A hands-on look at one of the most talked-about slider sights in the game. Dialed continues down the path of giving bowhunters what they demand.
by Zach Bowhay
There’s no shortage of archery sights on the market, and plenty do the job just fine. But now and then, a product comes along that changes the way we think about our setup. The Dialed PRÜF sight is one of those rare pieces of gear that doesn’t just improve on old ideas; it reimagines them.
I spent time this past season running the PRÜF, and while I’ve never been one to chase hype, this sight earned a spot on my bow for more than one reason. Whether dialing for a distant shot on a steep mountainside or making fast adjustments in a pressured whitetail situation, the PRÜF brings something different.
Design & First Impressions
The build quality was the first thing I noticed when pulling the PRÜF out of the box. Of course, many things are similar to other sights, but this sight has a “different look.” It’s not just machined aluminum with a fancy coating. Instead, it’s a well-thought-out, American-made sight that feels like bowhunters designed it for bowhunters.
The Cerakote finish isn’t just about looks. This finish is known to hold up well to abuse and doesn’t glare in the sun as some high-polish finishes do. It walks a nice line weight-wise: substantial enough to feel solid but not so heavy that it messes with bow balance. Mounted on my rig, it felt like it belonged there.
Another area where Dialed gets it right is customization. You can build out the PRÜF to match your style or setup with various Cerakote color options for the chassis and dial ring. Whether you like to keep things stealthy or blend your gear with your bow, the matchups are dialed in. Dialed Sage lines up with Mathews Green Ambush, Clay pairs with Mathews Earth, and Smoke mirrors with Mathews Granite. For Hoyt shooters, Dusk matches Tombstone, and Whiskey complements Hoyt Bourbon. It’s a slight touch, but many bowhunters will appreciate it when building a streamlined setup.
That same level of choice carries into the pin configuration. Depending on your shooting style and hunting needs, you can choose a vertical single-pin, three-pin, horizontal three-pin, or five-pin options. You can also choose between .010 or .019 pins. Each sight comes with 48 pre-printed sight tapes, text tape, blank tapes, and a tape selection chart. They weren’t just thinking about target archers, whitetail guys, or anyone in particular; Dialed wanted this sight to work across the board.
Dialed also gives you multiple mounting options, which is key if you run different platforms. Choose from the Dovetail mount (compatible with Mathews Bridge-Lock), a Picatinny mount, or a standard riser mount to get the exact fit you need. This can be nice for several reasons: cutting weight, helping balance your bow, or having a more streamlined look. Bow manufacturers are working to make your favorite accessories better integrate with your bow, so you may as well take advantage, especially if it doesn’t add cost.
Beyond fit and finish, the layout is ergonomic, and everything is where it should be. The dials, levers, and adjustments are all within easy reach. There’s no fumbling around, no need to pull out Allen wrenches in the field, and the learning curve is minimal, even if you’re switching from a different slider-style sight.
Notable Features
The folks at Dialed listened to their customers and complaints about their popular Arxos sight and fixed the issues. I have heard rumors that the name Pruf came from it. The PRÜF is the “proof.” Dialed listened to its crowd and fixed the issues. Its innovative and user-focused functionality separates the PRÜF from the crowded slider sight market. Dialed didn’t just add a few new gadgets; they rethought core elements impacting precision and usability in hunting scenarios.
Angled Elevation System (A.E.S.)
At the heart of the PRÜF is its patented Angled Elevation System, and while it might sound like a minor tweak, it has significant implications in the field. Dialed created more space for longer shots by angling the elevation rail before your arrow vanes brush the housing. That’s a game-changer for those who shoot heavy arrows or big fletchings. Another benefit is that the angle shortens the travel needed to reach your desired distance.
SHIFT Lever
The Shift lever controls the dial tension and works as advertised on this model. Want it locked down while hiking through thick timber or brush? Push it down, and it won’t budge. Need free movement for fast dialing during a stalk? Leave it up. Having the ability to adjust how much tension you want in any given scenario is a nice touch. Most sights have a lever, but many are locked down or free spool. With the PRUF, setting the tension right where you want it is easy.
Dual SwitchTape Rings
The Dual SwitchTape rings are another cool feature that I like. They allow you to set up two different sight tapes on one setup. You could have your hunting set up on one side and your 3D set up on the other. I have my inside set up so I can use my top pin as my mover pin for distances from 0 to 80 yards. I plan to set my outside tape with my bottom pin as the mover. This will allow me to shoot much longer at archery shoots when I want to stretch the yards out for fun.
Theoretically, you could also have setups for your broadheads and field tips if they didn’t hit the same height. You could also have one for 125-grain and one for 100-grain heads. The bottom line is it gives you plenty of options. You can also have up to three indicator needles on each side to allow custom setups further.
Tool-Free Windage and Axis Adjustments
No one likes hauling a wrench into the backcountry, and with the PRÜF, you don’t have to. Windage adjustments are smooth and require zero tools, which speeds up the sight-in process and lets you fine-tune in the field if something shifts. Plus, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd axis adjustments are easily accessible. Any archery that hunts from a treestand or hunts uneven terrain should have your axis dialed. The new Pruf made this process obvious and straightforward.
Dialed Accessories
Dialed also has some cool add-on accessories if you want to deck out your Pruf further. The Lens Kit is great if you want to add magnification for 3D shoots or hunting. The Optic Light boosts pin brightness in low-light settings where you need more light. The Sunshade is another excellent addition that 3D shooters or even open-country hunters will love. None are essential, but they allow you to dial things based on how and where you hunt. Before using accessories like lenses or lights, check the legality of where you intend to hunt.
Setup and Sight-In
The Bridge-Lock bar mounted perfectly to my Mathews LIFT. It has a clean, streamlined look, and the color match was on. All the axis adjustments are clearly marked and easy to access, making leveling the sight quick and straightforward. Honestly, I barely had to touch anything; it was nearly spot-on and right out of the box.
Once I went outside to sight in, I started to appreciate the sight even more. I have shot a horizontal pin setup for years, and it’s worked just fine. But I’ve recently been dealing with some vision issues after being diagnosed with an eye condition. I’ve found that the vertical pin setup is noticeably cleaner and easier for me to focus on. It’s a better fit for my eyes and how I shoot now.
The tool-less windage and elevation adjustments make dialing things in simple. I still wonder if a tool-less setup could get bumped unintentionally, even though that’s probably not something I’ll ever run into. It’s just one of those little things that creeps into your mind.
My only real complaint with the PRÜF is the fixed three-pin vertical setup. I wish there were a way to adjust the middle and bottom pins individually. As it stands, you have to sight in your top pin and then see where the others land with your bow setup. It works, but a little more adjustability would make it even better.
One feature I didn’t think much of at first but liked is the bubble level at the top of the housing. I wasn’t sure it made a difference when I first saw it, but it makes a lot of sense after shooting with it for a while. It keeps the sight picture cleaner, especially when settling in for a longer shot. It’s a small detail, but now that I’ve used it, I wonder why more companies don’t do the same.
Wrapping it Up
Overall, the Dialed PRÜF has earned its spot on my bow for at least some of my hunts this season. It’s well-built, thoughtfully designed, and easy to use in the field. Like any piece of gear, it’s not perfect. I’d love to see more adjustability in the multi-pin options, but the good outweighs the minor gripes. From the clean sight picture to the innovative features, rock-solid construction, and sexy appearance, Dialed is doing more than just making another slider sight. They’re paying attention to what bowhunters want. If you are looking to upgrade your setup and want something that blends innovation with practicality, the PRÜF is worth a serious look.
