Around the $1000 mark, the competition between the crossbows is stiff. There are so many good options available, that it’s tough to choose the best from them. Wicked Ridge NXT 400 is one of them. In case you didn’t know, Wicked Ridge is owned by TenPoint now. That means TenPoint is technically competing against themselves.
That doesn’t mean TenPoint is slacking out on one end. Both of the mentioned crossbows are in one word “fire”. TenPoint Shadow NXT is an excellent mid-budget crossbow. It’s not cheap, it’s not super expensive either. It hits the sweet spot just right. But the question is, why should you consider getting this crossbow? What’s special or good about it? Let’s find that out together.
Tenpoint Shadow NXT: Outlooks
Specifications | Speed: 380 FPS; Kinetic Energy: 144 ft.lbs; Power Stroke: 12.2 Inches; Draw Weight: 200 LBS; Axle To Axle: 6.5 / 11.3 Inches; Length: 32.2 Inches; Weight: 7 LBS.
Build Quality
TenPoint isn’t someone who likes to slack off in design and build quality. Their manufacturing facility is one of the best in America. You won’t find complaints regarding the body of a TenPoint crossbow usually.
The build quality on Shadow NXT is magnificent. The cams and the flight track are constructed from CNC-machined aluminum. The weight of the Shadow NXT is only 7lbs. It’s lightweight and super compact. Once you load the crossbow, the axle-to-axle width will be only 6.5″. That’s narrower than most modern tablets on the market.
For long hunting sessions, you don’t want a heavy crossbow that will tire you down. That’s why the weight of Shadow NXT is so low. It’s made for hunters.
Power
The power of this crossbow surprised me a lot. I was expecting this to be fairly powerful. But I didn’t expect Shadow NXT to be this powerful. Shadow NXT is capable of generating 144 ft-lbs of kinetic energy. That is a lot! That’s higher than the Ravin R10 and Ravin R20. Both of which costs way higher than this crossbow.
That much power puts this crossbow in the big league. You can easily do big-game hunting and all-season hunting with the Shadow NXT. As the crossbow is super light and compact, you can take this to places where you can’t take other crossbows with you.
Speed
A crossbow that can generate so much power should have a high-speed delivery, right? That’s correct. Shadow NXT is capable of firing arrows at an incredible 390 FPS speed.
I know Ravin and many other TenPoint crossbows can reach the 400 FPS mark. But 390 is by no means bad. It’s still higher than most of the crossbows in this range. And you can reach that promised speed with the included arrows as well. Which is an excellent feature.
Draw Weight
The second most asked question about a crossbow is the draw weight. Is it too hard to load the crossbow and whatnot? If you buy the crossbow without the ACUDRAW pro silent cocking device, then the draw weight will be 200 lbs. Which is a lot. I know it’s not easy for any archer to load a 200 lbs draw weight crossbow.
But with the built-in ACUDRAW 50 SLED, you can cut down that by half. If you want to lower the draw weight even further (which you should), get the crossbow with the additional ACUDRAW pro silent cocking device.
I know that will put the price of the crossbow well over the $1000 mark, but trust me here. You will love the cocking device. I know that for a fact you will come back to thank me. Yes, the cocking device makes that big of a difference.
Noise
The Shadow NXT comes with TenPoint’s pre-installed sound dampeners. They work like a charm. I am surprised by their performance. Usually, from factory-installed noise dampeners, you don’t hope for much. They do the job and that’s it. But here TenPoint nailed the job.
Not only it dampen the sound of the crossbow, but it also reduces the overall vibration of the crossbow. You don’t need to buy aftermarket dampeners for the Shadow NXT.
Pros
- Lightweight.
- Compact and easy to maneuver.
- RX6 cams.
- T5 Trigger.
- You can add an ACUDRAW Pro silent cocker.
- Made for hunting.
- Good after-sales service.
Cons
- ACUDRAW pro option is expensive.
- No carrying case.
Tenpoint Shadow NXT Review Summary
For the price, TenPoint Shadow NXT is worth every penny. I understand your hesitation behind the cocking aid. It’s expensive, I know that. I still recommend you to go for that. You don’t often see me suggesting expensive stuff unless I love them. That’s the case here. Without the cocking device I feel like the crossbow is lacking a bit.
I hope I was able to answer all of your questions. If this TenPoint Shadow NXT review helped you somehow, that means I succeeded on my end. If you still have questions left, don’t hesitate to ask them.
Hi, I’m Brent Hansford. A writer turned hunter & now sharing my love for the sport through writing. As I practically breathe weapons, I firmly believe I’m capable of providing you with new knowledge about firearms and hunting. My mission is to help more people get better at hunting & master the weapons. Let me help with unleashing the beast within you!
