Tested True: Xpedition NexLite 33

I’ve been testing compound bows for over 20 years. During that tenure, I’ve seen numerous trends, technologies, and designs. I’ve discovered that I could love a bow from a particular manufacturer one year, get excited about its new-for-the-year launch, and then be disappointed. That’s was the 2025 case with Xpedition Archery. I was a fan of the bow builders 2023 flagship, the XLite 33. On the heels of that smooth, accurate compound with the XB1 Dual Cam system was the 2025 XLite 32. Xpedition expanded its XLite lineup in 2024 with the XLite 29 and 35, but I wasn’t able to test either. The 2025 XLite 32 wasn’t what I hoped for. The draw cycle was decently smooth but the cams were twitchy, post-shot noise was present, and the new flagship didn’t have the shootability of the XLite 33.

For 2026, Xpedition rebounds with its all-new NexLite 33. Xpedition took all the goodness of the XLite series, created purposeful new features and technologies, and did their very best to give bowhunters a top-end compound.

I may have been a bit biased from the get-go. Thirty-three inches between the axle pins is my all-time favorite axle-to-axle rating. Couple that with the extended brace height, calmer NXB cams, and I figured Xpedition went for shootability and not jaw-dropping speed.

Let’s dive in.

Make no mistake, the NexLite 33 takes Xpedition into a new era of bow building. Yes, XLite features remain, but an all-new riser, grip, cams, and modern-day accessory attachments tell the tale: The NexLite is not the XLite.

My first big notice was the riser design. The XLite 32 had a reflexed riser. The NexLite 33’s riser is straighter, and the hard lines and angles give it a modernized look that is difficult to ignore. Crafted from Magnite, Xpedition was able to create thin riser sections and angles that don’t compromise riser strength or the bows’ ability to drown out post-shot noise and vibration.

For me, a bow’s grip tells me if I’m going to test and then hunt with the bow or just test it. I wasn’t a fan of the direct-to-riser grip on the XLite 32. The NexLite 33, though, sports improved grip geometry via a rubber overmold that feels thin in the hand. As long as the NexLite 33 features the shootability of the XLite 33, this will be a bow I tote to the woods.

Xpedition also went the extra mile to ensure easy modern-day accessory attachment. The front of the riser has a three-slot sight mount Pic-rail, and the back of the riser features QAD’s IMS rest-attachment system. Xpedition also added upper and lower front stabilizer mounting holes, as well as a rear stabilizer mounting hole, to ensure every shooter can customize balance. Hexagonal mounting holes make one- and two-piece quiver attachment easy, and I appreciate that Xpedition boosted its XLok Series of bow-mounted accessories.

The NXB Cam System replaces the XB32 Cam System and brings some positive changes. The NXB cams are customizable, with a three-module system that is draw-length adjustable in 1/4-inch increments with an adjustable let-off system with options for 5 and 10 percent less than standard (85 percent) let-off. I like the no-shine and added protection that the Cerkate finish provides, and the XLock Tuning System allows for spacers to clip on and off the axle pins without a bow press.

Thin and shorter in length, Xpedition engineers claim the XLock Pocket System provides more stability to the limbs. The pocket dowel supports the limb pivots and squeezes everything together, eliminating all tolerance stacking. Xpedition includes a limb bolt sleeve that aligns everything to the riser to ensure a perfect limb-to-riser bond.

I haven’t had a challenging bow build in three years. This is a testament to bow engineers and the leaps and bounds they’ve made to provide bowhunters with shootable systems. The Xpedition NexLite 33 fell together quickly. Draw weight was measured at a tick over 70 pounds via a pair of digital draw scales. I returned the draw weight to as close to 70 pounds as possible. The limb bolts turned easily and weren’t chatty.

Draw length was set to 29 inches, and all accessories attached easily. I appreciate Xpedition’s attention to the importance of adding quality strings and cables to a flagship bow. I’m a fan of America’s Best Bowstrings. Xpedition went the ABB Platinum route to minimize shoot-in time, reduce frustrating peep rotation, and boost the overall lifespan of the strings and cables.

