Another Feather/Vane Debate
 

I know there have already been some similar posts on this subject, but I am considering switching from vanes to feathers

Right now I want to switch just to try them out...I've never used them before and I want to try something new.

I think I'll just get a few arrows rigged up with feathers and see how I like them.

Can you give me the pros and cons of feathers over vanes? Or vise versa? Which do you prefer? And why?

I am shooting Gold Tip Expedition Hunter 5575s if that makes any difference

RE: Another Feather/Vane Debate
 

Hands down feathers are allot more forgiving when in flight.

RE: Another Feather/Vane Debate
 

How so? What quality do they have that makes them that way?

RE: Another Feather/Vane Debate
 

They are more forgiving because they can flex, if you have any kind of contact on a plastic vane it will mess up its flight. Feathers are also more durable, you can cut big chunks out of a feather vane and it will still fly just as quiet and straight as when it was new. do that to a plastic vane and it's ruined. Plastic is supposed to hold up better when they are wet but i think that is more myth then reality. as long as the feather isn't completely saturated they still fly just fine. I think they stabilize a broadhead better because they create more drag, inch for inch when compared to plastic.

RE: Another Feather/Vane Debate
 

+1 feathers

RE: Another Feather/Vane Debate
 

Good post gmil! You beat me to it. The reasons gmil quoted are the exact reasons why I shoot feathers now and always will.

RE: Another Feather/Vane Debate
 

Thanks guys, I think ill get feathers put on 3 or 4 arrows and see how i like them...
Ill let yall know what i think

RE: Another Feather/Vane Debate
 

awesome, I think you'll like 'em

RE: Another Feather/Vane Debate
 

Shultzy lets be honest here you also shoot a recurve which feathers go hand in hand with as well.[8D]
Just givin ya a hard time man.

In all seriousness feathers havetheir beni's and pit-falls just like other types of fletches.

RE: Another Feather/Vane Debate
 

No problem man!! I guys gotta give someone a hard time once in a while!! When I shot compound I shot feathers as well.;)

RE: Another Feather/Vane Debate
 

Isn't it easy to pick on Steve![:-]

RE: Another Feather/Vane Debate
 

What else is there to do at 1:15 in the morning? I got better ideas but I don't see that happening!![8D]

RE: Another Feather/Vane Debate
 

Feathers have more drag, so they stabilize the arrow better/quicker.

Feathers are more forgiving of contact issues off from your rest, riser, shelf, harness, or a twig while in flight.

Feathers are lighter which means a slightly faster arrow and better FOC.

Feathers shoot well even after they are tore up, so hitting them with other arrows will not hurt them. You can shoot feathers with more than half the feather missing and it will not really effect anything.

Feathers just look cool;).

On the down side feathers usually cost more.
The tend to make more noise in flight, never had a deer complain though.
The create more drag so they do slow the arrow slightly at longer yardages, beyond 50 yards is where you will notice it.
They collapse when they get wet, however I have never noticed it effect how they fly.

I personally like tru flight feathers, they have more consistent bases to fletch with.

Paul

RE: Another Feather/Vane Debate
 

I had a bunch of feathers hanging around last summer, so I fletched up some arrows with feathers, some offset, some helical, then mixed em in with my vanes and shot lots.

With field points I didn't notice any difference out to 50 yards. Arrows always were grouped together, no real pattern was found.

When i started shooting BH I found a huge difference. With vanes the BH arrows did not group as well and where a big left at 30+ yards, not a lot but noticable. The Feather fletched arrows where dead on the mark and stacking as tight as I can hold out to 50 yards.

I also hit one feather with the bh of another arrow. With vanes this means a re-fletch job. With the feather is shaved the feather down for about 1 inch. Arrow still flew great with BH on it.

I now hunt with feathers.

They are more fragile and get beat up walking through brush more than vanes.

RE: Another Feather/Vane Debate
 

haha sorry schultzy, I drive the feathers bandwagon so I'm all over posts like this;)

RE: Another Feather/Vane Debate
 

Feathers hands down!!:DWe'll soon be adding a feathers page to the website.

Dan

RE: Another Feather/Vane Debate
 

Feathers are

RE: Another Feather/Vane Debate
 

I like feathers better but never gave vanes a real chance.
They shot a little wilder with broadheads when I started & that was that.
These days I use barred sheild back 4" feathers. They look cool & fly straight.:)

RE: Another Feather/Vane Debate
 

As long as you don't live in a rainforest feathers are the way to go, but that's why I shoot vanes.