A revamped, more dialed-in version of the highly popular Mathews LIFT is a bowhunting machine.
by Darron McDougal
Whether or not you prefer a lightweight bow, there are merits to beginning with one; add weight where and how you want it to achieve a beautifully balanced finished weight that fits your personal preference. That’s one reason the 2024 Mathews LIFT appealed to so many bowhunters. It incorporated a top-mounted axle, allowing for shorter, lighter limbs. A few other details were polished up, and boom, the LIFT 29.5 weighed merely 3.99 pounds. That’s lighter than some of the market’s carbon bows but at the slightly more economical price of machined aluminum.
Of course, good enough isn’t good enough at Mathews, which perfectly segues us into discussing the 2025 LIFT X. It’s lightweight just like its predecessor, but it incorporates three new advancements that substantially improve the user experience. Before we discuss those, I’d like to note that the LIFT X is available in 29.5-inch and 33-inch versions. There’s also the 27.5-inch LIFT RS, which is ideal for running and gunning or smaller-framed bowhunters. For this review, we’ll focus solely on the LIFT X 29.5.
To that end, if you’re in the market for a new bow this year, the following are some reasons why the LIFT X 29.5 should be on your test-drive list.
ARC7 and Limb Shift Technology
Bowhunting is unforgiving on equipment whether you’re after big whitetails two miles deep in a Kansas thicket, bull elk in a Colorado wilderness area, or big game animals abroad entailing flights with abusive luggage handling. Bow limbs, in particular, are susceptible to knocks and blows, not to mention the thousands of cycles they undergo as we practice. While previous Mathews limbs have proven dependable, Mathews’ engineers pegged the durability and efficiency needles of new ARC7 Limbs, incorporating what the developers call “armor.” Across many prototypes and millions of cycle tests, ARC7 Limbs irrefutably make a better mousetrap.
Mathews has lagged behind a bit in the tuning department. Top Hats were effective but required a bow press and axle removal. Good news: Limb Shift Technology is as user-friendly as any tuning system and just as effective, but not a “me-too.” It slaves the top and bottom cams to one limb, and the other limb can be shifted in or out to balance cam lean with a simple hex wrench. Ultra-fine adjustments can be made in less than a minute without a bow press, and etched reference marks help you calculate adjustments made.
The Bond Grip System
Recent Mathews bows featured the Engage Grip, which I always found too tacky. That’s why I’m super-stoked about the new BOND Grip System. The LIFT X comes standard with the BOND Engage, but the Contour, Taper, and Side Plates give users different fit-and-feel options. BOND grips have a durable, non-tacky polymer base, and the one-piece models feature a snazzy textured inlay. Each version is compatible with the Mathews Shot Sense module and is available in several colors. Back to the grip itself, I believe it’s a huge improvement that feels better and exudes Mathews quality.
Performance Unleashed
All of my recent Mathews bows are configured with 75-pound SwitchWeight Modules. My Last Chance Archery digital scale measured my LIFT X’s actual peak weight at 76.4 pounds. The smoothness is off the charts, thanks to the SwitchWeight X Cam combined with the Mathews roller guard. A bow so powerful shouldn’t be so smooth.
Speaking of power, I tested a few arrows for velocity and kinetic energy. The results for my short 27.5-inch draw length exceeded my expectations. My go-to hunting arrow is Victory Archery’s VAP SS 350, and it left the bow at 296 fps, yielding 85.82 foot-pounds of kinetic energy — plenty of punch for any North American big game animal.
First Arrow
When I shot my first arrow through the LIFT X, the silence was deafening, and the lack of vibrations was staggering. This is largely due to Resistance Phase Damping, which utilizes eight individual limbs to sandwich silencing rubber between each limb pair. It’s also detailed with Monkey Tails and Mathews’ long-proven, beyond-parallel limbs to thwart vibrations and shock. It’s phenomenally stealthy.
Bridge-Lock Risers are engineering marvels, but they’re not just easy on the eyes. They maximize stability to decrease pin float and calm the archer — a considerable benefit when taking a difficult bowhunting shot. The balance, particularly when paired with Mathews Genuine accessories, is unrivaled. Everything operates as a system rather than a bow and individual accessories. You have to experience it to comprehend it.
My 2024 LIFT shot true and held its tune throughout the spring, summer, and fall. I attribute this to its premium MATCH bowstrings. MATCH bowstrings are back, and I anticipate another stress-free hunting season. By the way, MATCH’s proprietary blend of BCY 452X ultra-low wax fibers alleviates dilemmas such as peep alignment, stretch, or serving separations.
New Sight
If you’re familiar with the progression of Mathews’ streamlined accessory mounts, then you know that they began with the Integrate Resting Mounting system, followed by the Bridge-Lock Sight Mount. Next came the LowPro Quiver and, eventually, the Bridge-Lock Stabilizer.
For 2025, Mathews has teamed up with UltraView Archery to launch the Bridge-Lock UV Slider. It is a high-end slider sight with a short mounting bar, yielding a scant 9-ounce mass weight. It is the lightest, fully functional slider sight I know of. It has first-, second-, and third-axis adjustability, includes a spelled-out user guide, and operates silky-smooth. It’s also extremely accurate. So far, I’ve shot my LIFT X decked out in Mathews Genuine Accessories out to 95 yards. The bow is unbelievably accurate.
If you prefer a different sight, the Bridge-Lock Sight Mount is compatible with other great slider sights. Even so, I’d suggest carefully considering the Bridge-Lock UV Slider. It’s the simplest and diminutive fully featured sight I’ve ever used. Many of you will agree.
Effectiveness Perfected
When a new flagship bow is named similarly to last year’s model, the initial notion of most consumers is that it’s probably not worth upgrading. In some cases, that’s valid, but with the LIFT X, I can assure you it is not. With three new advancements — Limb Shift Technology, the BOND Grip System, and ARC7 Limbs, the LIFT X combines the 2024 LIFT’s best features with developments that improve the user experience.
Whether hunting backyard whitetails or slogging across the Alaskan tundra for a giant bull moose, the LIFT X 29.5 or 33 are more than up to the task.
