Our verdict
- Our top pick in best tennis shoes
- Our top pick in best Nike tennis shoes
Pros
- Fantastic value for money
- Outstanding rubber durability for the price
- Lighter than average
- Nice breathability
- Sufficient stability for beginner players
- Good impact protection
- Well-padded interiors
Cons
- Not for wide feet
- Short laces
Audience verdict
Comparison
The most similar tennis shoes compared
+ + Add a shoe | |||||
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Audience score | 74 Decent! | 79 Good! | 80 Good! | 82 Good! | |
Price | $85 | $80 | $100 | $140 | |
Shoe type | Hard Court | All CourtHard Court | All CourtHard Court | Hard Court | |
Construction | Speed | Stability | Stability | Speed | |
Breathability | Breathable | Breathable | Moderate | Moderate | |
Weight lab | 11.9 oz / 336g | 11.3 oz / 319g | 12.5 oz / 354g | 12.3 oz / 349g | |
Lightweight | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | |
Drop lab | 11.5 mm | 10.2 mm | 9.6 mm | 12.2 mm | |
Toebox width at the widest part | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium | |
Toebox width at the big toe | Narrow | Narrow | Medium | Medium | |
Midsole softness | Balanced | Balanced | Firm | Balanced | |
Stiffness | Moderate | Moderate | Flexible | Flexible | |
Torsional rigidity | Moderate | Moderate | Stiff | Moderate | |
Heel counter stiffness | Flexible | Flexible | Moderate | Flexible | |
Midsole width - forefoot | Average | Narrow | Average | Average | |
Midsole width - heel | Narrow | Narrow | Average | Average | |
Outsole durability | Good | Decent | Good | Decent | |
Heel padding durability | Bad | Bad | Bad | Decent | |
Heel stack lab | 30.7 mm | 28.6 mm | 30.4 mm | 29.7 mm | |
Forefoot | 19.2 mm | 18.4 mm | 20.8 mm | 17.5 mm | |
Insole thickness | Average | Average | Average | Thick | |
Removable insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Heel tab | None | None | None | Finger loop | |
Toebox durability | Decent | Bad | Decent | Good | |
Outsole hardness | Hard | Average | Average | Very soft | |
Outsole thickness | Average | Average | Average | Very thick | |
Ranking | #25 Bottom 7% | #22 Bottom 18% | #20 Bottom 25% | #18 Bottom 33% | |
Popularity | #19 Bottom 29% | #9 Top 34% | #16 Bottom 40% | #27 Bottom 1% |
Who should buy
We highly recommend the Vapour Lite 2 if you are in search of the following:
- an entry-level tennis shoe with excellent value for money
- a sleek court shoe that feels light and nimble
- a budget-friendly tennis shoe with promising outsole durability
Who should NOT buy
Players with wide feet are very likely to feel constricted in the Nike Vapour Lite 2. And because it is not offered in wide widths, we recommend looking into the ASICS Gel Dedicate 8 which is an affordable option that comes in wide.
Another reason to consider a different tennis shoe is if you have overpronation or you prefer more stable footwear. The ASICS Gel Challenger 14 offers fantastic lateral stability at a moderate price.
Cushioning
Heel stack
Measuring the shoe's midsole thickness in the heel returned 30.7 mm.
This is a typical heel stack height for a tennis shoe offering enough impact protection for most players.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 30.7 mm |
Average | 29.3 mm |
Forefoot stack
We also found that the shoe's forefoot stack is on par with the average.
With a measurement of 19.2 mm, it created a solid buffer between the balls of our feet and the hard court without muting out the latter.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 19.2 mm |
Average | 19.6 mm |
Drop
As you can see from the photo below, the shoe's heel is notably thicker than the forefoot resulting in an 11.5-mm offset.
But even though the Vapour Lite 2's heel drop is slightly taller than average, our toes didn't feel pushed forward.
A visible heel bevel also helped to smoothen our heel-to-toe transitions and accommodated a rocking foot motion whenever we leaned back to serve.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 11.5 mm |
Average | 9.7 mm |
Midsole softness
Phylon is Nike's basic cushioning foam which is commonly used in the brand's budget-friendly shoes. It's not particularly soft or bouncy but it feels balanced in the Vapour Lite 2.
