I've been using Trad Vanes since they were first available and have taken them on 2 hunts so far. I hunt in a lot of wet weather and was really excited about these initially but, overall, my results have been mixed and I'm sticking with feathers for now for most of what I do.
For reference, I've shot them out of a number of longbows and recurves, mostly my wooden Morrison ILF riser, Big Jim Thunderchild and Black Widow PLX. I've been hunting exclusively with trad bows in Alaska for almost 30 years.
I've been playing with the Valkyrie system so most testing has been using micro diameter shafting.
Fletching: I used both a Bitzenberger and AAE mini max in both 3 and 4 fletch configurations. I used 3" full length and also some 4" that I cut down on the back to 3" AH shape. I found that I needed more glue than I usually use with feathers and initially had a lot of issues with the trad vanes falling off or coming partially loose after lots of shooting. Using more copious glue (AAE glue) helped but I still don't find that they stick as well as feather especially when stuffed in a pack for multi days and when repeatedly dragged through the alders and brush.
Target shooting: I shoot exclusively off the shelf and found the trad vanes more sensitive to bow tune and to feather tune relative to the shelf vs feathers of the same size and configuration. Grouping was pretty good overall relative to feathers but much more sensitive to release errors or swapping to other bows to which they weren't tuned.
Broadheads: I shoot a mix of valkyrie Jagers and a variety of single bevel 2 blade heads. As above, the trad vanes seemed more inconsistent and more affected by any issues related to tune or release from shot to shot.
Hunting: I kept a few in my quiver during my deer and goat hunts in August but never shot one at an animal, instead opting for my feathered arrows, even in rainy weather when I shot my billy.
Durability: this is probably my biggest issue. I don't mind the wrinkling but they just don't seem to hold up. I'll try to enclose some photos but these things just haven't done well for me. they tear easily and compared to the identical shafts with feathers that have been in my rotation for the same time (I shoot every day all year) the trad vanes have fallen apart while the true-flights still look pretty good.
Overall, I'm disappointed. On average I spend 40-50 days per year on wilderness bow hunts in Alaska and had high hopes for these. It's wet up here and I like the concept a lot. I'll probably keep one in my quiver on my upcoming hunts this year just to see how they hold up and in case I find my feathers thoroughly soaked but I'm pretty sure I'll be sticking with feathers for the shots that count.
Topic: Anyone Tried the New TRAD VANES?? (Read 9093 times)
