VANES What’s the best or are they all really the same

990 Views 27 Replies 14 Participants Last post by crappie-tom, 2 d ago

OHXBguy

Discussion Starter · 9 d ago

What vanes is everyone using and why. I’ve only used Bohning Blazers and Bohning Bolts out of the Excalibur’s and could not really tell any difference between them.
I’ve never had any issues with the Blazers. What’s are custom arrow builders using and why? Has anyone done any vane testing and what were your results?
I know most of our custom arrow guys are giving us some great choices on vanes just curious what everyone likes.

1 - 20 of 28 Posts

longbow42

· #2 · 9 d ago

On high speed bows, I like the Aerovane II and TAC 2.25 Driver. For slower to med speed, I like the Vanetec HD 2.25" or TAC. I'm using the TAC vanes on my arrows this year out of Sub-1XR.
The TAC vanes require a little more effort to stick, but use a primer pen and Loctite Blue glue. I found this glue the best and arrow guru WWB also uses it for TAC vanes. We found it a little better than Team Losi glue.

Reactions: 2

Phil SUB 1 XR

· #3 · 9 d ago

OHXBguy said:
What vanes is everyone using and why. I’ve only used Bohning Blazers and Bohning Bolts out of the Excalibur’s and could not really tell any difference between them.
I’ve never had any issues with the Blazers. What’s are custom arrow builders using and why? Has anyone done any vane testing and what were your results?
I know most of our custom arrow guys are giving us some great choices on vanes just curious what everyone likes.

Ehsh

OHXBguy said:
What vanes is everyone using and why. I’ve only used Bohning Blazers and Bohning Bolts out of the Excalibur’s and could not really tell any difference between them.
I’ve never had any issues with the Blazers. What’s are custom arrow builders using and why? Has anyone done any vane testing and what were your results?
I know most of our custom arrow guys are giving us some great choices on vanes just curious what everyone likes.

I shoot Bohning X vanes on Zombie Slayers. They fly straight for me. I build my own arrows. I have confidence that if I miss it's not the arrows fault.🎯

Reactions: 1

WWB

· #4 · 9 d ago

my favorites are Aerovane II, Vanetec Swift HD 2.25, Tac 2.75, Tac 2.25, Q2I fusion XII 3”, Q2I Rapt X or Blazers depending on what bow and broadhead you’re using.

Reactions: 5

Huntersthompson

· #5 · 9 d ago

Heat or Tac. Found them to be accurate ,stiff and durable. Both low profile. Tac are more work to install.

No1Rackmaster

· #6 · 9 d ago

so......lets say if you could only pick one size and brand

WWB

· #7 · 9 d ago

No1Rackmaster said:
so......lets say if you could only pick one size and brand

you really can’t as some bows can’t except taller vanes my favorite vane is the AVII personally but as a universal vane the vanetec HD 2.25 is hard to beat as it will work on all bows.

Reactions: 3

Go-ahead-doubledown

· #8 · 9 d ago

AJ,
Have you tried Bully vanes?
Identical to Blazer but stiffer.

Reactions: 2

WWB

· #9 · 9 d ago

Go-ahead-doubledown said:
AJ,
Have you tried Bully vanes?
Identical to Blazer but stiffer.

That’s how the Q2I Rapt X are same vane as a blazer pretty much but stiffer with a better foot.

Reactions: 4

Acillaton

· #10 · 8 d ago

For me, it is Easton Bully vanes. It is made by Bohning, looks like Bohning Blazer vanes but is beefed up. Much stiffer than original Blazer vane.

Reactions: 2

No1Rackmaster

· #11 · 8 d ago

sounds like its time for me to try some AV2 .

Reactions: 3

JOE PA

· #12 · 8 d ago

Certainly not as experienced as AJ, but I’ve concluded that there is a lot of nitpicking when it comes to differences between vanes. Most will shoot fine. I’ve generally had bows (Middleton, Burky RDX) that don’t let me use tall vanes. Bohning heat, TAC 2.75, Vanetec 3.15 all have worked very well controlling fixed heads. None have shot better than Q2i fusions - 2.75 or 3”. Not hard to get an Excal to shoot great so your choice probably won’t matter much as long as the vanes are stiff.

