Arrow Gurus.......Vanes or Feathers?

[PotashRLS]

I have been bowhunting for going on 21 years, since I was old enough to hunt. I've killed a pile of deer, but need your opinions. I still shoot aluminums but am considering going to 5" vanes instead of feathers. I'm pretty versed on the pros and cons but still want some testimonials. The wet and snow just gets to be a pain with feathers.

Heres my set up.....Hoyt Dynatec at 82lbs, xx78 2317s at 30" and chrono at 255fps, and Grim Reaper Broadheads of course. I use wraps on all my arrows too.

Stay with feathers or go with vanes (5", not 4")???

Do you need special glue for use with the wraps and vanes for a better stick?

Thanks for the opinions.

[okiedog]

My 3D X-Cutters are fletched with Blazers, but on my hunting arrows I shooting nothing but feathers. I coat them with powder before the start of season and they last the whole time. I carry a little nylon bag in my pack that I treated with Scotchguard to slip over my feathers if I get caught in a downpour or something.

[Gator]

Like okiedog, I strictly use feathers on my hunting arrows, and always will, I just prefer the way the stabilise in comparison to the vanes

[8ptbuckpa]

if you want to switch to vanes for hunting I would go with one of the new smaller fletchings like blazers,quickspins,flexfletch flash.

[toddyboman]

No special glue required for gluing veins to wraps.

I have been shooting blazers for a couple years now and I really like them

They fly good....and seam to be very durable.

[PotashRLS]

Okiedog.........what powder are you coating the feathers with?

I am not a fan of the small vanes. I always thought they were for smaller, lighter arrows. Are they meant for largers aluminums? I've never seen them on them before.

[The Kid]

I've shot blazer before had no problem what so ever, they fly tru and are very durable, the main reason why i shoot feathers though is because they look really slick!!

[hutchies]

Okiedog.........what powder are you coating the feathers with?

I am not a fan of the small vanes. I always thought they were for smaller, lighter arrows. Are they meant for largers aluminums? I've never seen them on them before.

Waterproofing powder. Couple local guys use feathers and they spray camp dry on their feathers. Say it works well. Personally I shoot vanes..........shot blazers this last year but I'm going back to 4 inch vanes. More control.

http://www.bowhunterssuperstore.com/gateway-feather-waterproofing-p-2948.html

[Gator]

I use think its Feather Dry by Bohning, what hutch has in his link below

[hutchies]

http://www.abbeyarchery.com.au/p/BO1611/Bohning+Feather+Dri+Waterproof+Powder+9g.html

[okiedog]

Okiedog.........what powder are you coating the feathers with?

I'am using the powder that Hutch has in his link. Works great for me. I know when I'am done treating my feathers I can stick my finger in a glass of water and my finger comes out dry:D. Also makes the feathers alot easier to clean on those pass through shots:)

[Leo]

You will loose speed going from feathers to vanes. Even Blazers slow arrows more than feathers especially once you get more than 20 yards down range.

I'd say I agree with your suspicion that Blazers probably aren't the best for aluminum arrows. I don't know for sure. Never tried them on aluminum and I shot aluminum for years. On carbons though, the Blazers really shine. I like them a lot.

Feathers do have the best speed and they really stabilize arrows very nicely. But they are honestly a pain. They aren't nearly as durable as vanes and they really make a racket if you brush something with them in the quiver. Using vanes is just one less thing to worry about while hunting for me.

On aluminums I used Duravanes for years and liked them. If I was still shooting aluminums I'd probably try the NAP 3 1/8" quickspins. For Carbons, the Blazers really perform.

I like Bohning's instant gel for gluing on vane fletchings. But it will "frost" the arrows some if you use too much.

[JimPic]

Been hunting with(25+ yrs)and shooting with feathers all my life.They're very forgiving,stabilize well and look cool! I've had feathers that were missing half and still shot perfectly.As for them getting wet,if your arrow is spined and matched to your bow,it won't make a differance if it's wet or not.I use platinum fletch-tite on wraps and my own crown dips

[ShaneB]

i have been using 4 inch vanes and dont plan on changing i can hit the target so why fix something that isnt broken