This product is made up of a D-75 material which shows users the sampling so you can judge the quality of the material.
The D-75 material used is durable and elastic making it an excellent choice for an archer.
It’s also centrally braided making it more durable so you don’t have to worry about compression forces to your tissues of the forearm as it’s also extensive throughout.
When it comes fitting, it comes with two straps below to fit your forearm.
It can also be worn/removed easily and also covers specifically the area where the string slap is likely to occur.
It’s appropriately vented, so sweat can’t accumulate when the archer is practicing archery.
Price-wise, it’s also very cheap, so it can be a perfect choice as it’s a whole economic package for an archer.
It usually comes with black color with a size of 7.5 x 5.5 x 1 inch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Same thing, different name. Bracer is the old medieval term, arm guard is what everyone calls them now. Both are just a piece of protective material strapped to your bow arm's forearm to stop bowstring slap.
Yep. Even pros wear them, especially during long sessions when fatigue starts creeping in. Your form breaks down when you're tired, and that's exactly when the string catches your forearm. Plenty of competitive archers keep one on every time they shoot, just as a safety net.
Strap guards use buckles or velcro, so you can dial in the fit exactly. Slip-ons work like compression sleeves that you just pull over your arm. Slip-ons are faster to get on, but strap models stay put better when you're really shooting a lot.
Snug enough that it doesn't slide or spin when you draw, but not so tight it cuts off circulation. You want it sitting flush against your forearm with no gaps. If the string can catch under the edge, it's too loose.
Final Thoughts
A good arm guard (or bracer, if you prefer the traditional term) is one of the cheapest and most essential pieces of archery gear you can own. Look for a comfortable material like leather or ventilated mesh, a secure fastening system with at least three straps, and enough coverage to protect the area where your string makes contact.
Don't wait until you've got a nasty bruise to start wearing one. Whether you shoot recurve or compound, an arm guard should be part of your setup from day one.












