Determine what your primary usage of the bow will be, target shooting, hunting, or maybe both. Cedar shafts are generally used for traditional or recurve bows, definitely not a compound. Carbon and Aluminum can also be used with either a stick or recurve bow as long as the spine is appropriate. All the people I know shooting a traditional bows tend to use the Cedar shafts but I do know a few that have chosen aluminum to shoot with their recurve. A good consideration for a compound would be either carbon or aluminum. Depending on you goal, carbons are more durable, and lighter resulting in a flatter trajectory. Aluminums are typically a bit less expensive and a little heavier in weight. Carbons might be used for long distance shooting and aluminum’s for slightly higher kinetic energy but in hunting or target shooting, either arrow will do fine. In any case, a properly tuned arrow will work. Carbon arrows are more expensive, but will generally take more beating than aluminum with a direct hit on the field point, carbons do not take much abuse to a hit or slap on the side, they tend to break. Aluminums are a little cheaper but instead of breaking they bend and in turn have to be straightened, without an arrow straightner each arrow cost money to straighten and adds cost to the initial purchase of the arrows.

Carbon vs. Aluminum is a debate that that has been and will be around for a long time and everyone has their own reason for making their choice in arrows. Both do a good job but in the begging a new archer may want to look at an inexpensive arrow because you will tend to miss a target or two until you get the hang of it.

Gary miller

Team AZOD