Updated: January 7th, 2021
There are many products out there where the brand name or style really doesn’t matter. But even still, a large percentage of people make their decisions upon the kind of product they will buy based upon the brand. If you have ever met a person who fervently supports either Ford or Chevy you completely understand this. The maker they choose is the only option, while the other is the creator of the biggest pile of garbage anyone ever saw.
The same can be true about those who use arrow rests. This is the small device that holds your nocked arrow, and there are many who are diehard enthusiasts for either Whisker Biscuit vs Drop Away, and to choose the other is simply akin to being stupid. They have no doubt that their product of choice is truly the best one.
In this article, we’re comparing these two popular types of archery arrow rest. We’re going to take a comprehensive look at both, so that you may decide which rest will give you the perfect shot. After all, the best rest is just the one that works best for you.
Arrow Rests
If you’re an archery beginner, you might be wondering what an arrow rest even is, and just why it’s so important. Simply put, an arrow rest is what holds your arrow in place until you fire the bow. It keeps the arrow steady through the set-up, draw, and release. Types of arrow rests differ in how they secure the arrow, and how they interact with the arrow vane, arrow shaft, and fletching as you launch.
Needless to say, the result is that there are many quality archery arrow rest varieties available, with two of the most popular being a whisker biscuit and a drop away.
Whisker Biscuit vs Drop Away Rest
Next, we’ll be comparing the whisker biscuit rest and the drop away rest.
Remember as you’re reading that it’s not about which arrow rest is best. The best arrow rest will depend on so many different factors – including your bow, the type of archery you prefer (hunting, target, casual, etc.), your shooting form, your skill level, the arrows you use, and so much more.
You need to consider these factors to determine which rest is best for you. Keep them in mind as you compare.
Why a Whisker Biscuit Rest?
This type of rest was first introduced in 2003, and had a dramatic impact on the sport altogether. Because of the revolutionary style in which the rest was designed, it became popular with many crossbow users right away. This design was specifically made to eliminate the types of common mistakes that an archer or hunter would make when drawing on a deer, creating better position and even making it easier to hunt during low light conditions such as dusk or dawn.
How these rests are designed is truly ingenious. By using synthetic bristles, they are able to form a perimeter that securely holds the arrow in place. Even if the bow is moved or bumped, the arrow still remains locked in place.
This design is why a whisker biscuit is considered a “full-capture” rest. The bristles support the arrow on all sides, ensuring that it has full arrow containment for a consistent and predictable launch. It provides predictable arrow speed, arrow flight, and arrow accuracy.
But (and there’s always a but) the whisker biscuit arrow rest has the notable downside that it contacts the arrow as it is fired. And the more the rest touches the vanes, shaft, or fletching, the more flight is affected. Of course, this effect can be countered by an experienced archer with proper equipment, but it’s well worth considering.
Pros of the Whisker Biscuit
We have mentioned a couple of things already, but we wanted to give you a little bit more of a detailed list of what makes this the ideal arrow rest. These include:
- It is very easy to use, and eliminates any chance that the arrow will fall off the rest while you are drawing the arrow back.
- You don’t have to worry about mechanical failure because there are no moving parts included in the rest.
- Many hunters love the fact that it provides a quiet functionality, not doing anything to give away your position to endear.
- Reliable accuracy with hunting weighted arrows.
Cons of the Whisker Biscuit
While there are a number of good reasons why you should consider getting the whisker biscuit, there are also some challenges with that as well. Here are some reasons this may not be the right choice for you:
- Because of its design, the whisker biscuit slightly reduces the speed and accuracy of your arrow. It’s only a minuscule amount of difference but, if you are a person who is involved in any kind of competition, that slight difference may be enough for you to look at other options. As such, the bow is not generally popular with competitive archers.
- One of the big factors to be concerned about is that the whiskers actually put stress on the arrow vanes. This may mean that you will have to re-fletch your arrows after you have used them several times. The more contact with the bow upon release, the more potential damage.
Why Drop Away Rests?
The drop away rests have been a popular item dating back 30 years. They became a popular choice because the traditional shelf caused an impediment that reduced accuracy greatly.
What the drop away rest did was it turned the bow from a simple tool into a product that gave hunters the kind of accuracy that provided for consistent grouping as well as the capability to nail a bull’s-eye each and every time. It was a beautifully designed product, and one that many hunters found that they could not do without.
Essentially, the drop away rest functions as its name implies. The drop away rest works as an arrow rest through the entire draw cycle, holding your arrow in place for a predictable launch. Then, when you fire the arrow, the rest “drops away” so that it makes minimal shaft and fletching contact as the arrow is fired. The result is an arrow that flies true with minimal interference, resulting in some of the best accuracy you can get.
This level of accuracy is why this rest is so popular among competition archers. Let’s take a deeper look at the pros and cons of a drop away:
Pros of the Drop Away Rest
There are a number of good things to like about this product. This includes:
- There is a very small amount of friction caused by the rest against the arrow, which means you get much greater velocity then you would with the whisker biscuit. Arrow flies straight and true, and more easily cuts through windage.
- If you are a person who has spent a lot of hours using your crossbow, you are going to find that this rest gives you much better groupings and improves your overall accuracy greatly.
- Very minimal contact with shaft and fletching or vanes as you fire. This means greater accuracy, but also less damage to your arrows over time.
Cons of the Drop Away Rest
The drop away rest has a number of great advantages as you have seen, but there are also some problems with it as well. Here are a few:
- If you are a person who is moving with your crossbow, you may find that the arrow jumps off the rest. This also happens if you are using an improper drawing technique.
- The risk of mechanical failure is one that should be considered. While you greatly reduce this risk through proper maintenance and tune-ups, they still can occur. There are moving parts here.
- The price of this option is significantly higher than what you would find for the whisker biscuit.
- Considered a more “difficult” rest to learn and use, because it doesn’t hold the arrow as securely.
So, Which Should You Choose?
That is a really good question. It really is a matter of taste.
If you are a person who is more concerned about the stability of your arrow and ensuring that you get a proper hold of your arrow every time, then the whisker biscuit may be the better option. But be sure to consider the corresponding downsides, which we listed in detail above.
However, for those who are looking for more accurate shots and greater velocity, then there is nothing better than the drop away rest. It really is just a matter of what your personal taste is.
In fact, it might simply be about which rest you use first. Once you become used to a certain style of shooting, it can be difficult to switch things up.
You can be sure of one thing, however. Once you have made a choice you will likely never go with the other option.
Thanks for reading our comprehensive guide to these two popular types of arrow rests. For more shooting guides, arrow guides, and more, be sure to check back to Defense Gears regularly.
