AAE has some new vanes coming out soon that are soft enough to the shot off of the shelf on a trad bow. According to the testers they hit spot for spot with broadheads compared to feathers out to 40 yards.
They are completely waterproof and sound like just the thing for wet weather hunting.
What is your opinion on these?
Jeremy
I have been shooting vanes for awhile, and personally find them to be better than feathers to hunting. I have not used the nee AAE vanes but I have never found shelf clearance to be an issue assuming the arrow you shoot is not too stiff. These days I shoot off an elevated rest with Blazer vanes.
Looks like something I want to try. Now in hind sight I should have visited their trailer when it was here for the big target shoot last month.
They are being manufactured now and heard they should be ready for orders in the next couple of weeks.
Got some on the way.
Going to have them for sale soon I hope.
I'd like to be able to see and touch some before I form an opinion on em. I made it this long with feathers, dont reckon I have to have any.
Are they just regular vanes but really soft? Or do they have some kind of grain or fiber type deal to them to make them compress like feathers?
I can't see them putting much effort into designing anything new for traditional guys, so I'm assuming they are just soft squishy vanes.
I listened to the podcast with Aron Snyder and the guy from AAE. Sounds like they did put a lot of effort in coming up with a material that would shoot well off the shelf and tune just like feathers without an elevated rest. The are much lighter and less stiff than normal vanes. From what I heard on that podcast and also the recent Push podcast I definitely will be buying some to try them out.
I'll stick with feathers. If it is too wet to hunt with treated feathers it's too wet to bow hunt. IMO
If they work, I'd make up a set of "rain arrows". I live in PA. If you don't hunt in wet weather, then you wouldn't go very often.
Tedd
I'm trying them. :shaka:
Which ones they make a few of them. I just looked on Lancaster.
Quote from: The Whittler on May 19, 2019, 09:43:02 AM
Which ones they make a few of them. I just looked on Lancaster.
Not available quite yet.
Right now they are being called "Trad Vanes".
Will be in 3, 4 and 5".
Natural feathers have two distinct surface differences which contribute to natural spin. Can a plastic vane do that?
Quote from: BAK on May 19, 2019, 09:49:04 AM
Natural feathers have two distinct surface differences which contribute to natural spin. Can a plastic vane do that?
Good question. I know they guys testing them now put a helical on them.
I run 4 fletch straight. I am interested in testing them myself!
3" and 4"...
Steve, are you on the list to get some? I contacted AAE
Jason - trying to get samples from Aron. He's helping with a hookup tp AAE
Quote from: BAK on May 19, 2019, 09:49:04 AM
Natural feathers have two distinct surface differences which contribute to natural spin. Can a plastic vane do that?
I assume you're being daft. If you mount a vane with a right or left helical it will spin that way. Superior to a feather in that regard as you can use the same vane for either.
Looking forward to reports from the trenches
Interesting!
These sound interesting, however, after ready the Ashby reports on fletching, I switched to 3" four fletch and water is not an issue. I've soaked them in water and shot them in rain and they fly fine. Granted, I don't shoot much over 20 yards, but it works well. Check out Trad Lab on the Push podcast. There's some interesting information.
Quote from: Hanktownpete on May 20, 2019, 09:29:12 AM
These sound interesting, however, after ready the Ashby reports on fletching, I switched to 3" four fletch and water is not an issue. I've soaked them in water and shot them in rain and they fly fine. Granted, I don't shoot much over 20 yards, but it works well. Check out Trad Lab on the Push podcast. There's some interesting information.
Yes, Cody put lots of time into that! I agree with the small feathers and water. I like 4 fletch smaller feathers. However, it would be nice to have some vanes in the quiver!
Really looking forward to trying these Trad Vanes
I'm curious, definitely going to try some when they are available. Does anybody have pics yet? Do they look like normal vanes?
Yes they look like normal vanes. I have only seen solid colors so far. Prototypes came in 3'', 4'', and 5''.
Doubt I will get them before my spring bear trip but I will pick some up before fall.
Jeremy
They drop today at 4 PM Central Time!!!
