Nike Air Vapor IV Shoe Review

Nike's fourth edition of the Vapor shoe line took key inspiration from Nike's top sponsored athletes.

Both World number 1 Roger Federer and ATP top ten player James Blake played integral roles in the development of the shoe.

While still promoting a speed-oriented feel, the Nike design team also concentrated on making the shoe very supportive and stable. Selective upper materials were utilized to improve support without compromising comfort or adding excessive weight to the shoe.

To improve stability, a lateral outrigger was utilized in the forefoot region of the outsole to increase the girth of the shoe's footprint. The inclusion of the outrigger was a direct result of conversations with Federer and his desire for improved forefoot stability. At the rear of the shoe, Nike's Fitframe wraps the heel of the foot and connects to the midfoot shank to improve the lateral rigidity from the midfoot back.

While the shoes were made to perform at the highest level of play, Nike also improved the comfort of the shoes. An innovative heat block material was placed in the midsole to prevent the transfer of heat reflected from the court in hot conditions. Cushioning was also improved by moving the Zoom Air closer to the foot - allowing for a cushioned, yet low profile ride.

Both Federer and Blake consulted with the Nike design team on the styling of the shoe. According to Nike shoe designer Tate Kuerbis, much of the upper design influence came from discussions with Federer. During one such conversation, Federer told Kuerbis about the thrill of landing a Black Tip shark while fishing in the Maldives. The idea of a streamlined shark appealed to Kuerbis and the idea was integrated into the design.

Federer and Blake also exhibit class on and off the court, so it was important to the Nike designers that the Air Zoom Vapor IV have an element of sophistication to it. Subtle pin striping at the toe combines with bolder pin striping at the heel to give the Air Zoom Vapor IV a very balanced and stylish look.

With all of this sophistication and style on our feet, we just had to take the Nike Air Zoom Vapor IVs for a playtest. Read on for our comprehensive review.

Comfort

The Air Zoom Vapor IVs offer a contour speed fit from lightweight synthetic upper materials. A full-length Zoom Air Unit and Phylon midsole provide comfort and cushioning with a low to the ground feel. Finding a glove-like fit in the shoes was Granville. "These shoes seemed molded for my feet. Like slipping into a glove, the fit was contoured to fit every curve of my feet. Sizing was spot-on, a first for the Vapor line with me." While finding the fit a little narrow for his wide feet, Jason was still impressed with the level of comfort. "Super comfortable! The cushioning throughout the shoe was great. I had no problem being on the court for hours at a time. I even wore these while working at the Pacific Life Open Tournament, where I was on my feet 9 hours a day, and they really stood up well. The shoes do run a bit narrow for me. After very long playing sessions I can feel some rubbing on my outer toes, but I can see how awesome this shoe can be for a player who has a regular or narrow foot."

Paul found an impressive blend of a performance fit and a comfortable ride. "The Air Zoom Vapor IVs felt great right out of the box. They offered a snug fit and good cushioning for such a low-to-the-ground shoe. These shoes were quite comfortable throughout the test period. They maintained the same level of cushioning and support, and offered a snug fit throughout." Ryan found all the comfort he needed for match play. "As far as comfort goes for a game day performance shoe, this was top notch. In terms of cushioning, these shoes felt great from the first wear."

Enjoying the low to the ground ride of the Air Zoom Vapor IVs was Spencer. "The cushioning was efficient. It wasn't like walking on marshmallows, but the Zoom Air gave nice shallow cushioning to keep me feeling I was in a speed/performance shoe. The Zoom Air throughout the shoes gave my feet enough cushioning without sacrificing court feel." Finding immediate comfort in the shoes was Chris. "The shoes felt very comfortable right out of the box. As they broke in, I found the fit to open up and the uppers softened nicely. The shoes molded to the shape of my feet well and remained comfortable throughout the test. They quickly became one of my favorite shoes to both play in and wear casually around TW. I liked the level of cushioning and never experienced any poking or pinching from the soft and supple uppers."

Arch Support

Our playtesters found the Air Zoom Vapor IVs' arch support to fit at a medium height and offer plenty of support for competitive play. Finding a perfect fit was Chris. "The arch support was a great fit for my medium height arches. I was able to play all out in these shoes without fear of straining my arches." Ryan was in agreement. "The arch support was just right for my medium arch and I felt really good in these shoes. My feet didn't hurt a bit from the arch."

Jason found the arch support to be slightly high for his foot type. "Just a tad bit high for my low arches, but not noticeably uncomfortable, unlike other shoes I've worn." Finding a much better fit was Paul. "The arch support felt great. It was the perfect height for my feet. Playing 'up on my toes' felt comfortable and natural. Very supportive!"

Both Spencer and Granville found it easy to forget about the arch support during play. Spencer offered, "The arch support felt medium height to me. I felt a sufficient amount of arch support. What can I say, it must be good because I didn't have any issues with my arches." Granville said, "I thought the arch support was just right. I only noticed it when I put on the shoes the first time and wanted to see if it lined up with my arches. it did."