Pressing a Shore A durometer against the shoe's half-cut midsole returned 26.3 HA which confirmed that the foam is in between soft and firm.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 26.3 HA |
Average | 28.4 HA |
Insole thickness
A 4.9-mm insole also provides a touch of underfoot padding in the Vapour Lite 2. It is a standard insole thickness for a tennis shoe.
There is nothing noteworthy about its shape either - it is a simple and flat one.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 4.9 mm |
Average | 5.2 mm |
Size and fit
Size
NikeCourt Vapor Lite 2 is slightly small (30 votes).
Toebox width - widest part
On its product page, Nike warns that the Vapour Lite 2 fits small and recommends ordering a half-size larger.
We can subscribe to that only if you have wide feet or bunions, or if you prefer some extra toebox space.
Our calliper measured 99.2 mm in the widest part of the shoe's forefoot which is only a couple of millimetres narrower than average.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 99.2 mm |
Average | 101.0 mm |
Toebox width - big toe
Near the big toe, our calliper recorded 74.7 mm which is also a couple of millimetres narrower than average but not critically.
There is just a minor fit construction coming from the shoe's sturdy toe guard.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 74.7 mm |
Average | 76.9 mm |
Laces
We do have a gripe about the shoe's somewhat short laces. Making a double knot would be a challenge.
Stability
Lateral stability test
Testing the Vapour Lite 2's stability for side-to-side movements, we were pleased with its level of support.
Of course, it's not the kind of stability that an aggressive baseline player would expect in a shoe but it is just right for a beginner/intermediate athlete who swiftly moves around the court.
However, if you have notable overpronation (excessive inward rolling of the foot) or you simply want more stability from your tennis shoes, consider the ASICS Gel Challenger 14. For an extra £20 this shoe offers a considerably higher level of stability.
Torsional rigidity
Torsional rigidity can tell a lot about the shoe's overall stability. The harder it is to twist a shoe, the more stable it feels on the court because it doesn't allow the foot to twist so easily.
Considering the Vapour Lite 2's simple construction, we were surprised that it resisted our manual test enough to receive a higher rigidity score of 4.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 4 |
Average | 4.3 |
Heel counter stiffness
However, the shoe's heel counter turned out to be more pliable. It felt rather forgiving to the touch and didn't provide a tonne of stopping power when we performed forceful lateral movements.
That's why the Vapour Lite 2 got a lower heel counter stiffness score (3 out of 5) and consequently took a few stability points overall.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 3 |
Average | 3.9 |
Midsole width - forefoot
We have nothing to complain about when it comes to the shoe's midsole width.
Showing 111.0 mm in the widest area of the forefoot, the Vapour Lite 2 has a sufficient lateral flange for a good sense fo stability.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 111.0 mm |
Average | 111.9 mm |
Midsole width - heel
As for the heel, our calliper showed a few millimetres narrower than average at 84.9 mm. But it's not a critical deviation from the average.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 84.9 mm |
Average | 89.5 mm |
Flexibility
Stiffness
The Nike Vapour Lite 2 doesn't feature any shanks or stabilising components so its stiffness is rather moderate. It is actually on par with the average tennis shoe according to our in-house flexibility test.
Our force gauge showed that the shoe needed 33.8N of force to bend to a 90-degree angle - just about the same as the average tennis shoe requires.
Staying on our toes felt easy throughout the entire session.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 33.8N |
Average | 31.3N |
Weight
Torsional rigidity can tell a lot about the shoe's overall stability. The harder it is to twist a shoe, the more stable it feels on the court because it doesn't allow the foot to twist so easily.
Considering the Vapour Lite 2's simple construction, we were surprised that it resisted our manual test enough to receive a higher rigidity score of 4.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 11.85 oz (336g) |
Average | 12.84 oz (364g) |
Breathability
There are no bells and whistles in the Vapour Lite 2's engineered mesh but it just works.
The moment we pumped smoke into the shoe's upper, it escaped straight away! We don't often see this kind of ventilation in tennis shoes but we are certain that the Vapour Lite 2 can handle the heat of a summer game.
