Best Nike Pickleball Shoes: 7 Picks Compared

Our verdict

Our Top Picks: Nike Shoes for Pickleball

Nike sells one shoe it names for pickleball, the Zoom Challenge. It also lists several of its hard-court tennis shoes on its “Pickleball Shoes” page and tags them for both tennis and pickleball, though Nike names them hard-court tennis shoes and their product text describes hard-court play without mentioning pickleball. This guide sorts the two using Nike’s own product pages, then picks the Nike court shoes we found new and in stock on Amazon, at or below Nike’s regular price, on October 25, 2026: one pickleball shoe and six tennis shoes, three in men’s sizes and four in women’s.

Nike does not publish shoe weights, so every weight here names its size and its source, and the guide does not rank the shoes by weight. For other brands, see our pickleball shoes compared guide.

Does Nike make pickleball shoes?

Yes, one model. On Nike’s US site the Nike Zoom Challenge is sold under the names Men’s Pickleball Shoes and Women’s Pickleball Shoes, and its description is written for the game: “Whether you’re digging, dinking or trying to barrel a ball down the line after scrambling out of a split set, the all-new Nike Zoom Challenge can help you hold serve.”

Every other adult shoe on Nike’s “Pickleball Shoes” page, as we read it on October 25, 2026, is named as a hard-court tennis shoe: the Vapor 12, Vapor Pro 3, GP Challenge 1.5 and GP Challenge Pro in men’s and women’s versions, and the Vapor Lite 3 and NikeCourt Lite 4 in women’s versions. So Nike does sell these tennis shoes to pickleball players: five of the picks below are on that page, the Vapor 12 men’s and women’s, the Vapor Pro 3 men’s, the GP Challenge 1.5 women’s and the Vapor Lite 3 women’s, and Nike’s product data tags each of them for both tennis and pickleball. The Vapor Lite 3 men’s is tagged for tennis only and is not on that page. What Nike does not do is call any of them a pickleball shoe: Nike names them hard-court tennis shoes, and their product text describes hard-court play and never mentions pickleball. In plain terms, Nike names one shoe a pickleball shoe and lists several of its hard-court tennis shoes for pickleball as well.

What Nike shoes are good for pickleball? Nike’s own product text points to the Zoom Challenge for pickleball. Its hard-court tennis shoes are court shoes Nike built for side-to-side tennis movement; whether a tennis shoe suits you for pickleball is covered in can you wear tennis shoes for pickleball. Six of the seven picks below are Nike tennis shoes. We chose them from Nike’s product text, which describes them for hard-court play; Nike also lists five of them for pickleball, but its product text for them does not mention the game.

Compare the picks

Compare the 7 Nike court shoes

Court, cushioning and fit words are Nike’s own, from its US product pages. Nike publishes no weights; the weights below come from a lab test, a tennis magazine or a retailer, each with the size it was measured at, and they are not comparable across sizes or sources.

Which Nike shoe for which player

• You want the shoe Nike names for pickleball: the Nike Zoom Challenge Women’s Pickleball Shoes. Nike also sells a men’s Zoom Challenge, but on October 25, 2026 every men’s Amazon offer we found was above Nike’s own price or out of stock, so it is not a pick here.
• You play tennis too, on hard courts: every other pick is a Nike hard-court tennis shoe. Two models have both a men’s and a women’s pick: the Vapor 12 men’s and Vapor 12 women’s, and the Vapor Lite 3 men’s and Vapor Lite 3 women’s.
• You slide into shots: RunRepeat’s lab named the Vapor Pro 3 for sliders who need toe-drag durability, and gave the men’s Vapor Lite 3 a 5 out of 5 toe-guard score. Our shoes for pickleball traction guide covers grip across brands.
• You have wide feet: none of these is sold in a wide width, and RunRepeat flags the men’s Vapor 12 and Vapor Lite 3 it tested as not for wide feet. Nike says the GP Challenge 1.5 has more forefoot space than the original GP Challenge. For wide fits from other brands, see our wide toe box pickleball shoes guide.
• You want the entry-level Nike: the Vapor Lite 3 men’s and Vapor Lite 3 women’s sit in the $ tier here.

