Born in Decorah, Iowa Xpedition Archery continues to impress. The latest add to its innovative Xlite lineup—the Xlite 32—will turn heads.
by Jace Bauserman
I’ve written about Xpedition Archery for years in several bow roundups.
What is a bow roundup?
It’s pretty straightforward. The outdoor writing world gets press releases, photos, MSRP, etc., from bow makers about new-for-the-year compounds. Writers read those press releases, research, and compile a roundup of that year’s latest and greatest.
A bow test is much different. I’m not discrediting the roundups; they are essential. They give a sort of “first look.” However, a test dives into a given bow’s speed, accuracy, shootability, etc. For the last few years, while penning annual roundups, bows from Xpedition caught my eye.
A U.S.-based builder of compound bows, Xpedition Archery spread its roots in 2012 in Decorah, Iowa.
The manufacturer’s mission: To create purpose-driven, innovative compound bows hunters and target archers can rely on in the field and the range.
The problem: The compound bow ocean is a small one, and it’s full of sharks. Many start-up bow-builders don’t make it out alive. If they do, they take too many bites to heal and eventually go under.
Not Xpedition, though!
Xpedition quickly built a reputation for stepping outside established norms and pushing the innovation envelope to the fullest. Bows like the DLX, Xscape, and XLite Series gained favor with bowhunters.
One specific innovation, Magnite Alloy, a proprietary alloy from Xpedition, is a specialized magnesium-based composite that blends aluminum and magnesium to create a bow with a remarkable strength-to-weight ratio.
The compound creating the 2025 Xpedition buzz—the XLite 32—showed up on my doorstep earlier this spring.
XLite 32 First Impressions
In bowhunting, looks don’t kill. However, if they did, deer that caught a glimpse of this racy flagship would tip over on-site.
OK, that’s a tad extreme. Still, I love the thinner split-limb design and compact pocket system that melds into the forest-green Magnite Riser. The bow has eye appeal.
Upon further inspection, I noticed Xpedition took a page from the gun industry’s playbook. The riser is coated with Cerakote, which boosts bow protection via corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and overall hardness.
The in-laid black grip is removable, and archers can choose between 17- and 19-degree grip options. The grip is flat-backed, a touch wide for my liking (more to come), and boasts an ergonomic rubberized feel.
The XB32 Dual Cam System isn’t oversized and helps the bow keep a clean, compact look. It’s a two-module system with short and long draw options for peak performance, and the bow is adjustable between 25 and 30.5-inch draw lengths.
The riser sports a Picatinny (Pic) sight rail for no-mounting-bar needed sight options, and QAD’s award-winning IMS System is in the riser’s back. The IMS System allows adding top-tier no-mounting-bar needed rests like QAD’s MX2. Having the ability to keep overall bow weight down by eliminating mounting bars and screws is a good thing. At a glance, the XLite 32 would work as well in the Rockies as it would in a Midwest whitetail stand.
Doniker Dampeners are on the bow—two smaller dampeners on the back of the riser and one on the front. The Front dampener has a removable weight.
Bow Build
Building bows is fun. You can learn a lot about a bow during the building phase. The Xpedition 32 was a breeze to set up. My only negative comment is that the limb bolts do chatter when turned. I prefer a limb bolt that turns smooth. Nonetheless, the bolts turned, and I could adjust the draw 71.8-pound draw weight to 70.22 pounds via my digital bow scale for testing purposes.
The bow pressed easily. Peep insertion and attachment of bow-mounted accessories was a breeze. All threaded holes were exact; no threading hangups were detected.
I added Spot-Hogg’s new Boonie PM 5 Pin, QAD’s MX2 rest, and Bee-Stingeer’s 8-inch MicroHex Hunting stab with one circular weight.
The arrow used for this test was Easton’s 5.0. The total shaft weight with four Flex-Fletch Pro 2.5 vanes, HIT insert, HIT collar, and 100-grain field point was 381.5 grains.
Initial Thoughts
I’ve shot ABB (America’s Best Bowstrings) for years. It only makes sense that a young and budding bow builder wanting to give bowhunters/archers the best would partner with a kingpin custom string builder.
XLite 32 bows come fitted with America’s Best Bowstrings. ABB strings are stable, require an ultra-small shoot-in period, and, most importantly, eliminate frustrating peep rotation.
