Just wondering what everyones opinions are on feathers vs. vanes. After realizing I needed more arrows I went to my local archery shop to pick up some bemans I noticed 99% of them were prefleched with vanes. I’ve been bowhunting strickly with feathers since I was 12, so 23 years of feathers. Can anyone change my mind or stick with feathers?
Most everything comes packaged with vanes. The primary advantages of vanes are the fact that they are much more durable than feathers, and also typically a bit quieter in flight. Having said that, I’m a feathers shooter as well. The primary reason is stability in wind. I bought a dozen arrows with vanes a couple of years ago and was unhappy with their performance in moderate wind as compared to feathers. I’ve started fletching with 4″ feathers rather than 5″ and have found them to be much quieter in flight than the 5″ and just as accurate.
Another big part of it is your arrow rest. If the design of your rest is such that there is significant contact between the fletching and the rest, you’ll find feathers much more forgiving. This is another reason I stay with feathers. So many rigs today have shoot through or drop away rests, so vane contact on release isn’t an issue. Good luck.
NWBuck
Most everything comes packaged with vanes. The primary advantages of vanes are the fact that they are much more durable than feathers, and also typically a bit quieter in flight. Having said that, I’m a feathers shooter as well. The primary reason is stability in wind. I bought a dozen arrows with vanes a couple of years ago and was unhappy with their performance in moderate wind as compared to feathers. I’ve started fletching with 4″ feathers rather than 5″ and have found them to be much quieter in flight than the 5″ and just as accurate.
Another big part of it is your arrow rest. If the design of your rest is such that there is significant contact between the fletching and the rest, you’ll find feathers much more forgiving. This is another reason I stay with feathers. So many rigs today have shoot through or drop away rests, so vane contact on release isn’t an issue. Good luck.
NWBuck
I’ve switched from feathers to vanes a few years back because of the durability. All of my broadhead hunting arrows are vaned with NAP Quickspins. Kind of pricey, but I think they stabilize the arrow much better than normal vanes.
I went to a shoot drop away rest because of the vane contact. Once I did that w/the Quickspins I can keep them grouped REALLY tight.
I’ve switched from feathers to vanes a few years back because of the durability. All of my broadhead hunting arrows are vaned with NAP Quickspins. Kind of pricey, but I think they stabilize the arrow much better than normal vanes.
I went to a shoot drop away rest because of the vane contact. Once I did that w/the Quickspins I can keep them grouped REALLY tight.
VANES ( Try the new 2″ ) 
VANES ( Try the new 2″ )
I agree with the above, but I would also like to add, the reason the vanes are quietter is there is less drag and surface area. Less drag also means faster arrows. With today’s high speed obsession, that is why you see the vanes more than the feathers, along with what previous people have said.
With that being said, I used to shoot Feathers with Aluminums, but since switching to Carbons I have shot vanes. I also shoot the Nap Quick Spins and they have tightened up my down range groups, but again these Quick Spins create up to 3 x more rotation on the arrow, but also increases the drag on the arrow. Thus slowing the arrow down and making it louder. I think they say you lose about 6-8 feet per second.
Very good question Copper, but I think it is personal preference. In my opinion the plusses of vanes outweight the plusses to feathers and you might call it technology evoultion and I would go with vanes
I agree with the above, but I would also like to add, the reason the vanes are quietter is there is less drag and surface area. Less drag also means faster arrows. With today’s high speed obsession, that is why you see the vanes more than the feathers, along with what previous people have said.
With that being said, I used to shoot Feathers with Aluminums, but since switching to Carbons I have shot vanes. I also shoot the Nap Quick Spins and they have tightened up my down range groups, but again these Quick Spins create up to 3 x more rotation on the arrow, but also increases the drag on the arrow. Thus slowing the arrow down and making it louder. I think they say you lose about 6-8 feet per second.
Very good question Copper, but I think it is personal preference. In my opinion the plusses of vanes outweight the plusses to feathers and you might call it technology evoultion and I would go with vanes
Thanks for everyones imput. I choose to have some flethced up with, you guessed it feathers the ole two chartruese and one white, Thanks again! Randy
Thanks for everyones imput. I choose to have some flethced up with, you guessed it feathers the ole two chartruese and one white, Thanks again! Randy
yo copperhead…use those feathers to whack those kids runnin around your huntin property and use the vanes for the deer…. 
yo copperhead…use those feathers to whack those kids runnin around your huntin property and use the vanes for the deer….
Rat, Somedays believe me I want to. Although then the WHOLE football team will be after me!! 
Rat, Somedays believe me I want to. Although then the WHOLE football team will be after me!!
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