Nike Air Zoom Zero Women’s Tennis Shoe Review

If you’re looking for a tennis shoe that breaks the traditional mold and pushes the limits of what we think sporting equipment can do, then you’ll love the Nike Air Zoom Zeros. They’re a fantastic pair of shoes, which should come as no surprise considering they’re made by the sporting equipment giant Nike.

In this article, we’re going to review these premium-quality, high-performance shoes. We’ll be going over all of its key features in-depth to provide you with all the information you need to decide whether they’re the shoes for you. Read on for the full review. 

Table of Contents

Nike Air Zoom Zero Women’s Tennis Shoe

The Nike Air Zoom Zero women’s tennis shoes are an innovative pair of sneakers that reward players with ultimate performance and speed. They are built with a unique one-piece upper, which might prove somewhat challenging to get onto your feet, but once they’re there, they feel extremely supportive through the uppers and responsive underfoot. What more could you ask for in a pair of tennis shoes?

Nike Womens Tennis Air Zoom Zero HC

From the second you step onto the court with the Air Zoom Zeros on your feet, you will be impressed by the stable response and the fast feel that these units provide. They offer similar durability levels as many of the other popular lightweight, nimble shoes on the market right now. 

Overall, we believe that if you are a player that favors performing explosive movements on the court while also looking sharp, you’ll love the Air Zoom Zeros. 

Who Should Buy These Shoes?

The Nike Air Zoom Zero tennis shoes are a fantastic option for ladies who have been in the game for a while, have worn dozens of different pairs of tennis shoes, and are looking for an upgrade that will make them feel like a pro. These shoes are incredibly lightweight and airy, which allows them to accommodate explosive movements throughout the court. 

We wouldn’t necessarily recommend these shoes to newbie players, thanks to their inflated price tag. Nike isn’t known for being cheap – they’re known for being quality, so if you are just starting out in tennis and are looking for a pair of entry-level tennis shoes, we suggest looking elsewhere. 

The Air Zoom Zeros are also not the best shoes for people with wide feet since they have quite a slim, narrow design. They are better suited to ladies with smaller feet. 

Specifications

  • Half-bootie construction
  • Narrow frame
  • Lightweight
  • Thick outsole
  • Outsole is made of rubber
  • New outsole pattern

The Nike Air Zoom Zero tennis shoes were built with a half-bootie construction that makes the shoes feel more like a second skin than an actual shoe. The shoes prove to be both supportive and comfortable, and while this is quite a difficult balance to master, we must say that the shoes can be a struggle to get on, thanks to the narrow fit. 

This is especially true if you have wide feet. Even more so if your feet are wide from the forefoot through the midfoot since the half-bootie construction we mentioned earlier really does not open up at all. You can loosen the laces as much as you want, but the bootie just isn’t going to get any wider. 

What’s more, the twill material found at the top of the insole is also quite rigid and does not have much give, so you might find that your foot gets stuck about halfway in. Of course, the shoes will become easier and easier to put on the more you wear them, but for the wide-footed ladies out there, putting the Nike Air Zoom Zeros on will likely never be a simple process. 

We feel that it would have been better if Nike added a loop on the rear instead of at the tab so that the shoe would be easier to pull. With that being said, once your feet are snugly inside of the shoe, they are super comfortable. You’ll have a highly responsive feeling underfoot, and the cushioning provides ample support for your feet. 

The same goes for the uppers, which are supportive and soft. The Air Zoom Zeros fit true to size, and we really appreciate the cushioned underfoot feel, which feels more supportive than it does plush while still being supremely comfortable. You might feel a bit of pressure at the top of your feet when you cinch the laces up, and some buyers have even reported feeling the collar digging into their ankles at times. 

However, during play, you shouldn’t experience any discomfort or pinching, and you’ll feel comfortable in all of the movements you make, no matter how aggressive. One thing you’ll notice is that the Air Zoom Zeros are not the most breathable shoes in the world, so you may notice that your feet start to heat up after long playing sessions. 

When it comes to stability and support, these shoes are more than capable of withstanding your most abrupt and aggressive directional changes and movements. The shoes do ride higher off the ground than what you might be used to, but Nike is known for their stable and supportive shoes, and the Air Zoom Zeros are no different. They are light while still feeling substantial and provide you with all the confidence you need to move aggressively in any direction. 

Moving side to side isn’t a problem, and the shoes are more than capable of holding you upright. The upper materials are not very stretchy at all, which is a great thing when it comes to support. Even if you barely tie the shoes up, their stability and support will be more than enough to keep you nimble on the court and prevent you from rolling your ankles. 

The unique construction and shape of these shoes might lead you to believe that they would feel tippy, but they actually allow you to be very fluid in your movements on the court. Though the half-bootie can make getting into the shoe a struggle, it does provide a sock-like fit that keeps your feet locked in. We would have preferred just a little more cushioning around the front of the ankle collar, however. 

If you know anything about tennis shoes, then you know that lightweight shoes often sacrifice durability in order to be as light as possible, and unfortunately, that is the case with the Nike Air Zoom Zeros. While they allow you to be super nimble on the court, if you are a highly aggressive player that does lots of slides, you’re going to wear out the soles quite quickly. 

When it comes to traction, we do appreciate the almost-sticky outsole on the Nike Air Zoom Zeros, which are perfect for fast movers. The new pattern on the bottom of the outsoles allows you to tap into the way you want the outsoles to work for you. The shoes give you the confidence you need when you’re being pulled off of the court, and you will very rarely feel as though you are about to lose your footing or slip. 

Another great thing about the traction on these shoes is that they really let you push off and get back into a point quickly, which is something that many pro-level players value. In terms of weight, the Nike Air Zoom Zeros are slightly heavier than their cousins, the Vapor Xs, and are far faster and more explosive. 

They have a higher off-the-ground feeling than many other shoe models that are designed around speed, but they’ll still make you feel super quick. The design is made to propel your feet forward so that you can always feel ready to move and on your toes. Its shoelaces are also not very bulky, which only adds to the fluidity of movement. 

The shoes’ unique shape will keep you on your toes and give you that speedy feeling that many players love. As for their appearance, Nike is known for creating some of the most stylish sporting equipment out there, and the Air Zoom Zeros are far from an exception. 

The back of the outsole juts out a bit from the shoe, which gives it a unique, sleek appearance, and on the white model, the half-bootie and insole are made from a bright orange material, which stands out just enough to turn heads without being outlandish. Overall, this is a very stylish pair of tennis shoes. 

Pros

  • Great cushioning
  • Fast feeling
  • Good stability
  • Secure feeling
  • Stylish appearance

Cons

  • Can be difficult to put on

Final Thoughts

All in all, the Nike Air Zoom Zero women’s tennis shoes are fantastic for ladies that like to keep things moving on the court. They offer remarkable freedom of movement for those aggressive directional changes, and if you aren’t a super-aggressive player, they are durable to hold up for a good long while.