Bear Hair Wear

[gonzoso]

How long does it take you folks to wear out a bear hair rest on the shelf of your bows?

The fletching wore a strip out of mine in about 2 months of intense shooting, it took the hair off clear down to the woven stuff underneath which would actually make a funny burning smell when I shot.

The arrows shoot well enough and they're tuned to the bow and everything.

I replaced the bear hair with the soft velcro today and it works as well and looks better in my opinion.

[stujay]

I found the same. I use industrial velcro 2"x5'. I found it in the sewing dept at Walmart. Comes with a sticky back. Several months later and it still looks good.

[cbCrow]

I had the same problem with mine, I don't think the quality is the same with replacement as with the original. Use leather now.

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

You might want to check your nocking point.. A too low point can cause extra wear,, but two months of heavy shooting can cause a lot of wear too..
2X on the Velcro

[KentuckyTJ]

Your bow or arrow setup isn't tuned properly when you smell that smell your getting way too much contact and the reason your rest is wearing out way too soon. Buy watching a slow motion video of a release a properly tuned arrow will hardly or not at all touch the rest or side plate when shot. Contact like that also makes your accuracy suffer greatly.

[JimB]

I use Bear hair rests on 4 of 5 bows.I usually get a few years out of one.I'm not sure exactly when I installed these  but for sure,the most recent was at least a year ago and the others should be 2-3 years.

The one that I think may be a year,almost looks new.The others have a little trough pressed down in the fibers but nothing cut or rubbed off.

I find that they wear much better for me than Velcro,seal or other things I've tried.My arrows are around 700 grs.

Now I'm talking Bear Hair rest that come from Bear.3Rivers sells another hair rest with shorter pile,that come in tan or black.These wear quicker though I like them for side plates and have used them on the shelf.The true Bear Hair rest is almost 1/4" thick and brown.

I've been shooting them since the early 1960's and just haven't seen any difference between then and now.Kentucky TJ may be on to something.I know I can't explain it.

[gonzoso]

I'm using the 3 rivers bear hair rest.  It wore through the soft fibers, not the nylon mat underneath.

I'm running 30" ICS bowhunter 400's with 145 grain points, 3x4" feathers, footed and they shoot very well for me, maybe I just got the cheap one...?

[JimB]

I'm not sure.This bow has Bear Hair on the shelf and the shorter pile stuff on the sideplate.It's probably been on the bow for a year.I shoot several but I think it is safe to say this got at least 2-3 months of solid shooting.If you got a Bear Hair rest,it would have come in a bubble pack that said Bear Archery,not just the little generic plastic bags that 3R uses for parts.I believe,the Bear Hair also is only packed WITH their brown,vinyl sideplate.
 

If you are wearing your bear hair bare, it is a sign that your arrows are running pretty fair right down the bear hair. I would try a nice patch of trimmed beaver or lambs wool on that bow, before I would try changing arrows or anything else.

[Cherokee Scout]

Check the point of your feathers. If there is a sharp edge, it can cut the rest. Put a spot of glue on the front base to the feathers to smooth it out.

[gonzoso]

Originally posted by JimB:
I'm not sure.This bow has Bear Hair on the shelf and the shorter pile stuff on the sideplate.It's probably been on the bow for a year.I shoot several but I think it is safe to say this got at least 2-3 months of solid shooting.If you got a Bear Hair rest,it would have come in a bubble pack that said Bear Archery,not just the little generic plastic bags that 3R uses for parts.I believe,the Bear Hair also is only packed WITH their brown,vinyl sideplate.
 

I had the stuff on your side plate, that bear hair on the actual shelf looks luxurious in comparison!

I got the cheapie from three rivers, I didn't know there was a difference.  When I run out of velcro I'll try legit bear hair.

While my arrows are shooting pretty well, I think part of it was that my string wore in and my nock point went down a hair.  I tried a different string and it shot better, I think I need to move the nock point up a tad, thanks!

[JimB]

All right.Good Deal.I've used the other stuff and it has it's place but I think the Bear Hair rest will last longer.If you do try it,I hope you will let us know how it works.

[Bud B.]

I use lamb's wool on my shelf. Sideplate is thin glove leather.

I bought a piece of lamb's wool that was a girth cover, cut a piece to size and used my hair clippers to trim the wool to about 1/4" thick. It shows no wear after a couple thousand shots. One girth (bought at a flea market for $5) will last me a lifetime of bows.

[gonzoso]

Originally posted by Bud B.:
I use lamb's wool on my shelf. Sideplate is thin glove leather.

I bought a piece of lamb's wool that was a girth cover, cut a piece to size and used my hair clippers to trim the wool to about 1/4" thick. It shows no wear after a couple thousand shots. One girth (bought at a flea market for $5) will last me a lifetime of bows.

I think I have a piece of that from a fishing vest, it was meant to hold flys but I use a box so I don't lose them, if I can find it I might glue that sucker on there!

Thanks!  I like the velcro look and it works well so far, but I really like wool and I would think that would work even better.