Squash Source

56 responses to “Harrow Vapor”

1. Stephan

   February 19, 2022

   What are your thoughts on the Vapor Misfit?

   Reply
   1. Pierre

      February 21, 2022

      I love it! I’ve actually just started playing with it.

      Reply
      1. L

         July 7, 2022

         What’s the Vapour Misfit like compared to the Shabana Eye racket?

         Reply
2. Steven

   August 16, 2021

   Looks Daryl Selby has gone to Harrow rackets, playing with it at British Open

   Reply
3. Stephan

   August 2, 2021

   Is this a popular racquet at your club?

   Reply
   1. Pierre

      August 2, 2021

      Not lately

      Reply
4. Daniel

   March 14, 2020

   Hi Pierre!

   Big fan of Squash Source. Great work!

   I’d like your advise. I have a Harrow Vapor racket that I usually play with and like, but I am looking for something similar with a bigger head size (same head shape), more forgiveness and a bit more stiffness (for more access to power). I play singles squash on an intermediate/advances lever. I am not a big hitter, more of a attacking volley-guy that like to put good pace on the ball.

   How about the Harrow m-140? Is that maneuverable enough in tight back corner? How is the feel of the balance and weight between this and the Vapor? I know about the specs, more interested in your option on the perceived balance and weight.

   Or what about the Harrow Stellar? I know this too is a doubles racket. But it if works, it works 🙂

   I like the head size of the Vibe, bit the frame has too much flex. Feel free to give input on other brands than Harrow too.

   Looking forward to your reply.

   Thanks!

   Reply
   1. Tor

      March 14, 2020

      Check out Pierre’s take on the Xamsa Obsidian maybe? Similar to Vibe and a stiff frame. Have played with it myself and it’s a great racket.

      Reply
   2. Pierre

      March 15, 2020

      As I was reading your question the first racket that started coming to mind was also the M-140. It’s just a little bigger head size than the Vapor but it will feel familiar. The frame is the same sort of convex shape as the Vapor, so you get the same stiffness. Stiffer than the Vibe I’d say. Off the top of my head I think the M-140 will feel a little head-heavier but it’s hard to say for sure without testing them back to back. I think you should be fine in the back corners. Any time you move to a bigger frame it always feels a little tighter back there but the trade-off seems appropriate to me.

      Reply
      1. Daniel

         March 16, 2020

         Much appreciated response Pierre. Thanks!
         The other option might be the Stellar – and since you have them both (saw your doubles review video). What made you like the m-140 over the Stellar? From what I understand from your videos you like a touch of head heaviness to carve the shots. I personally like even balance/head lighter rackets a bit more, so my only concern is that the m-140 is a bit too head heavy for me compared to my Vapor. And therefore the Stellar is the better option. What do you think? Is the m-140 significantly head heavier than the Vapor? Thanks!

         Reply
         1. Rod

            March 17, 2020

            Are you married to the idea of sticking with Harrow rackets? Based on the shape, weight and size of racket you are looking for there would seem to be options beyond Harrow such as Ashaway (Venom X-Flash/Powerkill 110SL/Powerkill 120ZX), Black Knight (Ion-Element PSX/HEX Phenom) and Eye (X-Lite series).

            Reply
            1. Daniel

               March 19, 2020

               Thanks Rod! Not married to the idea of sticking to Harrow, so I’ll definitely check out your suggestions.
         2. Pierre

            March 18, 2020

            Good question but at the moment I only have the M-140 in my closet and not the Stellar or Vapor and I can’t remember them well enough to compare the balance from memory

            Reply
      2. Tor

         March 19, 2020

         I gave an answer here a few days back. Appears it didn’t go through the censorship?

         Reply
         1. Pierre

            March 19, 2020

            Oops you’re right it got caught in the filter. The original comment is now here. Thanks Tor

            Reply
            1. Tor

               March 20, 2020

               Phenomenal. Awaiting this beauty from Phil Head at blade.hk https://ibb.co/WWW0k0r
5. Casper

   August 30, 2019

   Looks like the new harrow vapor is out: https://www.harrowsports.com/collections/squash-racquets/products/new-harrow-vapor-squash-racquet

   Reply
   1. Andrew

      October 24, 2019

      Can anyone recommend a string upgrade and tension for the Vapor?
      Would like to see the various options

      Reply
6. Nick

   July 10, 2018

   Harrow Vapor White/Royal/Yellow 146g (factory new, minus cardboard including plastic wrap on handle).

