Feathers vs. Vanes?
 

I shoot a Mathews Q2 w/ Easton 2315s and feathers. I've noticed that the feathers make a significant amount of noise and whistling as they fly through the air. I also found out how the rain can pretty much ruin your hunt when using feathers. Also realized how fragile feathers can be ( not as durable vanes?). However, I really like the forgiveness of feathers, as well as the foc advantages. WHAT SHOULD I DO? WHAT DO YOU GUYS USE?

RE: Feathers vs. Vanes?
 

I shoot vanes. I like them better as they are alot quieter in flight, and carry better downrange than feathers, and the durability.

RE: Feathers vs. Vanes?
 

yooper, have you tried any of the waterproofers available for feathers? I have never tried them, but I have heard good things about them. Personally, I use feathers for my recurve and vanes for my compound. I have to move to a fall away rest though because of clearence problems that I was having. I shoot four vanes helical on my setup. In my area, I hunt in a lot of rain and the feathers are just not practical for me. I use my recurve on the nicer days.

RE: Feathers vs. Vanes?
 

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>

RE: Feathers vs. Vanes?
 

I've been shooting both and really feel I am much more accurate with feathers. This past year I shot feathers while hunting but I had vanes available incase of rain. I packed in an extra set of arrows to elk hunt and always kept a set in my truck during deer season and never used them once. I have shot arrows with wet feathers but not with broadheads and they seemed to fly pretty good. I plan on going with the same setup when I go bear hunting this spring.

RE: Feathers vs. Vanes?
 

i prefer feathers, i think the drag they create stabilizes the arrow quicker.i was out practicing yesterday in the rain and i didnt notice any diff. in arrow flight or point of impact. they do make a little noise,but then again so does your bow

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RE: Feathers vs. Vanes?
 

I love feathers, I use 4&quot; trueflight and have some gateway on order.I use water proofers and it eliminates the rain problem. IMO they are more durable than vanes an when damage still fly well while vanes donot.
http://www.trueflightfeathers.com/facts.htm

TrestandEd

&quot;Hard work ... conviction ... pride ... responsibility ... class ... character ... success...BOWHUNTING

RE: Feathers vs. Vanes?
 

I switched from vains to feathers and now I am getting better arrow flight

RE: Feathers vs. Vanes?
 

There is no question that feathers are more forgiving than vanes,but for the durablity issues you mention I opt to use 4&quot; AAE Plastifletch Elite vanes on my hunting shafts.

RE: Feathers vs. Vanes?
 

I switched from vanes to feathers a few years back, and absolutely love them. I use a waterproofing powder commercially available, but as Lilhunter said, there's lots of options there.

As far as durability goes, I think feathers are much more durable than vanes -- at least the way I was tearing them up, it was. I was shooting the vanes off my target arrows way too much, ripping them often, and if an arrow ever penetrated up to the vanes in my target -- forget it, the vanes would be warped beyond belief.

Now, if I ever scoot two arrows that closely together when practicing, the feathers just lay right to the side, and look as good as new when I'm through.

RE: Feathers vs. Vanes?
 

only sometimes MQ LOL...told a guy I was going to shoot his nock off..said go for it...took one of his hen feathers right off from front to almost the tip of it..man did he get ticked <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>!!! Have you ever had problems with the powder stuff hanging in the air while you were doing them then ya start sneezing your head off? I had some of that stuff and didnt like it..still have it actually, just sits in the baggie in a tupperware container.

RE: Feathers vs. Vanes?
 

Yep, that stuff can hang in the air forever. 'Bout light as air, it must be!

I also use a dry fly spray my buddy Matt / Pa sent me. It's good stuff, too. I think it's a silicone base or something, keeps the flies floating high and dry. Works well with the feathers, too.

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RE: Feathers vs. Vanes?
 

I can only tell you that after shooting both for several years, going back and forth, I have settled on feathers. Most of the disatvantages can be correct, and the flight and forgiving nature of feathers is a major asset.

TAKE YOUR KIDS HUNTING AND YOU WON'T BE HUNTING FOR YOUR KIDS

RE: Feathers vs. Vanes?
 

5&quot;feathers for hunting, thats all Im gonna say. For competition arrows, spin wings, curly vanes. Good shooting.
Dylan

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RE: Feathers vs. Vanes?
 

Hey MQ..there is a newer dry fly floatent out...I have been itchn to try but but dang its a little spendy for the size bottle you get.....that said it works like a charm! Its called water shed made by Hareline Dubbin, Inc. in Manroe Oregon..the tests the company did were pretty impressive...they left a fly in a container floating..came back a week or two later, the materials were starting to rot, the fly was still floating high and dry! I think a drop or two per feather would be about perfect!

RE: Feathers vs. Vanes?
 

Somebody give me a &quot;durable&quot; vane....give me a day, it'll be shredded. My feathers hold up to a lot more than vanes ever did. Besides, feathers work when part of them are missing....vanes certainly don't. Feathers are the only choice for me. I've never had a problem in the rain, I use the powder stuff...it works!

To each his own!