Nike Vapor Lite 3 review

Don't miss out on the Vapour Lite 3 if you are after the following:

• an affordable entry-level tennis shoe with excellent value for money
• a lighter hard court shoe that feels fast and nimble
• a cheaper shoe that won't fall apart within the first few sessions

Skip the Vapour Lite 3 if you have wide feet or bunions. You will find a more accommodating fit with a wider toebox in the NikeCourt Lite 4. The Gamecourt 2.0 from Adidas is another great option to consider.

You can expand your options further with our guide on the best cheap tennis shoes.

We keep our expectations low when it comes to the cushioning of budget-friendly tennis shoes, especially if they belong to the lightweight kind. But the Vapour Lite 3 was a pleasant surprise in terms of shock absorption.

Showing 98 SA in the heel and 64 SA in the forefoot, the EVA-based Phylon foam of this Nike shoe provides the same level of impact protection as the average tennis shoe! It is a joint-friendly option that supports jumps, sprints, and abrupt stops rather well.

But there is no sinking sensation underfoot either! The shoe's midsole demonstrated a noticeable rebound, with above-average energy return scores of 56.6% in the heel and 59.6% in the forefoot.

This made the Nike Vapour Lite 3 feel true to its name, as it helped us launch pretty quickly off the ground with each shot and move. It is just as dynamic as its predecessor!

Our stack height measurements confirmed that the platform dimensions of this Nike shoe hardly deviate from the category average.

With a standard calliper reading of 29.7 mm in its heel, the shoe provides a good buffer from the court without making you feel disconnected from it.

The forefoot stack didn't bring any surprises either. Its moderate reading of 18.4 mm falls right into the medium range of tennis shoes.

If you were happy with the previous shoe's heel-to-toe drop, you will be equally pleased with the Vapour Lite 3.

Its 11.3 mm offset raises the heel slightly above the forefoot, making it easier to stay on the toes throughout the match while taking the pressure off the Achilles and keeping the heel sufficiently cushioned.

Nike describes the Vapour Lite 3's Phylon midsole as 'soft,' but our durometer measurements proved it to be more of a firm compound at 27.5 HA.

That makes it no plusher than the average tennis shoe in our lab, and by our standards, soft cushioning means 20 HA or less.

Trying the shoe on, we couldn't help but notice that the Nike Vapour Lite 3 offers a snugger, one-to-one kind of fit. But let's take a closer look at the gel mould of its interiors to see where it stands across the board...

Applying a digital calliper to the widest part of the shoe's forefoot, we found it to be on the verge of being narrow indeed! At 90.8 mm, it's not the most accommodating shoe for wide feet or bunions and there are no alternative widths to select from either.

Our gel mould also revealed how tilted the shoe's internal shape is, which in itself may not sit well with some foot shapes.

Add to that a slightly below-average toebox width of 68.1 mm, and you get a shoe that caters to a narrower target audience.

Luckily, the shoe's toebox height doesn't pose any concerns with a standard reading of 25.2 mm.

It offers some wiggle room for comfort, but not too much to cause foot shifting and sliding inside.

Nike's product description highlights the use of a new rubber compound in the Vapour Lite 3, but how is it different?

Measuring the material's friction coefficient in the exact same conditions as the previous version, we recorded a lower reading of 0.54. But don't worry, this doesn't mean poor traction. It just means that the new compound is not as tacky out of the box, allowing for smoother transitions and sliding. It's a good mix of grip and give.

Just by looking at it, we couldn't tell that Nike used a different rubber outsole for the third edition of the Vapour Lite. The tank-track-like tread pattern of both shoes looks identical.

The new Vapour Lite didn't get any more flexible than the previous version, requiring a force of 18.0N to bend by 30 degrees. And yet, it is still moderately pliable compared to other tennis shoes we've tested.

It's not too stiff to limit agility but has a sufficiently rigid response to create a snappy ride.