Hovering the shoe's half-cut upper over the light, we also discovered large ventilation holes on its side panels along with the visible pores of the mesh itself.
Combining these findings with our own experience on the court, we can readily give the Vapour Lite 2 a high breathability score of 4 out of 5.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 4 |
Average | 3.4 |
Durability
Toe guard durability
For a tennis shoe under £100, we were amazed at the sturdiness of the Vapour Lite 2's toe protection. It even looks strikingly similar to that of the more advanced (and expensive) Vapour Pro 2.
But is it just as durable? There is only one way to know.
Using a Dremel with a sandpaper tip, we drilled the rubber aggressively at 10K RPM speed for 22 seconds. And as you can see, the material showed amazing resistance!
Even though the tool left a visible dent in the toe drag guard, it was not destroyed completely. Considering that there is an extra (blue) layer of protection beneath the main rubber, we can confidently rate the Vapour Lite 2's toe guard durability with a high score of 4 out of 5.
Quite impressive for a shoe in this price range!
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 4 |
Average | 2.6 |
Toebox durability
On the flip side, you should be careful not to slash the shoe's mesh layer against the court because it is evidently more prone to wear and tear.
But even though the fabric quickly gave in to sandpaper, it was not destroyed all the way through! And that's why we rated the toebox durability of this Nike shoe with a more moderate score of 3.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 3 |
Average | 3.8 |
Heel padding durability
On the other hand, the shoe's inner lining gave in much easier and showed a glaring hole after only 4 seconds of Dremel drilling.
Because its durability doesn't look very promising, the heel padding of the Vapour Lite 2 gets only 2 out of 5.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 2 |
Average | 3.1 |
Outsole hardness
When we tested the Vapour Lite 2's outsole durability, we couldn't believe our eyes. That kind of rubber for only £90?!
First of all, that compound is tough. With a durometer reading of 90 HC, it is one of the hardest tennis shoe rubbers we've come across.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 90.0 HC |
Average | 86.1 HC |
Outsole durability
And guess what, that outsole showed tremendous abrasion resistance! Just like its advanced counterpart the Vapour Pro 2!
Even 22 seconds of aggressive drilling at 10K RPM speed left nothing but a minor scuff on its surface! According to our tread gauge, the dent is barely even measurable with a depth of 0.3 mm.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 0.3 mm |
Average | 0.8 mm |
Outsole thickness
Finally, the amount of rubber (4.0 mm) on the Vapour Lite 2 allows us to conclude that the shoe promises above-average outsole durability for its price point.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 4.0 mm |
Average | 4.2 mm |
Misc
Grip / Traction
Using a very hard rubber compound for the outsole, the Nike Vapour Lite 2 doesn't have the tackiest bite on the court.
But we think that most beginner and recreational players won't have issues with the gripping capacity of this Nike shoe. It's not extraordinary but it is sufficient.
Sliding, on the other hand, feels effortless in the Vapour Lite 2 and its durable toe guard accommodates that movement just fine.
Price
Considering its performance, we can't believe that the Nike Vapour Lite 2 is one of the cheapest tennis shoes we've tested!
If you are a beginner/recreational tennis player seeking some great value for money, the Vapour Lite 2 is one of the best options under £100!
Court Vapor Lite 2 | $85 |
Tongue padding
This Nike tennis shoe offers some pretty generous padding around the collar and inside the tongue.
The latter showed a slightly thicker-than-average reading of 9.3 mm.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | 9.3 mm |
Average | 7.7 mm |
Tongue: gusset type
The tongue of the Nike Vapour Lite 2 is only partially attached to the upper on the sides (semi-gusseted).
Being used to full-length gussets and bootie uppers in most professional tennis shoes, we felt only minor tongue shifting in Vapour Lite 2.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | Both sides (semi) |
Heel tab
No finger loops or pull tabs on the Vapour Lite 2 but it's fairly easy to put on thanks to the large shoe opening.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | None |
Removable insole
The shoe's insole is very lightly glued to the strobel making it easy to remove in case you prefer a custom orthotic.
Court Vapor Lite 2 | Yes |