Darton TriTech 35 vs Mathews ARC 34: Bow Wars Breakdown

The Specs, Side by Side

Both of these bows live on the longer end of the ATA spectrum, and that's on purpose. Longer axle-to-axle platforms with generous brace heights are typically going to be some of the most forgiving bows on the market — the kind that keep you honest when your shot isn't perfect. Here's how they compare on paper before we even nocked an arrow.

Draw Cycle & Feel

For this test we set both bows up with their performance-driven mods — the SWX mod on the ARC 34, the speed mod on the TriTech 35. With bows this long, you can afford to lean toward speed without getting a harsh draw cycle, so that's the fairest way to compare them.

Mathews ARC 34 — Stiff, Honest, Rock Solid

The draw cycle on the ARC 34 with the SWX mod is phenomenal. It's a little stiff, like you'd expect from a performance mod, but not bad whatsoever. The back wall is rock solid — you can't argue with it. The valley is a little less forgiving with this mod, but that's not a bad thing. It keeps you honest and helps you hold on target. And you already know — Mathews bows are some of the quietest on the market.

Darton TriTech 35 — Soft, Quiet, Forgiving Valley

The TriTech 35 is very smooth, and it feels like it builds a little more than the Mathews before that rock-solid back wall. The valley, even with the speed mod, is more forgiving than the ARC 34's. It kind of builds and rolls over and dumps a little bit — that's where you get the extra speed out of it. Post-shot, it's noticeably soft, and it genuinely rivals Mathews for quiet. If you shot both of these blindfolded, I don't think you'd notice much difference in that post-shot feel.

Speed Test Results

Both bows were set up at 28.5" draw length, right around 70 pounds, shooting a 400-grain arrow across the chronograph.

We've noticed the Mathews bows consistently measure a little lower let-off than advertised — typically 80-83% even on an 85% mod, which explains that shorter, stiffer valley. The TriTech 35 held a little more weight forgiving at 82.5%. Bottom line: speed isn't the thing that's going to make this decision for you. Both bows are fast.

Weight & Downrange Accuracy

On the Scale

The TriTech 35 comes in at 5.6 pounds — honestly not bad for that much axle-to-axle, and fairly light for an aluminum riser that long. The ARC 34 weighs 5.2 pounds. Mathews continues to build some of the lightest aluminum bows on the market, rivaling bows with carbon or magnesium risers.

At 30 Yards

The ARC 34 feels great the moment the shot breaks, and it held on target well for a bow that light — though it would only improve with stabilizers and added weight. The group needed a small sight adjustment to bring it back left, but for a bare bow it shot exceptionally well. The TriTech 35 group was fantastic — the bow holds and settles similar to a Hoyt AX3-33, and the float was minimal even without stabilizers. For me personally, the little bit of extra weight and that longer ATA on the 35 made it a touch easier to hold steady.

Tuning — Where the TriTech 35 Pulls Ahead

Both of these bows are incredibly easy to tune — it took about three shots to get a bullet hole out of either one. Neither requires a press for basic adjustments: the ARC 34's limb shift technology moves the cam left or right without a press, and the TriTech's factory limb pocket shims handle those same left-right tears just as fast.

Where the TriTech 35 pulls ahead is timing. You can adjust cam timing right at the limb pocket without ever putting this bow in a press. That's a serious advantage if you're the kind of guy who likes to work on his own bow at home — it's basically a DIY guy's dream bow.

Who Should Buy What?

Start with your draw length. Both bows overlap heavily in the 26.5"–31.5" range, but the ARC 34 stretches a little longer at the top end (up to 32") and the TriTech 35 a little shorter at the bottom (down to 26").

From there, think about your goals. If you want the deepest accessory ecosystem — proprietary grips like the Engage, Contour, and B-Real, plus a mod system that lets you fine-tune speed versus forgiveness — the Mathews ARC series is where it's at. If you're a DIY, home-tuning kind of guy who wants press-free timing adjustments and a bow that held a little easier on target for me personally, the Darton TriTech lineup — the 31, the 33, and this 35 — takes the cake.

Bottom Line

Both of these bows are exceptional. There's a reason the ARC series has sold as well as it has this year, and there's a reason the TriTech series has been moving out the door just as fast since we brought Darton into the shop. Speed isn't going to separate them, and neither is tuning ease — you really can't go wrong with either one.

It genuinely comes down to shooter preference: draw length fit, whether you want that Mathews accessory ecosystem, and whether press-free timing adjustments matter to you. Flip a coin if you have to — but come shoot both before you decide.

Whichever one you land on, get it from a shop that actually shoots what it sells. Hit extremeoutfitters.com, use code EXTREME for 10% off, and remember — free shipping kicks in over $99. Real people answer the phones here Mon–Sat out of Jacksonville, NC, and we'll help you get whichever bow you choose dialed in.