Picks: Nike Zoom Challenge Women’s Pickleball Shoes, Nike Vapor 12 Men’s Hard Court, Nike Vapor 12 Women’s Hard Court, Nike Vapor Pro 3 Men’s Hard Court, Nike GP Challenge 1.5 Women’s Hard Court, Nike Vapor Lite 3 Men’s Hard Court, Nike Vapor Lite 3 Women’s Hard Court.

How the seven Nike shoes were chosen

What a Nike shoe needed to make the list

• Sold by Nike for court play, in Nike’s own product text. The description, feature list or product details on Nike’s US page had to describe tennis, pickleball or court play. A spot on Nike’s “Pickleball Shoes” category page or Nike’s pickleball sport tag did not count on its own, because neither is product text.
• An adult Nike court shoe on Amazon, new, in stock and at or below Nike’s regular price. Six of the seven offers were held by third-party Amazon sellers, named in each review; the Vapor Lite 3 women’s was sold by Amazon.com, and none was sold by Nike. Sellers change by size and day, so read the listing before you buy.
• One model, two picks at most. Men’s and women’s versions of the same model count as separate picks; the Vapor 12 and the Vapor Lite 3 each appear twice, once in men’s and once in women’s sizing, and their reviews say so.
• Weight only with its size and source. Nike publishes no weights, and the figures we found were measured on different sizes, so we do not compare the shoes by weight.
• Few repeats of our other shoe guides. The Vapor 12 men’s linked here is also a pick in our tennis shoes for pickleball and traction guides, and the Vapor Lite 3 men’s in our men’s outdoor pickleball shoes guide; the other five are not picks in our other shoe guides.

Whose tests the reviews lean on and what one r/Pickleball player said about the Zoom Challenge

Whose tests the reviews lean on

Each review has an evidence line. RunRepeat’s lab tested the men’s Vapor 12, Vapor Pro 3 and Vapor Lite 3 in a men’s US 9, so a men’s pick linked in another size is graded “same series”, and so is the Vapor Lite 3 women’s, which RunRepeat did not test. WearTesters reviewed the Zoom Challenge on pickleball courts without saying whether the pair was men’s or women’s, and tennis.com reviewed the Vapor 12 with men’s and women’s weights. For the GP Challenge 1.5 the only review we used is Tennis Express’s comparison, and Tennis Express sells the shoe, so it is not independent.

What one r/Pickleball player said about the Zoom Challenge

In an r/Pickleball thread asking for shoe recommendations, one player who said they had worn the Nike Zoom Challenge since it came out in February 2024 wrote: “They are lightweight with great lateral support and a thick sole.” The same player expected the soles to last about twice as long as their earlier pickleball shoes, while WearTesters saw more outsole wear than usual; the Zoom Challenge review sets the two side by side. One player’s report is not a test.

Detailed Reviews

Nike Zoom Challenge Women’s Pickleball Shoes, Pickleball shoe, women’s

Nike’s page for the women’s Zoom Challenge sells it as “Women’s Pickleball Shoes” and lists: “Air Zoom units in the heel and forefoot add a spring to your step.” It adds “Synthetic overlays provide lateral support and help keep your heel secure”, “Extra rubber in the toe area, specifically the tip of toe, provides durability” and “High-abrasion rubber in the forefoot offers durability and traction.” Nike’s size note reads: “Fits small; we recommend ordering a half size up”. Nike does not name a court surface for it.

WearTesters reviewed the Zoom Challenge PB on pickleball courts and summed up: “Performance-wise, the Nike Zoom Challenge PB is a successful entry from the brand into the pickleball footwear market.” On fit, the reviewer called it “the most one-to-one” of the pickleball shoes they had played in, and wasn’t sure it would suit wide feet. On wear, they wrote that the outsole “has shown signs of more wear in less time than I am accustomed to with other pickleball shoes”, and that Nike’s tennis versions seemed to carry extra toe reinforcement that the pickleball versions lacked. The one r/Pickleball player quoted above expected the opposite on sole life, so the sources disagree on durability. WearTesters does not say whether its pair was men’s or women’s, and it describes a single Zoom Air unit in the heel, which matches Nike’s men’s page rather than the women’s heel-and-forefoot setup.

