Traditional Bow Quiver: Back, Hip and Bow-Mounted Options

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A traditional bow has no sight, rest or stabilizer to mount things on, so arrows are normally carried on the archer rather than on the bow. The quiver you choose affects how fast you can draw an arrow, how much noise you make and how safely your arrows travel. It is worth choosing deliberately.

• Arrow retention. The arrows should stay put when you move, run or climb, but release smoothly.
• Quiet materials. Leather, canvas and soft linings dampen arrow noise. Hard plastic can rattle.
• Capacity. Think about how many arrows you shoot in a session. Hunters often carry fewer.
• Strap comfort and adjustability. You will wear it for hours.
• Handedness. Quivers are usually set up for left or right shooters, so check which side it is designed for.
• Broadhead protection. Hunters need a hood, tube or separate section so sharp heads cannot cut fingers, fletching or the quiver itself.

Many compound bows have threaded bushings for a quiver mount. Many traditional bows do not. If you want a bow quiver, check how it attaches. Some use a strap, a clamp or a friction fit instead of a bolt. Never alter a wooden bow to fit a quiver, because drilling or cutting a limb or riser can weaken it.

If you walk a lot or hunt, a back quiver is usually more comfortable and holds more arrows. If you shoot at a range or a field course, a hip quiver is quicker to reach and simpler to learn. There is no wrong answer, and many traditional archers own both. Our types of quivers guide goes deeper on materials and styles.

Clubs and teams often want quivers with a name or a crest. We offer made-to-order custom quivers and other sewn archery gear, with a minimum order of one piece. See custom archery gear for how it works.

A back quiver feels awkward at first. The arrow nocks sit behind your shoulder, and you reach back to pull one out. Practice the motion slowly with the bow unstrung or with arrows that have blunt tips, and keep the quiver angled so the nocks fall naturally to your hand. After a few sessions the reach becomes automatic. Always keep sharp broadheads protected until you are ready to nock.

Adjust the strap so the quiver sits snug and does not swing. If it shifts when you draw, your anchor can change, which affects accuracy. Test the setup with a few practice draws before heading into the field, and check that the arrows come out freely but do not fall out when you bend over.

Leather and canvas last longer if they stay dry. If a quiver gets wet, let it dry slowly at room temperature, never next to a heater. Occasionally check the stitching and the strap fittings. A frayed strap is a safety problem, and it is much cheaper to repair than to replace.

1. The tilt test. Put a few arrows in the quiver and tilt it forward. They should stay put when you bend over, which is the moment weak retention shows up.
2. The walk test. Walk, step over a log or climb a few steps with the quiver on. Listen for rattling, and notice whether it swings or digs into you.

Hunters should prioritize silence and safety. Choose a quiver with soft material around the arrows and keep broadheads in a protected hood or a separate section. A quiver that rubs on clothing or brush will make noise at the wrong moment, so test it with the clothing you plan to wear. Check your state’s rules for equipment, and wear any required hunter safety gear.

On a shared shooting line, quivers and arrows can look alike. A name or a club mark makes it easy to see whose gear is whose, and teams often order matching quivers with names for each archer. If that is what you need, we make custom quivers to order from one piece. See custom archery gear for how it works.

We make custom quivers with names and club logos, from one piece. Tell us what you need.

See Custom Archery Gear