   Reply
   1. Pierre

      July 18, 2018

      Thanks Nick, I’ll add these measured weights into the posts

      Reply
      1. Andrew

         November 8, 2019

         Hi Pierre,

         Ive just got hold of a black/red Vapor,my first ever.
         It weighs 139g all in,cant wait to play with it.
         Was wondering if you know or anyone what strings this model has?
         They are thin,18g,black about 26lbs tension,possibly Ashaway factory strung?Dont look like Harrows Barrage,T2 etc.
         There is no markings on the string.
         Cheers ,Andrew

         Reply
         1. Pierre

            November 8, 2019

            That red/black one is a beauty. I’m actually not sure what the factory strings are on that one. Normally would be either Ashaway or more recently Harrow-brand string (as you mentioned).

            Reply
7. Sherif

   May 25, 2017

   It seems Raneem’s custom harrow is launched

   Link: http://www.harrowsports.com/harrow-vapor-squash-racquet-custom-raneem-el-weleily-white#.WSdK34WxWEc

   Sttrung with Barrage Pro
   Weight: 135 g
   Balance: 380 mm

   Reply
8. BA

   March 28, 2017

   Hey Pierre. Awesome site!
   Wondering in all your testing what may be the closest in feel to the Vapor. Harrows seem a bit fragile…Looking for the alternative.

   Reply
   1. Rod

      March 29, 2017

      I would strongly recommend the BK Ion Psx Element (the black non Selby version). A tremendous blend of power, feel and durability. I’ve been rotating through 3 of these rackets for the last 2 years and haven’t suffered any breakage or cracks.

      Similar in terms of head shape and size but probably a fraction heavier.

      Reply
      1. BA

         March 29, 2017

         Thanks Rod, I will try and demo one of those.

         Reply
         1. rob

            April 5, 2017

            I’ve played with the BK Ion Storm XT which has identical specifications to the Ion PSX Element and I wouldn’t say it feels similar to the vapor.

            On my scales the new white vapor is 10 grams lighter and has more of its weight in the head. The vapor is very “smooth” on contact with the ball, and going back to the XT feels really stiff (but easier to generate pace with).

            Reply
9. Matt

   February 11, 2017

   Anyone know if Harrow quotes strung weight including the grip?

   Just picked up a new Vapor and put it on my scale in stock configuration….barrage pro strings, and their PU grip…came in at 152g. Perhaps they added a bit more material to strengthen the newer mold to deal with some of the past breakage issues..or I just got an outlier.

   Reply
10. josh

    January 4, 2016

    I’ve heard that Chris Simpsons Karakal Racquet is a painted vapour

    Reply
    1. Pierre Bastien

       January 4, 2016

       Interesting. I haven’t tried Chris’s Karakal Tec Pro Elite but from the picture I think there’s one less cross string versus the Vapor.

       Reply
11. Michel Goulche

    January 4, 2016

    Just purchase the black and red, very light 141g on my scale versus 150g for my tecnifibre 125S. Really love it

    Reply
    1. Andrew

       December 3, 2019

       My red black vapor weighs 139g all in!
       Will get it restrung in green technifibre string 1.1mm,probably get the weight down to 136g I reckon.

       Reply
12. Muzakkir

    November 18, 2015

    Can I know the material used for Misfit? (I hope it Graphene/graphite)
    Considering it to be my first racket but some of my peers recommend Graphene/graphene rackets as it is strong. Eg dunlop and Head

    Reply
    1. Pierre Bastien

       November 18, 2015

       Yes, it’s made of graphite. Almost all squash rackets are made from graphite, except for a few heavy beginner rackets made of aluminum. Graphene is a term that Head use in their branding, but those rackets are also made of graphite. The Harrow Vapor is a high-end racket and I love it, but since this is to be your first racket, I recommend you find something less expensive to start with, something around US$100.

       Reply
13. Dan Gianfagna

    October 23, 2015

    Hi Pierre, thanks for the great squash website. The original Vapor also came in a pink and lime green version that they called ‘The Prep’, which has a paint scheme that the Ultralite Retro may be in homage towards. It’s funny to think of 2006 as being ‘retro’, but hey, I guess in terms of rackets that’s a long time. Here are some links that I found in trying to learn more about ‘The Prep’ which I recently bought a gently used version of on eBay for less than what it costs to have my rackets restrung. They are right when they call the Vapor “extremely playable” in the last paragraph of the article about Harrow’s Mark Hayden.

    http://squashgear.stores.yahoo.net/havasqra.html
    http://www.amazon.com/Harrow-Prep-Green-Squash-Racket/dp/B000G8XB34
    http://www.greenwichmag.com/g/June-2006/Not-Your-Same-Old-Racquet-and-Stick/index.php?cparticle=1&siarticle=0#artanc

    I know that the cosmetics have changed over the years for the Vapor, but do you know if the frame (balance, weight, head-size, string pattern) itself has remained primarily the same otherwise? If so, I’d get another one, probably not for less than 40 dollars this time, but also probably not in pink either.