The women’s 6 we link was sold by J&K Industries, a third-party seller, below Nike’s own price. Other sizes may come from other sellers at other prices.

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. WearTesters: Zoom Challenge PB, gender not stated.

Specs (women’s 6, White/Black/White, FQ4155-100)

• Cushioning: Air Zoom units in heel and forefoot (Nike)
• Upper: synthetic overlays, mesh panels (Nike)
• Outsole: high-abrasion rubber in the forefoot; extra rubber at the toe tip (Nike)
• Court: pickleball; no court surface named (Nike)
• Fit: “Fits small; we recommend ordering a half size up” (Nike)
• Weight: not published by Nike

Nike Vapor 12 Men’s Hard Court, Speed court, men’s

Nike’s page for the Vapor 12 men’s sells it as a men’s hard-court tennis shoe built for speed. Nike says it reworked the upper and traction pattern and brought back Air Zoom cushioning, and lists a heel Air Zoom unit, a firm midfoot plastic piece “to provide optimal stability and transitions when cutting from side to side”, a herringbone traction pattern in a new rubber compound, and “Designed for wear on hard court surfaces”. Nike also lists it on its “Pickleball Shoes” page and tags it for tennis and pickleball, though its product text does not mention pickleball. This is the same model as pick 3, in its men’s version.

RunRepeat’s lab tested the men’s Vapor 12 in a US 9. Its verdict calls it “a solid premium shoe for serious players” and praises its stability, lockdown and court feel. In the lab it scored 4 out of 5 for toe-guard durability, left a 0.6 mm outsole dent and measured 5.0 mm of outsole rubber; its cons include “Not for wide feet” and “Not the stickiest traction”, and RunRepeat measured the interior at a “borderline narrow” 89.9 mm. RunRepeat weighed its pair at 13.8 oz (390 g) in a men’s US 9. The men’s 10.5 we link was sold by ISOMETRIX L.L.C, a third-party seller, below Nike’s own price.

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. RunRepeat lab test: men’s US 9, colour not stated.

Specs (men’s 10.5, Light Liquid Lime/Mean Green/Sapphire/Black)

• Cushioning: heel Air Zoom unit; midsole foam between plate and rubber (Nike)
• Stability: firm midfoot plastic piece and heel-to-toe foot frame (Nike)
• Outsole: herringbone pattern in a new rubber compound (Nike)
• Court: hard court (Nike)
• Weight: 13.8 oz (390 g), men’s US 9 (RunRepeat lab)

Nike Vapor 12 Women’s Hard Court, Speed court, women’s

The women’s Vapor 12 is the same model as pick 2 in its women’s version. Nike’s women’s page carries the same description, the same heel Air Zoom unit, midfoot plate and herringbone outsole, and the same “Designed for wear on hard court surfaces”. Nike also lists this women’s version on its “Pickleball Shoes” page and tags it for tennis and pickleball, though its product text does not mention pickleball.

Tennis.com reviewed the Vapor 12 and wrote: “The new Vapor 12 taps back into the franchise’s core principles.” Its reviewer found the cushioning “more firm than bouncy”, said the shoes “can be a little firm to start” before settling in, and wrote that “The width and length are also just about down the middle and should suit a large array of foot types.” RunRepeat, testing the men’s shoe, disagrees on width: it calls the Vapor 12 “Not for wide feet”. Tennis.com lists 11.9 oz for a women’s 8.5, the same figure Tennis Warehouse gives, and does not say which pair its reviewer wore. The women’s 8 we link was sold by M.S Venture LLC, a third-party seller, below Nike’s own price.

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. tennis.com review: Vapor 12, the reviewer’s pair not stated.

Specs (women’s 8, White/Summit White/Black, FV5554-100)

• Cushioning: heel Air Zoom unit (Nike)
• Stability: firm midfoot plastic piece and foot frame (Nike)
• Outsole: herringbone pattern in a new rubber compound (Nike)
• Court: hard court (Nike)
• Weight: 11.9 oz, women’s 8.5 (tennis.com)

Nike Vapor Pro 3 Men’s Hard Court, Forefoot Air Zoom, men’s

Nike’s page for the Vapor Pro 3 men’s sells it as a men’s hard-court tennis shoe: “The Vapor Pro 3 provides bounce and burst from side-to-side movements to scrambles to the net, so you can stay in the point.” Nike says it shrank the forefoot Air Zoom unit “and placed it where your foot feels the most impact” for more flex, and lists a rubber toe tip and “Designed for wear on hard court surfaces”. Nike also lists it on its “Pickleball Shoes” page and tags it for tennis and pickleball, though its product text does not mention pickleball.

