7 Pieces of Archery Safety Gear That Prevent Common Mistakes

Your child comes home from a birthday party or summer camp buzzing with excitement about archery, and suddenly you’re looking at starter bows online. But before you get caught up in draw weights and arrow lengths, the most important investment you can make is in safety. These foundational pieces of gear aren’t just about preventing accidents; they’re about building the confidence and good habits that allow a lifelong love for the sport to take root.

Why Proper Archery Safety Gear Is Non-Negotiable

You see the spark in their eye, and you want to nurture it. But you also see a projectile weapon, and your protective instincts kick in. That tension is normal. The key is to understand that in archery, safety gear and skill development are two sides of the same coin.

Proper equipment does more than just prevent the occasional bump or bruise. It prevents the kind of mistakes that create fear and frustration. A child who constantly slaps their arm with the bowstring will start to flinch, ruining their form. A child with sore fingers can’t focus on a smooth release.

Think of safety gear as the framework that allows for proper learning. It removes physical discomfort and anxiety, freeing up your child’s mental energy to focus on what the coach is teaching. Starting with the right protective gear from day one is the single best way to ensure archery remains a fun, positive experience. It establishes a routine of respect for the sport and its inherent risks, a lesson that will serve them well for years to come.

Easton Diamond Armguard for Forearm Safety

Remember your child learning to ride a bike? You didn’t just give them a helmet; you probably put them in elbow and knee pads, too. The armguard is the archery equivalent of those first, full-coverage pads. Its job is to protect the inside of the forearm from "string slap," a painful welt that happens when the bowstring hits the arm on its way forward.

For a young archer, especially in the 5-10 age range, their form is going to be inconsistent. Their elbow won’t always be rotated correctly, and that’s when string slap occurs. A single painful experience can create a lasting flinch, a bad habit that is incredibly difficult to un-train. The Easton Diamond Armguard is a perfect starter choice because it’s long, offering maximum coverage for those unpredictable first shots.

As your child’s form becomes more consistent and they grow into their teen years, they may graduate to a smaller, sleeker armguard. But for beginners, more coverage is always better. This isn’t about style; it’s about building a foundation of confidence. By removing the fear of pain, the armguard allows them to focus on their stance, anchor point, and release without hesitation.

Neet Suede Shooting Glove Protects Fingers

After the first few practice sessions, you might hear a common complaint: "My fingers hurt!" Drawing a bowstring, even a lightweight one, puts a surprising amount of pressure on the three drawing fingers. A shooting glove or finger tab is the essential buffer that makes practice comfortable and productive.

For younger children (ages 6-10), a full glove like the Neet Suede model is often the most intuitive choice. It feels natural, like any other glove, and the protection stays put on their fingers. It allows them to feel the string while preventing the friction and soreness that can cut a practice session short. Without this protection, kids will often try to "tough it out," which leads to a jerky, inconsistent release as they try to get the string off their aching fingers as fast as possible.

As archers progress, typically around age 11 or 12, they might switch to a finger tab, which is a flat piece of leather or synthetic material that sits between their fingers and the string. Tabs are favored by competitive archers for offering a slightly cleaner release. But the goal is the same: protect the fingers to enable a smooth, controlled shot. The choice between a glove and a tab is less important than simply having one of them from the very first day.

Selway Limbsaver Stringer Prevents Limb Twist

This piece of gear is about protecting the bow itself, which is a crucial part of the overall safety picture. If you’ve purchased a takedown recurve bow—the most common type for beginners—you will need to "string" it. A bow stringer is a simple cord-and-pocket tool that is the only safe and correct way to do this.

Many well-meaning parents or kids, having seen it in movies, might try the "step-through" method, where you brace the bow’s lower limb on your foot and pull the top limb toward you. This is the fastest way to permanently twist the limbs, ruining the bow. A twisted limb can cause the string to derail during the draw, which is incredibly dangerous.

Using a bow stringer like the Selway Limbsaver ensures that pressure is applied evenly to both limbs, flexing them correctly so you can slip the string into place. Teaching your child (ages 10 and up) how to use a stringer is a fantastic lesson in responsibility and proper equipment care. It’s an inexpensive, non-negotiable tool that protects your investment and prevents a catastrophic equipment failure on the shooting line.

