What do you guys think, is there ever a possibility that Nike will release some of Federer's era Vapor Speed, Vapor IV, or Vapor V models for sale? Perhaps there's a chance that sometime in the distant future, Federer collaborates with Nike on a small project and releases some older models and color combinations that were originally meant only for Federer at his time?
The Nike Vapor Tribute Thread
- Thread starter gino
- Start date
LiamMiguel
Semi-Pro
I can't imagine that ever happening. In addition to Nike not being the most receptive to older tennis shoes rereleasing (maybe with the exception of the Oscillate), ON is now becoming (or has already) a competitor on the market, not just for tennis shoes, but for footwear in general. Many people, at least in the States, wear ON footwear for running and for everyday shoes. Fed is obviously a major stakeholder in ON so. We can wish but probably won't happen.
gino
Legend
gino
Legend
It’s an interesting thought, especially given the 20 year anniversary coming up soon. I think the speed could reissue in 2025. Would certainly sell great, especially in that classic white/silver color
One thing I would keep your mind open is to is the prospect of a collaboration. Nike is definitely an ON competitor, but we’ve seen competitors collab on projects before for the great good of an industry
Little Fruit Fly
New User
gino
Legend
After going all season in the white/black vapor pro, Carlitos has what appears to be a new PE colorway for 23 USO:
gino
Legend
An obvious and beautiful tribute to the 1979 Mac kicks:The new 9.5 white reissue reminds me a lot of the 9 SL that dropped in the 2012 spring/summer releases:
gino
Legend
Appreciate that! I think too often we create separate threads for different shoe models, hoping this can serve as a general hub for vapor talk
Say Chi Sin Lo
G.O.A.T.
Personally speaking, and this is just my opinion, Vapor Pro doesn't belong here.
gino
Legend
Threads purpose be a hub for all vapor shoe talk and history I laid out in OPs was intended to post every premium priced shoe with vapor in the name & its history.
If we’re talking philosophy/general thoughts, I’d agree with the vapor cage 4 or react valor not belonging, but vapor pro is the same outsole and midsole as the X, which to me lumps it into that shoes evolution. It’s upper sucked compared to the X, but it was still better than the trash VP2/V11 they’re selling today
gino
Legend
meant to ask, which of the 9.5 reissues are you planning to stock on? I got 3 of the IW scribble, gonna wait on the other two for now
ATX Tennis
Rookie
I have a couple of the scribble, and I’ll buy a bunch of the blue and white if they go on sale.
mpournaras
Hall of Fame
brownbearfalling
Hall of Fame
Some memories:
- anyone remember the weird chicken pox issue that happened on the vapor 6? The shoes clear upper would develop light red spots over time. I believe it was due to contact with sweat.
- if you ever get your hands on a pair of vapor speeds, don’t wear them or at least don’t wear them for tennis. The zoom bubble in the heel breaks easily. I popped many in a matter of a few weeks.
Even though all vapor models are iconic, I really don’t miss them in terms of performance. I still have some of the older models laying around. The V9\9.5 is really the pinnacle of the line. It is the lightest (feeling) model, most stable and has the lowest to the ground (feel) of all the vapors. I’m in agreement with others that the 11 is not a improvement in performance to the 9/9.5
- anyone remember the weird chicken pox issue that happened on the vapor 6? The shoes clear upper would develop light red spots over time. I believe it was due to contact with sweat.
- if you ever get your hands on a pair of vapor speeds, don’t wear them or at least don’t wear them for tennis. The zoom bubble in the heel breaks easily. I popped many in a matter of a few weeks.