Those who’ve read my bow reviews know I rarely take the compound from the press to the paper tuner. My first mission is to get familiar with the bow. I want to learn how the bow feels in my hand and how it shoots before I try to get a perfect tear through paper.
A bow’s grip is everything. At first, I wasn’t overly impressed with the XLite 32s interchangeable grip, but it grew on me. I would like to see Xpedition slim it down in the future. You need to spend time with the bow and familiarize yourself with how it shoots before you try to paper-tune it. Get it close, and then spend time on the range.
Set a draw length of 28.5 inches and a draw weight of 70.22 pounds, the thought that popped into my head after sending the first arrow from the bow was: Wow, that felt fast.
The bow wasn’t loud, but I detected a slight twang of post-shot hand tickle. There’s nothing to be alarmed at, but it’s there.
The draw cycle was smooth, and weight built evenly throughout the draw. There were no humps or glitches. A pair of stops contact the bow’s split yoke system, giving the Xpedition XLite 32 a firm back wall with a bit of valley. I love a small valley I can pull into. The valley is not too soft or spongy. The XB32 Cam System isn’t itching to pull your shoulder into the shot at full draw. You can remain strong in the front and the back and aim while you let the release fire the bow.
The Tune
After putting 100 arrows through Xpedition’s XLite 32 and getting ultra-familiar with the bow, I took it to the paper tuner. I expected the tear to be close to perfect. I’d worked most of the kinks out. The bow was driving tacks to 50 yards, and no vertical or horizontal nock travel was noticed via the naked eye. I even Robin Hooded a 5.0 on my second shot with the bow from 52.5 yards.
Xpedition does include shims with the purchase of an XLite 32, and while I appreciate this, the shims weren’t needed. I tuned the low left tear out with the rest, and after 100 more arrows, the bow is still driving tacks. I had the bow tuned and ready with six individually tuned arrows in less than 15 minutes. And, yes, you should individually tune every arrow in your quiver.
I also appreciate how easy it is to change the draw length. Xpedition uses a letter system. Follow the guide inside the lower right limb, move your modules, and adjust your cable stops.
On The Range
Compound bow innovation has come a long way. Most every bow on the market—even budget-friendly bows—shoot well. This bow shot exceptional. Minus the slight post-shot hand tickle, the bow holds steady and aims excellent. For measuring only 32 inches between the axle pins, it’s unwavering at full draw. I found consistent three-arrow group accuracy from 20 yards to the max testing distance of 80 yards.
I pounded 3D and bag targets for a week, and the more I shot Xpedition’s XLite 32, the more I liked it. The grip even grew on me.
The bow, at 3.8 pounds without accessories, is light, and though the brace height is a mere 6 inches, the bow is generally forgiving. However, mistakes in form or punches of the trigger are magnified beyond 50 yards. If you keep proper form and let the release fire the bow, this 80 percent let-off (adjustable) bow will deliver accuracy in spades.
Xpedition XLite 32 Speed
I won’t say Xpedition Archery is chasing speed. Speed is often the result of exceptional bow design, a shorter brace height, and cams capable of maximum energy transfer into the limbs and riser.
The XLite 32 does have a shorter brace height, but its design is remarkable. Although the XB32 Cam System is firey, it’s smooth. When I get speed that doesn’t sacrifice draw, hold, and shot-to-shot consistency, I tip my hat to the compound’s design. The XLite 32 gets a big hat tip. This bow has a lot going for it.
I would like to see Xpediton thin down the grip and add some Xpedition-branded bow stand. Aside from that, this compound and I get along excellent.
Set at a draw weight of 70.22 pounds and a draw length of 28.5 inches, the Xlite 32 produced a three-arrow fps average of 307 fps with a 381.5-grain arrow. That works for me. With every shot, this speed and the arrow’s total grain weight deliver 76.77-foot pounds of kinetic energy. That’s more than enough KE for grizzly or moose. Keep that in mind.
Xpedition XLite 32 Final Thoughts
Xpedition’s compound lineup sports many XLite models: the 29, 31, 33, and 35. Is the XLite 32 the best—the pinnacle? I can’t tell you because I haven’t shot all the other models. I can confidently say that the bow is an ideal blend of speed, smoothness, and accuracy. It is a flagship loaded with innovation that matches other compound heavy hitters.
In layperson’s terms, I dig it! I shoot the bow remarkably well. I feel confident every time I put the 19-degree grip in my hand, and when I do my job and execute, the XLite 32 delivers the arrow where it needs to go.
