In 2024, Mathews told bow buyers it wanted to make a lighter, faster, and quieter aluminum bow than they had in the past. Their answer was the Lift 29.5. At 3.99 pounds, it was light indeed; it was also quiet, and new SwitchWeight X Cams added draw-length and draw-weight adjustability while increasing speed by 8 feet per second. I tested that bow and really liked it—though not quite as much as my 19-year-old son, who confiscated mine and went on a 2024 tag-filling spree.
Mathews’ 2025 flagship is the next evolution in the Lift series, the Lift X. Mirroring the specs of the original and keeping with the light, quiet, and fast theme, the Lift X adds new levels of tuning and customization, as well as a new Bond Grip. The SwitchWeight X cam remains. The Lift X comes axle-to-axle lengths of 29.5 and 33 inches. The model that arrived on my doorstep for testing was the shorter of two: a bow designed to be lightweight and highly maneuverable. After shooting it for weeks, here is my full review.
Mathews Lift X 29.5 Specs
Axle-to-Axle Length: 29.5″
Brace Height: 6″
Weight: 3.99 lb.
Draw Length: 24.5-30″
Max Draw Weight: 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, or 80
Advertised Speed: 348 fps IBO
MSRP: $1,359
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Mathews Lift X 29.5 First Impressions
At 3.99 pounds, the Lift X 29.5 weighs the same as the 2024 Lift, which was the manufacturer’s lightest compound bow ever. The split limbs are widely separated, thin, short, and well beyond parallel. And what looks like four total limbs is actually eight, as each split limb is split again by a length of rubber dampening material sandwiched between This is Mathews’ Resistance Phase Damping technology, designed to squelch noise and vibration further.
The limb pockets are wide and streamlined. The pocket-to-riser connection is secure, and the limbs terminate with the proven oversized SwitchWeight X cams. Draw lengths between 24.5 and 30 inches are available, but the Lift X 29.5 requires draw-specific modules. Modules are available in let-offs of 80 and 85 percent.
The Shot Sense Bond grip features a rubberized, gridded backing for enhanced fit and feel. It’s thin, flat-backed, and perfectly angled. The strings and cables appear well-built; Monkey Tails are on the top and bottom. I detected no frays or signs of wear. A Nano 470 Harmonic Stabilizer is at the bottom of the riser, and Mathew’s stayed with its Bridge-Lok design, allowing straight-through-the-riser sight mounting for increased bow balance. The stabilizer mounting hole is in a straight line with the carbon string stop to further dampen post-shot noise and vibration, and the riser utilizes the IMS system for direct-to-riser drop-away rest attachment. Mathews always makes a good-looking bow, and the fit and finish on the Lift X is predictably excellent.
Lift X 29.5 Bow Build
The firs thing I do when I get a test bow in is test all the specs. The Lift X’s brace height measured 6 inches, and the bow’s axle-to-axle length of 29.5 inches was spot on. The draw weight was close. I have noticed that almost all the bow models I have tested this year run on the heavy side of peak weight. My 70-pound Lift X 29.5 draw weight measured 71.9 pounds with my digital scale.
Mathews has an ultra-tight limb-to-pocket-to-riser bond. This is a good thing, and while the limbs didn’t pop or chatter when turned, they are stubborn to turn. I recommend locking your bow in a bow vice before altering the draw weight. After some tinkering, I got draw weight down to 70.6 pounds, which is still a tick over 70 (the weight I’m testing all the 2025 bows at) but as close as I could get to 70 without going under.
The bow pressed easily, and all bow-mounted accessories attached without hassle. Although the cam timing was a little off, it took only a minor adjustment to ensure the felt-lined stops on the top and bottom modules engaged the inner cable between the split yokes simultaneously. I set up Easton’s all-new 5.0 arrows with four Flex-Flech Pro 2.5 vanes, 100-grain field points, HIT inserts, HIT collars, and 5mm Microlite nocks. The total arrow weight is 381.5 grains.
