Index Style Releases – Carter Like Mike II vs Stan SoleX

There are a ton of different archery release aids floating around out there. Index style releases, hinges, thumb buttons, and resistance releases. And there are a bunch of options for each of those categories. I am a strong believer in an index-style release for bowhunting especially. My two go-to index-style releases are the Carter Like Mike II and the Stan SoleX. Both are very similar in design, but come in at very different price points. I’m going to break down what I like and what I don’t like about each of these releases. Hopefully, this can help you weigh out which of these awesome index-style releases might be best for you.

Josh Kirchner from Dialed in Hunter shooting his bow at the range with an index style release aid

Both of these releases are fantastic options if you’re looking to use index-style releases that will allow you to fully wrap your finger around the trigger and either pull through the shot or use the relax method to trip the trigger. This is how you can get consistent surprise shots with clean breaks over and over again. One way they accomplish this is with the web connect. It allows you to get that release as short as possible to get your finger around it. With that, they can both be set with a heavy trigger, which is essential to successfully shooting this way.

Check out this post if you want to properly learn how to use index-style releases

Carter Like Mike II

If you’re looking for a trigger that can be set really heavy, the Carter Like Mike II is going to be the ticket. Via a small steel ball that comes with the release, you can get this thing set up to 11 pounds. This will give you the ability to really dig into that trigger without it tripping prematurely.

Great Feel and Build

The Carter also feels very sturdy in the hand and is almost heavy in a sense. This provides for an extremely stable platform. On that note, there aren’t any large gaps in the body of the release for rogue debris to get into and possibly have the release malfunction. I’ve had this happen with a different release in the past. It resulted in me punching myself in the face when coming to full draw. Not fun.

Downsides

Carter Like Mike II index release hanging from a bino harness on a hunt in Arizona

One of the downsides of the Carter is that it doesn’t have an auto-resetting hook. You’ve got to reset it manually by pushing the hook back to zero and pressing a small button to lock it. Along with that, the Like Mike II is going to cost a pretty penny. It comes in at $200.

It may be pricy, but as they say, you get what you pay for. This is the finest index-style release I’ve personally used. Very reliable.

Stan SoleX

One of the nice things about the Stan SoleX is that it does have an auto-resetting hook. By simply pressing the trigger after each shot the hook will return back to zero and you’ll hear a small click. This is the hook locking into place. Make sure you hear that before trying to draw.

Another cool thing about the Stan SoleX is that it has adjustable trigger tension and adjustable trigger travel. Now, you won’t be able to get the trigger on the SoleX as heavy as the Like Mike II, but you can certainly get it heavy enough to comfortably wrap your index finger around and not worry about premature fire. The trigger travel feature is great to really fine-tune how you want your trigger to feel with more travel vs. less travel. This is a feature that the Carter does not have. It comes with a zero travel trigger right from the get-go. Zero travel is what most people prefer, but the Stan gives you more options for customization.

Downsides

Stan SoleX index style release being used at the archery range in Arizona

In terms of downsides, the Stan has two for me. The first is it isn’t nearly as sturdy of a platform as the Carter. It’s very lightweight and kind of feels like a toy almost. It’s not of course, but you get the sense it might break easier. Also, there is a large gap underneath the auto-resetting hook. If not careful, debris can absolutely get into here and possibly cause the release to malfunction. It’s something to keep in mind when afield especially and you might only get one chance at an animal.

Incredible Value

All of this comes in at the very appealing price point of $100. It’s an incredible value that gives access to premium features in an affordable package. In the realm of index-style releases, this is the best budget release on the market. Nothing touches it.

Final Thoughts – Which One is Better?

I love both of these releases. In the end, it all comes down to personal preference and feeling for which one is better. As for myself, the Carter takes the cake and serves as my main index-style release. The Stan is always in my backpack on hunts and is my backup in case anything goes wrong with the Carter. I highly recommend having a backup release with you by the way. You never know what might happen to your main release. I’ve had other models randomly seize up and hooks that failed to lock. On that note, the Carter Like Mike II and Stan SoleX are a match made in heaven for my style of bowhunting.