Roger's Custom AO Vapor 8

[Fabfed]

I think everyone has seen some pretty good close-up pics of Roger's Vapor 8 by now, and know that it has many of the Vapor 6 features (fitframe, outsole, tongue etc). Here are some additional close-up pics, and some comparison pics with the retail Vapor 8 - it's really the Vapor 6 in disguise as the Vapor 8. Nice shoes nonetheless, now if only Rog didn't lose in succession to Nole in them...

 

[Fabfed]

 

[Fabfed]

 

[jmverdugo]

awesome...

EDIT: How come there is no insoles on Fed shoes? Is the same with other shoes you have? I guess if he gets customized shoes he can also get customized insoles...Thanks!

 

[shanx]

amazing as always, thanks for sharing fabfed!

 

[bezs]

Yet again Wow!!!

Never knew they had the inscriptions of the years which he won the Aussie Open as well.

 

[geese_com]

Thanks for sharing as always!

 

[Fabfed]

awesome...

EDIT: How come there is no insoles on Fed shoes? Is the same with other shoes you have? I guess if he gets customized shoes he can also get customized insoles...Thanks!

None of his shoes came with insoles.

 

[TMCW140]

Once again, spectacular, and thank you for sharing!

 

[FEDERERNADAL13]

You did it again! Nice job man!

 

[corners]

Fabfed, I noticed in some of you photos from last year that his customs appear to have a real graphite shank, rather than the faux graphite plastic shank on the consumer version. Same with this AO version.

Did anyone notice that the shoes he wore in Dubai didn't have shanks at all? Instead, the midsole did not have the midsole cut out under the arch. Without the cutout a shank isn't necessary, which is how athletic shoes were always made until someone noticed that removing the midsole from under the arch looks cool.

But once you take that material out, you either have to replace it with something really stiff (graphite, steel as in business shoes) or you have a shoe that will collapse or buckle under the midfoot. It's very strange that business shoes, which are used for standing and walking, are built with much more structural integrity than athletic shoes used for running, jumping and cutting. Traditionally, selling a shoe without a steel shank would be seen as a crime against the feet of the consumer. But now they sell shoes to young athletes with silly little plastic shanks that can in no way supprt the midfoot.

So Fed had his own graphite shanks installed and has now gone to the much more sensible traditional style, which don't require a shank. His new shoes basically have the same midsole as his grasscourt shoes but with a hardcourt outsole. I hope he didn't make this change because the the shanked style damaged his feet.

Is it even possible to find tennis shoes without that silly cutout under the arch?

 

[Djokolate]

GOAT Fabfed has done it again.
Amazing.

 

[staedtler]

Fabfed, I noticed in some of you photos from last year that his customs appear to have a real graphite shank, rather than the faux graphite plastic shank on the consumer version. Same with this AO version.

Did anyone notice that the shoes he wore in Dubai didn't have shanks at all? Instead, the midsole did not have the midsole cut out under the arch. Without the cutout a shank isn't necessary, which is how athletic shoes were always made until someone noticed that removing the midsole from under the arch looks cool.

But once you take that material out, you either have to replace it with something really stiff (graphite, steel as in business shoes) or you have a shoe that will collapse or buckle under the midfoot. It's very strange that business shoes, which are used for standing and walking, are built with much more structural integrity than athletic shoes used for running, jumping and cutting. Traditionally, selling a shoe without a steel shank would be seen as a crime against the feet of the consumer. But now they sell shoes to young athletes with silly little plastic shanks that can in no way supprt the midfoot.

So Fed had his own graphite shanks installed and has now gone to the much more sensible traditional style, which don't require a shank. His new shoes basically have the same midsole as his grasscourt shoes but with a hardcourt outsole. I hope he didn't make this change because the the shanked style damaged his feet.

Is it even possible to find tennis shoes without that silly cutout under the arch?

I think steel shanks arent used because they would add some weight to the shoe and probably arent worth the trouble for an athletic shoe. Also with business shoes, you arent exactly running or jumping in them. With athletic shoes metal isnt used as it could possibly bend and be misshaped, which is somewhat hard to believe, but possible. I remember reading about the Jordan XX2s, and how originally it was going to use a titanium shank. Oddly enough during wear testing, they would find the shank to actually be bent out of its original shape, so they instead used a titanium coated plastic shank. With high grade TPU, you can control the durometer and what not, and yes it might bend a little, but it will return to its shape and well its cheaper which in the end is what matters to the big companies. Also the retail Lunar Vapor 8s do use a legitimate carbon fiber shank even though the matte finish makes it seem otherwise, but the same carbon fiber appears on the Kobe VIs. Also Fed did have shanks on his shoes at Dubai.

But yeah I def agree with you corners, on the sense that I too would like to see shoes that are more flat at the bottom like the Courtballistec 2.3s. I tend to find the shoe more stable.

Thanks for the pics FabFed!

 

[safe]

Amazing as always! Thanks for pics Fabfed

 

[nicolaisidek]

Doesn't anybody buy Nadal's shoes? Thanks for the pic Fabfed!

 

[pepelepieux]

Thanks for sharing Fabfed.
Can you tell us if the cushion system inside the hell feels more like Zoom Air or Lunarlon please ?

 

[pepelepieux]

And also, are the yellow eye loops sewn to the shoe or are they loose like in the retail version aka "crappy dynamic fit system" ?

 

[sixone90]

Thanks Fabfed. Do you mind posting some photos comparing it to his Custom shoes from last year?

 

[Kenny022593]

You're doing it again FabFed, amazing us all. Thanks for the pictures! I can't remember from the other threads, but are you a friend of Roger? Or do you get these all at auction? I remember your bidded for the Nadal frame and the money went to Haiti, but I can't remember about the rest of the gear.