All bow specs, including draw length were measured and compared with Xpedition’s published specs. My measurements were ultra-close, and, spot-on in most cases. I don’t paper tune bows out of the gate, but I did go through Xpedition’s XLock Tuning System to see how much of a headache it was going to be. The good news: It’s no headache at all. Loosen the axle pins, give the limbs a slight tug to pull them apart, remove the screw from the limb tip, and pull the spacer off. Spacers are labeled 1, 2, and 3, increasing in thickness to influence cam lean right or left and to clean up horizontal nock tears. This is a very simple system.

It was freezing the day I built my NexLite 33. For this reason, my first 50 shots through the bow were indoors from 20 yards. I can’t emphasize enough how excellent the new XLock Grip is. The full wrap grip is comfortable, ensures hand repeatability, and I love the side texture plates and rubber overmold.

The draw cycle is one of the best of the six compound flagship bows I’ve tested this year. The draw force curve is remarkably smooth. Draw weight builds evenly, and the string comes back easily. Most of the time, I was at full draw with my pin locked on the target before I really knew it. This draw cycle needs to be felt to be fully appreciated. The Xpedition NexLite 33 will make a great bowhunting companion because the string comes back so smoothly, transition to the adjustable let-off is barely noticeable, and the cable-stop backwall creates a just-right valley that you can pull into. With the NexLite, you’ll have no trouble starting your draw on a whitetail, pausing, and then resuming the draw cycle to get the string all the way back. The bow also lets down with grace.

The NexLite 33 has the best backwall of any compound bow I’ve tested. It was firm but I could feel it. This allowed me to drive my bow hand into the grip while driving my release arm back. My fingers could sink into the handle of my T.R.U. Ball HBC Flex hinge to initiate rotation, and I was firing strong shots.

At the shot, the NexLite is quiet and dead in the hand. No matter where your bowhunting adventures take you, this compound bow will help make your stick-and-string dreams reality. From the moment you clip on your D-loop until the arrow hits behind the pin, all you need to do is focus on the shot. The NexLite takes care of everything else.

I love the balance and stability the longer, straighter riser provides. The NexLite 33 gets you on target quickly, and while you aim, the NXB cams aren’t trying to pull you into the shot. The cams on the XLite 32 tried to pull me into the shot. I don’t like a bow that does this. When you’re worried that the cams are going to pull your shoulder through the riser if you weaken in your shot form, you can’t focus on aiming. I will take reduced speed for a more accurate and forgiving bow that creates a comfortable shooting experience.

The shooting experiences I had over two months of testing the NexLite 33 were as close to perfect as a bowhunter could ask for. I shot back-to-back 300 5-Spot rounds and cut 55 Xs on the first round and 49 on the second. I shot 10 up on my home 3-D course, shooting between 20 and 50 yards. Two days later, I shot 6 up shooting the course between 50 and 80 yards. The NexLite 33 trumps every other Xpedition bow I’ve tested.

After 200-plus arrows and stretching the legs of the NexLite, I sent an Easton 5MM FMJ Max through paper. I wasn’t totally shocked when the arrow tore a perfect hole. Side of timing the NexLite and making sure the rest was level, I didn’t do any tuning. I noticed that when shooting in low light, I wasn’t getting much (if any) vertical or horizontal nock travel. The NexLite 33 tuned up from the start. Though I had to nock tune a few arrows as I shot a full dozen through paper, this bow tuned up like a dream.

The one area the NexLite 33 lacks when measured head-to-head against most other 2026 flagship compound bows is speed. The 70-pound, 29-inch draw NexLite pushed my 467-grain Easton 5MM FMJ Max arrows at 271 feet per second. Do the math, and the arrows impact with 76.17 foot-pounds of kinetic energy. This energy rating is enough to bring down any North American big-game animal.

On the range, I shot two bare shafts and two fletched from 35 yards. All four arrows stacked together in Rinehart’s Pronghorn Antelope target. I can’t wait to get the XLock Bow Stand and XLock One-Piece Quiver. Once I do, the NexLite 33 will be ready for the bowhunting woods.

I don’t hunt with every compound bow I test. I save two or three of the year’s best compound bows, and those are the flagships that go on my spring and fall hunts. Xpedition won’t be getting my NexLite 33 back anytime soon. This bow proved its worth in every area. I look forward to punching lungs with the bow during my spring and fall adventures. This is Xpedition’s best compound bow to date. If you’e looking for a new compound companion that will turn bowhunting dreams into reality, consider the NexLite 33.