Shoes comparable to Federer Nike Zoom Vapor Tour 9.5

[Joeysallamander]

Hello-
I am a female that loved Federer Nike Zoom Vapor Tour 9.5. I have finally wore out my last pair. Best shoe I have ever owned. WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THEM- Low profile and never twisted my ankle, I felt locked in, extremely durable since I play on messy outdoor courts, never slipped or fell, side ankle cut out area never rubbed on my ankle bone. WHAT I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT THEM- No ventilation and lacked a bit of cushion. I AM LOOKING FOR- A shoe that is similar and has the same feel and also I have flat feet and hip issues so a good shoe is important and a little bounce or cushion. Right now I am using Adidas Avicourt 2 I bought on sale and they are good but a bit of a looser fit but have ventilation. I am looking for that 9.5 feel? Suggestions for any brand that could fit this? Thank you very kindly. (Info: I play hardcourt, outdoor (bad courts) and indoor, my shoes are only worn for tennis, I sweat bullets, I grind soles down on all my shoes)

 

[Dae18]

Idk if you saw that Nike rereleased the Zoom Vapor 9.5 Tour last year. Did you perhaps get your hands on a pair or two?

As for shoes similar, I would suggest going with Wilson Rush Pro 4, Kswiss Ultrashot 3, or Mizuno Wave Excforce Tour

 

[innoVAShaun]

You can probably go right to the Vapor 9.5s in men's sizes. The Vapor AJ3s are even listed as unisex.

My wife stopped wearing Nikes a few years ago after trying out our kids' Babolats. She is now on her second pair of Babolat Jet Mach IIIs. She has flat, wider feet. She has only complained about the cushioning wearing down in her Mach III shoes.

 

[NattyGut]

You can probably go right to the Vapor 9.5s in men's sizes. The Vapor AJ3s are even listed as unisex.

My wife stopped wearing Nikes a few years ago after trying out our kids' Babolats. She is now on her second pair of Babolat Jet Mach IIIs. She has flat, wider feet. She has only complained about the cushioning wearing down in her Mach III shoes.

Those removable footbeds compress quickly; could try some inserts once they do ... otherwise, when I see creases in the foam outsoles, I think it might be time to retire the shoe.

 

[innoVAShaun]

Those removable footbeds compress quickly; could try some inserts once they do ... otherwise, when I see creases in the foam outsoles, I think it might be time to retire the shoe.

Exactly what we did. Bought the same exact shoe.

 

[Joeysallamander]

I tried the Rafa Nike edition last year and they rubbed into my ankles so badly even when I added my insole. I dunno if it is the cut of those shoes or what but the Federer editions is cut more around the ankle. I will try on Babolat Mach 3 and some of the other suggestions.

 

[d-quik]

I tried the Rafa Nike edition last year and they rubbed into my ankles so badly even when I added my insole. I dunno if it is the cut of those shoes or what but the Federer editions is cut more around the ankle. I will try on Babolat Mach 3 and some of the other suggestions.

Maybe Yonex Fusion Rev?

 

[Joeysallamander]

What about Asics Res 9? The reason I am bringing this up is because I do not have a tennis shop near me and I am gonna have to order online, try on, and return.

 

[jmacdaununder2]

Or Eclipsion 4? (Haven't tried E5 yet obviously.)

 

[Rosstour]

VC4 is great. Different to the 9.5 but still low to the ground and very speedy.

 

[jmacdaununder2]

ZVC4 is a great shoe, but feels way more padded than 9.5; I wear ZVC4 for practice & E5 for matches.

 

[NattyGut]

What about Asics Res 9? The reason I am bringing this up is because I do not have a tennis shop near me and I am gonna have to order online, try on, and return.

Asics cause me issue with the drop in the heel and the width. I have been playing the Lotto Raptor Hyperpulse 100 Spd and now am on pair #4. I just wish they sold the footbed inserts. While fantastic they do not outlast the shoe.

 

[d-quik]

ZVC4 is a great shoe, but feels way more padded than 9.5; I wear ZVC4 for practice & E5 for matches.

Surely you meant E4? You were asking about the E5 in the other thread...

 

[Fintft]

What about Asics Res 9? The reason I am bringing this up is because I do not have a tennis shop near me and I am gonna have to order online, try on, and return.

I love GR9 on clay (deepest thread), while on hc I use FF3(not very often though), both with Dr Scholl's Active (or running, or PF) gel insoles, instead of the stock ones.

 

[NattyGut]

I love GR9 on clay (deepest thread), while on hc I use FF3(not very often though), both with Dr Scholl's Active (or running, or PF) gel insoles, instead of the stock ones

How do you like the DSA inserts?

 

[Fintft]

How do you like the DSA inserts?

I loved them for years, after trying about 5 brands, but now I am also considering some custom orhtodics due to a bout of PF (gained weight and moved too agressively in singles, almost daily).

Also I'll try my Addidas Barricades, to see if they have a higher heel drop than my Asics GR9.

 

[NattyGut]

I loved them for years, after trying about 5 brands, but now I am also considering some custom orhtodics due to a bout of PF (gained weight and moved too agressively in singles, almost daily).

Also I'll try my Addidas Barricades, to see if they have a higher heel drop than my Asics GR9.

Clarifying, moved from GR8 to Raptor Hyperpulse 100. No experience with GR9
Custom orthotic is the way to go, I think, but my insurance wouldn't cover it.

 

[Fintft]

Clarifying, moved from GR8 to Raptor Hyperpulse 100. No experience with GR9
Custom orthotic is the way to go, I think, but my insurance wouldn't cover it.

