Random BLOCK Classic Layered Foam Archery Target
Backyard practice sessions have a way of exposing cheap gear fast, and a foam block that swallows arrows after 200 shots is the usual culprit. That's exactly why the BLOCK Classic Layered Foam Archery Target keeps showing up in buyer shortlists: it's a 22" x 22" x 13.5" layered-foam cube built to stop field points and broadheads by friction instead of brute density, which is the whole reason arrows slide back out instead of fighting you.
Bottom line first: it's worth it if you shoot a compound or recurve at 20 to 30 yards and want easy arrow removal, and it's a skip if you're a crossbow shooter or you plan to leave it out in the weather all season. Here's how it holds up under closer scrutiny.
What it is
A layered foam archery target is a block of compressed foam sheets, banded together under pressure, that stops an arrow by squeezing the shaft along its length rather than by smashing the point into a dense wall. The BLOCK Classic sits in the mid-range of that category, using what Field Logic calls an open-layer design to grip the shaft with friction instead of force.
Its main rivals are the Morrell Yellow Jacket bag target, the Rinehart 18-1 self-healing cube, and various Delta McKenzie foam blocks. The Classic's pitch is simple: broadhead-legal like a Rinehart, but with a noticeably lighter pull than a dense bag or a solid urethane cube.
1. BLOCK Classic Layered Foam Archery Target
We compared spec sheets and aggregate owner feedback across the main foam-block category before landing on this one. What kept surfacing in verified buyer reports was the same phrase over and over: arrows come out with one hand. That single trait drives more repeat purchases here than accuracy of the printed aiming points.
Setup and first impressions
There is no assembly. It ships as a finished cube, and the most common first-session comment in verified buyer feedback is that the foam feels firmer and denser than expected when you press a thumb into the face.
The high-contrast white-on-black graphics are the second thing owners mention. Aggregate reviews report the aiming points stay readable at 30 yards in overcast light, which matters more than it sounds when you're trying to call a shot on a dim November evening.
Buyers do flag two out-of-box quirks worth knowing. First, the compression bands hold the layers tight, so the first few dozen arrows can feel stiffer to pull than shots 100 through 500 once the foam breaks in. Second, a fresh target has a distinct chemical foam smell that fades over roughly a week outdoors.
Set it on a stand or a couple of hay bales so the center sits at chest height, and angle the face slightly forward. That single adjustment shows up repeatedly in owner tips because a plumb-vertical face increases the odds of a deflection on a glancing hit.
| Model | BLOCK Classic Layered Foam Archery Target |
| Dimensions | 22″ x 22″ x 13.5″ |
| Shootable sides | 2 sides, both printed with aiming points |
| Stopping method | Open layered foam, friction along the shaft |
| Point compatibility | Field points and broadheads (fixed and mechanical) |
| Bow compatibility | Compound, recurve, longbow, youth bows |
| Crossbow use | Not the intended application; use a crossbow-rated BLOCK model |
| Carry | Molded top carry handle, one-hand transport |
| Graphics | High-contrast white-on-black aiming points |
| Brand | BLOCK Targets, a Field Logic brand under FeraDyne Outdoors |
Daily-use experience
Stopping power at real distances
Layered foam stops an arrow over a longer travel path than a bag target, which is why penetration depth feels deeper but pull force feels lighter. Owner reports from 60 to 70 lb compounds shooting 400-grain arrows around 280 to 300 fps consistently describe 4 to 6 inches of penetration at 20 yards, well inside the 13.5-inch depth.
Faster setups eat more of that margin. Feedback from shooters running lighter arrows near 330 fps notes penetration closer to 8 inches, still short of a pass-through but enough that the target should be rotated more often. Recurve and youth-bow users report the opposite problem in a good way: shallow hits that pull out almost effortlessly.
Arrow removal, which is the real selling point
This is where the Classic separates itself. The open-layer construction grips the shaft, not the point, so removal force stays low even after the insert is buried several inches. Verified buyers repeatedly describe two-finger pulls where a dense bag target would need a puller and a braced foot.
That matters for anyone with wrist, elbow, or shoulder issues. It also matters for parents supervising kids, because a 10-year-old can retrieve their own arrows without an adult yanking on carbon shafts. Aggregate reports do note removal stiffens noticeably once a spot has taken 50-plus arrows in the same square inch, which is a rotation problem, not a design flaw.
Broadhead handling
Broadheads are the reason many people buy this over a bag target, since bag targets are explicitly not broadhead-rated. Both fixed-blade heads like a Muzzy or a G5 Montec and mechanical heads slide into the layered foam and come back out without stripping blades off the ferrule.
The trade-off is honest: broadheads cut foam, and cut foam does not fully heal. Owner feedback indicates a target used mostly for field points holds its face far longer than one used for broadhead tuning sessions. If you sight in six broadhead-tipped arrows before each season, expect the center to open up faster than the rest of the block.
Weather, wear, and lifespan
Layered foam is not weatherproof foam. The most common complaint in long-term owner reports is degradation after the target sits through repeated rain and freeze cycles, with the outer layers softening and the printed face flaking.
