After shooting a compound for many years, I somehow got out of it for about 10 years or so. Last year I decided to get back into it, but I wanted to do it differently, so I went traditional. I will never go back. There's just something about it. I even use wood arrows now. Anyway, my first longbow was a PSE Sequoia I believe and 2 days before the season opened it broke in my hand. No big pop or smack in the face, it just folded one day when I drew it back. I just stood there like I had seen an alien. I couldn't believe it. I had bought it from Bas Pro and by that time decided that I wanted to upgrade to something like a HH (mainly cause I love his book..not cause I'm experience enough to actually deem myself worthy), but I didn't have the funds. For anything at that time actually. Lucky for me, the guy at Bas Pro was sympathetic and gave me a gift card for the amount and I bought a Bear Montana. Now I usually like to support personally made products, not big corporations (all my surfboards were made by shapers here in FL), but I love the Bear and still use it today. That's my recommendation. Plus I was able to hunt last season because of the convenience.