Carbon Express Hunting Arrows
Carbon Express is the brand that pioneered the Tri-Spine build (stiff on the ends, flexible in the middle). Now part of Feradyne (Rage broadheads, Nockturnal), the brand’s Maxima Sable RZ is the current flagship and the D-Stroyer sits behind it.
Flagship hunting shafts
- Maxima Sable RZ: current flagship, .295 outer, Tri-Spine build, +/- .0025 straightness.
- Maxima Hunter: mid-price standard diameter, +/- .0035 straightness.
- Carbon Express D-Stroyer PileDriver Hunter: heavy penetration build, 10.2 GPI at 350.
- Carbon Express Adrenaline: the budget Carbon Express shaft, +/- .005 straightness.
What Tri-Spine does
The middle 60 percent of the shaft is engineered to flex more than the ends. Under launch the arrow bends in the middle and the ends stay stiff, then straightens through the tapers on the way to target. Independent spin tests confirm the Tri-Spine shafts recover 15 to 20 percent faster off the string than a uniformly stiff shaft of the same static spine.
Honest strengths
Faster recovery off imperfect tune helps fixed blade broadhead flight. Larger outside diameter (.295 on Sable RZ) opens bigger blood channels behind a fixed blade. RZ camo finish is the least reflective coating on any mainstream hunting arrow, which matters on treestand and blind hunts.
Honest weaknesses
LaunchPad nock system takes some getting used to; it seats deeper than a standard press-fit and can pinch if the D loop is set wrong. Larger diameter means slightly more crosswind drift at long range versus a Hunter XT or Axis. Feradyne’s shift of product focus toward Rage broadheads has thinned the Carbon Express product lineup versus five years ago.