Foam vs Bamboo Opinions

[4dogs]

Having a new bow built and would like your opinions. How does foam compare to bamboo in a carbon longbow limb? Are they as quiet? Since they are lighter are they a little quicker? How do they feel to you? Any info you could provide would be great. Thanks guys.

[legends1]

Can you tell who is building your bow .Limb design makes a big difference. Then maybe I can give you my opinion.

[nineworlds9]

In my experience you can get them as quiet as boo but they just have a different 'tone' to them, higher pitched to my ears.  The foam is lighter so you can pick up a few fps.  To me draw feel is also a bit different, both can be just as smooth but the foam feels more 'springy'.  From my research one of the foam's primary benefits is resistance to temperature change/ or rather consistent performance at extreme temperatures, i.e dealing with hot day/direct sunlight or freezing temperatures.  If at all possible I would recommend shooting a carbon/boo or wood and then a carbon/foam bow first and then deciding.

[Biathlonman]

I've hated all the carbon/foam bows I've tried. They all have sounded a lot louder to me, though I suppose it could just be a tone issue that annoys me.

[4dogs]

Mike, I hate to name the bowyer right now.  He has only built one bow with the foam core and isnt really sure about it yet. He is one of the best though and the bow is an aggresive D&R design.

[Orion]

I've shot both, and it's kind of a toss-up IMO.  The carbon/foam limbs are higher pitched, as 9worlds points out. That may be due more to the carbon vs glass difference than the foam vs bamboo difference. I can get them quiet enough, but not as quiet as glass/bamboo lam limbs. I don't notice any difference in draw smoothness.  They're both smooth.  The carbon may be a tad faster, but unless one has a chrono, you would never know. After shooting both, I really don't know which I would have built new if had the choice.  Probably the one that cost less.  Sorry I couldn't be of much help.    

[Flying Dogg]

I own both. My foam core LB's are exceptionally smooth drawing and are very quiet. They are also very fast. I'm a little surprised to hear that others have found foam to have a higher pitch. I suspect the bowyer and limb design must be the difference.

[riverrat 2]

I agree with nineworlds statement as well. I liked the ones I've owned,but found that pitch a bit undesirable. I went with heavier arrows to help,which it did a bit,but at the sake of the speed as to why I bought them to begin with. rat'

[Bjorn]

I have had both and was unimpressed with foam compared to bamboo core; but as with everything else there are personal preferences and design considerations so I will likely try foam again sometime. I think the bowyer is more important than the material.

[ed cowden]

With the shortage of heat temper bamboo; my question is can it be used as a replacement and give as good or better limbed bow. Recurves have already shown the results but what about R&D and Hill bows.

[Gdpolk]

Foam performs better on paper (IE is lighter, faster, and more consistent).  Bamboo performs better in the woods (seems a little more quiet, has a better or more natural quality of sound, and feels a little less snappy on the shot).  Between the two, I go with bamboo because foam doesn't significantly improve things as compared to what you can get with arrow/string/limb design changes.  However, within a given setup where all other factors are equal, bamboo feels and sounds better to me.

[Kris]

I like the 'warmth' of boo, it is a natural & sustainable material.  

"What are you trying to arrive at", a better bow"?  There's no end to that game.  Bamboo gets my vote!

Kris

[mahantango]

I'm a big fan of bamboo. Of the bows I've shot, foam gets the nod SLIGHTLY performance-wise, but I don't see enough to justify the added expense. Plus the 'boo has that natural aesthetic feel.

[Homebru]

Plenty of theoretical advantages.  Practically, foam / carbon SHOULD be more stable moving from one set of environmental conditions to another.  Having said that, a properly finished / sealed bamboo / glass bow should be practically impermeable and uneffected.  Those with more knowledge may have better information.

Shooting them, my foam / carbon limbs are clearly a different audible pitch, it's a higher frequency sound.  It's different.  I don't know if better or worse.

It has been said that carbon / foam are faster.  That may be a limb design issue.  It may be carbon / foam.  Speed doesn't matter that much to me or I'd shoot wheels.

I recently spoke to a bowyer about his carbon / foam vs bamboo / glass limbs and the "differences".  He essentially outlined what I've posted above.  Beyond that, he emphatically told me that he's had far fewer limb delaminations using carbon / foam than glass / bamboo.  Maybe that matters?

I haven't shot a boo backed self bow.  That's probably quieter and "lower" pitched than the glass bow.

To each, his own.
homebru

[legends1]

I understand. I think you have got some great advice here. Good luck with the new bow.

[BowMIke]

I have both, but I prefer the carbon/foam on my Morrison Longbows.Fast and very quiet! Limb design may have some influence on quietness and Bob Morrison's longbow limbs are top notch.

[4dogs]

Thank you all for all the info.....I got some thinking to do.

[Hoyt]

I have both (same poundage at my draw) My carbon and foam is quieter. Same cat whisker set-up on both..but different string makers..could be the difference...both are really quiet.

My carbon/foam is easier to draw (2" longer..could be the difference)and faster.

[jhg]

Originally posted by 4dogs:
... Since they are lighter are they a little quicker? How do they feel to you? ...

I have shot carbon limbed longbows and I did not like how quick they were. I never liked the early carbon flyrods either for the same reason- something is lost when what you hold in your hand acts like the soundtrack coming at you form the latest hunting DVD: git-r-done!

I don't like how carbon feels at the shot and I don't mean handshock. Its the quickness that feels almost foreign. Life is supercharged enough with out having it in the limb of a bow.

That is my own bias. I would suggest shooting a carbon limbed bow yourself first. It may not matter to you and there is a lot going for carbon, but if it does matter you might not like it.

Joshua

[Bjorn]

I did some testing with the chrono; for me carbon was 5-6 fps faster than glass-all else being as equal as possible-actionwood cores in both bows. I found carbon/foam just slightly slower than bamboo/carbon. That was shooting by hand not machine. I also did not find bamboo/carbon to be any faster than actionwood/carbon-at least not shooting by hand. ymmv.