Nike Court Vapor Lite 2 Shoes

Nike do not officially make a padel shoe for the UK market, which has pushed serious padel players to brands like Asics and Adidas. The Vapor Lite 2 is the closest Nike get, and at 295g in a UK 9 it is the lightest shoe on this list — by a noticeable margin.

The lightweight feel is what sells it. On indoor courts and hard surfaces the Vapor Lite responds quickly to direction changes, and the herringbone outsole grips well on both pickleball indoor floors and the artificial turf at most UK padel venues. The mesh upper with synthetic overlays breathes far better than the heavier-built Adidas Barricade or Skechers Viper, which makes a real difference in summer indoor sessions.

The trade-off is cushioning. Compared to the Asics Gel-Padel Pro 5 you are getting noticeably less impact protection in the heel, and on outdoor padel turf with a granular base the Vapor Lite wears through faster than the Adiwear outsole on the Barricade. Long-term durability on outdoor courts is the headline weakness.

Ideal owner is the player who plays mostly indoor pickleball or fast doubles padel on indoor courts, prioritises foot speed over durability, and replaces shoes every 6-9 months anyway. Wrong owner is the heavy player or anyone playing exclusively outdoors — the durability gap will frustrate you within a season.

Nike direct, JD Sports, Sports Direct and Pro:Direct Tennis all stock the Vapor Lite 2 at £60-80 depending on colourway. End-of-season clearouts often hit £50.