I dunno why folks think feathers arent durable. I beat the living snot out of mine and the arrows fly just as good as when they look perfect! As for rain, well yup thats the only thing you have to take precaution too. I use rain and stain made by payless shoe stores. THat and a/or a baby bottle baggie, depends on the situation. If I had the choice of the 2 the rain and stain is the tops!!! You can rip half a feather off and still shoot well with it, the folks with vanes around here keep switching to feathers after they run into problems with there vanes so there is really no cure all. Both have there problems, but one imo, is a ton simpler to deal with then the other...just my experiences with them and the folks around me! btw, if they whistle, try trimming them in the back side, this is where that whistle comes from! try a different fletch all together if ya want..like shields, besides they are by far better lookin <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>