FOBs
 

Has anyone used the FOBs (fletching only better)? I have watched many videos on youtube and am intersted on honest opinions. Everything I have seen thus far looks good but I have to believe some of the videos are a little biased. Here is the link to their website.
www.starrflight.com

If nobody has tried them. Do any of you have any opinions at all on them?

I tried them and didnt care for them. I didnt like how they touch my face while at full draw. Also they say they are for steering big broadheads but they didnt seem to perform any better than feathers. But their worth a shot, some people love them.

I use them, and swear by them, like some have said some of us really like them....and they work well for me in all applications.

I haven't used them personally because they just did not interest me. Complaints I hear from customers are pretty much the same as yours MOhunter46

Dan

Thanks for the input guys. They are deffinatly cheap enough.

FOB's -A Niche Market
 

It all comes down to meeting the needs of the archery market.

Every archer needs vane replacement of some type. FOB's meet the need of the infrequent practice archer-hunter, who doesn't need many replacements.
With niche markets the individual cost is higher per unit, but the total cost to the archer is less. FOB's might cost $1.66 to "vane", per arrow, while another archer can do it with regular vanes for anywhere from .40 cents to $1. In the latter case, the cost of revaning is cut to a quarter to less than two-thirds the cost of the FOB. But the advantage of FOB, important to some archers, is the total cost.

The FOB user can "vane" his 12 replacements, in total, to $20. The vane fletherer has to spend more initial money. For one the lesser cost of vanes, cost more in initial outlays. It might be money just for the minimum quantity of $20 to say $50 for the unused vanes. Then the price of glue at $5. And the cost of a fletcher that can run from $40 to $80. So to save money, the initial outlay is much greater. Making the appeal of FOB's, very appealing.

Of course, I would never consider FOB's. My flether of over fifteen years is paid for and technically costs me nothing. I bought vanes at 1995 prices, so I save every year. And the glue will cost me around $5. So I can re-vane an arrow, at less than .25 cents an arrow. Just because I'm an archer of long standing, spreading my costs over years.

And most of you thought archery had nothing to do with cost accounting.

Tried them
 

I got a dozen FOBs and shot them for most of a summer. I did not like the feel of them at anchor, but that is something a person could get used to. I did have to retime drop away rests on 2 of my bows so that the FOB did not make contact with the rest. Not a fan of having a drop away that barely comes to full height when you hit full draw, prefer more dwell myself. Lastly, I did a comparison test shooting broadheads at 20,30,40 between the FOBs and Quickspin ST hunters. The FOBs shot well, but not really any better than the Quickspins. This was using a few slightly crooked broadheads. I believe they work fine, but I didn't really see any great advantage.

I used them and they touch your face when you anchor like some other people said. They were pretty much shot the same as fletched arrows. What I didn't like about them is you can't use Lumenoks or any lighted arrow nock with the FOBS. They also make some noise when they're in the air - you can hear a swoosh that fletched arrows don't make when they're in the air. I might have still used them but I want to use lumenoks so I dont use them anymore. I still have them though.

As much money as most people spend on archery supplies, i don't think the cost of the FOB's are an issue.

I fletch my own arrows and do have some FOB's. They seem to shoot well for me but i really haven't put the time in shooting them to compare if they really are better than fletchings. They say they are better in windy conditions and longer shots, but i like using lighted nocks which fit in the shafts tight, so the FOB probably wouldn't fall off in a pass thru like they should.

I live in town, thus can't shoot in my backyard, so i don't get out as often as i would like to practice and compare.

I shoot a release and don't have any issues with them touching my face.

I remember watching a youtube video of a guy who made his own lighted nocks and modified them to work with FOBs. The nock came off with the FOB, and the light stayed in the arrow.

The biggest problem I see with them is the fact that you can't shoot groups, unless you want to be replacing them! I've heard alot of guys say they are noisy,I havn't tried them though, so thats just hear-say.
I myself will stick with the blazer vane, I have yet to find a vane that shoots a broadhead as well as they do!

I got some of the first to field test when they first came out, they work but now for me.

I can see a niche market for them, but I don't even like the look of plastic vanes. No way I'm using FOB's. However, this is just personal preference.

If you like them, use them. When all the costs are added up, they are probably cheaper. But don't forget to square up the nock end of your shaft before installing them.

Allen

Never considered these, doubt I ever will. I do all my own refletching to the offset that works for my setup & broadheads. I wonder if the FOB's would get the arrow spinning as soon as offset vanes do. My biggest concern would be arrow penetration. Obviously it appears the FOB's come off the end of the shaft on impact, also taking your nock off. Regardless that alone would have to slow some penetration. I'm not for slowing any amount of penetration, regardless how small.

good idea, i thing the manufactures need to hear what you guys are saying so they can tweak it a lil bit..certainly a good idea that needs a lil work...i might grab some and give em a whirl, it would have to make a tremendous difference to get me away from what i know works.
not to mention im guessin ya need a drop away rest....not fer me

i have tried them and use them now they are excellent they work well do what they say and are well priced try them and see what you think if you dont like them then there you go if you do then there you go as well untill you try it for yourself you wont know

The connecting fins of the FOBs have a 3 or 4 degree offset (can't remember which), and since they are rigid and won't flex/buckle/bend under force like plastic vanes will, I would think they would get the arrow spinning as fast or faster than plastic vanes.

EDIT: from their website:
"What makes FOBs spin?

The internal spin fins™ have a 4° offset. Being a semi-rigid airfoil the spin fins™ provide more torque to spin an arrow than conventional fletching."


Which do you think slows penetration more:
a) dragging vanes through the entire body of a deer as they increase the diameter of the shaft (and thus the amount of friction) that has to pass through the body, or
b) popping a FOB off the back end (easy to do with your hand with slight pressure), thus keeping the arrow shaft the same diameter (smaller than shaft+vanes) and less friction than the shaft+vanes will have?

Plus, you'll know where to start tracking, since your FOB will be laying where your deer was shot.

EDIT: from their website:
"What happens when a FOB equipped arrow passes through a target or animal?

The FOB is held in place by the press in ICS nock that is provided with your arrow. When the arrow passes through, the FOB and nock pop-off as a unit. This increases penetration, because the force required to pop the FOB off, is less than that of the fletch pulling through. A bonus is that when you are hunting the FOB will mark the spot the animal was hit. See demo video of the FOB pop off in action."