Warne Vapor Bipod: Full Review

Developing a stable shooting platform is one of the key components to making accurate shots in the field, and unless you plan on fitting a benchrest in your backpack, a lightweight, rugged bipod is the best answer. This year, Warne released their aluminum Vapor bipod, which is lightweight, versatile, and surprisingly affordable.

Let’s begin with the price. MSRP is set at $99, which is well below most competing bipods. Generally speaking, bipods in this price category are not particularly sturdy, and tend to incorporate features like exposed springs which are noisy and prone to pinching. The Warne, by contrast, features a sleek, durable design with minimal external parts that can break or hang-up. There are buttons on each leg which, when pressed, allow for almost three-and-a-half inches of height adjustment in eight increments. The legs extend and retract smoothly without excess noise and it’s easy to press the button, extend the leg the proper height, and release the button to lock the leg in position.

The Vapor is available with either a Picatinny or M-LOK head, allowing the bipod to fit securely to most modern hunting rifles. The base of the head is rounded and fits into a corresponding circular cutout in the base. This allows for 50 degrees of smooth cant. A unique feature of the Vapor bipod is that the legs lock at 0, 90, and 180 degrees. Most bipods lock at 0 and 90 degrees, but the Vapor is designed so that the legs can be stored pointing front or back.

Despite its modest price, the Warne Vapor is extremely rugged. It is constructed of premium aluminum with steel hardware that keep the weight down without compromising on durability. There’s an oversized aluminum tension knob that allows you to quickly lock the cant for a rock-solid shooting platform. A rugged hardcoat-anodized finish on the aluminum protects the Vapor against wear. At just 17 ounces, the Warne Vapor doesn’t add a lot of bulk to your rifle.

One of the features I particularly like about the Vapor are the quick deploy legs. Rather than pressing a button, simply pull on the leg and rotate into the proper position where it locks in place. The design allows you to rotate the legs into position very quickly in the field. Once deployed, the legs snap into position with authority. The side-mounted leg extension buttons are easy to access and with eight different locking positions you can find the proper height. On uneven ground it’s easy to elevate or lower one leg to compensate for the angle of the shot.

Range Testing

I tested the Warne Vapor on two separate rifles setup for different applications. First, I tested it on my Seekins PH3 Havak hunting rifle in 7mm PRC and then switched the Vapor to my X-Bolt Target rifle.

The Seekins was up first. That rifle is set up for mountain hunting, so trimming weight is essential. Because the Seekins uses an M-LOK rail, I installed an M-LOK head on the Vapor (Warne sent both the Picatinny and M-Lok heads for testing). Swapping the Pic rail head for the M-LOK simply required loosening the oversized tension knob, removing the Pic rail head and swapping it for the M-LOK. I don’t know that Warne has plans to offer additional heads but it’s a possibility thanks to the Vapor’s clever design.

Since its primarily setup for backcountry and mountain hunting, the Seekins is the rifle that’s most likely to be slid into a saddle scabbard or in a soft case for airplane travel. In both instances, having a bipod with folded feet that point forward (0 degrees) causes issues. But since the Warne Vapor’s legs lock at the 180-degree position, they are easier to slide in a scabbard or soft gun case.

The Vapor proved to be plenty stable despite its relatively light weight. On rocky and uneven ground, I had no issues adjusting leg length and cant to properly center the rifle on the target. The rubber feet gripped on slick surfaces, offering just enough purchase to hold the rifle in position when firing. I shot groups from the prone position, and with eight different height adjustments I could elevate the rifle enough to shoot over grass.

The quick deploy legs are one of my favorite features of this bipod. If you need to make a quick shot you simply pull down and rotate the leg into place. It’s a simple enough procedure that you can begin deploying the legs as you drop for the shot, making it possible possible to take stable, accurate shots quickly.

I removed the vapor from the Seekins, loosened the tension knob, and swapped the M-LOK head for the Picatinny head. As with the M-LOK, the Pic rail setup is easy to operate and secure. The oversized knob is easy to access when you’re prone so you can quickly loosen the knob, adjust cant, retighten, and make the shot.

The Browning is set up for long-range shooting, rather than hunting, so I’m less concerned about weight. The rifle and optic alone are just under 12 pounds combined. Instead, I’m more concerned about ease of operation and durability. Loading a 12-pound rifle onto a bipod over and over is taxing on the hardware, and the abuse of being deployed, loaded, slammed against barriers, and so forth takes a toll on most bipods. But the Warne Vapor held up remarkably well, and despite a few minor dings and scratches from contact with rocks and rests the Vapor help up exceptionally well.

With 50 degrees of cant and eight quick-deploy leg positions, you can level the rifle in almost any position and on many surfaces which is a particularly important feature for long-range shooters. Just as importantly, you can make those adjustments quickly with minimal effort. Even if you’re a casual long-range shooter and aren’t facing a clock, having a bipod that is simple and intuitive like the Vapor is a real benefit.

Best Bang for the Buck      

I’m very impressed with the Warne Vapor’s overall performance. It’s combination of light weight and rugged construction make it a great option for most any shooter, and at $99 it’s simply the best value in bipods. It’s clear that Warne set out to build an affordable product without cutting corners, and the American-made vapor certainly fits the bill. This is a great addition to any rifle shooter’s kit.