Nike Vapor Elite Lacrosse Head Review
A narrow, short-throated attack head that shoots with real accuracy and scoops better than it looks. Here's how the Vapor Elite held up after a year on and off the field.
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I was never a fan of the Nike Vapor series. But enough guys I play with were raving about it that I took the Nike Vapor Elite lacrosse head to the field. It has a fairly narrow profile and a shorter throat for better control.
The specs sounded good, but I was looking for an attack head that could actually pick up ground balls. So let's see if this one fits the bill.
BattleLax pick: BattleLax doesn't carry Nike heads. The closest match they stock is the StringKing Mark 3A Unstrung Head ($119.99), another narrow, pinched attack head built for accuracy and control. I've listed more alternatives at BattleLax below.
Key Features and Specifications
Here's a quick look at the specs before we get into the field test.
- Position
- Attack / offensive middie
- Level
- Intermediate to advanced
- Weight
- About 4.7 oz
- Offset
- Deep offset
- Sidewall holes
- 16
- Mid or mid-low
- Built with
- Narrow face
- Short throat
- High pinch
- Pointed scoop
Pros & Cons
- Exceptional shooting accuracy
- Durable, strong construction
- Better ground ball pickups than most attack heads
- Balanced and lightweight
- Versatile for offensive middies and attackmen
- Good value for the money
- The pocket often needs adjusting
- Slightly delayed ball release
- No string-protection lip
Nike Vapor Elite Lacrosse Head Ranking
I rate the Nike Vapor Elite head an 8.1/10 on the Drip Meter.
Who's This Head Made For?
The Nike Vapor Elite is one of the best-known attack heads in the Vapor line for men's players.
Nike bumped the price up from its predecessor, but they bumped up the quality too. I used it on and off for a year, and it held up to my aggressive style. The top string tore out twice, but I could live with that because the head itself had no damage.
The updated stock scoop and sharp-edged sidewalls, at about 4.7 ounces, are a great upgrade for ground balls. Most attack heads let you down when you're scooping in traffic, and I wasn't sure this one would be any different with its tight face and high flare points.
So did it deliver on both hard shooting and easy catching? I cover it all in my Nike Vapor Elite head review.
Accuracy of Shot and Pass
The Nike Vapor Elite shoots with amazing accuracy. I had some off-center shots at first, though, because of the stiff pocket and narrow face. The ball wasn't settling in the sweet spot, and my shots came off inconsistent.
The Vapor Elite's scoop from above.
So I restrung the pocket to get more power on my shot and more accuracy on my passes. It was tough to get tight knots because of the thicker bottom rail, but the 16 sidewall holes let me build a mid pocket (a mid-low pocket is an option too). If you're restringing, BattleLax has the StringKing Type 5x mesh and string kit ($39.99).
The narrow throat and strong, straight sidewalls with no taper gave me better ball placement for accurate throws. Once the pocket broke in and the ball sat snug, my feeds were almost perfectly controlled.
My shot speed was also better than with the Maverik Optik 2.0 and the Nike Lakota 2. If you prefer a wider face and angled sidewalls instead of vertical ones, try the Nike CEO 2 or CEO 3.
Catching and Cradling
I found the width of the Vapor Elite's face just right for catching and cradling.
The pocket needed adjusting down to a mid pocket, but after that, catching and cradling were on point. The deeper pocket helped on loose balls and gave me a secure hold when the game sped up.
The trade-off was a slightly late release. I had to adjust my throwing, snapping my wrists quicker and moving my release point to make up for the delay. That was the key to staying accurate and in control in transition.
So high school players who are still developing should go with a softer head with a bigger sweet spot, like the STX Stallion 900 or the Maverik Kinetik 2.0. At BattleLax, the Gait Torq 3 ($99.99) is a good forgiving option.
The Vapor Elite in special colors.
Checking
The Nike Vapor Elite has a balanced, durable build. It's light but strong enough to take checks. I did miss some flex, though, because the scoop warped and sent vibration down the shaft.
