Hoyt Carbon RX-9 Ultra: the 2025 flagship that set up the RX-10
The Carbon RX-9 Ultra was Hoyt's 2025 carbon-riser hunting flagship — 33½-inch ATA, 6½-inch brace, and the bow that introduced the HBX Gen 3 cam family before XTS tuning landed on the RX-10.
The Carbon RX-9 Ultra shipped as Hoyt's 2025 flagship hunting compound and held that position for one model year before being replaced by the Carbon RX-10 Ultra in late 2025. If you bought one new at retail, you own a one-year-cycle bow — common at Hoyt, where the flagship typically gets a refresh every 12-18 months.
Specs at launch: 33½ inches axle-to-axle, 6½-inch brace height, 26-31" draw length range, 40-80 lb draw weight, 336 FPS at ATA spec. The cam family was HBX Gen 3 (the predecessor to Gen 4 on the RX-10). MSRP at launch was $2,099 — close to but slightly below the RX-10 Ultra's $2,199.
What the RX-9 Ultra got right
Three things stood out at launch:
The carbon riser refinement — Hoyt's carbon construction took another step forward over the RX-8 with cleaner machining and reduced visual seams. Side-by-side, the RX-9 Ultra looks like a more finished product than the RX-8.
The grip — Hoyt updated the rubberized grip insert on the RX-9 to a slightly slimmer profile with a more pronounced lifeline channel. Most archers reported the new grip as a small but real improvement.
The Gen 3 HBX cam draw cycle — independent testers (Lancaster, NockOn) noted a smoother draw cycle than the prior Gen 2, with a slightly harder back wall at 85% let-off. The cam was the foundation Hoyt built Gen 4 on.
What the RX-9 Ultra didn't have
The headline absence in retrospect: press-free tuning. XTS shipped on the RX-10 a year later, leaving the RX-9 Ultra requiring traditional press-and-shim tuning. For owners who tune frequently, the RX-9 to RX-10 jump is meaningful for that reason alone.
It also shipped with a smaller finish lineup — eight patterns at launch vs. fourteen on the RX-10 Ultra.
Should you buy a used RX-9 Ultra?
If you're shopping the used market, the RX-9 Ultra is a year-old flagship that depreciates to roughly $1,200-$1,400 in clean condition. That's competitive value for a carbon-riser bow with current-generation HBX cams. The honest question is: how much do you value XTS tuning?
If you tune your own bow regularly, the RX-10 Ultra at MSRP $2,199 is the better long-term investment.
If you take your bow to the pro shop for tuning anyway, the RX-9 Ultra used at $1,200 gives you 95% of the platform for 55% of the cost.
The RX-9 Ultra vs the Mathews V3X 33 (its 2025 contemporary)
These were the two carbon-aluminum flagship matchup for 2025. The V3X 33 was Mathews's last flagship before the ARC platform shift; the RX-9 Ultra was Hoyt's pre-RX-10 carbon offering.
Practical differences:
- Material: RX-9 Ultra carbon, V3X 33 aluminum.
- ATA: RX-9 Ultra 33.5", V3X 33 33".
- Brace: RX-9 Ultra 6.5", V3X 33 6.0".
- IBO speed: RX-9 Ultra 336 FPS, V3X 33 345 FPS.
- MSRP at launch: RX-9 Ultra $2,099, V3X 33 $1,499.
The V3X 33 was the value-flagship of 2025; the RX-9 Ultra was the carbon-flagship. Different buyers; both legitimately strong bows.
Notes on this article
The RX-9 Ultra was deeply underserved by ArcherSource's prior coverage — an earlier draft included fabricated specs and a misattributed editor credit. This article is the corrected version. Specs above are from Hoyt's archived product page (Wayback Machine, accessed May 2026) and independent reviewer measurements from Lancaster Archery's launch coverage.
FAQ
Is the RX-9 Ultra still in production? No. It was discontinued when the RX-10 Ultra launched in late 2025. Dealer stock may persist into 2026.
Will my RX-8 accessories transfer to the RX-9 Ultra? Most accessories yes (sights, rests, stabilizers — standard threads). Modules and string lengths are bow-specific and don't carry over.
Can I get warranty service on an RX-9 Ultra in 2026 and beyond? Yes. Hoyt's lifetime warranty doesn't sunset by model year. Original owners retain coverage indefinitely.
RX-9 Ultra vs RX-10 Ultra used market value? The RX-10 Ultra holds value better in 2026 because it's the current flagship. RX-9 Ultra depreciation is typical for a one-cycle-back Hoyt — about 30-35% off MSRP within 12 months.
Specs from Hoyt's 2025 product page (archived) and independent launch coverage. Updated May 22, 2026.
Watch the launch coverage
2025 Hoyt RX-9 Ultra: The Best Hoyt Carbon Bow EVER? — Lancaster Archery Supply's first-look. Worth watching alongside this write-up for the spec walk-through and draw-cycle commentary.