Nike Vapor 9.5 Flyknit Men's Shoe Review

Overall Comfort - Score: 4.7

As expected, our playtesters were very pleased with the level of comfort the Vapor 9.5 Flyknits offered, although we were a bit surprised that they required a sizing adjustment and bit of a break-in period. "First, I had to adjust my shoe size," Jason explained. "I regularly wear a 10, but with these shoes I was contemplating going with either a 9 or a 9.5, and ended up going with the 9.5 for the better width fit. Shockingly, these shoes needed a break-in period. The uppers felt stiff for the first 3-4 hours of wear, then they started to break in. Once they did break in the comfort I've come to know and love from the Zoom Vapor 9.5 Tours was there. However, the fit was great for my wide feet from the get-go. I had no arch pains thanks to the low arch support, and the width in the forefoot was roomy enough for me. I did notice much better ventilation with this Flyknit version."

Andy shared a similar opinion, but the slightly wider fit was not as ideal for him as it was for Jason. He offered, "In line with what we've come to expect from the Vapor line, these shoes were very comfortable overall. Fans of the Vapor will find a familiar feel here, although the fit is pretty different. First off, I was surprised to find that the Vapor Flyknits required a pretty substantial break-in period. The uppers were pretty stiff out of the box and took a few wears to soften up. I thought the uppers stretched a bit during the break in period, and because of that I never got the locked-in fit that I have with the Vapor 9.5 Tours. Sizing is very different, too. I normally wear a size 9 in the standard Vapors, but I tested an 8.5 in the Flyknits and still found them to be roomy. So, while the feel is fairly similar and still very comfortable, the fit is certainly different from the standard version."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 4.6

The Vapor 9.5 Flyknits provided exceptional support and stability for our aggressive playtesters. "This was where the shoes really performed like Vapors," Andy praised. "I felt like I was very low to the ground, which kept me connected to my movement and provided a good low base like a premium sports car. The lateral protection was there, too, when making aggressive cuts back toward the middle of the court. While my feet had a bit more room in the Flyknits compared to the standard Vapors, the performance was still very similar, which was a very, very good thing!"

While he didn't get the snug, supportive fit that he finds in the standard version, Jason still found enough stability to allow him to move with full confidence. He shared, "The Flyknit uppers provided all the stability I needed to move around on the court. I felt very confident moving from side to side and making my cuts. One thing with these Flyknits, however, was that I couldn't feel the adaptiveness of the Adaptive Fit technology as much as I did with the regular Vapor 9.5 shoes. My feet didn't feel as locked in, but they still had above average support."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 3.1

As expected, the Vapor 9.5 Flyknits showed average to below average durability over the course of the playtest. "Once again, the durability of the Vapor Flyknits reminded me of a Vapor, but that's not necessarily a good thing in this category," Andy explained. "I found the Vapor 9.5 Tours to be one of the least durable shoes I've tested, and these Flyknits are pretty much the same. The outsoles showed signs of balding after about 5-10 hours of tough play, and the uppers took a beating from my aggressive hard court slides. I've almost put a hole in the Flyknit material on the medial side of the uppers. Fans of the Vapor know what to expect here, so if you're looking for tennis shoes that are going to last a long time, you may want to look elsewhere."

While his pair did show signs of wear early on, Jason is confident he's still got some life left in his pair. He said, "While these aren't the most durable tennis shoes, they did hold up pretty well for me in this playtest. I put around 13 hours on them, and there are some signs of wear on the medial forefoot. However, there is plenty of tread left, and I'm confident that they'd hold up for another 13 hours."

Traction - Score: 4.8

Our team was very pleased with the level of traction the Vapor 9.5 Flyknits offered during play. This came as no surprise to Andy. He shared, "Once again, Nike has nailed the rubber compound. These shoes offered exceptional traction. The XDR rubber offered a near perfect blend of grip and give on hard courts, instilling confidence when I needed the shoes to lock up with the court while at the same time providing enough give for sliding or taking some pressure off the knees and back. Top marks in this category!"

Except for a few instances, Jason was very happy with the traction. He said, "I did slip a few times as I was trying to stop and change directions while moving laterally. Luckily, the traction was always there when I took off for a shot so I wasn't left 'spinning my wheels.' The rubber wasn't so sticky that I had to worry that the shoes would catch the court and I'd roll my foot over."

Weight - Score: 4.7

Staying true to their heritage, the Vapor 9.5 Flyknits are among the best tennis shoes on the market when it comes to lightweight, fast performance. "They felt lightweight, and I felt like I could move around effortlessly in them," Jason raved. "A fast feel comes down to more than just weight for me. The shoes also need to have a seamless heel to toe transition and a low-to-the-ground ride. These shoes have both of those necessary attributes."

Andy was able to move around at top speeds with confidence. He praised, "For a long time the Vapors have set the bar for premium lightweight performance, and the trend continues with the Vapor 9.5 Flyknits. They ride very low to the ground and continue to have a very lightweight feel to them, so they never got in the way of my on-court movement. I felt like I could move at my quickest, and the only time I felt just slightly weighed down by the design was during the initial break-in period."

Overall - Score: 4.5