RunRepeat’s lab tested the men’s Vapor Pro 3 in a US 9 and scored the toe drag guard 4 out of 5, the toebox 4 out of 5 and the outsole dent at 0.5 mm, and recommends it if “you are a slider who needs excellent toe drag durability and some give in the outsole”. It disagrees with Nike on the smaller Air Zoom unit: its cons are “Smaller Zoom Air unit has lower energy return” and “No added flexibility (as promised)”. RunRepeat weighed it at 13.5 oz (383 g) in a men’s US 9 and found the fit a standard medium. The colour we link is not on Nike’s site now; the men’s 7 was sold by FEETARA, a third-party seller, below Nike’s regular price for the model.

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. RunRepeat lab test: men’s US 9, colour not stated.

Specs (men’s 7, Apricot Agate/Obsidian/White/Denim Turquoise)

• Cushioning: forefoot Air Zoom unit (Nike)
• Outsole: new rubber compound; rubber toe tip (Nike)
• Court: hard court (Nike)
• Fit: one medium (D) width (RunRepeat)
• Weight: 13.5 oz (383 g), men’s US 9 (RunRepeat lab)

Nike GP Challenge 1.5 Women’s Hard Court, Twin Air Zoom, women’s

Nike’s page for the women’s GP Challenge 1.5 sells it as a women’s hard-court tennis shoe and says: “A forefoot Air Zoom unit helps you play on your toes and puts a pop in your first step. A heel Air Zoom unit provides support.” It lists a midfoot plastic plate for quick cuts, high-abrasion rubber in the forefoot, updated toe skins “for increased durability in a high-wear zone”, and “We updated the upper to provide more space in the forefoot compared to the original GP Challenge.” Nike’s size note reads: “Fits small; we recommend ordering a half size up”. Nike also lists it on its “Pickleball Shoes” page and tags it for tennis and pickleball, though its product text does not mention pickleball.

Tennis Express, which sells the shoe, compared it with an ASICS tennis shoe and wrote: “The GP Challenge 1.5 runs true to size.” That differs from Nike’s own size note, so try the size first. Tennis Express adds that the GP Challenge 1.5 has a more forgiving fit through the upper than the snug Vapor 12, “without running roomy”. We found no independent test of the 1.5; Pickleball Warehouse, a retailer, lists 12.6 oz for a women’s 8.5. The women’s 10 we link was sold by M.S Venture LLC, a third-party seller, below Nike’s own price.

Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Tennis Express: GP Challenge 1.5, version not stated.

Specs (women’s 10, Black/Anthracite/Volt/White, IQ5176-001)

• Cushioning: Air Zoom units in the forefoot and heel (Nike)
• Stability: midfoot plastic plate (Nike)
• Outsole: high-abrasion forefoot rubber; updated toe skins (Nike)
• Court: hard court (Nike)
• Fit: “Fits small; we recommend ordering a half size up” (Nike); “runs true to size” (Tennis Express, a retailer)
• Weight: 12.6 oz, women’s 8.5 (Pickleball Warehouse, a retailer)

Nike Vapor Lite 3 Men’s Hard Court, Entry Vapor, men’s

Nike’s page for the Vapor Lite 3 men’s sells it as a men’s hard-court tennis shoe: “With a new rubber compound on the outsole, the Vapor Lite 3 helps you to decelerate, plant and sprint back into position without feeling like you’re rounding off your cuts.” Nike lists a “Soft, supportive foam midsole”, a rubber toe tip in the same compound, engineered mesh and “Designed for wear on hard court surfaces”. Nike tags this men’s version for tennis only, and it is not on Nike’s “Pickleball Shoes” page.

