I'm a die hard Northern Mist bow guy. I own and shoot three different models that Steve makes. I shoot douglas fir arrows most of the time because they are so quiet. On a whim, I grabbed a 2016 aluminum I've had laying around and gave it a go in my Classic. To my surprise, it was as quiet as any of my wood arrows that I shoot. Has me thinking. I like the looks of the new Easton Legacies.
A lot of years ago when I bought my Pete George LB I asked his advise on arrows. I figured he would say cedar but to my surprise he recommended aluminum. Now this man was trained by John Shultz so his comments took me back. But as he explained, aluminum shafts are more consistent overall than wood.
I used to shoot aluminum and got superb performance. I now shoot wood, but that is only because I like and prefer wood. Admittedly, part of that preference is nostalgia. Aluminum is a great arrow material.
I love wood, and love making up woodies, but hate breaking them. I have dozens, but usually shoot carbon. More durable and consistent, they're either straight or broken.
I mostly shoot aluminum, but love wood. I think it shouldn't be an either/or issue. Shoot both! Heck, shoot carbons too! If you really want to know your bow tune arrows of every material. It doesn't hurt to have a backup! I use aluminums for most of my target and 3D shooting, and some of my hunting. Then put tuned, tried and true woodies in my quiver for deer season.
I think everyone of us should have woodies, aluminums and carbons for all our bows.
I have used and built all 3 of the main materials carbon, aluminum, and wood. I like aluminum the most. True it isn't as durable as carbon but, nothing comes straighter or with a tighter spine tolerance than aluminum. They are also very easy and forgiving to work with. If I bend one I have a couple of straighteners and if I cannot work them back to factory straight try become fluflu's and stumpers. Also if you shoot 2216 or 2219 you can cut them really short if the tip breaks and make money selling them to the crossbow guys! Those suckers will pay like 4-5 bucks for a bolt so they'll happily buy them from you for 3 ;) . Hehehe!