QAD Integrate MX2: The Second-Generation Full-Capture Rest Refines What Worked
The Integrate MX2 builds on the original Integrate MX with a revised launcher geometry, updated containment arm, and a cleaner timing-cord routing that makes setup faster without changing what made the first generation work.
Second-generation product releases in archery fall into two categories: fixes for things that were quietly broken, or genuine refinements to things that were already good. The QAD Integrate MX2, released in 2025, is the second kind. The original Integrate MX earned a strong reputation as a full-capture rest that held its tune, fell away cleanly, and didn't require mid-season recalibration. The MX2 doesn't reinvent it — it tightens the tolerances and smooths out the workflow.
What's notable
The MX2 keeps the Integrate's core design: full-capture launcher, buss-cable timing connection, and a standard dovetail mount compatible with any bow. The principal changes are in the containment arm geometry and the timing cord anchor system. QAD revised the upper containment arm's angle to reduce the contact area between the arm and the nock during draw, which lowers the tactile resistance archers sometimes noticed when drawing slowly in cold weather. It's a small change that matters most to hunters who draw under pressure at sub-freezing temperatures, when any additional resistance translates directly into form breakdown at full draw.
The timing cord anchor on the MX2 uses a more positive locking mechanism than the MX — a knurled thumbscrew rather than a split-nock style clamp. This speeds up initial setup and makes field adjustments faster if you need to re-time the rest after changing draw length or arrow spine. The adjustment range remains the same: fall-away timing can be advanced or retarded by moving the anchor point on the cable bracket, giving you control over whether the launcher drops immediately at the shot or fractionally after. Most archers set the timing so the launcher is just beginning to fall when the string reaches full draw, ensuring clean clearance for any fletching configuration.
The launcher itself is still high-density polymer, available in three widths to match different arrow diameters. The MX2 ships with the medium launcher installed and includes narrow and wide alternatives in the box. That three-launcher system has been part of QAD's Integrate line since the beginning, and it's one of the reasons the rest works across such a broad range of arrow diameters — from 4mm carbon target shafts to heavy hunting arrows in the 9mm range. Replacement launchers are stocked by most archery retailers, which means field replacement is straightforward rather than a special-order wait.
QAD also improved the fall-away arm's pivot mechanism on the MX2. The pivot housing now uses a sealed bearing rather than a dry pivot bushing, which reduces the friction variation that contributed to occasional timing inconsistency on the original MX after extended use. The bearing requires no lubrication and is rated for a much higher cycle count than the original bushing.
Who it's for
The MX2 targets compound archers who want a full-capture rest with proven drop-away timing — hunters, 3D shooters, and crossover archers who shoot both. The full-capture feature is the main draw for hunting applications: you can draw in any orientation, at any angle, without worrying about the arrow falling off the rest. On a 3D course, it handles the steep uphill and downhill shots that plague partial-containment rests.
Archers upgrading from the original MX will find the MX2 a direct replacement with a shorter setup time. Archers coming from a Whisker Biscuit or similar full-capture rest will appreciate that the MX2's drop-away launcher makes fletching contact physically impossible once the bow reaches full draw — something a static full-capture rest can't claim. That difference shows up in groups: a well-tuned arrow with the MX2 groups tighter than the same arrow through a static full-capture rest because there's no contact to induce flight variation.
Where it sits in the lineup
QAD offers the Integrate MX2 as the standard platform for archers not on Mathews' ARC bridge-lock system. The ARC variant uses a proprietary mounting plate for Mathews bows; the MX2 is the rest for everyone else. Compared to competitors like the AAE Arrowhead or SureLoc Hunter's Edge, the MX2's full-capture feature and QAD's established customer support network give it an edge in long-term ownership cost.
At its 2025 price point, the MX2 competes squarely with the Trophy Taker Pronghorn Pro and the Ripcord Code Red. All three are capable rests. QAD's advantage is the Integrate line's track record and the simplicity of the buss-cable timing connection, which is harder to get wrong than some cable-driven alternatives. Archers who've set up all three tend to report that the MX2's thumbscrew anchor system is the fastest to adjust in field conditions — a meaningful advantage when you're tuning at the range with gloves on.
Source
Product details sourced from QAD's 2025 product specifications and Integrate MX2 release documentation.
Tagged: Rests · QAD · 2025