Every aspect of life has its unsung heroes, people and items that rarely get recognized despite making life easier. In archery, many components must work together to send arrows downrange to score bull’s-eyes. One vital element of the sport is the archer’s form and skillset, which require practice and coaching. Another element is the archer’s gear, which must be reliable shot after shot. Let’s discuss some archery gear that’s necessary but not universally loved.

Allen Wrenches

Almost any type of work or adjustments in archery gear require hex or Allen wrenches. The bolts that connect a bow’s limbs to the risers, a draw module to a cam, or a scope to a mount likely require an Allen wrench. A fully set-up bow includes various sized bolts that require different Allen wrenches. These tools aren’t glamorous, but they’re necessary.

String Wax

Bowstrings require replacement occasionally. How well you care for a bowstring helps determine its lifespan. Properly waxing the bowstring keeps its fibers from drying out, and protects them from debris that could penetrate and break down the string. Bowstring wax won’t win any gear-review awards or trigger a hot discussion, but it’s a critical part of every archer’s gear bag.

Peep Sight

When setting up a bow, archers must choose a peep-sight size. Once they decide, they’ll rarely think about it again. The peep is the small circular sight that gets inserted into the bowstring. It aligns the front sight housing with the same position on the bowstring shot after shot. This small item has big impacts on accuracy and consistency.

Arrow Puller

All archery targets are not created equal. Most archers have little trouble pulling arrows from layered foam and bag targets. Some 3-D animal targets, however, aren’t so easy. When shooting solid foam-plastic 3-D targets, you might encounter a course stocked with targets requiring an arrow puller. A puller is a small piece of rubber that improves your grip on arrow shafts when pulling them from targets.

Hip Quiver

Some hip quivers are a simple nylon pouch with a hook or loop that attaches to the archer’s belt. Others are made from fine leathers, and include pockets, logos and stitched designs. Regardless of their complexity, hip quivers get little love. They simply hold arrows and can be easily forgotten. But if you visit the range or course without one, you’ll quickly learn its importance.

Bow Case

Bows, arrows and all their accompanying accessories are big investments. The best protection for all those valuables is a good bow case that defends your gear during travel or when it’s not in use. When making short trips to bowhunt or compete in nearby tournaments, you might just need a soft-sided case. For longer trips or when flying with archery gear you’ll want a TSA-approved hard case that can handle abuse. Bow cases get little attention but they’re critical to safeguarding archery equipment.

Visit an archery shop to check out these often-overlooked items and other essentials that help archers enjoy their sport to its fullest.