Thanks Flint Kemper
I hope to have a sample pack program ready to go next week.
I'm thinking like an 18 pack with 2 colors - enough to do 6 shafts to try.
I'M IN
I already went to the DARK SIDE last year with an ILF and metal riser. I might as well go all in with vanes!
Honestly, I can not wait to try em!
:shaka:
Here you go with colors.
Shield cut version??
Tedd
Not at this time. They designed and tested one that works. And spent 1000's bringing it to market.
If it makes sense, I'm sure they will be willing to try different molds.
When will the 3" be available?
I'll have to jump on a hot pink and white combo pack. Great idea! These will certainly be an advantage for frogging
Went on the AAE site a few minutes after the release and put 3 packs of 3" in my cart and by the time I went to check out the site said they were backordered. What's up with that. What a bummer, I was looking forward to trying some. Hopefully the 3" will be back in stock soon.
They don't have the 3" available yet. They released the 4" and 5" and hopefully soon the 3" will be avialable.
How much per 50?
So am I reading this right lick and stick? No need for glue?
Quote from: Broken Arrows on May 24, 2019, 10:03:58 AM
So am I reading this right lick and stick? So need for glue?
I think you still need glue, but it has some sort of "activator" on the fletch. Would be nice to know if a specific glue will need to be used that won't react in a bad way with the activator.
Hopefully someone in the know will chime in.
What I saw was the 3" had a problem with the mold. Once they get the new mold ready they'll be out shortly. Didn't sound like it'd take too long really. I got a pack of 5" to try. Think it was $28.99 total shipped for a pack of 50. Love my feathers, but want to try these for sure.
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Quote from: Hermon on May 24, 2019, 10:15:29 AM
Quote from: Broken Arrows on May 24, 2019, 10:03:58 AM
So am I reading this right lick and stick? So need for glue?
I think you still need glue, but it has some sort of "activator" on the fletch. Would be nice to know if a specific glue will need to be used that won't react in a bad way with the activator.
Hopefully someone in the know will chime in.
Most any fast set gel adhesive should be ok. Going to work on getting more details as sonn as I finish playing "beat the mailman" for today
Thanks for the info.
I just heard about these today on another site. Love feathers but am really wanting to try these out. I don't like to hunt in the rain but I have been on some hunts when it rained for a week or more virtually non-stop. I will surely be trying them out.
What about Fletch tape? I guess I could try it.
I have never had any luck using Fletch tape with vanes.
No tape.
I'm just waiting on some reviews from you all before I take the leap. So don't hold out on us.
I just ordered some. We shall see :goldtooth:
They are on the way :clapper:
I'm with Pat B if it's that wet then blood trails get washed away and animals get lost.
I'll stick to feathers myself. Besides natural turkey feathers have natural oils that are already weather tested.
I don't know how it is elsewhere. Here in Florida your fletch gets soaking wet just from the humidity first thing in the morning, rain or dry. That's why I changed over myself a few years ago. My concern however is I personally get better accuracy from stiffer vanes, feathers are also very rigid, and a properly spined arrows vane will not contact the bow riser due to paradox. As such I believe the trad only vanes are really more of a marketing gimmick that a necessity for trad archers.
Absolutely no one is saying necessity - just an option for those interested.
Not sure how that makes them a "marketing gimmick".
It's a gimmick because regular vanes that have been of the market forever will produce the same result or better due to increased stiffness. The softer vanes are being marketed as being more forgiving if they hit the shelf. That doesn't happen regardless of fletching choice. If testing shows they are indeed more accurate I will of course eat my own words, but I have been shooting vanes for some time without incident or specialty trad vanes.
Quote from: bigbadjon on May 25, 2019, 04:13:58 PM
I don't know how it is elsewhere. Here in Florida your fletch gets soaking wet just from the humidity first thing in the morning, rain or dry.
I have hunted countless times in FL, north south east and west....never experienced that...not once....
Also, GA and coastal SC has as high a humidity as FL in a lot of the places I've hunted.
High heat humidity(steam) is used to 'bring back' flattened feathers.
Rain will mat them if not protected for sure....that's why mine are protected.
