Hunting flows in my blood and bow hunting is a way of life. I live for it! A few years back, Flambeau reached out to me to field test the Formula Bow Case, knowing I was a bow hunter. I didn’t have the time or resources to give it my best, and I was already using a case that I thought did everything, so I politely declined. Fast forward to 2025, Flambeau didn’t give up and asked me again. This time I had the time, a need and I was curious about the performance of the Formula. For four months, I have been testing this case in the field, at the range, on the road and in my garage. The Formula Bow Case from Flambeau is the real deal for archers and bow hunters alike.
The Formula Bow Case is not small, but it’s not overly bulky either. The case itself weighs just over 18 lbs. It has no foam and that gives it a step up on the competition. I’ll explain why later. Here are the specs from the website before I go into my evaluation:
WEIGHT: 18.25 lbs. (Unloaded)
INTERIOR DIMENSIONS: 44.44″ L x 16.06″ W x 8.29″ H
EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS: 47″ L x 19.37″ W x 9.31″ H
A.B.S SYSTEM (Adjustable Bow Security):
FOAM FREE: Utilizes adjustable foamless chassis with shock absorbing rubber membrane
SECURE TWIST: Features twistable patented Nite Ize Mega™ Gear Ties® to unconditionally anchor bows in place during transit
PROTECTION REPETITION: Hassle-free, muscle memory tiedown operation
PRESERVED PRECISION: Free-floats sights, cams, cables, and strings to safeguard critical precision components
QUIVER TO-GO: Permits quiver to remain attached to bow in case
BROAD-SPECTRUM COMPATIBILITY: Fits makes and models under 40 inches in overall length with the accessory pouch inserted and 43 inches in overall length without the accessory pouch
When I first started looking over the case I felt a bit disappointed. My reasoning is that I was not impressed by the interior chassis pieces (2) that were inside. Honestly, I couldn’t get the bow secured exactly how I needed it and they felt wobbly and loose. I posted a photo on Instagram and Flambeau responded quickly with a suggestion to make a small adjustment to how I was setting things up. Kudos to them because it was such a difference and improved my perceived value on the case. I humbly realized first impressions aren’t always a good thing and that following directions are paramount.
The case has six secure latches that need to be unfastened to open the case. These were easy on my hands to open and kept the case closed tight when clamped down. The blaze orange color is bright and highly visible. The older I get the more I appreciate the little things.
Once the chassis pieces are set for your compound bow, you need to use the sixteen (16) provided screws to secure each piece to the case bottom. This is key to making sure the bow doesn’t flop around. Be sure to use a screwdriver and hand-tighten carefully, but torquing too much.
After I secured the chassis down, I utilized the blaze orange Nite Ize Mega™ Gear Ties® and they worked so well! I was impressed with how these are better than any bungees or clamps or foam. You secure your bow tightly and it will not move. I have a 31.5″ ATA bow and the cams still had room to breathe on each end. The cams weren’t touching anything, thus protecting them from damage.
The case will hold a bow, quiver fill of arrows, extra arrows and has a small pouch to hold a release, tools and anything little you may need. At first, I didn’t feel the need to use the arrow holder that you need to secure to the lid of the case. I went for a few weeks without it, but decided that wouldn’t be a fair field test. I secured them with the remaining screws and added arrows for each trip to the range. Not only could I have a quiver full of arrows (five), but I could also bring along another eight arrows in the arrow holder. The arrow holder is molded out of dense rubber that holds them securely. No extra straps, just friction and gravity. Trust me when I say that I tried to knock the arrows out of the holder and they held fast.
I’ve used the Formula case for months. It was tossed it in the back of my truck (fully loaded) on its side and flat on the back of the case. I did not utilize the tie down areas, as shown in the above photo, because the case was always buried in my truck bed. They would have come in handy though and I should have used them on occasion. The case has traveled thousands of miles and everything stayed secure inside. The rubber top of the chassis, combined with the Mega Gear Ties, kept the bow from bouncing around which kept my sight and rest from being damaged. The case is wider than what I am used to, but after testing I understand why. It’s also softer on top, meaning if you sit on it the top will bow in a bit, but everything remained protected and nothing was crushed. I wouldn’t drive my truck over it or set anything heavy on top, but it holds up well to abuse.
There are a couple things I would like to see improvement on, but they are incredibly minor. I would like to see a handle at one end of the case. This way you would be able to grab the case easily to pull it out of the truck bed. Currently, there is only a handle on the very top that is out of reach which in a truck bed. I ended up adding 8″ of paracord to it to allow me to grab and pull the case out easily.
The second is more arrow holder options. While I have no problem only having 12-13 arrows in the case for a hunt trip, sometimes you may go to an archery shoot and need extra arrows. Having a second set of arrow holders would be nice to add, but I could not find a place to order them on the Flambeau website. I would love to have an option to buy another set. Flambeau, any possibility of adding that to the website? With this in mind, you can’t add a second set without removing the quiver. It’s not a perfect request, but I’d still like to be able to order a second set and test a few options out.
While it is listed as lockable and airline friendly, I would not use the Formula case to travel via airplane. I’ve seen what the baggage handlers do to larger items and how they stack things. For travel by automobile it works great! I used this for more than four months and it traveled from Nashville to Illinois and back, Nashville to New York and back, plus countless trips to the range and local woods. It has some mileage on it and some battle scars!
Last, but not least, I would like a tether inside the case so the top doesn’t flop back flat every time. Once the top fell back, I couldn’t always reach the arrows without climbing onto the tailgate or pulling the case toward me. An adjustable tether on one side would solve this issue. Making it adjustable would give the user options.
Overall, the Flambeau Formula Bow Case is a fantastic option for archers and bow hunters! I love the fact that it contains no foam! For a case with no foam, this held up and protected my equipment quite well. I not only recommend it, but I will be using mine throughout the year. It’s become a part of my archery and bow hunting kit. The Formula case is listed for $220, but it retails for around $180 and you can find it online in many places. If you have a need to a protective case that won’t bleed your bank account dry, but keeps your high-end gear protected, get yourself a Formula Bow Case. It’s an intelligent investment giving you peace of mind when traveling with your archery equipment.
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