Foot Support/Stability

Nike's Momentum Control System integrates the midfoot shank with a Fitframe design that wraps around the heel to increase lateral stability. In the forefoot, a flared "outrigger" piece increases the width of the footprint for enhanced traction and stability when the player is up on their toes. The outrigger was a result of direct feedback from Federer, earning the nickname "Fed-Wedge" at TW. All in all, our team found impressive support and stability from the shoes.

Finding all the support he could ask for was Chris. "I was surprised by the support and stability of these shoes considering how soft and comfortable the uppers were. I found some good stability from the midsole shank and liked the way it was integrated into a piece that wrapped around the heel of the shoes. The shoes also felt very stable when I was up on my toes, and I liked the addition of the "Fed-Wedge". With a pair of thick socks my feet filled the shoes nicely, leaving no room to slide around. I was able to cinch the uppers snuggly around my feet and find a very supportive fit. I need a high level of support and decent stability from my shoes if I'm going to be moving at my best, and these offered all the performance I needed." Ryan found the impressive support to diminish as the shoes opened up after break-in. "At first, these shoes felt really solid. There was this really nice soft part of the shoe around the toe box that felt really good and the flex of the shoe was just right, too. However, after playing a couple of times, that part of the shoe got really loose and my foot started to slide around a bit in that area. I found myself being a bit tentative on scrambles because of it."

Paul found the support and stability to be very impressive. "Foot support, fit and stability were the most impressive attributes of these shoes for me. From the lateral outrigger in the forefoot to prevent rollover, to the snug, glove-like fit and feel, these shoes really delivered. I found myself throwing around the same buzzwords that you find in the TW product description and the Nike design team's audio presentation. It's all true! No hype, just well crafted performance shoes that do just that; perform. A fourth generation success story." Also impressed by the supportive performance ride was Granville. "The Air Zoom Vapor IVs were low to the ground with subtle but effective cushioning in the forefoot and heel. Combined with the superb fit, these shoes really hit the mark of a 'performance' tennis shoe. The simple addition of the 'Fed-Wedge' provided significant 'roll-over' protection for the forefoot."

Finding a high level of lateral stability was Jason. "I don't believe I've worn a shoe that has had more side to side stability than the Air Zoom Vapor IVs. During aggressive baseline rallies, I did not have to worry about going all out, I knew the shoes were going to support me. My feet felt locked into place the whole time. The 'Fed-Wedge' did its job! Just that extra little bit of outsole made a major difference." Finding a solid base from the performance footbed of the Air Zoom Vapor IVs was Spencer. "The support and stability was where these shoes really shined. I experienced no sliding around in them and they offered a solid feeling base. I didn't feel uneasy tracking down balls. I could trust the shoes to hold their ground (literally) when planting and changing direction. Also, when chasing down a drop shot and having to stop short of the net, my toes didn't jam into the front of the shoes."

Overall Sole Durability

The Air Zoom Vapor IVs feature Nike's new XDR (Extra Durable Rubber) outsole compound. Nike claims the XDR is their most durable outsole compound yet, and most of our testers noted improved durability compared to previous versions of the Vapor line. Paul noticed improved, but not great durability. "The durability of the Air Zoom Vapor IVs was superior to the previous versions. Although an improvement, it was probably the weakest part of these shoes." Ryan would have also liked a more durable ride from the XDR outsoles. "This was not a durable shoe for me. After two good solid days of playing, approximately 5 to 6 hours, there was already noticeable, considerable wear in the ball of the foot area. For me, these were definitely game day shoes and not durable 'I can wear them for 3 months solid' type of shoes."

Taking note of improved durability in the Air Zoom Vapor IV was Granville. "After four matches there was minimal wear - just seemed to take the edge off the herringbone ridges. Wear seemed very even over the entire sole - Nike durability seems to have improved some, if this shoe is any indication." Chris was in agreement. "I thought the shoes were pretty durable for a speed type of shoe. While this fourth version of the Vapor line feels similar in weight to the second and third versions - unlike the super light weight of the original - one of the main improvements is durability. Although they may not be as durable as the Air Max Breathe 3s, these shoes held up pretty well."

Noticing some wear at the forefoot of his shoes was Spencer. "The soles started wearing in the forefoot, but nothing out of the ordinary. The durability is more than sufficient for me. Though the Air Zoom Vapor IVs do not come with an outsole guarantee, I would still buy them based on comfort and performance." Most impressed with the durability of the outsoles was Jason. "After all those hours of playing on the hard court, there was minimal wear and tear on the soles. I was pleasantly surprised since most other shoes, after that many hours, at least show some smoothing of tread."

Toe Durability

The toe areas of the Air Zoom Vapor IVs are reinforced both at the tip and on the medial side to protect the supple uppers during toe dragging. The bump protects the shoe when the tip makes contact with the court and the medial piece protects the shoe when the rear foot is dragged on a lateral movement. Ryan found the toes of his shoes to hold up well. "There was pretty good durability in this area. I am not the biggest toe dragger, and I only tend to do it when I'm getting ready to volley, not on my serve. This part of the shoe was very well designed and held up well." Granville also found the toes to be worry free when it came to durability. "No issues with toe dragging for me."

