Feather or plastic: choose a shuttle for your session
Match the shuttle to your group, check its speed and compare what you actually use.
Start with your playing group
Before buying a tube, ask which shuttles your group uses and whether they are provided. If you are joining an existing session, trying its usual shuttle gives you a useful starting point. You can then compare another type without buying several tubes first.
Understand the two options
Plastic shuttles are a practical option when durability matters. Feather shuttles are more delicate and give a different flight and feel. These distinctions are described in the French badminton federation's equipment guide.
For casual sessions, consider plastic if your priority is keeping the same shuttle in use. If you want to practise with the feather shuttles used by your group, ask to try one during that session. Material alone does not tell you whether a particular model will suit you.
For a competition, check the event's current shuttle requirements before buying. The BWF equipment rules, section 2 describe natural and synthetic materials; that does not make every model acceptable at every event.
Check speed as well as material
Read the speed marking and the manufacturer's guidance. For example, Yonex lists three speeds for MAVIS 2000, with different temperature ranges. This is an example of a manufacturer's system, not a recommendation to buy that model or a code to apply to every brand.
Keep the model and speed reference when you find something suitable. If the flight seems wrong, ask an experienced player to check the shuttle's speed before deciding that your technique is the problem.
Compare over a session
Try one type at a time with the same group. Note whether you like the flight, how many shuttles you replace and why. Set aside a shuttle that is visibly damaged or flies irregularly.
Compare the amount paid with how much play you actually got, rather than judging only by the price of a tube. Check how many shuttles each tube contains. Your own session notes are more useful than a promised lifespan: there is no fixed number of sessions guaranteed here.