    Cheers,
    Dan

    Reply
    1. Pierre Bastien

       October 23, 2015

       Thanks Dan, that was an interesting article on the Harrow founder. I’ve only played with the red and black Vapor — I don’t know whether the models have changed much over the years. I understand that changing the paint job can have a subtle effect.

       Reply
14. michel goulche

    October 21, 2015

    Hello

    What is the head size ?
    And with harrow have the biggest head size ?

    Thanks !

    Reply
15. Tim

    October 14, 2015

    Is there any difference between the new Vapor MisFit and the Red Black one? Other than the colour that is. The Red/Black one did have a modification on the previous model.

    Reply
    1. Pierre Bastien

       October 15, 2015

       Not sure… what was the difference between the red/black one and the previous model?

       Reply
       1. D

          October 15, 2015

          Hey, there is no difference between the new Misfit, and the previous red/black one.

          I can also say that there was no difference between the red/ black one and the older model with the green at the top of the head (I asked Harrow by email a few years ago).

          I’ve been playing with the Misfit one with the skull for over a year now. It apparently started as a custom paint job for a squash club. When Harrow had extras, my local club bought some of them instead, and they quickly sold out and more shipments were ordered. I’m guessing more than one club bought these, and they were so popular Harrow decided to make them standard.

          I have both black/blue Misfit and black/red and play with them interchangeably.

          Reply
          1. Tim

             October 15, 2015

             I was told by the agent in the UK that the Red/Black Vapor had an improved balance and weight when compared to the lime/black model.

             Thanks for clarifying the situation with the Misfit. It seems there is a premium for this racket over the red black Vapor so i wanted to make sure.

             I have been using the Harrow Vapor since the dread model. All I noticed was the move from a gloss paint job to a mat finish with the racket remaining the same.

             If I have one complaint they are rather fragile. Otherwise absolutely love them. Only other racket that cam close was the Dunlop Elite that let me down when the introduced the lime green version (the one after the bronze version) that was a very different racket.

             Reply
       2. D

          October 15, 2015

          I can say though that Harrows no longer come with Ashaway strings, which is disappointing. The strings they have now are inferior in my opinion.

          Reply
16. Lucas Nicolau

    August 23, 2015

    I’ve just bought the harrow vapor Dread II.

    Let’s see how it works on court. I sold my Head Rackets and now I’m “heading” to Harrow Rackets. I got impressed by the Harrow Spark Kasey Brown, my first choice, and choose the vapor as a second racket because it’s very similar to the Spark.

    As soon as I test I’ll send you a review.

    Reply
17. michael berry

    May 8, 2015

    When are the new ones going to be available in stores

    Reply
    1. Pierre Bastien

       May 8, 2015

       They’re already available in the US (see Affiliate Links) but I have not seen them outside the US yet

       Reply
       1. David Wong

          May 21, 2015

          They already have it in Malaysia quite a time

          Reply
          1. Ibrahim

             May 22, 2015

             Link please.

             Reply
18. Ibrahim

    May 7, 2015

    Marwan Alshorbagy is one of harrow’s team now.

    Reply
    1. Pierre Bastien

       May 7, 2015

       Thanks Ibrahim, I didn’t know that!

       Reply
       1. George

          May 8, 2015

          Yeah he revealed it on twitter!

          Reply
19. Michel Goulche

    May 5, 2015

    I’am a bit confuse with the weight of the racket cause they are given fully equipped. Can you tell me what is the lightest ?

    Thx

    Reply
    1. Pierre Bastien

       May 5, 2015

       I think the strings add about 10 grams, so this would be a 130 gram racket.

       Reply
20. George

    May 5, 2015

    Alan Clyne uses the vapour aswell.

    I personally prefer the spark looks dope in blue though

    Reply
    1. Pierre Bastien

       May 5, 2015

       Nice one, I added a picture.

       Reply
21. M

    June 9, 2013

    Low Wee Wern of Malaysia also uses this racket strung with tecnifibre 305 strings. Thought you might wanna know.

    Reply
    1. Pierre Bastien

       June 10, 2013

       Thanks M, I’ve updated the post!

       Reply