Home > Archery Kit > Black Widow Tab
Black Widow Tab
Reviewed By Steve , 29 June 2009
So there I was at a shoot I had been looking forward to for months searching the back of the car for my Spigarelli Comfort Tab, I couldn’t have forgotten it surely. The truth was hard to take, I had forgotten it … I love that tab, I always use that tab, it is unsettling when things are different especially when competing. I am sure you can imagine how upset I was.
I do however always carry a spare tab for the muppet that turns up to a shoot having forgotten his – there is always one… today it was me !
I don’t know why I keep a Black Widow Tab as a spare when I love my Spigarelli so much – I must address that at some point, anyway there it was a brand new Black Widow Tab.
I took myself off for a quick warm up whinging all the while about having forgotten my tab – surely it must be someone else’s fault !!
The Black Widow Tab has 3 layers, in contrast to many other Tabs that have only 2, the finger loop is a Velcro strap as opposed to the toggle and cord one on my usual tab, however it fit very well and despite being new wasn’t stiff as some leather can be, I had great feel through the pads but was still getting total protection.
One of the selling points is that it has anti-pinch flaps, I know of other archers who think they are great, for me they were just flapping nuisance things that got in the way every time I nocked an arrow, I don’t like messing with things that have been designed for a purpose, I usually like to give them a chance, after all someone though it a great idea to build this feature in. I cut them off by the 2nd target.
One other thing worth noting is that string walkers love these tabs as the stitching can be used to position the fingers - I don't string walk but if you do I guess you will probably be using one of these already.
At the end of the shoot I had entirely forgotten that the tab was a new one and of a design I had not used before. Had I used this tab before the current one I used I would be using this now, it’s very very comfortable, offer excellent protection, it’s cheap and comes in 4 sizes.
| Rating | |
|---|---|
| Features & Design |   |
| Several sizes, but only gets 4 from me because of the anti –pinch flaps, to be honest without them it is a 5 | |
| Performance | |
| I forgot I wasn’t using my regular tab – it is that good | |
| Value for Money | |
| At this price they offer excellent value, there really would be no need to spend more on a tab. | |
| Overall | |
| I can’t bring myself to dock a point for the anti-pinch flaps as if you don’t like them they can be cut off – if you do like them they can only enhance your shooting experience, the price alone makes up for the extra mark as I would like to give them a 6 for that. Top Tab… buy one… hell buy two !!! everyone should keep a spare ;-). | |
Steve Nicholson and Andy Gilfrin, are real archers interested in the best archery suppliers have to offer. In our search for the very best bow, arrows and equipment we have shot, used and worn pretty much everything on offer.
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Contact Steve .. steve@archers-review.com
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| Essential Details | |
|---|---|
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What : Black Widow Tab Price : £9 |
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Smart leather tab with no metal parts - solid construction
Note the even stitches beloved of string walkers
Velcro finger strapis not quite so easy to take on and off
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Magazine |
Magazine
We were very pleased to give our support to the James Whale Kidney Foundation shoot which we cover in this months magazine. We were also contacted by Lars Pilø with news on the archery related finds on Jovfonna, and while we couldn't get out there ourselves Lars kindly filled in some background information for us.
A mixed bag this month, me in the South West, Geoff putting the record straight, a chat with Keith Stay and the wisdom comes from South Cox of Stalker bows.
We take a tour the length and breadth of the British mainland to visit Scotland with Border Bows, Yorkshire with Aidy Hayes, the Wirral with Jason from thelongbowshop.com, down South with the Company of Canterbury Longbowman, and Geoff is in Spain.
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Your Comments
Tell us what you think, do you agree with the review or have something to add?
Posted by: IAN GORDON WILSON on Jul 12, 22:39
have used one of these for years. once you get used to the flaps they are very hard to beat and nice to get away from plastics
Posted by: J Carpenter on Dec 26, 14:03
I bought one of these to get back into archery after a long lay off, finding my old A&F platform tab no longer as comfortable as it used to be. The anti-pinch flaps lasted about the same amount of time before the scissors came out, and since I have trimmed off bit by bit any excess from the back layer that wasn’t needed. Very comfortable and easy to use.
Posted by: Aidan Langley on Jun 18, 01:27
I stringwalk and use one of these tabs. I cut off the flaps but didn’t like it as it felt as if the string angle was pinching the tab and it was bending under the pressure. Instead I stapled the two flaps together…………bingo. Flaps now help keep the tab located.
The velcro doesn’t need to be tight on the finger as the string keeps it in place and it’s easier to flip over if you need your hand free.