From what I’ve heard, the first iteration of test vanes needed the primer. The latest iteration doesn’t.I haven’t fletched up a set with these vanes yet but I had a chance to visit my buddy who has and he said he just glued them on with no prep. I also shot several groups with his arrows and was able to compare Trad Vanes side by side with the Phnx. Flight wise I didn’t notice much difference off the shelf but the Phnx were definitely louder…not by much and still quieter than feathers.
I wasn't aware there was a gen 1 and gen 2 vane....From what I’ve heard, the first iteration of test vanes needed the primer. The latest iteration doesn’t.
Have they released these for sale to the public yet?
Interesting…thx for the report, good info.AAE uses 2 compounds for all their vanes. Elite plastifletch, and max. All the EP vanes ( EP, stealth, hybrid, trad, Phx) you can use whatever. I’ve even used gas station super glue in a pinch. If it says MAX in the name, you need primer and max bond. I talked to Beendare last year when he got his, and a friend gave me 9. I stopped by AAE when they were released and got a box. I’m feeling meh about them. They glue easy though compared to trad vanes. Quieter than feathers, twice as heavy as a trad vane, don’t tune( for me) as easily as a feather or trad vane. But….they glue easy. If I didn’t have a pile of trad vanes…… Well, I’d go back to feathers.
This is the same issue I’ve been battling, getting them to tune. I have them bouncing off shelf as well unless everything is perfect. I’ve tried messing with point weight and knocking point, doesn’t seem to matter. Feathers and even the original AAE trad vanes, no problems.I've had them for a little while now and this is what I have been noticing so far.
Glueing: Pretty much the same as anything else just has a wider base. Never had problems glueing up trad vanes so these are just as easy.
Noise: Definately a little louder than trad vanes but quieter than feathers. I can hear the arrow heading towards the target which I never could with trad vanes.
Durability: I think this is where they will shine. One of my biggest problems with trad vanes is constantly getting tears in them or poking holes in them when shooting tight groups. I will usually have to re fletch a couple times a week with trad vanes. The little cuts in the fletchings pretty much just let the arrow slide through.
Tunability: this is where they might loose. If everything I do isn't 100% perfect, I do notice the arrow bouncing off the shelf. I would say 2/3 arrows I notice the bounce. That's with a great tune out of a longbow. I wouldn't see any problem shooting off an elevated rest. Once the weather changes here, I will be shooting broadheads with them to see if I notice anything further. The one thing I do notice is once I see the bounce, they do stabilize quickly and I have shot some pretty tight groups with them. Shooting 3 and 4 fletch and haven't noticed much difference yet.
My plan for the year is to shoot them on my practice arrows, and shoot trad vanes with a reflective wrap for my hunting arrows to equal out the same weight. I think 3 fletch for the PHNX and 4 fletch with 3" trad vanes is about perfect.
Group in the picture was shot around 27 yards.
My plan was to give them a go for spring turkey off an elevated rest and see how that goes. I do have concerns about them coming off the shelf clean. I've played with Trad vanes quite a bit over the last year and I agree, durability sucks, they suck to fletch but they are quiet!I've had them for a little while now and this is what I have been noticing so far.
Glueing: Pretty much the same as anything else just has a wider base. Never had problems glueing up trad vanes so these are just as easy.
Noise: Definately a little louder than trad vanes but quieter than feathers. I can hear the arrow heading towards the target which I never could with trad vanes.
Durability: I think this is where they will shine. One of my biggest problems with trad vanes is constantly getting tears in them or poking holes in them when shooting tight groups. I will usually have to re fletch a couple times a week with trad vanes. The little cuts in the fletchings pretty much just let the arrow slide through.
Tunability: this is where they might loose. If everything I do isn't 100% perfect, I do notice the arrow bouncing off the shelf. I would say 2/3 arrows I notice the bounce. That's with a great tune out of a longbow. I wouldn't see any problem shooting off an elevated rest. Once the weather changes here, I will be shooting broadheads with them to see if I notice anything further. The one thing I do notice is once I see the bounce, they do stabilize quickly and I have shot some pretty tight groups with them. Shooting 3 and 4 fletch and haven't noticed much difference yet.
My plan for the year is to shoot them on my practice arrows, and shoot trad vanes with a reflective wrap for my hunting arrows to equal out the same weight. I think 3 fletch for the PHNX and 4 fletch with 3" trad vanes is about perfect.
Group in the picture was shot around 27 yards.
I got the actual AAE hybrid 26s to tune off a springy rest on my old CD WF21 so I wouldn't see these being a problem off of any rest like that.My plan was to give them a go for spring turkey off an elevated rest and see how that goes. I do have concerns about them coming off the shelf clean. I've played with Trad vanes quite a bit over the last year and I agree, durability sucks, they suck to fletch but they are quiet!
I threw an all weather rest on today, problem solved immediately. They are flying straight and smooth. Off the shelf just wasn’t working for me, they’d fly when I was perfect, but how often is everything perfect in the woods?My plan was to give them a go for spring turkey off an elevated rest and see how that goes. I do have concerns about them coming off the shelf clean. I've played with Trad vanes quite a bit over the last year and I agree, durability sucks, they suck to fletch but they are quiet!
Agreed, well said.I got the actual AAE hybrid 26s to tune off a springy rest on my old CD WF21 so I wouldn't see these being a problem off of any rest like that.
True. I’m shooting these off a Bear Weather Rest and couldn’t be happier:Agreed, well said.
An elevated rest is a whole different animal. You can shoot anything off of that, including vanes.