If you asked ten bowhunters, “Which arrow rest do you use, and why?” you’ll likely get ten different answers. It doesn’t seem to matter how much experience the archer has; each hunter develops a personal preference over time.
You might think all archers with years of experience would only shoot a drop away rest, but that isn’t the case.
Just because the drop away is the more technical of the two doesn’t mean it’s the better rest for all shooters.
The reasons why bowhunters choose a Whisker Biscuit over a drop-away rest are simple and straightforward.
They are simple in design, reliable, and perfectly designed for their purpose. The rest of this article covers the pros and cons of the full containment rest, along with reviews of the different options.
Contents:
Top Options
- Whisker Biscuit Quick Shot – The Classic reliable arrow rest. (See on Cabela’s)
- Whisker Biscuit Kill Shot – Highly Rated, upgraded x-y adjustment sliders. (See on Cabela’s)
- Whisker Biscuit Power Shot – Best Value, enhanced vibration reduction. (See on Cabela’s)
- Whisker Biscuit Sure Shot Pro – High End, with Micro tuning mechanism for experienced archers.
A Simple & Reliable Design
What exactly makes the Whisker Biscuit style rest so popular? Simplicity and reliability are the two words that come to mind. There’s more to it than that, as experienced bow hunters will tell you, so let’s dig into the finer points of this type of arrow rest.
Securely Holds Arrows
What is a whisker biscuit, exactly? The Whisker Biscuit is a full containment arrow rest, which is the fancy way of saying the arrow is enclosed on all sides, making it impossible to jump off or fall out of the rest while the arrow is knocked.
Slip the arrow shaft through the slot in the bristles, nock your arrow, and you are ready to draw at a moment’s notice.
Easy to Install and Adjust
Installing a Whisker Biscuit is a simple task.
The rest is bolted directly to the riser using two supplied allen head bolts. Using two bolts prevents accidental twisting of the rest that can occur over time from bow vibrations.
Next, you need to adjust the side-to-side centerline of the biscuit using the bolt and slot.
The hole for the arrow shaft should align on the same plane as the bowstring, and the arrow should be at 90 degrees (perpendicular) to the bowstring.
After that, you can do some paper tuning to find the best nocking point and adjust the biscuit up until the arrow shaft is again at 90 degrees to the bowstring.
Great for all Levels of Experience
The simplicity of installation and use makes it great for beginning bow hunters. The lack of moving parts and mechanisms allows the focus to be on good shooting form, technique, and shot execution.
The last thing a new archer needs is to be excited at a shot opportunity and have the arrow hop off the rest. It may come as a surprise to some, but many experienced bow hunters appreciate the Biscuit for the very same reasons.
Minimize Chances of Error
Handling a bow in the woods presents many opportunities for screwing up a shot. Carbon hunting arrows easily bump off a fall-away rest when trying to get into position for a shot. The same goes for hunting from a ground blind where space is limited.
The drop-away mechanism is another possible point of failure. What if the shaft holder fails to fall away on the release? The arrow flies way off target! When a rest fails to drop away, the shaft fletching and nock meet resistance, pushing it off the intended trajectory path.
Accurate but Less Forgiving to Poor Technique
What I mean by this is that poor installation or poor shooting technique can negate the benefits of the Whisker Biscuit.
Tests have shown that a properly tuned bow with a biscuit rest can shoot groupings nearly as tight as a drop-away rest. Any bow accessory can negatively affect accuracy when user error is involved.
People also like to knock on the Whisker Biscuit because of the reduced arrow speed. The vanes must pass through the bristles, so yes, arrows will lose a little speed.
The lost speed, however, is minuscule at the 20-30-yard range that most deer hunters try to shoot for. Don’t let those two things scare you away from a biscuit.
Top bow hunters rely on a Whisker Biscuit and see no performance loss. See this video below for proof:
Do They Wear Out?
Whisker Biscuits are extremely durable, but depending on your arrow fletching, the bristles can wear out after a hundred arrows.