RunRepeat’s lab tested the men’s Vapor Lite 3 in a US 9 and gave the toe guard its top score of 5 out of 5, measured a 0.5 mm outsole dent and 4.6 mm of outsole rubber, and wrote: “Sustaining a very moderate dent of 0.5 mm, the shoe’s rubber proved to be on par with the more expensive tennis shoes!” RunRepeat weighed its pair at 12.0 oz (340 g) in a men’s US 9 and lists “Not for wide feet” among its cons, with a forefoot it measured “on the verge of being narrow”. The men’s 8.5 we link was sold by TheLionGroup, a third-party seller, at Nike’s own price.

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. RunRepeat lab test: men’s US 9, colour not stated.

Specs (men’s 8.5, Black/White, FZ2155-001)

• Midsole: “Soft, supportive foam midsole” (Nike)
• Outsole: new rubber compound; rubber toe tip in the same compound (Nike)
• Court: hard court (Nike)
• Weight: 12.0 oz (340 g), men’s US 9 (RunRepeat lab)

Nike Vapor Lite 3 Women’s Hard Court, Entry Vapor, women’s

Nike’s page for the Vapor Lite 3 women’s sells it as a women’s hard-court tennis shoe with the same description as the men’s: “With a new rubber compound on the outsole, the Vapor Lite 3 helps you to decelerate, plant and sprint back into position without feeling like you’re rounding off your cuts.” Nike lists a “Soft, supportive foam midsole”, a rubber toe tip in the same compound, engineered mesh and “Designed for wear on hard court surfaces”. Nike lists this women’s version on its “Pickleball Shoes” page and tags it for tennis and pickleball, but its product text does not mention pickleball. This is the same model as pick 6, in its women’s version.

RunRepeat’s lab tested the men’s Vapor Lite 3, not the women’s, so its results describe the same model in a men’s US 9. It rated the upper’s airflow highly: “All things considered, the Vapor Lite 3 earns a well-deserved 5 out of 5 score for breathability.” It also gave the toe guard 5 out of 5 and lists “Not for wide feet” among its cons. Pickleball Warehouse, a retailer, lists the women’s shoe’s length as “True” and its width as “Snug Medium”, and gives 10.4 oz for a women’s 8.5. The women’s 8.5 we link was sold by Amazon.com, below Nike’s own price.

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. RunRepeat lab test: men’s US 9 (men’s version), colour not stated.

Specs (women’s 8.5, Black/White, FZ2156-001)

• Midsole: “Soft, supportive foam midsole” (Nike)
• Outsole: new rubber compound; rubber toe tip in the same compound (Nike)
• Upper: engineered mesh (Nike)
• Court: hard court (Nike)
• Fit: length “True”, width “Snug Medium” (Pickleball Warehouse, a retailer)
• Weight: 10.4 oz, women’s 8.5 (Pickleball Warehouse, a retailer)

Before you buy a Nike shoe for pickleball

• Decide between the pickleball shoe and a tennis shoe. Of the Nike shoes on its US pickleball-shoes page, Nike names only the Zoom Challenge a pickleball shoe; the picks here besides it are tennis shoes Nike designed for hard courts, and Nike lists five of them on that page as well. Our how to choose pickleball shoes guide covers what to look for in either.
• Size up where Nike says so. Nike’s pages for the Zoom Challenge and the GP Challenge 1.5 say “Fits small; we recommend ordering a half size up”.
• Check the width. None of these is listed in a wide width, and RunRepeat flags the men’s Vapor 12 and Vapor Lite 3 it tested as not for wide feet.
• Check the seller and the price. Six of the seven offers here came from third-party Amazon sellers (the Vapor Lite 3 women’s from Amazon.com), and many of the Amazon offers we checked for other Nike models were above Nike’s own price; compare with Nike’s price before you buy.

For shoes from every brand, see our men’s pickleball shoes and women’s pickleball shoes guides; for the rest of your kit, see what to wear for pickleball.