Even though all vapor models are iconic, I really don’t miss them in terms of performance. I still have some of the older models laying around. The V9\9.5 is really the pinnacle of the line. It is the lightest (feeling) model, most stable and has the lowest to the ground (feel) of all the vapors. I’m in agreement with others that the 11 is not a improvement in performance to the 9/9.5
gino
Legend
gino
Legend
The V6 upper issue was awful. I had a buddy after one summer his wimby ones were basically brown and covered in spots, dont get how that didnt get exposed in the testing of the shoe. I think they would replace them if you sent them back through
Interesting about the vapor speed, anyone with the courage to play in 20+ year old shoes is a friend of mine lol
mpournaras
Hall of Fame
People are going to love the Vapor Pro 2 when the Vapor Pro 4 comes out. It is a cycle. The 6 was an objectively awful shoe... but Roger wore it a few extra times pj'ed up and now people want it again.
gino
Legend
In terms of the V6, depends on your climate, if you didnt need to worry about ventilation the V6 was great. If you live in Florida, yikes.
rigid/supportive upper, great cushion layup, best traction of any vapor ever
i still use my V6 USO night colorway on cold winter nights here in Northern CA
& to your point about the cyclical nature of this, it's not really the case. if you recall the V3, V7, and V8 had zero clamor for return. No one liked them and thus they arent coveted. I think what people realized from 2012-now is that the V9 mid/outsole was all-time & the V10/X was a direct evolution of that. Im not sure you can expect a similar nostalgic memory berries from the VP2 or V11, those are seemingly objectively awful (based on pro player decisions)
gino
Legend
Member when #1: vapor 4s had the toe crease of all toe creases? Patent leather would get a really deep wrinkle that just kept getting worse and worse. Down fall of that shoe was the flimsy upper
Member when #2: vapors had the best traction of any shoe? Briefly mentioned above, the V6 multi directional herringbone was perfect for all surfaces. A case study in simple design, this outsole was by far my favorite on a vapor shoe. V7/V8 had the deep herringbone that would give way to the iconic V9 outsole. V10 traction was also underrated and I think a big reason why the V10/VP1 is coveted.
Member when #3: premium foam was used on vapors? From the vapor 6 to vapor 8 Nike employed lunar foam in a variety of ways. The use of premium foam has since been applied to other lines.
Member when #4: current vapors were endorsed by tour pros? Seems like todays vapors are clearly not what pros are looking for. Rune Alcaraz Fritz etc all using outdated VP1
Member when #5: the vapor was fast/lightweight? Currently the vapor line is has heavy/clunky feel, whereas vapor speed, 6, 7, 8, 9/9.5, X, and VP1 all had that signature light feel
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I loved the Lunar foam era, lots of great designs came out then, maybe not so much in tennis but across Nike. Ironically, the V7&8 were probably the most blah performance of the Lunar series, I think it was just too low to the ground and thin to start with for a foam model; the Lunar Ballistec was hated by many but I loved it, it was supportive and right amount of cushioned, every other shoe even the V9s gave me shin splints. The Ballistec 1.3 through 4.3 had Max air in heel and Lunar in forefoot.
Other Lunar highlights:
- AF1 Lunar Duckboot (still available on NDC) is the best winter travel shoe ever, can walk all day in a rainy or cold city and not have fatigue, keep dry, and they are made to be durable with the molded toe. The brown/black/gold version gets non-stop complements when I wear them.
- Lunar Safari - awesome classic design with modern cushioned sole, neat fuse tech on the upper.
- Cole Haan Lunar Grands - launched with partnership of Nike, then Nike bought CH (?), has since sold off. The first gen wingtip in suede milkshake color was probably the best.
- Lunar TR1 - a nice cross trainer, they even gave Rafa a PE!
- AM1 Lunar - Most of the classic AMs got a Lunar hybrid, I had the AM1s for years and they were great.
- Flyknit Chukka - never owned a pair, but two cool combos of tech, FlyKnit and Lunar
Anyways, I loved the Lunar era, BUT - Lunar foam's longevity was weird, compressed with use. If you played in a tennis shoe it would be pretty much compressed and done by the time you wore out soles, thats ok. A casual shoe that is worn for just walking has lasted for a long long time depending on use (my CH wingtips from 2010 are still doing great). BUT if you had a runner or an indoor basketball shoe, you might bottom out the cushion before you wear out the shoe.
EXTRA - I cut the lunar out of a Ballistec 1.3 to see if it was actually a thing and it was!
