Nike Zoom Vapor 9 Tour VERY disapppointed in quality.

[Hollywood2]

Hello everyone sorry the typo with the word disappointed in the heading.

I purchased the Nike Zoom Vapor 9 Tour Limited Edition shoe (White & Red sole) for $130 plus tax and of course shipping.....boy am I disappointed now less than 2 months of ownership. You know that feeling like you have just had your wallet pick pocketed by a con job. This is how I feel unfortunately today.

I can't begin to explain the care I have taken to keep my Nike Zoom Vapor 9 in tip top condition and looking white after each and every match I clean them carefully, which is only twice a week playing mild indoors sessions. I use a Tide stick to remove any black marks and then a paper towel to wipe clean so they look almost new....I do this every time and I'm not a hard core player with heavy feet.

During play I carefully make sure not to drag hard my left shoe if I need to get a low volley etc. But shoe dragging is a good form in tennis so why make a TOUR shoe that can't stand up to even brief mild shoe dragging. Seriously?????

To my dismay, the mesh on the shoe now has some holes and in some spots melting (mesh material seems like it's a plastic/fabric hybrid), I knew this was going to be a problem. Nike should have extended the toe drag barrier further to the side of the shoe but instead decided to leave it with mesh. This design was NO accident Nike knew what they were doing because they realized that people would wear these shoes out in less than a month or two and just go buy a few more pairs at $130 per pair.

Nike's City Court VII WIDE Men's shoe sells for $55 almost 1/3 less and will last 3 times much longer than the Zoom Vapor 9 Zoom that cost $130+.

As a Nike customer, I feel that I am being tricked by a corporation that wants to sell me what seems to "look" like an expensive shoe but is really cheap constructed shoe materials. The tongue on the inside looks like someone with scissors cut the sides exposing the yellow foaming.....cheap!! The mesh lasts as long as a Kleenex.
Nike is no longer interested in making a value and quality product in a shoe which is a path or road that's leading to destroying a great company. People are stupid like myself and bought the hype of the best shoe ever....not even close. I'm going to boycott Nike Vapor shoes until this problem is fixed.

The mesh on the shoe is probably a little thicker than that of a two ply paper towel,,.(okay joking but pretty close). The mesh is so so cheap Nike should me embarrassed they even made these shoes and advertised them as the Roger Federer's tournament shoe....that's insulting.

The shoe does offer lightness/looks and comfort but I need it to last one season minimum especially for my occasional playing on hard court they did cost $130! This could have been avoided if their toe guard was properly designed but someone higher up the corporate ladder knew people would buy more shoes if we make them fall apart after a few months use.

Here below are a few new pics of my complaints which clearly show the beginning stages of mesh shredding and a little bit of the (drag on) toe wearing down. It is so easy to burn a whole through these shoes in just one practice session with that mesh if you're not careful.

The bottom line is for the money these shoes should be MUCH better quality. They should fire the person who said lets put MESH on a tennis shoe so that they wear out in a month and have customers buy more shoes. Even La Ning can make a better shoe that will last longer.....seriously c'mon Nike stop being so CHEAP!!!!

I don't recommend these shoes at all unless you are absolutely in love and have ordered 7 pairs to make it past one season. I now have to take my shoes to a shoe repair shop and see if they can stitch real white leather in those spots that are exposed mesh holes near the sole. The mesh is going to wear out very, very quickly no matter how careful you play. I'm a 4.5 player with good technique and hardly drag but do have to tilt my left foot for obvious low volley shots or slices etc. This shoe does not measure up to the hype in terms of quality.

These are pictures of my left shoe, I'm a right handed player.

[Bartelby]

Nike has been like this a long time and they're not going to change. Its a company overly devoted to marketing.

[ductrung3993]

My eyes hurt reading this...

[Bobby Jr]

Originally Posted by Hollywood2

During play I carefully make sure not to drag hard my left shoe if I need to get a low volley etc....

To my dismay the mesh on the shoe is quickly melting and getting holes near the spot deep near the side edge, I knew this was going to be a problem. Nike should have extended the toe drag barrier further to the side ...This design was NO accident Nike knew what they were doing because they realized that people would...

Oddly, I've never worn a hole in any shoes in that spot. Maybe it's not the deliberate design feature/flaw that you think, rather that you don't wear your shoes in the typical locations that the majority do. Nike can't cater for everything and still make the shoe so it needs (basically) no wearing in. As some point there has to be a downside. Your particular wear pattern has found it.

[Dave_D]

How worn are your soles? I have a few pairs of the Vapor 9's, and even on my most worn pair where the soles are almost completely smooth, the mesh hasn't been worn down at all. I also don't know of anyone that drags the top of their foot on the court.

[Hollywood2]

Originally Posted by ductrung3993

My eyes hurt reading this...

Sorry I typed it out using my iPhone and it didn't come out as I wanted and it was really late. In any event, you get the idea. I should have proof read it more carefully. Unfortunately the edit button is no longer active for me to correct some grammar made with the iPhone as the cursor jumps around.

Cheers.

[Hollywood2]

Originally Posted by Bobby Jr

Oddly, I've never worn a hole in any shoes in that spot. Maybe it's not the deliberate design feature/flaw that you think, rather that you don't wear your shoes in the typical locations that the majority do. Nike can't cater for everything and still make the shoe so it needs (basically) no wearing in. As some point there has to be a downside. Your particular wear pattern has found it.