I'll try it since my significant one likes them (she doesn't have PF though) and I'm lucky insurance wise.

Not everyone seems to be ok with custom orthodics and PF, as they might be too rigid for some.

 

[Sardines]

Since you liked the 9.5, what about the shoe that was designed to replace it for Federer (but lost out to the ON deal because of the equity + Swiss make), the Le Coq Sportif LCS T01. It has borrowed many elements from it and other top makes. I use them as my grass court shoes, and travel with the hardcourt version as my backup tennis/casual white sneaker.

 

[Joeysallamander]

I have tried on:
Babolat Mach 3. Super super comfortable but the support is not what I am used to. I need more stiff outer but maybe this could work. Anyone who wants a plush and forgiving shoe I do recommend these
but I question how long they will last. They materials are soft and I scrape up my shoes all over the place.

ASICS resolution 9- love the underfoot padding but my ankles roll inward bad on these. I feel like my feet are being forced to roll inward constantly? I am also rockered forward a lot and with hip surgeries I can’t have that. I need either a sligh heel rise or neutral position. One side of the shoe is pressing into the side of my foot pretty hard and reminds me of hockey ice skates I had that needed to be punched out in that area. Stiffness is amazing on these and I really wish they worked out. They are nicely made! I have narrow feet and narrow heels but my left foot must be wider.

Adidas Barricade 13- I love the low profile. Nice heal cushion but a lack of forefoot cushion. These are wide shoes in case someone needs wide. Yet I can get these locked down well and my orthotics will fit well. I wish the heels were a little higher in these but I do like these. Pretty nice shoes and I think they can handle road rash from the hard courts.

I am still trying to figure out some more brands to try. I was hoping ASICS was the shoe! I seeing that I like wider gripping tread base in the forefoot area.

 

[Joeysallamander]

Kept the Babolats Mach 3 because the Adidas Barricade 13 had a hole. Yes that is right they were not stitched in once spot and coming undone so they were sent back.

Babolats are a HUGE disappointment. I tried them on a treadmill and they were so comfy I decided I needed a shoe and jumped on it, On court the back of the shoe stabbed my achilles tendon over and over again. So painful! I dunno why manufactures make the back achilles are so high up and not flexible at the top.

The other issue is the michellin rubber sole is shredding from a outdoor court and pieces are hanging off the bottom like noodles. Really? I can't return these shoes and
have to order something that has stronger bottoms. Now I am out money so that stinks. My Adidas and Nike never had this issue with the treads.

 

[Joeysallamander]

Tried New Balance X CT Rally. I wear New Balance for running all the time but their court shoe did not feel great. The toe box was roomy for me but the shape is pointed a bit and I know I will trip over it. I have a tendency to drag my toe which I know is bad and I need to stop.
Also when I bend the shoe a crease goes right into the top of my toes and that was just too painful especially when moving on the balls of my feet. I think the shoe needs a little break on the top so it doesn't turn inward and pinch the top of your foot. Overall they felt blocky to me and lack low ground feel I love.
Anyway they are very nicely made and seem like they would last so it's too bad I don't like the fit.

 

[Joeysallamander]

Vapor Pro 2. I am a heavy person and these shoes feel like they won't last a few weeks. I loved the way they feel but I will destroy these foams and the heel has no support. Might just end this search because it's getting too time consuming.

 

[gino]

Vapor Pro 2. I am a heavy person and these shoes feel like they won't last a few weeks. I loved the way they feel but I will destroy these foams and the heel has no support. Might just end this search because it's getting too time consuming.

go buy a pair of gp turbos, your search will end there

 

[Rosstour]

ZVC4 is a great shoe, but feels way more padded than 9.5; I wear ZVC4 for practice & E5 for matches.

When I got serious about footwear in 2015, I started with Cage 2 as my practice/friendly match shoe, and Vapors as my shoe for tournaments and big matches.

But then I realized I was playing better in the heavier shoe. So now the ZVC4 is my tournament shoe and GP Turbo are for friendly matches and practice. Quite the progression, and it was hard to admit that the shoe that felt better actually wasn't better.

 

[d-quik]

started with Cage 2 as my practice/friendly match shoe, and Vapors as my shoe for tournaments and big matches.

But then I realized I was playing better in the heavier shoe. So now the ZVC4 is my tournament shoe and GP Turbo are for friendly matches and practice

 

[Rosstour]

Right?

I thought being closer to the ground was better. Was really into the Five Fingers/zero footwear craze.

But on court, especially hard and during long grueling matches, more cushioning has been worth the sacrifice.

 

[Joeysallamander]

I love being lower to the ground with a wide base.. I find if my shoes are stacked higher I trip all the time or twist my ankles.

 

[Joeysallamander]

So I decided on Adidas Barricade 13. The Adidas Barricade 13 are awesome and not like Nike 9.5 vapes at all but they work for my feet! They are low to the ground, my foot is locked in like a glove, and I do not experience lace bite. I stood in them for 5 hours at a desk and I experience zero pain without my insoles placed in. I am a woman's size 8, wide foot, very low arch, larger instep, and skinny heel. I tried the Vapor 2 pro and those felt to narrow and the bottom of my heel hurt. The Adidas Barricade 13 is wide and very flat and I am in awe over lateral movement in these. I must have weird feet because the Barricades fit pretty awesome and I know a lot of people don't like their fit. Overall satisfied after trying on too many shoes. I play mostly on outdoor courts that have seen better days. We shall see how these hold up.