About

Strings built one at a time, in Canada

River City Custom Bowstrings is the string shop inside Tyee Marine & Outdoors in Campbell River and Tyee Archery & Outdoors in Kamloops.

Steve Thompson founded River City Custom Bowstrings in 2020. Tyee Outdoors bought the shop in 2025, and Steve spent the following year at the bench training our staff — going through his method in full, so that nothing about how these strings are built left with him.

Alex Keith is our head builder.

Alex Keith, head builder, serving a bowstring at the bench

What we actually do differently

We ask which material you want

Most shops pick for you. We build in both BCY 452Xtra and BCY X‑99, they cost the same, and the difference is real enough that you should get to choose. Here's what's in each one.

We put the whole catalogue in front of you

800+ bow models going back to 2018 — compound, crossbow and traditional. Pick your make, model and year and the builder works out which pieces your bow takes and what the set costs. You shouldn't need to know your cam architecture to buy a string.

We prestretch to 375 lb and warranty the result

No break‑in period, and a peep that still sits where you set it after the first fifty shots. Six months on peep rotation and creep, in writing, with both terms defined so there is nothing to argue about later. Full terms here.

Where we are

  • Campbell River — Tyee Marine & Outdoors, 880 Island Hwy, Campbell River BC V9W 2C3 — 250-287-2641
    Open 8–6 Monday to Saturday, 8–5 Sunday. String builder on the bench Tuesday to Saturday, 8–4.
  • Kamloops — Tyee Archery & Outdoors, 552 Tranquille Rd, Kamloops BC V2B 3H4 — 778-470-0389
    Open 9–6 Tuesday to Saturday, 10–5 Sunday, closed Monday. String builder on the bench Tuesday to Saturday, 9–5.