I thoroughly compared and skied the Vectors vs the La Sportiva Hi5s. In some ways they are focused on the same idea more than any other skis out there, but in other ways they are all kinds of different. For instance, the vector will hook a bit in crusty snow in the tip because it doesn't have as much tip rocker as the Hi5 (nothing does really), but in the same snow the rockered pintail will not hook whereas the Hi5 flat and flared tail will. They also have different amounts of float due to their different widths which is easy enough to compare numerically.
Basically what I'm saying is that I researched the hell out of all available 2012 skis, and for the snow conditions (not super deep, I have other sticks for that) and the kind of skiing I like (steep, aggressive, and very light uphill) these were at the absolute top of the list. I even skied some bulletproof refreeze and they gripped fine. If you want an alternative, check out the Hi5. In the end I bought the Hi5 because all Vectors were sold out or still full retail late in the season, and I found a screamin deal on a pair of Hi5s, but I would not have hesitated buying the Vectors if I had a deal on those instead.
Hope that helps.