Other Lunar highlights:
- AF1 Lunar Duckboot (still available on NDC) is the best winter travel shoe ever, can walk all day in a rainy or cold city and not have fatigue, keep dry, and they are made to be durable with the molded toe. The brown/black/gold version gets non-stop complements when I wear them.
- Lunar Safari - awesome classic design with modern cushioned sole, neat fuse tech on the upper.
- Cole Haan Lunar Grands - launched with partnership of Nike, then Nike bought CH (?), has since sold off. The first gen wingtip in suede milkshake color was probably the best.
- Lunar TR1 - a nice cross trainer, they even gave Rafa a PE!
- AM1 Lunar - Most of the classic AMs got a Lunar hybrid, I had the AM1s for years and they were great.
- Flyknit Chukka - never owned a pair, but two cool combos of tech, FlyKnit and Lunar
Anyways, I loved the Lunar era, BUT - Lunar foam's longevity was weird, compressed with use. If you played in a tennis shoe it would be pretty much compressed and done by the time you wore out soles, thats ok. A casual shoe that is worn for just walking has lasted for a long long time depending on use (my CH wingtips from 2010 are still doing great). BUT if you had a runner or an indoor basketball shoe, you might bottom out the cushion before you wear out the shoe.
EXTRA - I cut the lunar out of a Ballistec 1.3 to see if it was actually a thing and it was!
gino
Legend
Agreed with all of these points. Fresh lunar was awesome, I had 4 lunar ballistecs and they served me really well. The cushion does compress in an odd fashion that maintains its character, but in a more condensed profile. I wish they kept it in the forefoot of the 9/9.5/10/VP1 I think that would have made a better shoe from a holistic perspective
Lunar was also in the V6 forefoot, a forgotten and really cool feature on that shoe
gino
Legend
Vapor speed outsole was the one he stuck to from 2005-2020
Vapor 4 outsole was much different, more standard herringbone
Great thread!
BDAZ
Hall of Fame
gino
Legend
gino
Legend
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Ohh thanks, I wasn't sure on linking to the big auction site.I saw these too, incredible!! Sharing some images for the thread
jason n
Rookie
Yea saw that at and picked up a pair, insane deal! Was so close to getting these yesterday from Nike at $153, glad I waited. Picked the honey deuces though with student discount for $115 at Nike.
gino
Legend
awesome snags!! im going two pair of white to add to my 3 pairs of IW scribble. Should last a few years (I hope)!!
ATX Tennis
Rookie
Bought 4 pairs of the blue and white. Thanks for the heads up!
jason n
Rookie
I played with the white leather ones tonight. They felt great, maybe a little more support and seemed like that color sole had slightly better grip. I did notice my feet got warmer than normal and it was only around 55 degrees outside. I don’t think they would be good on a hot summer day.
d-quik
Legend
not good for smell right? or not good for performance? I think before the 1990s, most grand slam champions wore leather and it was good enough to win grand slams. so using logical deductive reasoning, it can't be because of performance. you must mean not good for smell.
d-quik
Legend
Sadly not very possible with a time machine
I saw various things on vinted, including also NIKE ZOOM VAPOR TOUR V (A.O. 2008) new
airchallenge2
Hall of Fame
That blue is awesome on that swoosh. Have those Mac's shoes ever been brought back? I mean same color and swoosh shape.An obvious and beautiful tribute to the 1979 Mac kicks:
LiamMiguel
Semi-Pro
Went on some Black Friday shopping at the Nike outlet and bought a pair of the women’s ZV11 in the purple and yellow colorway. I went a size and a half up from my men’s size and it fit perfectly! I will start wearing them once our college season starts as our school colors are purple and gold. Also, if you’re near an outlet, I saw pairs of GP Turbos ($70) in women’s sizes, VP2 in both men’s and women’s sizes ($60), a crazy amount of the AJ3 ZV9.5 ($140) in men’s sizes, as well as Zoom Pros.
gino
Legend
Still on the outlet search, a ton of these are hitting ROSS/other clearance stores
LiamMiguel
Semi-Pro
Yep, just saw the pink ones today, just not in my size
gino
Legend
Have you seen the white leather around at all? seems like just honey duece hitting ross from what i know