Reactions: 2

JerryR

· #13 · 8 d ago (Edited)

OHXBguy said:
What vanes is everyone using and why. I’ve only used Bohning Blazers and Bohning Bolts out of the Excalibur’s and could not really tell any difference between them.
I’ve never had any issues with the Blazers. What’s are custom arrow builders using and why? Has anyone done any vane testing and what were your results?
I know most of our custom arrow guys are giving us some great choices on vanes just curious what everyone likes.

As you have seen a number of people have listed a few vanes

But everyone is a suggestion based mostly on what they have tested and formed opinions on. And that's fine.

My perspective is unique in that I developed opinions based on feedback from 1000s of customers Over more than 18 years building 100s of thousands of arrows

All of them!

Because the key to consistent flight is the shaft not the vane.

if the arrows are indexed, fairly straight, tight spine and close to the same weight any quality vane will work

With that said you do need to make sure a vane is not too tall for the bow. Example Blazers won't work on shallow rails. And you can't have too much offset/helical on some bows

I would say over my career I don't remember a single instance where the vane caused a problem with inconsistent flight. The majority of the time it was the bow not tuned, the archer or the broadhead

So my suggestion is choose a vane that you like and run with it.

See less See more

Reactions: 5

JerryR

· #14 · 8 d ago

JerryR said:
As you have seen a number of people have listed a few vanes

But everyone is a suggestion based mostly on what they have tested and formed opinions on. And that's fine.

My perspective is unique in that I developed opinions based on feedback from 1000s of customers Over more than 18 years building 100s of thousands of arrows

All of them!

Because the key to consistent flight is the shaft not the vane.

if the arrows are indexed, fairly straight, tight spine and close to the same weight any quality vane will work

With that said you do need to make sure a vane is not too tall for the bow. Example Blazers won't work on shallow rails. And you can't have too much offset/helical on some bows

I would say over my career I don't remember a single instance where the vane caused a problem with inconsistent flight. The majority of the time it was the bow not tuned, the archer or the broadhead

So my suggestion is choose a vane that you like and run with it.

I will add I point to this

I don't have a ton of feedback on the 505 and the R500 in relation to firenock AV2 vanes

But I would think there is a very good chance that their performance could improve on 500+ fps bows because their design is suppose to excel in a high speed application

If that turns out to be the case Dorge will need to add dies to make more vanes because I don't see speed bows going away

Reactions: 2

Huntersthompson

· #15 · 8 d ago

When looking at these AV vanes, the AV 3 look like they might be interesting. They recommend straight fletch. Is spin built into the vane or does it work with the natural spin of the arrow coming off the rail? My bare shafts come off with left spin ,so I fletch left.

WWB

· #16 · 8 d ago

Huntersthompson said:
When looking at these AV vanes, the AV 3 look like they might be interesting. They recommend straight fletch. Is spin built into the vane or does it work with the natural spin of the arrow coming off the rail? My bare shafts come off with left spin ,so I fletch left.

Aerovanes are supposed to be fletched straight. AVIII I have found shoots great with field Points and broadheads of very low profile like Thorn or sevr . I found they won’t control a fixed head hardly at all. Ive only tested them once with sub 1 XR

Reactions: 2

Huntersthompson

· #17 · 8 d ago

So there they are directional neutral?

OHXBguy

Discussion Starter · #18 · 8 d ago

Looks like AV2 are a little taller than the Blazers so they probably work well with the larger heads also.

Reactions: 1

WWB

· #19 · 8 d ago

Huntersthompson said:
So there they are directional neutral?

No they spin like a RH offset

Reactions: 1

WWB

· #20 · 8 d ago

OHXBguy said:
Looks like AV2 are a little taller than the Blazers so they probably work well with the larger heads also.

Believe they are .55 and blazers are .57 but they do work well with fixed heads the AVIII do not.

Reactions: 2

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