What is Nike VaporKnit?
Nike VaporKnit is a soccer jersey technology that Nike used from 2018 for many of its high-performance match shirts. Nike calls these shirts "Authentic".
The technology combines a lightweight, stretchy fabric with ventilation zones integrated directly into the material. It is designed for sports.
VaporKnit was used for the match version (authentic). The regular fan version (stadium) for supporters continued to use Nike Dri-FIT during the same period.
This meant that a Dri-FIT fan shirt and a VaporKnit match shirt could exist at the same time in exactly the same kit.
In this blog, we explain when Nike used VaporKnit, how the technology works and how it differs from regular Dri-FIT shirts.
- 1. When did Nike introduce VaporKnit?
- 2. How does Nike VaporKnit work?
- 3. What does VaporKnit material look like?
- 4. VaporKnit versus Dri-FIT: what is the difference?
- 5. Is VaporKnit the same as what the players wore?
- 6. Did all teams use VaporKnit?
- 7. What is the difference between AeroSwift and VaporKnit?
- 8. What came after Nike VaporKnit?
- 9. How can you identify a Nike VaporKnit shirt?
- 10. VaporKnit at a glance
- 11. Frequently asked questions
When did Nike introduce VaporKnit?
Nike introduced VaporKnit in 2018 as the successor to Nike AeroSwift.
From 2016, AeroSwift was used for Nike Vapor match shirts. Nike was already using lightweight knit materials, stretch and targeted ventilation.
VaporKnit continued that development.
During the 2018 World Cup, the technology was visible on several Nike national team kits. Brazil, France, England and Portugal, among others, played in VaporKnit match shirts.
After that, VaporKnit also appeared on the Match versions of many Nike club shirts.
The technology was particularly characteristic of the seasons:
- 2018/2019
- 2019/2020
- 2020/2021
From the 2021/2022 season onward, Dri-FIT ADV became the main technology name for Nike's match shirts.
How does Nike VaporKnit work?
An important part of how VaporKnit works lies in the way the material is made.
Nike could incorporate different properties, such as ventilation and stretch, directly into different parts of the fabric.
In areas where extra cooling was needed, the fabric could be made more open. Other sections could be made denser or more elastic. This meant the shirt did not need to have exactly the same material structure everywhere.
VaporKnit combines, among other things:
- lightweight fabric;
- plenty of stretch;
- targeted ventilation;
- quick-drying fabric;
- close-fitting
The result is a shirt that's clearly more performance-focused than the regular fan version.
What does VaporKnit fabric look like?
A striking feature of many VaporKnit shirts is that the material's texture is clearly visible.
When you look at the shirt up close, you can see different patterns and holes in the fabric.
The ventilation holes are placed in areas where a lot of heat builds up during exercise, keeping the body extra cool in those spots.
A VaporKnit shirt looks different up close than a fan shirt. The fan version has a smoother, thicker fabric, without ventilation holes or stretch.
VaporKnit vs. Dri-FIT: what's the difference?
VaporKnit and Dri-FIT were used during the same period. That can be confusing when comparing two shirts from the same season.
The main difference is that Dri-FIT was mainly used for the regular fan version, while VaporKnit was used for many match-version shirts.
| Feature | Dri-FIT | VaporKnit |
| Technology | Simple | Advanced |
| Fit | Regular | Tighter |
| Ventilation | Less | Targeted ventilation zones |
| Stretch | Less | More |
| Fabric | More robust | Light |
Is VaporKnit the same as what the players wore?
In terms of technology, players wore the same thing on the field. There are small differences in construction.
For example, VaporKnit shirts issued to a club to wear during matches do not have wash labels inside the shirt. In terms of performance technology, however, they are the same.
So VaporKnit does not automatically mean it is a player or match issue shirt. It only says something about the technology.
Did all teams use VaporKnit?
No. Not all club or national teams used VaporKnit. For example, South Korea and Australia did not use VaporKnit shirts during the 2018 World Cup.
What is the difference between AeroSwift and VaporKnit?
AeroSwift was used for Nike match shirts from 2016 onward and already used the same materials, stretch and targeted ventilation.
VaporKnit was not an entirely new starting point. It was primarily the next step in Nike's development of lighter, more breathable, close-fitting match shirts.
What came after Nike VaporKnit?
From 2021/22, VaporKnit was succeeded by Dri-FIT ADV. With Dri-FIT ADV, Nike continued to work with different material structures and targeted ventilation.
Nike also made greater use of data on movement, heat and perspiration, among other things, to design different sections of a shirt individually.
Regular Stadium shirts continued to use Dri-FIT.
That is why it is important not to interpret this development as meaning that Dri-FIT was replaced by VaporKnit in 2018. Fan shirts continued to use Dri-FIT.
In this article, we take a closer look at Nike Dri-FIT ADV
How can you recognize a Nike VaporKnit shirt?
It is indicated at the bottom of the shirt. The word VaporKnit is printed on the front. You can also see it inside the collar, where the same word is printed.
The material is also a clear indicator. On many VaporKnit shirts, you can clearly see that the entire shirt is not made from the same smooth fabric. Different sections have their own pattern and ventilation zones.
Other features may include:
- Tighter fit
- More stretchy fabric
- Lighter construction
- Logos are heat-pressed instead of embroidered
VaporKnit at a glance
Nike VaporKnit was used from 2018 for the performance versions (also known as Authentic) of Nike football shirts.
The technology is distinguished mainly by:
- Lightweight construction
- Stretch fabric
- Targeted ventilation zones
- Close fit
- Heat-applied logos
Nike used VaporKnit through the 2020/21 season. It was then replaced by Dri-FIT ADV.
What does Nike VaporKnit mean?
VaporKnit is the name of a construction that Nike used for the performance (also known as authentic) version of a football shirt.
The fabric combines ventilation, stretch, low weight, and a close fit.
When did Nike start using VaporKnit?
Nike introduced VaporKnit in 2018.
The technology was used, among other occasions, at the 2018 World Cup and later for a number of Nike club shirts.
Is VaporKnit the same as Dri-FIT?
No.
During the VaporKnit era, Nike used Dri-FIT mainly for regular fan shirts and VaporKnit for the performance version of the same football shirt.
As a result, both technologies could appear simultaneously on two official versions of the same kit.
Is a VaporKnit shirt automatically Player Issue?
No.
VaporKnit indicates which performance technology was used. That does not automatically mean the shirt was actually issued to a player or team.