As far as accuracy...I can't shoot the difference.
I have experienced it more often than not. Otherwise I wouldn't have switched. If dew forms on your car your feathers will also be wet by the time you get to your stand. It is unavoidable.
John...we have dew here and all over the world......its not exclusive to FL. :campfire:
That's why I said I keep mine protected, but dew is last on the list.(wonder how the Indians and Howard Hill killed so much with feathers???....and how can HH and Bryon Ferguson be so accurate with feathers???) But my protection is primarily for hiding the bright color...i.e., protected from getting me busted. :biglaugh: :thumbsup:
How they wear would be a consideration as well. I've seen softer vanes get wavy and dont look good. I imagine that affects the performance as well.
Following.
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That's why I ordered some. To see how they work. [emoji846]
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I have used vanes for years with just a Bear rest,works with feathers also most any rest will work . Learned that before the compound bow came out.
Yeah but I'm a shelf guy. I could see myself using vanes if they fly as well as feathers off of the shelf. Easier to clean blood off and come out straight than feathers.
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Most folks seem to bare shaft tune their arrows so wet feathers shouldn't matter. They would correct faster than a bare shaft just because of the small amount of drag they impact on the released shaft.
I like keeping my archery as natural as possible anyway.
GCook... cold water....its pretty common.
Rinsing feathers is a lot less work than dragging, field dressing, butchering, and processing. :smileystooges:
Personally I'm always thrilled to death to clean blood off feathers!
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Yeah Terry I know how to clean them but they are never quite as uniform and that is all I'm saying. I shot feathers even with modern bows until about 2004. They just do a better job stabilizing big broadheads. In Texas we have a lot of opportunities to kill animals and over the years I've put a lot of arrows through deer, pigs and exotics with both feather fletched and Blazer fletched arrows. However I do bare shaft tune and bare shaft paper tune with my modern bows.
It's not that I'm incompetent or incapable, and I wouldn't abandon feathers because I think they are superior in flight control. However in a wet hunt, like it was in New Brunswick, I could have used vanes.
Well actually I couldn't because apparently bears don't care to be out with two feet of snow around and more falling.
But it would be nice to have a half dozen set up that way if they do fly to the same point of impact as has been reported.
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Just got some of the new vanes. From my preliminary shooting they shoot the same as feathers. I see these as another option for trad guys. Its like IG, if you don't like them or it doesn't interest you, move on. But they are a great option. I'll be shooting them this year and will be interested to see how they hold up.
No offense to anyone, however I bare shaft tune with quills on and it does not matter, rain or not my arrows fly where I want them to go.
MAP
Quote from: Michael Pfander on June 02, 2019, 11:36:37 PM
No offense to anyone, however I bare shaft tune with quills on and it does not matter, rain or not my arrows fly where I want them to go.
MAP
Agree. I also shoot small feathers once I am tuned in. I used the powder as a secondary insurance. I never had an issue.
Full disclosure, I have never been/hunted in Alaska or the Pacific Northwest. So I cant speak for those types of situations.
In saying this, I did receive my Trad Vanes. They DO fly just like a 4" parabolic feather. I am impressed. I will like to get my hands on some 3" when they available. I guess it would be nice to have the insurance in the rain...
I am a feather guy got no beef with those that want to shoot vanes my only question is. How do those AAE vanes hold up in the Heat like what most of us hunt in 95 + degrees or the other side below freezing?
Went to a 3D shoot this weekend with a few arrows fletched up with these trad vanes. I normally shoot 3, five inch shield but I went with four inch on these trad vanes. Shoot them randomly and they were identical in flight and accuracy. I haven't shoot broadheads yet, that's the real test. I like my feathers and will never stop shooting them but it wouldn't hurt to have a few of these in the quiver.
Durability is a key as well. Although quality feathers last they do wear out.
Long term will the vanes hold their shape, last?
Feathers also handle getting shot through with another arrow well. Vanes not so much.
Keep the feed back coming.
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I have seen some folks that shot vane off and elevated rest and also off the shelf but those vanes where not as thin material as the AAE vanes are that why I was asking about heat and below freezing.