After five long years of chasing alternatives, it’s finally time to say it — the Vapor is back.
I’ve spent more time than I care to admit trying to find a proper replacement for the old Nike Vapor 10. I played in it for years. So did a lot of others. The way it hugged your foot, how light and reactive it felt, the responsiveness when pushing off — it wasn’t just a shoe. It was a sensation. Then the line fell into a sort of identity crisis. The Vapor NXT was all concept and no soul. The original Vapor Pro was a decent workaround, but still not quite it. And the Vapor 11? A soft, sloppy upper mashed onto a clunky, stiff outsole — it looked like a Vapor but played like something else entirely.
This year, Nike has finally course-corrected.
The Nike Vapor 12 isn’t just a new release — it’s a revival. The second you see it, you’ll know. It looks like a Vapor. Not just in branding, but in silhouette, fit, and function. In play, it delivers the same kind of precision and nimbleness that made the 9, 9.5, and 10 iconic. It fits close. It supports instinctively. It lets you move freely without sacrificing stability. And most importantly, it feels like a Vapor — not an approximation.
The fit is what defines this shoe. The same last as the 10 seems to be in play here (Nike hasn’t confirmed it, but side-by-side comparisons leave little doubt). That means a snug, sculpted profile — narrow through the midfoot, roomier at the forefoot, slightly pointed at the toe box, and with just enough height at the heel to lock things in without going full mid-cut. It’s not a roomy shoe, but it is forgiving. The upper — soft, malleable, and unobtrusive — wraps around your foot like fabric rather than forcing it into position.
It’s the little things that bring the comfort back. The poofy tongue is back — no more neoprene lace bite. The lacing system is brilliant — compressing the upper evenly across the midfoot without creating pressure points. And the medial side, which caused issues for wider-footed players in the Pro 2 with its stiff rubber overlay, is now free of harsh barriers. You get that tight lockdown without any of the discomfort. I didn’t need to size up like I did with the Pro 2. And once I was laced in, the shoe simply disappeared on my feet — exactly what I want when I’m trying to focus on a forehand return, not my shoelaces.
Performance-wise, the Vapor 12 does what its predecessors did best: it moves. It’s not the lightest shoe I’ve worn (mine weighed 388g in a US 9.5), but it feels lighter than it is thanks to the way it sits low to the ground and reacts with precision. The shank through the midsole keeps you stable and grounded, and the outsole’s slightly inward-angled drop naturally promotes a ready stance. There’s no mushiness underfoot — you won’t get plush Gel Resolution cushioning here — but you will get speed. There’s just enough Zoom Air in the heel and forefoot to absorb impact without losing feedback. And feedback is everything in this shoe.
Traction is excellent, with a slightly updated outsole pattern that leans back toward the Vapor 9.5 — rubber in the heel and forefoot with a gap in the midfoot. It doesn’t slide as easily as the Vapor Pro or 10, but that’s fine for most hardcourt players. If your game is built around planting and pushing off, this will suit you better. The platform is wide enough to keep you balanced on lateral movements, and the added rubber on the lateral side helps bolster stability without dulling the responsive feel.
Is it a stability shoe? Not in the traditional sense — not like a Court FF or a Barricade — but that’s never what Vapors were about. They’re meant to work with good footwork, not mask bad technique. If you’re someone who plays upright and light on their feet, you’ll feel totally supported. But if you’re a grinder who needs a shoe to save you when lunging wide or falling off balance, this isn’t built for that.
Durability? Well, it’s a Vapor. The upper is soft, and over time, it’ll lose structure. You should probably replace these before they start breaking down, especially if you play aggressively. But Nike did add some extra rubber up near the medial toe for toe-draggers. Still, don’t expect this to last as long as a Gel Resolution 9 or a New Balance 996. That’s not the tradeoff here. The Vapor 12 is about performance, not preservation.
And then there’s the Vapor Pro 3, which launched alongside it. It shares some similarities with the 12 — same soft upper, similar shape — but it’s a different shoe. More of a refined Vapor Pro 2 than a spiritual successor to the 10. The lockdown is improved thanks to a better lacing system, and the poofy tongue helps comfort. But it doesn’t have the same shank, so stability and response are a little softer. It’s a great shoe — one that I’d recommend to anyone who liked the Pro 2 — but the Vapor 12 is the one that feels historic.
After years of trying to cobble together the feel of the 10 — combining uppers, adding insoles, switching brands entirely — the real thing is finally back. The Vapor 12 doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. It brings it back. And for longtime fans of the line, that’s all we ever really wanted.
I’ve tried Gel Resolutions. I’ve worn Asics Speeds. I even dabbled in Adidas. But this? This feels like coming home.