Our other toe dragger, Chris said, "I found the toe bumpers did a solid job of protecting the soft and supple uppers from court abrasion. I drag my toes on a variety of shots and can quickly burn through shoes. However, these held up well, with only scuff marks evident on the toe bumpers."

Traction

The Air Zoom Vapor IVs offer a herringbone-patterned outsole with two lateral flex grooves in the forefoot. We found just enough give from the shoes to allow the outsoles to flex and stay in contact with the court without compromising stability. The result was impressive hard court and clay court traction for our playtesters. Finding improved traction over the previous version of the Vapor was Paul. "I found a significant improvement in traction over the Vapor 3. The tread pattern of the Vapor IV wraps up around the medial outer edge of the forefoot. Pull up the '360 view' of the Vapor 3s and Vapor IVs on our website and compare the two and you can see the difference in this area. The Vapor IVs allowed for gripping play off the inner edges of the outsoles. This came in handy when I was pulled off the court (out wide) and needed to plant and rely on the shoe to allow for a non-slip recovery. This type of deep grooved wrapping tread pattern made these shoes effective on clay as well."

The level of traction offered by the Air Zoom Vapor IVs had Granville starry-eyed. "Again, all the stars seemed to have aligned with this shoe. Traction was excellent, enhanced by the great fit. Herringbone remains the number one choice for hard court performance, despite the variation of the outsole pattern, it provided excellent traction." Jason found the impressive traction a great compliment to the stability of the shoes. "Traction went hand in hand with the stability of the shoes. Traction was great! With my foot locked into place like a pilot in a jet plane, I felt I could stop on a dime. This shoe really grips the court well." Chris was in agreement. "I was very impressed with the level of traction I found in the Vapor IVs. I found plenty of grip both when making fast sprints to net and when changing directions across the baseline. Combined with the support and stability I also found, I felt like I was moving at my best whenever I was wearing these shoes."

Finding great traction in all but the dustiest of conditions was Ryan. "I had great traction with these shoes. On one day I couldn't figure out why I was sliding and slipping. I checked the court and it was very dusty. All other times the shoes gripped well. Overall, these were good shoes in the traction department." Spencer found the shoes hugged the court nicely. "I liked the traction of the shoes. It was easy to stop and start with the soles hugging the hard court. No slippage problems here."

Weight

At 16.7 ounces for a men's size 10.5, the Air Zoom Vapor IVs tip the scales in the middleweight category. However, our testers found them to feel lighter during play. Finding a maneuverable feel from the shoes was Paul. "Although these shoes were heavier than the Vapor 3s, it certainly wasn't noticeable. They were very well balanced and extremely maneuverable." Jason found lighter than listed performance. "On paper, yes, the shoes seem a bit heavy. But once I put them on they felt noticeably lighter than expected. The weight was spread out in such a way that the shoes seemed lighter than they were. With the Zoom Air technology, I felt very low to the ground, like a Formula 1 race car. I felt as though I could chase down every wide shot and every drop shot."

Ryan also enjoyed the lightweight feel of the shoes. "These shoes felt very light and my feet didn't mind them at all. Not heavy or bulky in any way, shape or form." Enjoying the feel of the shoes was Granville. "The shoes feel substantial when you hold them but I wouldn't call them heavy. They offer a lean, low to the ground look, yet were very robust shoes."

Spencer also found the shoe to feel lighter than their listed weight. "Although the shoe is 16.7 ounces, they didn't have that weighted down feel like some of the more durable or 'beefed-up' shoes we carry." Chris was impressed by the light feel of the shoes. "The shoes felt very light on my feet. I found I was able to play without thinking about them at all, which is always a good sign for me. I thought the whole fit and design of the shoe made for a very light feel. I never found any part of the shoe to feel out of place or clunky."

Overall

The Air Zoom Vapor IVs impress with both style and performance. While they may not be the lightest shoes in the speed silo, the combination of traction, support, stability and balance makes for a very fast feeling pair of shoes. Even our heavier testers found adequate cushioning for aggressive match play. Nike has kept the ride low to the ground - so there is still plenty of court feel and a very secure feeling ride. Improvements on the support and stability fronts, combined with the most durable Vapor outsole yet, make this the best Vapor yet. A must wear for Vapor fans and a must have if you are looking for a speed shoe that offers more support and stability than most, while combining style and comfort.

Nike Zoom Vapor IV Scores
The Up Side	The Down Side	Play Test Scores
Traction Comfort Cushioning Court Feel Support Stability	A tad narrow for wide feet.	Comfort 4.3 Arch Support 4.2 Foot Support/Stability 4.5 Overall Sole Durability 3.9 Toe Durability 4.0 Traction 4.5 Weight 4.1 Overall 4.5 Scores (1-Horrible 2-Poor 3-Average 4-Good 5-Tremendous)

Playtesters' Foot Types: Chris - narrow width/medium arch, Granville - narrow width/low arch, Jason - wide low arch, Paul - medium width/medium arch, Ryan - narrow width/medium arch, Spencer - medium width/medium arch.

Review date: April, 2007. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us.

All content copyright 2007 Tennis Warehouse.