Easton Flipside Quiver for Safe Arrow Handling

Picture this: your child is on the shooting line, their bow in one hand. Where are their arrows? Are they stuck in the ground, points up? Lying on the table, ready to roll off? A quiver solves this logistical problem, and in doing so, becomes a critical piece of safety equipment.

A quiver’s primary job is to hold arrows securely and provide a consistent, safe place from which to draw them. For beginners on a target range, a hip quiver like the Easton Flipside is ideal. It keeps the sharp broadheads or field points contained and pointed safely toward the ground. It also streamlines the shooting process, building a rhythm of reaching to the same spot for an arrow every time, which minimizes fumbling and distraction.

Why not a "Robin Hood" style back quiver? While they look great, they are less safe on a crowded range. It’s too easy for a child to turn around and accidentally point their arrows at the person next to them. The Flipside is also ambidextrous, a great feature for families or clubs where equipment might be shared. A quiver isn’t a fancy accessory; it’s a tool for teaching a safe and repeatable shooting routine.

Fivics Soma Chest Guard Prevents String Snags

You’ve got your child in the right stance, but when they release, the bowstring makes a "thwump" sound against their shirt, and the arrow flies off course. This is string snag, and it’s not just frustrating—it can be dangerous if it deflects the arrow in an unexpected direction. A chest guard is the simple solution.

A chest guard is a smooth, flat piece of material held by an elastic strap that covers the chest on the side of the bow arm. Its only job is to ensure clothing doesn’t get in the way of the bowstring. It’s especially useful for archers of all ages wearing bulky clothing like jackets or even a slightly loose t-shirt. For developing archers, particularly girls, it becomes an essential piece of gear for both comfort and consistency.

While a five-year-old might not need one right away, it’s a great piece of equipment to introduce as soon as your child starts shooting more regularly, around age 8-10. The Fivics Soma is a popular, comfortable option that’s easy to adjust. By eliminating a frustrating variable, the chest guard allows the archer to trust that their shot will be clean, letting them focus entirely on their form.

3M Virtua CCS Safety Glasses for Eye Protection

This is the one piece of gear that is an absolute, 100% must-have, no exceptions. While serious archery accidents are rare, the consequences of an eye injury are devastating. Eye protection guards against the "what ifs": a bow limb that breaks under pressure, an arrow nock that shatters on release, or a stray shot from another archer down the line.

Your child’s everyday prescription glasses or sunglasses are not sufficient. You need ANSI Z87+ rated safety glasses, which are specifically designed to withstand high-velocity impacts. The 3M Virtua CCS line is an excellent, affordable choice. They provide wraparound coverage and are used on professional job sites for a reason—they work.

Make this the golden rule: no glasses, no shooting. Put them on before you even take the bow out of the case and don’t take them off until all the equipment is put away. This isn’t just a good idea; it’s a requirement at any sanctioned archery range or club. Instilling this habit from the very beginning is the most important safety lesson you can teach.

Flex-Fletch Arrow Puller for Target Removal

The shot was perfect—a dead-center bullseye! The only problem is that now the arrow is buried deep in a dense foam target, and your child can’t get it out. They pull, they twist, and their hand slips down the shaft, right over the sharp plastic fletchings. This is where an arrow puller comes in.

An arrow puller is a simple, grippy piece of rubber or silicone that gives you a secure hold on the arrow shaft. This makes it dramatically easier to pull arrows straight out of a target without damaging them or injuring your hands. Trying to remove a stuck arrow without one can lead to slipping and getting painful "paper cuts" from the fletchings or, worse, breaking a carbon arrow and creating dangerous splinters.

This small, inexpensive tool completes the safety cycle. The quiver provides safe handling before the shot, and the puller ensures safe handling after. For any archer, but especially for kids whose grip strength isn’t fully developed, an arrow puller like the one from Flex-Fletch prevents frustration, protects your investment in expensive arrows, and keeps fingers safe.

Outfitting your young archer with the right safety gear isn’t about preparing for the worst; it’s about creating the best possible environment for them to learn and grow. Each piece removes a common obstacle—pain, fear, frustration, or inconsistency—allowing your child’s confidence and skill to flourish. This thoughtful investment in their safety is truly an investment in their long-term enjoyment of a wonderful sport.