The 2012 clay court season is set to begin shortly, and one of our favorites, Roger Federer will be stepping onto the courts in yet another color of the Nike Zoom Vapor 9 Tour shoe. Before he will be seen on TV in the upcoming weeks, everyone else can get the newest cosmetic which comes in a White, Blue Soar, and Neutral Grey pattern.

You may have noticed the change in the name. This Zoom Vapor 9 Tour SL version features a synthetic leather upper in the forefoot compared to mesh. This results in a more snug fit through the forefoot  and extra lateral stability due to the studier material as well as the Adaptive Fit.

The side of the shoe still shows lime green insets and the six “fingers” that are for so much more than just appearance. The Adaptive Fit system was created thanks to collaboration between Roger Federer and legendary Nike shoe designer Tinker Hatfield in order to create a shoe with the look and feel of a running shoe but the needed stability for tennis.

With the system, each interval is independently adjustable for a truly personalized fit and feel unlike any shoe on the market. The Vapor 9 Tour is not all about feel, there is still some serious performance in the shoe, which features a full Zoom Air midsole for responsiveness and a comfortable ride.

In case you need more convincing of how cool the Adaptive Fit system is, take it from the men who designed it.


In addition to the synthetic leather upper and the Adaptive Fit, a lightweight plastic midfoot shank provides stability and separates the two piece XDR outsole. By separating the sole into a distinctive forefoot and heel section, the shoe is able to move and adjust variably to give versatility and surface adaptation.

The Nike Zoom Vapor 9 Tour is the most advanced Vapor tennis shoe to date, and this synthetic leather version provides a new fit for the player that likes a snug feel around their foot. Even replacing some mesh with synthetic leather did not noticeably affect the weight so you still get that low to the ground feel, impressive breathability, and incredible speed.