Kept under a tarp, in a shed, or under an eave, buyers routinely describe two to four seasons of use from a single block. Left in the open, that figure drops sharply. Rotating the target through all available orientations, and flipping between the two shootable sides, is the single most-cited lifespan trick.
Both practices are echoed in general target-care guidance from organizations like USA Archery.
✓ Pros
- Open-layer foam grips the shaft instead of the point, so most owners pull arrows one-handed without a puller
- Rated for both field points and broadheads, unlike bag targets that void warranty on broadhead hits
- 13.5 inches of depth leaves real margin for 280 to 300 fps compounds at 20 yards
- Two shootable printed sides double your usable surface before the block is spent
- Molded top handle makes it a one-person carry from garage to backyard, no partner needed
✗ Cons
- Weather exposure degrades the outer layers fast, so it needs covered storage to reach multiple seasons
- Not the right pick for high-speed crossbows, where BLOCK sells a crossbow-specific model instead
- Center-mass shooting blows out the middle while the corners stay pristine, forcing constant rotation
- Broadhead sessions cut the foam permanently, so lifespan drops if you tune heads often
Who should buy it
Buy it if you…
You shoot a compound in the 55 to 70 lb range a few evenings a week, you practice in the backyard or on a lane behind the barn, and you're tired of the shoulder strain that comes with a stiff bag target. You want one target that handles both practice field points and pre-season broadhead tuning without buying two products.
This also fits families and clubs teaching new shooters. The lightweight pull means kids and beginners retrieve their own arrows, which keeps a coaching session moving instead of stalling at the target every three ends.
Skip it if you…
You shoot a crossbow pushing 400 fps or more. BLOCK builds crossbow-rated models for exactly that reason, and pointing a high-energy bolt at a target designed for vertical bows is how you get pass-throughs and a short lifespan.
You should also pass if the target will live outside uncovered from spring through winter. Layered foam plus rain plus freeze cycles equals a block that softens and sheds within a season. And if you run a high-volume range firing hundreds of arrows a week into the same 10-ring, a self-healing urethane cube will cost less per shot over time.
Better alternatives
The Rinehart 18-1 is the pick if raw longevity matters more than pull effort. Its self-healing urethane foam takes far more abuse and offers many more aiming faces, though arrows come out harder and the price sits well above this tier.
The Morrell Yellow Jacket YJ-425 is the budget-friendly bag alternative for field-point-only shooters. It's lighter to carry and cheap to replace, but it isn't broadhead-rated, which rules it out for anyone tuning hunting heads.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does it really stop broadheads without destroying the target?
Yes, the BLOCK Classic is rated for both fixed-blade and mechanical broadheads, and buyer reports confirm heads come out intact with blades still attached. The honest caveat is that blades slice the foam layers permanently, so a target used heavily for broadhead tuning wears through its center faster than one shot only with field points. Most owners sight in broadheads on one face and reserve the second side for regular field-point practice.
Can I shoot a crossbow into it?
This isn't the model for that. BLOCK's product line separates vertical-bow targets from crossbow-rated targets because a modern crossbow bolt carries substantially more kinetic energy than a compound arrow. Owner reports of crossbow use on standard layered-foam blocks describe deep penetration and, at higher speeds, occasional pass-throughs.
If you shoot a crossbow, check the crossbow-specific options listed on the manufacturer's site at FeraDyne Outdoors rather than forcing this one to do the job.
How long will it last?
Aggregate owner feedback points to two to four seasons of recreational use when the target is stored under cover and rotated regularly. The variables that matter most are shot volume, arrow speed, and how disciplined you are about spreading impacts across both faces and all four orientations. Shooters who always aim at the same center spot report the middle blowing out in a single heavy season while the corners remain nearly untouched.
What happens if I leave it out in the rain?
Water is the fastest way to shorten this target's life. Repeated soaking softens the outer foam layers, and freeze-thaw cycles accelerate flaking on the printed face. A tarp, a plastic tote, or a shed shelf between sessions costs nothing and adds seasons of use.
If it does get soaked, stand it on edge in a dry, shaded spot so water drains out of the layers instead of pooling inside.
Do arrows ever pass all the way through?
Rarely with a properly matched setup. At 13.5 inches of depth, a 400-grain arrow from a 70 lb compound typically buries 4 to 6 inches at 20 yards. Pass-throughs show up in reports mostly in two situations: very light, very fast arrows repeatedly hitting an already-blown-out center, or crossbow use the target was never designed for.
Always set up with a safe backstop behind the target regardless.
Final verdict
4.5 out of 5 stars. The BLOCK Classic earns that score on one standout trait and one real limitation. The open-layer friction design delivers the easiest arrow removal in its price bracket, and being broadhead-rated means you're not buying a second target in September.
The limitation is durability under abuse. Leave it in the weather, feed it a steady diet of broadhead groups, or shoot the same center spot 500 times, and it wears out faster than a self-healing urethane cube.
The buyers who win here are backyard compound and recurve shooters who practice regularly, want painless arrow retrieval, and have somewhere dry to store a 22-inch block. If that's you, it's a genuinely easy recommendation.
Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes my recommendation, I only suggest gear I'd actually buy myself.
