Feathers or Plastic Vanes???

[Lawdog]

Ever since I started making my own arrows I have always used plastic vanes.  I would like any opinions on what you fellow archers use and why.  Is there any tricks to fletching feathers on arrows?  What I'm looking for is the pros and cons to using feathers.  Just wondering if I should change over to using feathers instead of vanes.  Lawdog

[Bowhunter57]

Lawdog,
Plastic vanes last longer than feathers, if you're shooting them out of a compound with faster speeds, a release, shoot through rests or anything else that will shorten the life span of feather fletching. Plastic is by far more durable.

Feathers are good for finger shooters whether using a recurve, longbow or compound. They're better at arrow flight recovery, than vanes.

Another thing is the weather. Feathers aren't the best choice, if you think you might be hunting in fowl weather conditions.

Good hunting, Bowhunter57

[Arrroman]

If you really want to use feathers and like the way your arrows fly with feathers use them, Carolina Archery makes something called No-Snow that you spray on you feathers and it keeps them dry in rain or snow. It isn't silicone it doesn't lube your equiptment it just keeps the wet out.

[dennykyser]

I switched to feathers and love it. arrow speed is faster, quicker recovery and makes tuning easier. Also I love the looks of my new arrows.....  :grin:

[longwinters]

Vanes are easier to fletch with than feathers.  They clean off easier too when you mess one up shooting etc...  Vanes weigh more so could affect your foc.  They last longer and wont get as messed up in your bow case.  Feathers  are noisier . Will not shoot when wet (yes you can put protection stuff on them but in bad enough weather they can still fail ).  But as previously stated, it is easier to tune with feathers as they are more forgiving.  I have shot tournies and hunted for over 20 years and personally would shoot vanes, mostly because they hold up better.  If you have to use feathers to get your arrows to shoot you have other problems with your setup.  Feathers are only a bandaid covering up a bigger problem.  It  really comes down to personal  preferences and how much you want to mess around with your arrows.