ORIGINAL: Greg / MO
Since you brought it up, Don...
Independent tests by bow testing authority Norb Mullaney have shown that a feather fletched arrow is still traveling 4 ft./sec. faster than plastic fletch, 29 yards down range. At all normal hunting ranges, feather fletched arrows travel faster, drop less, and arrive sooner than plastic fletched arrows.
Further tests by Dave Holt showed that the feather fletched arrow was faster than the identical plastic fletched arrow out to 41 yards. The feather fletched arrow then matched the plastic fletched arrow out to 61 yards (the limit of the test range). Through out the 61 yard range, the feather fletched arrow arrived at each distance in less time than the vane fletched arrow.
I've seen Len report the same findings from his own independent tests on here as well.
How's that ankle feelin', anyway?
Thanks for saving me some typing.

This might be a different result if you were using 5" shields.
What bugs me about the blazers is the HIGH profile.That is what makes them work but they should really have no advantages,other than be tough as nails but that isn't what I want.The last thing I want my arrow doing is getting hung at the fletching when trying to get a passthrough.[&:]
Please don't take this as a bash.Every product on the market has advantages AND disadvantages.
I have no problems shooting wet feathers.