If my wear pattern were any more minimal I may as well just frame the shoes. My soles are completely fine no problems there at all they look brand new. It's the side mesh without the proper toe guard in place that is shredding the mesh. Many, many players drag their left shoe side of their toe especially when sliding or reaching for a shot... how can you not? I see it hundreds of times with all players playing at my club this is the most common type of tennis movement. I can't always tipi toe over to a shot so I don't tear the mesh on the side of shoe....seriously. The design is terrible as I stated I feel robbed by Nike.

[ramos77]

dont mean to be rude, but if you did your research you would know the vapors are light, quick and comfortable shoes.

they are not designed to last like the barricade's for example.

you probably need the 4.3 CB's. they have rubber where you have worn your shoe down.

[Hollywood2]

Originally Posted by ramos77

dont mean to be rude, but if you did your research you would know the vapors are light, quick and comfortable shoes.

they are not designed to last like the barricade's for example.

you probably need the 4.3 CB's. they have rubber where you have worn your shoe down.

I did do my research I've owned Vapors for many years and not had a problem because there was never a mesh material like the Vapors 9 have now....this is a problem with the shoes not me. It means the shoes are getting inferior to previous seasons.

[anhuynh16]

Your shoes aren't going to stay perfect for ever. Do you like expect them to stay white for 6 months? As tennis players, our sport probably gives the most wear and tear on our shoes.

[mxmx]

this is a good warning for me - buying new shoes soon...not hearing good things about durability on these shoes...

[Power Player]

Lightweight or durable.

Pick one.

[bt johnson]

I disagree about the Vapor 9's. I own 5 pairs and I absolutely love them. All 5 pairs are still in great shape and I rotate them out. I am a teaching pro so I am on the court quite a bit. I personally like the mesh better than the SL version. I have the Madrid and FO in the SL and the Flame and most recent signal blue and silver in the mesh.... sorry I lied, I only own 4 pairs Anyway I think these shoes are great so maybe you got a bad pair. If you want them to look clean then don't buy all white shoes. I think the OP should have thought more about durability and color if he is complaining after 2 months. Are you sure you did not put them in the washing machine and tore up the mesh??

[JDMasFCK]

How the hell did you manage to melt your vapors? LOL

[BHiC]

Originally Posted by bt johnson

I disagree about the Vapor 9's. I own 5 pairs and I absolutely love them. All 5 pairs are still in great shape and I rotate them out. I am a teaching pro so I am on the court quite a bit. I personally like the mesh better than the SL version. I have the Madrid and FO in the SL and the Flame and most recent signal blue and silver in the mesh.... sorry I lied, I only own 4 pairs Anyway I think these shoes are great so maybe you got a bad pair. If you want them to look clean then don't buy all white shoes. I think the OP should have thought more about durability and color if he is complaining after 2 months. Are you sure you did not put them in the washing machine and tore up the mesh??

+1

I am a competitive junior, play about 6 days a week, and the Vapor 9s are my favorite shoes. I have 3 pairs that I rotate through, and they seem to be holding up nicely. There also seems to be reinforcement in the areas that I drag my toes. I honestly tried to drag my foot so the part you [OP] showed would scrape the ground, and I felt like I was going to break my ankle!

[gavna]

Originally Posted by anhuynh16

Your shoes aren't going to stay perfect for ever. Do you like expect them to stay white for 6 months? As tennis players, our sport probably gives the most wear and tear on our shoes.

Exactly......plus any lightweight shoe is going to be less durable.period. You have to weigh the options between lightweight performance vs durability. Look at the old Tretorns - amazing light and comfortable shoe but jeez you were lucky to get 4 or 5 sets out of them on hard courts. But wow they felt like slippers on your feet.

Plus washing your shoes is kinda.........bit much. Wee bit anal.

[Power Player]

Agree. I throw my shoes in the washer now and then when they get smelly during the summer season and thats about it.

[Gasolina]

I think what the OP is getting to is that for a $130 shoe, he expected a little more quality.

People may argue about durability vs. comfort, vapors vs. barricades, etc. etc. but he raises valid points. It's marketed as a Tour shoe and with that price point, quality should be better, regardless if the shoe is "lightweight" or not.

Are we really that brainwashed on buying $100 shoes that will only last a few weeks?

[jokinla]

I started playing in the mid 80's and the Nike shoes were just as crappy then as now, don't buy them unless they have that guarantee thing, although i don't have experience with Nike and guarantees so maybe that's not even a good idea, but just a normal shoe is gonna fall apart. And you certainly shouldn't be concerned with shoe conservation during a match of any real consequence.

[Borrelli]

Originally Posted by Gasolina

I think what the OP is getting to is that for a $130 shoe, he expected a little more quality.

People may argue about durability vs. comfort, vapors vs. barricades, etc. etc. but he raises valid points. It's marketed as a Tour shoe and with that price point, quality should be better, regardless if the shoe is "lightweight" or not.

Are we really that brainwashed on buying $100 shoes that will only last a few weeks?

Yes, people kill each other over a pair of Jordan's.

These shoes last a lot longer than a few weeks if you take care of them and don't drag your feet like a clod. If your prone to being hard on your shoes then buy something else. Pretty simple.