ORIGINAL: IL-Cornfed
There simply is no reason and no advantage to shooting feater with all the modern vanes available today. I wouldn't mess with feathers unless you actually enjoy refletching your arrows all the time. I am getting the same flight as I used to from 4" feathers and I am using the Bohning Blazers. They are the best vanes I've found thus far. Good luck and good shootin'
I must respectively disagree with this statment. There are several advantages to shooting feathers over vanes these days. I have shot the Blazers and I do like them. In fact, I carry one hunting just in case I get caught in a downpour. Light rain, and I use feathers with waterproofing powder. However, the overall forgiveness and flight of feathers is amazing. They are also TOUGHER than most vanes, despite what many say. You shoot a vane and it rips. So then you "clip" out the rip. You want to talk about noise in flight; try listening to one of those downrange. With feathers, you just fluff them up, pass them over steam, and you are good as new. They really do take abuse. I shoot them for indoor and hunting, and I am debating switching to smaller ones for 3D. Only issue for 3D is the Kansas wind. When shooting open stakes at 50+ yards, the wind will really move a feather driven arrow. PLus, feather fletches just look awesome.
I would just tell everyone thinking about them to try them. They are not really that expensive, and they do last.
JMAC