Nike shoes we did not pick

• Nike Zoom Challenge Men’s Pickleball Shoes: Nike’s men’s pickleball shoe, but the Amazon offers we found were above Nike’s own price or out of stock. Nike sells it directly.
• Nike Zoom GP Challenge Pro (women’s) and GP Challenge Pro (men’s): the current women’s listing went out of stock while we checked, and the men’s offer we found was above Nike’s price.
• Nike Vapor Pro 3 Women’s: it fits the brief, but the listing we found is already a pick in another shoe guide on this site, and this guide keeps such repeats to at most a third of its picks.
• NikeCourt Lite 4 and GP Challenge 1.5 Men’s: the Amazon offers we found were above Nike’s price or not yet available.
• Nike Omni Multi-Court: a kids’ indoor court shoe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes: the Nike Zoom Challenge, sold on Nike’s US site as Men’s and Women’s Pickleball Shoes. It is the only shoe on Nike’s US “Pickleball Shoes” page that Nike names a pickleball shoe, as we read the page on October 25, 2026; the other adult shoes there are Nike hard-court tennis shoes that Nike lists for pickleball too.

We found no lab or independent test that compares Nike’s shoes for pickleball. One blog ranking, letspickleball’s best Nike shoes for pickleball, names the “Nike GP Pro (aka GP Challenge 1.5)” its best overall value, but it calls the GP Challenge 1.5 the “GP Pro”, though Nike sells the GP Challenge Pro as a separate model, mixes in older generations such as the Vapor 11, and describes React foam in the Zoom Challenge that Nike’s pages do not list, so we do not rely on it. Nike makes the Zoom Challenge for the game, and WearTesters called the Zoom Challenge PB “a successful entry from the brand into the pickleball footwear market”. Among Nike’s hard-court tennis shoes, RunRepeat’s lab rated the Vapor Pro 3 and Vapor Lite 3 highly for toe and outsole durability, which matters if you drag your toes or slide.

Yes, and Nike lists several of them for pickleball itself. Six picks here are Nike hard-court tennis shoes. Five of them, the Vapor 12 men’s and women’s, the Vapor Pro 3 men’s, the GP Challenge 1.5 women’s and the Vapor Lite 3 women’s, are on Nike’s “Pickleball Shoes” page, and Nike’s product data tags each of them for both tennis and pickleball; the Vapor Lite 3 men’s is tagged for tennis only. Nike’s product text for all six describes hard-court play, under names that call them tennis shoes, and does not mention pickleball, and the Zoom Challenge is the only shoe Nike names a pickleball shoe. Our guide to whether tennis shoes work for pickleball explains the differences.

Nike does not sell its running shoes or Air Max as court shoes, and none appears on Nike’s pickleball-shoes page, so none is a pick here. Court shoes like the ones above have the lateral overlays, midfoot plates and court outsoles Nike describes for side-to-side movement. See what to wear for pickleball for more.

Nike makes one pickleball shoe and many hard-court tennis shoes, and the three men’s models RunRepeat tested scored 4 or 5 out of 5 on its toe-guard test. The trade-offs the testers named are fit and width: RunRepeat calls the men’s Vapor 12 and Vapor Lite 3 not for wide feet, and Nike sells none of these in a wide width. If you need room, compare our wide toe box pickleball shoes.

Nike’s own pages for the Zoom Challenge and the GP Challenge 1.5 say “Fits small; we recommend ordering a half size up”. Tennis Express, a retailer, says the GP Challenge 1.5 runs true to size, so the sources differ; try a pair on where you can.

The bottom line

Final Verdict

For the one Nike shoe made for pickleball, the Nike Zoom Challenge Women’s Pickleball Shoes (check price) is the version we found on Amazon at or below Nike’s price, with Air Zoom units in the heel and forefoot. For a Nike tennis shoe on pickleball and tennis courts, the Nike Vapor Pro 3 Men’s Hard Court (check price) suits players who slide, with lab-tested toe-drag durability, and the Nike Vapor Lite 3 Men’s Hard Court (check price) is the entry-level Vapor with a top toe-guard score in RunRepeat’s lab; the Nike Vapor Lite 3 Women’s Hard Court (check price) is the same model in its women’s version, sold by Amazon.com. The Nike Vapor 12 Men’s Hard Court (check price) and the Nike Vapor 12 Women’s Hard Court (check price) are the same speed hard-court model in its men’s and women’s versions, which RunRepeat suggests for medium-to-narrow feet, and the Nike GP Challenge 1.5 Women’s Hard Court (check price) adds a second Air Zoom unit in the forefoot. For other brands, see our pickleball shoes compared and tennis shoes for pickleball guides.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.