According to Nike, the Vapour Lite got even lighter in its third iteration. But having weighed both shoes on the same scale and in the same men's US size 9, we saw no difference!

And yet, the Vapour Lite 3 still weighs less than the category average at 12.0 oz (340g).

If you've been after an airy tennis shoe for hot summer matches, the Nike Vapour Lite 3 might be exactly what you need.

Its toebox material did not obstruct the smoke at all, allowing its billows to release very quickly and easily.

So don't be misled by the shoe's seemingly non-transparent upper because its engineered mesh maintains the airflow better than it seems.

Our microscope revealed a mix of large pores and tighter-woven layers in the shoe's upper material.

All things considered, the Vapour Lite 3 earns a well-deserved 5 out of 5 score for breathability.

Despite the absence of shanks or stabilising components, the Nike Vapour Lite 3 offers a surprisingly high level of lateral support and stability. Especially for such a budget-friendly shoe.

Our manual test revealed that this Nike shoe is unyielding to side-to-side twists, earning the highest torsional rigidity score of 5 out of 5.

This is perfect for beginner and recreational players who are not keen on rolling their ankles while they are still mastering their footwork on the court.

You can also expect a rather firm support in the rearfoot courtesy of the shoe's stiff heel counter. We experienced no wobbling or buckling as our heels and ankles remained secure inside the shoe.

Assessing its rigidity on a 1-5 scale, we gave the shoe's heel counter a solid score of 4.

Much like the previous Vapour Lite, this edition features a moderately broad base that doesn't exceed the average tennis shoe dimensions.

And yet, you can still find a reliable outrigger in the shoe's forefoot. We measured its widest area at 109.9 mm which is a standard result for a tennis shoe.

The heel, on the other hand, shows off the Vapour Lite's more speed-oriented nature with a below-average width of 85.1 mm. It is not critically slim but helps to shave some grammes off the shoe.

And if you prefer a wider landing area under the heel, consider Nike's Lite 4 silhouette at 94.1 mm.

Judging by the 'HART' inscription, the Vapour Lite 3 uses the same rubber for its toe drag guard as the brand's more advanced Vapour Pro 3. But is it equally tough and protective?

Yes, it is! Our Dremel faced some serious resistance from the material and left minor damage to the rubber. This earned the Vapour Lite the highest toe guard durability score of 5 out of 5!

We also tested how wear-resistant the shoe's exposed mesh areas are, but the result was a little less impressive at 3 out of 5.

Although Nike promises a 'tougher and more durable' mesh in the new Vapour Lite, we found that it's not a huge step up over the previous version's upper material.

But we are more than happy to report that the shoe's inner lining proved to be much tougher than expected! Seeing how mild the scuffing was in the shoe's collar, we gave it a solid 4 out of 5.

And most importantly, the Nike Vapour Lite 3 didn't falter when it came to outsole durability!

Sustaining a very moderate dent of 0.5 mm, the shoe's rubber proved to be on par with the more expensive tennis shoes!

An above-average outsole thickness of 4.6 mm further reinforced our confidence in the shoe's ability to last. It is a fantastic value for money as far as durability is concerned!

The shoe features a basic and moderately thick insole (3.9 mm) for underfoot padding.

The insole is easily removable, so you want to swap it for a custom orthotic in case you need enhanced support.

Nike surely didn't skimp on internal padding, so the Vapour Lite 3 embraces the instep and ankle with a generous amount of foam. We measured its tongue thickness at 9.1 mm.

If you are a fan of tongue gussets in a tennis shoe, you will be pleased with the extended gussets in the Vapour Lite 3! Running nearly the entire length of the tongue, they provide an even better foothold and further minimise the chance of tongue shifting and sliding.

The Vapour Lite 3 is an affordable entry-level shoe that offers a lot of value for money and is competitively priced compared to similar options.

There is no loop or pull tab at the back of the shoe.