The good news is the bristles are easily replaced.
Remove the end caps on the biscuit, and insert a new disc with a brush into the rest frame. Another tip for longevity is to buy a real Trophy Ridge product.
You can find nearly identical rests on Amazon, but they are mere imitators, with most using inferior bristles and suspect hardware.
Whisker Biscuit Rests Compared
Trophy Ridge currently offers four models of Whisker Biscuit rests. The models follow a progression of enhanced features with enhanced adjustment features.
When reading these Whisker Biscuit reviews, remember that the difference between the models is incremental.
If you are new to bow hunting, you will get as much out of the entry-level Quick Shot model as the top-of-the-line Sure Shot Pro.
1. Trophy Ridge Quick Shot
The Quick Shot model is the base model in the lineup. This biscuit is a cost-effective upgrade for almost any bow. It is simple and quiet, yet improved upon in several ways from the original.
Trophy Ridge says the redesigned frame is stronger than ever and has a smoother adjusting slider. It also has a simple reversible mount design, permitting archers to switch the rest depending on their handedness.
Owners have mentioned that it is quite good for stabilizing a shot without negatively affecting the speed or trajectory of their arrow. One of the only concerns is that it can rub against certain bow sights and potentially affect aim, but this appears to be isolated to smaller bows with less space along with the sight window.
Hunters can quickly adjust with the engraved reference marks. Another major selling point is its quiet performance: hunters who need stealth won’t have to worry about spooking their quarry.
2. Trophy Ridge Kill Shot
The Kill Shot has several upgrades over the Quick Shot. First, it has a sturdier dovetail slider design, making the alignment much harder to come loose over time.
Second, the Kill Shot introduces vertical adjustment (elevation and windage), which is great for fine-tuning alignment.
Third, this arrow rest is smaller and lighter, thanks to composite materials used in the frame.
Like all the other Whisker Biscuits, there are rubber boots for silent arrow loading. The Kill Shot has three sizes, with inner diameters of .300″, .320″, and .395″, respectively.
3. Trophy Ridge Power Shot
The Power Shot looks nearly identical to the Kill Shot, but looks are deceiving. The Power Shot also has a composite frame with horizontal and vertical adjusting sliders.
Only the Power Shot can boast the silencing effect of Ballistix CoPoylmer coating.
The coating system reduces noise that metal parts can create and dampens vibration from the bow. The Power Shot is a popular rest and comes in a black or camo color pattern.
4. Trophy Ridge Sure Shot Pro
The Sure Shot Pro is the top-of-the-line model for the archer who won’t settle for second best. While the Power Shot and Kill Shot are the best “bang for your buck” value for most hunters, the Sure Shot Pro is the best whisker biscuit model overall.
Your experience level should dictate whether you can justify the additional cost of this model over others.
The Sure Shot adds micro-adjustments for the avid shooter who understands how and when to use them for the most precise shot possible. The horizontal and vertical sliders have laser-engraved markings to make tuning easy.
Whisker Biscuit Size Chart
Trophy Ridge makes the whisker biscuits in multiple sizes, making it important to pick the right size for the arrows you shoot. Here are some guidelines for choosing the proper size rest.
- Leave a .030″ gap between the arrow diameter and the biscuit hole.
- Do not use the Small size with external knock carbon arrows, or damage to the knock or biscuit can’t occur.
| Whisker Biscuit Size | Rest Inner Diameter |
|---|---|
| SMALL | .300 in |
| MEDIUM | .320 in |
| LARGE | .385 in |
Conclusion
The Whisker Biscuit is a go-to choice in bowhunting for its simplicity, reliability, and consistent accuracy. From novice to experienced archers, the straightforward design and full arrow containment make it a trusted option.
With various Trophy Ridge models catering to different preferences, the Whisker Biscuit style arrow rest remains a top pick for those valuing simplicity and accuracy in bowhunting.
*Last updated 2025-01-16 at 01:20 / Product Links & Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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