Reviewed by Moose, Josh, and Lance, Gear Testers, FinalStalk.com
You’re looking for a field-tested Xpedition Xlite review, and by George, you found it. The end of the season always brings a moment of reflection. It’s a time to take stock of what worked, what didn’t, and what gear earned its keep.
We demand a lot from our gear because our hunts require a lot from us. This year, one bow has been the subject of more conversation around the skinning shed than any other piece of equipment: the Xpedition Xlite.
We committed to running it through a full, unfiltered season of hunting across North America. After countless miles on the boot and with a freezer full of meat, it’s time to deliver a verdict.
Our testing grounds were as varied as the game we pursued. We started in the wide-open plains chasing antelope, moved to the dense, unforgiving timber of bear country, and climbed into the high-altitude haunts of elk.
We spent weeks in the hardwoods and sage flats hunting mule deer in Colorado with our Xlite’s and also got into several whitetail bucks in Arkansas. We even managed to call in a couple of spring turkeys.
Through this demanding and diverse gauntlet, the Xpedition Xlite was a constant companion. The tangible results of this partnership were six harvested deer, two mature bull elk, and two turkeys. It’s a track record that speaks for itself, but the story is in the details of how this bow performs in the field.
First Look: A Paradigm Shift in Weight
The first thing you notice when you handle the Xpedition Xlite is its weight, or rather, the lack of it. At just over 3.75 pounds, it feels almost impossibly light (Xlite 31.) This isn’t some flimsy piece of equipment; the feeling of substance is there, but the mass is not. The credit goes to Xpedition’s innovative use of a Magnite™ riser.
This material provides the strength and rigidity you need in a riser, but at a fraction of the weight of traditional aluminum. It also has an inherent ability to deaden vibration, which we’ll get to later.
For a hunter who covers a lot of ground, this is more than a luxury—it’s a practical advantage. On a ten-mile day chasing bugles in the Rockies, shaving a pound or two off your carried weight makes a significant difference in fatigue levels.
It means you’re fresher, more focused, and steadier when that fleeting shot opportunity finally presents itself. The Xlite is a bow built for the hunter who earns their success through sweat and boot leather.
A Review of The Xpedition Xlite Draw Cycle: An Archer’s Draw
The draw cycle on the Xlite is distinct and, for a certain type of archer, it’s close to perfect. Let’s be clear: the initial pull is stout. It requires a deliberate and assertive motion to get the cams turning. There’s no spongy feeling here; it’s a firm start that quickly transitions into an incredibly smooth and manageable draw.
Once you break over that initial peak, the rest of the cycle is pure butter. It eases into a back wall that is as solid as any I’ve ever felt. There’s no creep, no play—just a solid anchor point that lets you relax into your shot and focus on execution. I found this particularly valuable this past September.
A satellite bull was working its way through a clearing at 60 yards, and the adrenaline was coursing. The absolute stability of the Xlite at full draw allowed me to settle my pin on his vitals and release a confident arrow.
The resulting heart shot was a testament to the bow’s stability under pressure. It’s a draw cycle that rewards a strong, confident pull with a rock-solid and forgiving backend.
Protip: If you’re new to bowhunting elk, check out our in-depth guide here.
The Shot: Quiet Power
If there’s one attribute that defines the Xlite after the shot, it’s silence. The combination of the Magnite™ riser and the well-placed Doinker dampeners effectively swallows any noise and vibration.
The result is a dull, quiet “thump” and nothing more. We’ve all seen deer drop and whirl at the sound of a loud bow. With the Xlite, that reaction is noticeably diminished.
This quietness, paired with a near-total lack of hand shock, creates a shooting experience that builds confidence. You’re not bracing for a loud crack or a jarring vibration.
You’re focused on the target as the arrow leaves the bow. It’s a refined, controlled, and deadly quiet system that performs exactly as you’d hope when everything is on the line.
An Opportunity for Personalization: The Bowstrings
The Xpedition Xlite comes factory-equipped with ABB Platinum strings and cables, which are a respected, high-quality component from the outset. They’re reliable, well-made, and will serve the vast majority of hunters exceptionally well for season after season.
For our team, however, bowstrings are one of the key areas where we choose to personalize our setups. Think of it like swapping out the factory trigger on a rifle for a custom one that breaks exactly to your preference.
We tend to favor custom-built strings from a few trusted makers. This allows us to fine-tune the build, materials, and colors to our exact specifications, eeking out that last fraction of a percent of performance and consistency.
It’s not a knock on the stock strings in any way; they’re a solid foundation. Instead, it’s an opportunity for the dedicated archer to take a fantastic platform and make it uniquely their own. It’s a testament to the bow’s quality that the strings are one of the only components we’d even consider customizing.
Industry Recognition
It seems our field-tested conclusions are in line with the broader archery industry. The Xpedition Xlite platform has been collecting some serious hardware. The Xlite 33 earned the coveted “Field & Stream 2023 Editor’s Pick – Bow of the Year,” a significant honor from a trusted source in the outdoor world.
Adding to that, the Xlite 32 recently took home both “Best New Bow” and “Best New Product” at the 2025 Archery Trade Association (ATA) Show. These awards validate the innovation and engineering that Xpedition has poured into this bow series.
The Final Take: A Complete Xpedition Xlite Review
After a complete cycle of seasons, from the heat of August to the bitter cold of late winter, the Xpedition Xlite has more than earned our trust during our in-depth review.
It’s a bow that feels like it was designed by serious hunters, for serious hunters. The weight, the draw cycle, and the quiet shot all translate into tangible advantages in the field.
The ultimate endorsement I can give is this: every single owner here at Final Stalk has independently chosen to make an Xlite their primary hunting bow for the foreseeable future.
We spend our days scrutinizing gear, and for all of us to land on the same bow speaks volumes. It’s a tool that has proven its mettle where it counts—on the mountain and in the woods. If you’re in the market for a high-performance bow that is a genuine pleasure to carry and shoot, the Xpedition Xlite reviews well and deserves a very close look.
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