I tried to like them, I really have. But I'm tire of feathers. Maybe I'm hard on them or because I'm using feathers from my mentor that are 50+ year olds. But they barely last a few days of shooting and I'm tire of fletching them all the time. I have try the AAE Trad Vanes. At first I loved them, except they were hard to fletch. But TO ME, they dont hold up either, really delicates.

So I'm giving up on off the shelf shooting for now. I am going to start using arrows with solt vanes like plastifetch.

Anyway, what elevated rests are you all using? I'm leaning toward a Bear Weatherest. Should I know anything before/after installing it on my bows? These are traditional wood risers without holes. And no I'm not going to drill holes for a plungers, nothing wrong with that but I dont trust my skills!

The single one that I really like is this: home made toothbrush rest. Any other rest is pushing the arrow out more than just a side plate and I need to tune for them again.

You have a tuning/clearance issue that needs to be resolved.

Any elevated rest will work in my experience since the 60's which one you choose really doesn't matter.

That said I use this one most of the time just 'cause.

I use a Bear Weather Rest with the bottom cut down to lower the arm as low as it will go without touching the shelf am using 4 inch AAE vanes . I mount the rest to the riser with it cut to center . If needed can adjust the Rest out with thin Leather spacers .

Shooting a feathered arrow for a few days, that's three days and they are ruined leads me to believe it isn't the feathers. And you tried AAE vanes and they didn't hold up either bolsters my thoughts on it's not the feathers. But you believe it is the feathers so I would just try various plastics and use what doesn't get ruined in a few days.

You asked what elevate rests we are using. I use a feather rest placed on the shelf.

Been using the Para Rest (brush rest) since the 70’s. They are available from 3Rivers. I trim the bottom so it sets closer to shelf. These days the backing is leather not plastic like I remember and have. On my target bows I use one of the magnetic flipper rests. Ya, I got a box of fancy AAE rests but for me simple is better. Another old standby is the Bear Weather Rest. Available everywhere it seems. Guys swear by them but I found the rubber flipper a little stiff for my liking. Whatever you choose buy two. Also get a roll of the indoor/outdoor tape. I keep a spare rest and a piece of that tape in my quiver although I only had one brush rest fail in all these year’s.

You could use a george stout special. He uses the platic hangers from walmart and covers them in velcro, maybe he will chime in and post a pic.

You could try Flex Fletch low profile vanes from the manufacture, they hold up well.

For rests I use a brush rest $4. from Black widow on one bow and a NAP flipper on the

end of a cusion plunger, ( need a cushion plunger hole ), on my other bow. I change the

brush rest once a year and have no problems with trad vanes on either one.

Brush Rest Elevated rest from 3Rivers is good, not too thick so doesn't mess with your centershot much. Agree with M60 about trim the bottom a little. These are the same type of rests that were popular in the 70's with Wing and Bear. The Bear Weatherest is excellent but the thickness can be a pain sometimes. Either way it does sound like you might have to work on tuning maybe brace height, nock point height and spine. Even with an elevated rest you can have problems otherwise.

I use a flipper or bear weather rest on my bows. I dont care for feathers much either. Any good soft vane will work great. You should also pick up a few feet per second. Just work with it to find the right spot.

I use a brush on my red wing hunter. It's my turkey hunting bow,so far i like the rest I just started using it this March.

I’m with some of the others on feathers lasting. Hate to say but you might have other issues. I have arrows with feathers I’ve been shooting for years! But try vanes if you want

I've never worn out feathers from shooting, you have another issue and vanes may even make it worse.

Let us know your bow, draw weight and arrow particulars. If you are shooting very stiff arrows with to low nock point you will eat feathers. Moving to vines, which is fine but keeping your equipment way out of tune you will have the same problem.

Since you asked, like the Hoyt Pro Hunter. I cut the extra junk off the end, don't trust it. But, I think Jon and George are right. I don't get feather wear like you described even when shooting bows that aren't cut to center off the shelf.

I’m going to guess——- your arrows are too stiff

I agree; if your Wareing your feathers down you have a spine issue. Instead of the fletching clearing the riser its hitting it. Sounds like way too stiff.

Bob

Yup, what Bob just said.

If vanes were better than feathers birds would have plastic feathers

Yeah, a few days doesn't sound right. However when you get things straightened out, you will like vanes They are quieter.. I use a bear weather rest .

I agree with those who say you have a spine/ tuning issue. I’ve used a lot of different rests over the years and it’s hard to beat the Weather Rest. One thing I’ll say about the Flipper rest is if you string walk they won’t hold up. Other wise they are a good rest. On a side note, well tuned arrows will shoot great even with ratty feathers:)

What fdp said for the rest. I modify mine by removing all of the rest above the flipper, and putting moleskin on the window of the bow. I would tell you that you sound like there might be a spine issue. Try a heavier field point or three, and see if it mellows out. But you will get better fight from an elevated rest.

I firmly believe 50 plus year old feathers are not going to hold up very long, particularly shooting off the shelf. I have seen many feathers in the ten year old range that did not hold up. Yes, you may have a tuning issue, but I blame the feathers.

The old feather analogy doesn't explain the problem with the durability issue of the vanes that the OP mentioned.

That's a tuning thing.

What's your set up,, bow, arrow spine, etc,,,

Trad Vanes shoot right off the shelf like feathers.

I think Rick Barbee shoots vanes exclusively and off the shelf so maybe he'll chime in.

Good luck and happy shooting!

Good catch on the 50 year old feathers Rik. Yeah, that could be a problem. Maybe

I use a magnetic flipper for vanes, Asahi, like the Japanese beer.

Feathers left over from dad's archery shop . He closed the door in 1969 and these old feathers hold up just fine

You have could have some other problems. What kind of target do you have? Hard impact will mess up feathers pretty quick by forcing them backwards. So will pass throughs. High humidity also. Even so they should last pretty long.

I have feathered shafts that are years old and used often. You be surprised that after a certain amount of wear and damage that they kind of stay that way without getting worse.

I've gone back to 5 1/2". If they get mashed or wet they still work.

It always seems my favorite arrow is the one with mangled feathers!

Tedd

What George said

what chairman said....too stiff jmo.

I have à flipper rest like fdp posted although that style is used with a plunger button. May have the other style. I will send it to the OP if he wants one. No charge

I make my own now with retail clip strips and Velcro. I've also used that NAP Flipper II without a plunger, just put some padding on the rest where the arrow travels. If I were competing again, I would use a Flipper II and plunger, always worked great for me back in the day.

That one there was shot quite a bit and the arrow passage didn't even wear the paint that I sprayed on it. You can add a bump behind it too if necessary for you.

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here