The aggressive scoop angle made ground balls and checking easier, and the chunky sidewalls kept the ball snug in the pocket when I was taking hits.
Checking hard, dodging defenders and snagging the ball on the run all felt good. I did notice the ball slipping out now and then, especially when middies made quick, aggressive moves. That came down to the stiff pocket, which only settled after a pretty long break-in period.
The Vapor Elite held its shape perfectly at attack, but it doesn't have a string-protection lip up top. So the top string came out more often than it should have.
Aggressive players should look at the StringKing Mark 2A or the ECD Mirage 2.0 for better flex and power control. BattleLax carries their successors, the StringKing Mark 3A ($119.99) and the ECD Mirage 3.0 ($109.99).
Ground Pick-up and Face-off
The strong sidewalls made a big difference on ground balls when I was dodging defenders and scooping in transition. I came up with the ball clean, without any wobble.
The pointed stock scoop.
The pointed scoop didn't look ideal for ground balls, at least at first. To my surprise, though, the scoop shape and head width did a great job funneling the ball right into the pocket.
The pointed stock scoop grabbed some turf now and then, but it was still better than other attack heads. On faceoffs, it's adequate but nothing special. The head is stiff, and I'd rate it around a 5 out of 10 at the X.
I feel the Nike Vapor Elite is better for offensive players who focus on handling and shooting rather than faceoffs. If you're a FOGO, go with a dedicated, more flexible faceoff head like the Gait Faceoff Flex ($119.99), and check out our list of the best faceoff heads.
Coach's note: Whether it's a March practice in upstate New York, a box night in Ontario or a humid summer tournament in Virginia Beach, a stiff attack head like this lives and dies by its pocket. Don't blame the head for a late release until you've had a good stringer look at your shooters. Nine times out of ten, that's where the fix is.
Alternatives at BattleLax
BattleLax doesn't carry Nike heads, but these are the closest options they stock right now.
| Gear | Why it's here | Price |
|---|---|---|
| StringKing Mark 3A Unstrung Head | Narrow, pinched attack head, the closest match | $119.99 |
| ECD Mirage 3.0 Unstrung Head | Successor to the Mirage 2.0, built for shooters | $109.99 |
| Warrior Evo V Unstrung Head | Stiff all-around attack and middie head | $99.99 |
| Gait Torq 3 Unstrung Head | Light offensive head | $99.99 |
| Gait Faceoff Flex Head | Flexible faceoff head for FOGOs | $119.99 |
| StringKing Type 5x Mesh String Kit | Mesh and strings to dial in your pocket | $39.99 |
Shop the StringKing Mark 3A at Battle Lax
People also ask
What makes the Nike Vapor Elite lacrosse head suitable for attackers?
Its narrow face and shorter throat give attackmen better control, high shooting accuracy and better ground ball pickups than most attack heads.
How does the Nike Vapor Elite perform on ground balls?
Very well for an attack head. The strong sidewalls and pointed scoop funnel the ball right into the pocket, even if the scoop grabs a little turf now and then.
Is the Nike Vapor Elite lacrosse head durable?
Yes. It has a strong, durable build that holds up to aggressive play and constant checks. The top string can wear out, though, since there's no string-protection lip.
What are the pros and cons of the Nike Vapor Elite lacrosse head?
The pros are shooting accuracy, durability, better ground ball pickups, a light, balanced feel, versatility and value. The cons are a pocket that needs adjusting, a slightly delayed release and no string-protection lip.
Who should use the Nike Vapor Elite lacrosse head?
Offensive middies and attackmen, especially advanced players who want a durable, accurate head with great control. Developing players are better off with a softer head with a bigger sweet spot.
Final Verdict
The Nike Vapor Elite is a great head for offensive middies and attackmen. Its light, stiff build gives you high-level shot speed and accuracy. It's tough for newer players to string, but the deep pocket gives you a sweet spot that makes cradling easy.
Based on my time on the field, its ground ball scooping is better than most attack heads, thanks to its tight face and balanced throat.
Read more of my Nike lacrosse head reviews here.
