2024 Radar Vapor Review

Since 2014 Radar has introduced a major revision to the Vapor every other year. The 2024 Vapor represents the most significant evolution since the seminal 2016 Vapor.

Is it Fast? Vapors are known as fast skis and the 2024 Vapor challenges the definition of what it means for a ski to be “fast”. If “fast” means the skier does not have to work very hard to get from side to side while making buckets of space then the 2024 is a very fast ski. During the review period, I skied more hard passes per ride and/or more rides per week than I would normally be able to because the ski requires less physical work.

Fast skis traditionally have the reputation of being at least somewhat unstable, unforgiving, and finicky. The 2024 Vapor is NONE of these things. This ski is exceptionally stable, forgiving, and easy to ride.

Especially noticeable for Off Side turns, the Vapor does not seem to tail slide or smear through apex. The front of the ski pulls the skier through the turn. Imagine driving through sharp corners in a front-wheel drive race car. The amount of inside front bevel in the water and the rate at which the ski is rolled dictates how fast and sharp the Vapor will turn. This ski naturally rides flat and tip down so having enough ski in the water is nearly automatic. If you just trust the ski, you will leave every ball with more than enough angle. 

On Side turns are very much the same as Off Side. If you approach the ball centered on the ski and roll it to the inside the tip will pull under the line and send you to the other side. My personal skiing has long been plagued with poor On Side turns and the Vapor’s stable and forgiving nature ignores more of these faults than expected.

On both sides, the finish of the turn is fast, sharp, and symmetrical. If it were possible for any ski to have On Side turn mechanics on both sides of the course, the Vapor would be that ski. 

This ski’s “turn from the front” behavior also shows up at gate turn-in. Rolling in from a glide the grip of the front of the ski is distinctive and offers an unexpected level of control.

I found the best results on the Vapor when I made an effort to minimize upper body movement and delay putting my free hand back on the handle after apex. If you just let the ski roll to the inside, turns will be fast and consistent. This ski does not need to be or like to be pushed unless you literally want to go 90 degrees at the ball.

From the second wake to the ball the 2024 Vapor flows out wide of the ball line dependably and without drama. The ski’s stability and consistency allows the skier to perform his/her technical takes without ever wondering what the ski is going to do. 

Because of the way the ski flows out at edge-change, the skier may find it easier than expected to control rope tension off the second wake and be able to keep a tighter line from edge change to apex. I do not understand how a ski this fast can feel like this but the Vapor does it. 

This ski breaks preconceptions. It has a combination of attributes previously thought impossible to be found in one ski. It is stable, predictable, fast, and with crazy sharp turns. This ski is an engineering achievement. 

Historically the Vapors have been designed for very short-line skiing but have also been a surprisingly good choice for a wider range of skiers. The 2024 appears to follow this tradition and may be the best yet in terms of wide appeal. 

If the 2024 Vapor does not become the best-selling Vapor of all time I will eat my hardshell boot liner.

Settings:

• Short/Deep (29 ¾ - 2.505 – 6.850 - .758 - 9)
• Long/Shallow ( 30 1/8 - 2.480 - 6.945 - .750 )

The above review is based on the Short/Deep settings. If I had to run the most perfect 35 off possible or run the most 35 off passes back to back I would take Short/Deep.

When it is time to shorten to 38 and beyond, Long/Shallow will likely yield higher scores.   

Get your own Vapor at PerfSki.com