I'm looking for some info on shooting Trad. bows with vanes and a rest. I've got the whole tuning thing down but was hoping to avoid the trial and error mistakes that come along with trying something new. I enjoy using feathers but think that the practicality of vanes would be very beneficial during the elk and moose season. Looking for info on which rests have worked best as well as size of vanes (3,4, or 5 inch) as well as 3 or 4 fletch. Which brands of vanes as well? Also....can the vanes be tuned as well as feathers?....Thanks...Ryan

Some vanes can get memory and start to curl from hitting the rest. Feathers are durable and reliable as vanes.Rest some use leather,fur and velcro loop.With trad gear I prefer feathers and leather.JMO

Try a search, Paul Schafer used vanes off a bear weather rest I believe.  Someone must know.  I use that same set up and the arrows shoot fine. Don't know the name of the vanes though.

I use to shoot a Bear bow with a magnesium riser that was not conducive to shooting off the shelf.
I found the best set up was a Flipper II elevated rest. Second best was the Bear weather rest. The flipper allowed for shooting either vanes or feathers without any real noticeable difference in flight between the two. Bear rest worked great with feathers but was just a little to stiff for quick clearance of the vanes.

I would not hesitate using a Flipper II today on a recurve if I needed an elevated rest. Have never tried one on a longbow, and doubt I ever would.

I've used vanes off a Hoyt Super Rest with good results.  I just wish they made 'em in black.

I shoot vanes off my Titan, I have a flipper II rest on it. The vanes fly very well and are super tuff and quiet.

I currently have three Bear Bows setup with the weather rest and my arrows are fletched with vanes, I like the looks of the feathers but I am a hunter and feathers make noise while they are in flight. I need all the edges I can get, I hunt in the west where the mulies are.If you have your arrows tuned to your bow they will fly like bullets(arrows)and ohh soo quiet !!!I use Vanetec and Duravanes both will give you good results.

Ryan,

Here is an old thread with some good information as long as you can filter out the BS of what is "traditional".  I'm spending 2 weeks in my tipi this fall on Prince of Wales...I'm not going to worry about keeping my feathers dry!

 Vane Info

Thanks guys.

Steve...that thread you attached is very beneficial. Looks like I might have to buy a blazer fletcher..Ryan

I shoot a silvertip with a bear weather rest and shoot 3--5" vanes or 4-4" vanes and get very good arrow flight. Hardly ever use feathers anymore. I'm going to alaska this fall and no worries at all with the vanes

The only difference I have noticed with wet feathers vs. dry ones is I get a face full of water at the release and the arrows drop like Barack Obamas poll numbers after 15 yards.  I have a hoyt flipper doodad thingy that came with my Samick that I don't use, but I think I may try some vanes with it next time I need to refletch my arrows.

I am either extremely hard on feathers, or they are just not very durable.  The three I practice with every day are beginning to look like flu flu's.

You might simply try shooting arrows with vanes off of a shelf rest with the cock feather in, and perhaps adjusting your nocking point up a bit.  I have no problem shooting them off of a Hill type longbow with a very narrow shelf, and it's easy off of a bow with any degree of center shot.  Depending upon the diameter of your shafts and the width of your broadheads, 3 four inch vanes may be plenty when fletched with some offset or helical. YMMV