 

[corners]

I think steel shanks arent used because they would add some weight to the shoe and probably arent worth the trouble for an athletic shoe. Also with business shoes, you arent exactly running or jumping in them. With athletic shoes metal isnt used as it could possibly bend and be misshaped, which is somewhat hard to believe, but possible. I remember reading about the Jordan XX2s, and how originally it was going to use a titanium shank. Oddly enough during wear testing, they would find the shank to actually be bent out of its original shape, so they instead used a titanium coated plastic shank. With high grade TPU, you can control the durometer and what not, and yes it might bend a little, but it will return to its shape and well its cheaper which in the end is what matters to the big companies. Also the retail Lunar Vapor 8s do use a legitimate carbon fiber shank even though the matte finish makes it seem otherwise, but the same carbon fiber appears on the Kobe VIs. Also Fed did have shanks on his shoes at Dubai.

But yeah I def agree with you corners, on the sense that I too would like to see shoes that are more flat at the bottom like the Courtballistec 2.3s. I tend to find the shoe more stable.

Thanks for the pics FabFed!

Hmm, I could have sworn I saw an outsole going the full length of his shoes in Dubai.

But you can see in that pic that his carbon or graphite shank has a domed or arched shape, which would give it the stiffness to actually resist collapse. The TPU or carbon shanks used in retail shoes are usually only half-heartedly domed or arched, making them useless. If you stick your fist inside of a shoe sitting on the ground and push down at the midfoot you'll find that nearly all shoes will buckle at that point.

I haven't seen the Kobe VIs, but noticed that the Kobe V, and most other basketball shoes in Nike's line, don't have the cut out under the arch and so don't require a shank. (They might be sculpted under the medial arch, but that's OK for most people, as the medial arch doesn't touch the ground anyway. The lateral arch does bear weight, so if the shank isn't strong enough the lateral arch can collapse downward, straining the foot. And when the lateral arch collapses the entire foot is free to over-pronate epically. Podiatrists implicate this as the cause for many athletic cases of plantar fasciitis and sprain of the deep ligaments.)

I just ordered a pair of Vapor 8s, but don't have them yet. Is the carbon shank domed or arched, or simply a flat bridge?

 

[volleynets]

Fabfed, I noticed in some of you photos from last year that his customs appear to have a real graphite shank, rather than the faux graphite plastic shank on the consumer version. Same with this AO version.

Did anyone notice that the shoes he wore in Dubai didn't have shanks at all? Instead, the midsole did not have the midsole cut out under the arch. Without the cutout a shank isn't necessary, which is how athletic shoes were always made until someone noticed that removing the midsole from under the arch looks cool.

But once you take that material out, you either have to replace it with something really stiff (graphite, steel as in business shoes) or you have a shoe that will collapse or buckle under the midfoot. It's very strange that business shoes, which are used for standing and walking, are built with much more structural integrity than athletic shoes used for running, jumping and cutting. Traditionally, selling a shoe without a steel shank would be seen as a crime against the feet of the consumer. But now they sell shoes to young athletes with silly little plastic shanks that can in no way supprt the midfoot.

So Fed had his own graphite shanks installed and has now gone to the much more sensible traditional style, which don't require a shank. His new shoes basically have the same midsole as his grasscourt shoes but with a hardcourt outsole. I hope he didn't make this change because the the shanked style damaged his feet.

Is it even possible to find tennis shoes without that silly cutout under the arch?

Duh the shoes you're lookin for are the Court Ballistec 1.3 and 2.3s They are completely flat.

 

[staedtler]

Vapor 8s' carbon shank is just flat. But it does a good job in my opinion it terms of support and torsional stability. My issue with the shoe is prob lack of responsiveness in the forefoot. Would love to see Nike go back to zoom air in the forefoot for their tennis shoes.

 

[Yonie]

Wohooooo, definately two beauties
Really nice get!! Thanks for sharing.

 

[ALEJOVAL]

fab fed what are the size shoes of federer?

 

[T21D]

FABFED

:shock:​

 

[RFRF]

Awesome!!!! Thanks mate !!!!!

 

[The_Question]

FabFed, how do you get your hands on these items? Do you work or know someone from IMG? I've some connections in IMG, but nothing!!

 

[lidoazndiabloboi]

great pics fabfed!! it looks like nike incorporated another feature from the vapor 7/8 into fed's custom outsole. this time its the circle portion right beneath the big toe.

 

[kutafon]

FabFed, how do you get your hands on these items? Do you work or know someone from IMG? I've some connections in IMG, but nothing!!

roger is his buddy

do you expect him to reveal the answer?:roll:

 

[aenri86]

Could you do a side by side comparison between Fed's V8 vs Fed's V6... ??

 

[mozart RF]

Could you do a side by side comparison between Fed's V8 vs Fed's V6... ??

The images are not saved FabFed, yet it is an automatic function with such collectibles photos.

V6 USO

WTF

 

[Rhino]

Great photos as always fabfed.

 

[anhuynh16]

Hey fabfed! the USO 2011 vapors and the cincy 2011 vapors are on rogers site

 

[jeremy45]

Yet again Wow!!!

Never knew they had the inscriptions of the years which he won the Aussie Open as well.

it's been years he got these inscriptions on his GRand slam shoes.
And for every Grand Slam tournaments he plays

 

[Gilmour]

Thanks for sharing!

 

[jsbf98]

does any body know why he uses the cloth material as his toe gaurd?

 

[XFactorer]

Probably for the reduced weight