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Mathews Lift X 29.5 Range Test Results
With no noticeable vertical or horizontal nock travel detected, I took the Lift X 29.5 to my outdoor range. When I drew the Lift X 29.5 back, I noticed that the draw weight built quickly. The initial pull is heavy and let-off doesn’t come until the very end of the draw cycle. The Lift X 29.5 has a stout draw. It’s not unfriendly, but it’s by no means buttery smooth. I went with the 80-percent let-off module. Let-off is gentle, and the bow holds wonderfully once full draw is reached.
Mathews made the Lift X 29.5 to be short, compact, and powerful. Although the bow holds and aims exceptionally well at full draw, you need to remain strong in the front and the back. The SwitchWeight X cam system generates serious energy, and if you break form and get weak in your draw arm or release arm, the cams will creep forward.
The Lift X is ultra-accurate for a 29.5-inch axle-to-axle bow with a 6-inch brace height. Mathews uses a top-mounted axle system to maximize the limb’s working surface while reducing bow weight and increasing overall platform stability. The Lift X 29.5 was the most accurate bow between 20 and 40 yards in this year’s F&S bow test, and it’s no slouch at longer distances. For two weeks, I dotted 3-D 10 and 12 rings with the bow between 60 and 80 yards. I also found the bow remarkably forgiving, considering its shorter brace height.
The bow feels compact and maneuverable in the hand yet incredibly balanced at full draw. When the shot breaks, you can’t help but be impressed with how quiet and dead-in-the-hand this bow is. As hard as I tried, I could not detect any post-shot hand vibration.
I love a slim grip that is flat-backed to reduce torque, so it’s no surprise that I really liked the Bond Grip with Shot Sense. A textured rubber grip surface add traction in the hand’s palm-swell area to ensure a positive grip no matter the conditions. The more I shot the Lift X 29.5, the more I appreciated the grip.
Speed & Noise
With the Lift X, Mathews has a compact speedster with zero hand shock and minimal post-shot noise. Set at a draw length of 29 inches and a draw weight of 70.6 pounds, it produced a three-arrow speed average of 311 fps, shooting Easton’s 381.5-grain 5.0s. That makes it one of the fastest and most accurate bows in this year’s flagship crop. As for noise, the bow produced a three-shot average dB reading of 67.5 with my sound meter, which makes it also one of the quietest bows in this year’s test.
Lift X 29.5 Final Tune
After putting the Lift X 29.5 through the paces on the range, I brought it back to the bow room for some fine-tuning. My initial tune was close, but each of the six test arrows created a nock high/nock right tear. I cut off my D-loop and lowered it, which cleaned up the high tear. The right tear was fixed instantly using the LimbShiftTM tuning system, which lets you tune out left/right tears by micro-adjusting the limb channel. No bow press is needed. Essentially, you just make left or right quarter-inch turns with a allen wrench. You will hear your adjustments. There is no popping or grinding, but you will hear an audible noise as you adjust the inner screws. Keep adjusting until you achieve a perfect tune, and make sure you adjust the same amount of both sides. Of all the no-bow-press tuning systems that have come out in recent years, this is my favorite. With each arrow tearing perfectly through paper, I took the bow out on the range for more accuracy testing.
Final Thoughts on the Lift X 29.5
Pros
Compact and Lightweight
Accurate and forgiving
Quiet and dead in the hand
Cons
Draw cycle is a tad demanding
Fixed draw weight
The tune was nearly perfect before I made the adjustments, but the bow was even more accurate afterward. I shot my best-ever 3-D score on a challenging course with the bow, and I have zero doubts it will make an excellent in-the-field companion. Aside from the stiffer draw cycle, Mathews’ Lift X 29.5 gets high marks across the board. The compound is ultra-accurate, hushed at the shot, and produces virtually zero vibration. The compound quickly builds shooting confidence and is loaded with purposeful technology, making tuning and shooter customization easier.
THE 1871 CLUB
