Nike Vapor Jet 8.0 Review: Elite Grip, Clean Fit, and Unmatched Value

Introduction 

When it comes to receiver gloves, few names carry as much weight as the Nike Vapor Jet. Trusted by everyone from high school standouts to NFL pros, the line has always offered that perfect blend of fit, grip, and clean aesthetics. And now with the Vapor Jet 8.0s, Nike builds on that legacy with a few key updates.

The 8.0s stay true to what made the 7.0s great, but they refine the design just enough to feel fresh. The grip remains elite, the build is light and breathable, and the fit, well, it’s close to perfect. But are there any flaws? Here’s everything you need to know.

Fit

Right away, you’ll notice that the Vapor Jet 8.0 fits like a glove should, tight and athletic, with no unnecessary bulk. It wraps neatly around the back of your hand and tracks every movement through the fingers. Nike kept the same close-to-skin feel from the 7.0s but updated the back-of-hand material slightly. The result? A softer, more adaptive fit.

One new feature is the quilt-like interior lining, which actually molds slightly to your hand over time. This material upgrade offers both comfort and stability without sacrificing the lightweight feel players expect. The glove feels like it disappears once you’re locked in.

As for the strap, Nike reverted to a more traditional design but added a bit of stretch bungee material to help with adjustability. You can wear these fully strapped for security or leave them unstrapped if you prefer that freer feel—either way, they stay put thanks to that snug wrist entry.

Overall, these gloves fit tight across the back of hand and fingers, with enough give in the fabric to accommodate natural hand movement. They’re not stiff, and they’re not loose—they hit that sweet spot right in between.

Comfort

While the fit is excellent, comfort takes a very slight step back from the previous model. Don’t get it twisted—these are still extremely wearable, and most players will love how light and breathable they feel.

The new quilted back-of-hand material adds softness and helps regulate temperature on warm days. Between the breathable fabric and added perforations in the thumb, fingers, and pinky wrap, these gloves ventilate really well. You’re not going to end up with sweaty, overheated hands halfway through practice.

However, one small issue does show up when you make a fist or flex your hand hard—the material tends to bunch slightly in the fingers, especially the index finger. It’s not a huge issue, and it didn’t affect catching performance, but it’s noticeable if you’re picky about how gloves feel when fully compressed.

Still, that’s a minor knock in what’s otherwise a very comfortable glove. The interior feels smooth against the skin, the fingers have enough space to move naturally, and the backhand feels like it was built to breathe. Overall, the comfort level is high—just maybe not quite perfect.

Grip

This is where the Vapor Jet 8.0 absolutely dominates.

Once again, Nike uses their Magnigrip+ palms—and if you’ve played in these before, you know how good they are. The grip is instantly sticky out of the package and remains tacky even after weeks of use. No “break-in” period, no warming it up—just pure grip right away.

The grip isn’t just strong—it’s also smartly placed. Nike added a pinky wrap for added surface area when tracking deep balls and an overlay on the index finger for better control. There are also subtle overlays on the middle fingers that help keep the glove structured as you secure the catch.

Combine all of that with the glove’s tight, flexible fit, and the ball feel is elite. You don’t feel like you’re wearing a clunky layer between your hands and the football. Instead, you feel connected to every pass—whether it’s high, low, or through traffic.

If you’re a receiver, DB, or any skill position player who relies on grip and control, the Vapor Jet 8.0s are some of the best gloves on the market.

Protection

There’s not much to say here—these are true receiver gloves, so protection isn’t the priority. They’re designed for speed and feel, not absorbing hits.

That said, Nike did throw in a small amount of padding at the base of the thumb. But in all honesty, it’s not very noticeable and doesn’t offer much in the way of protection. If you’re looking for gloves with serious back-of-hand padding or finger guards, you’ll want to check out something like the Superbad 7.0s.

But again, that’s by design. The Vapor Jet 8.0s are made for skill players who prioritize speed, dexterity, and responsiveness over bulk.

Style

Nike rarely misses on aesthetics, and the 8.0s are clean.

The silhouette is slim and aggressive, with nice little design touches like the “Vapor” branding on the strap and a metallic flake finish on the silicone overlays. It’s a modern look that doesn’t scream for attention but still turns heads.

The palm design is also super minimal and stylish, with solid color and just the small “Vapor” branding for flair. These gloves look premium without being loud.

When it comes to colorways, you’ve got plenty of options. Nike offers 8 standard team colorways—perfect for matching uniforms—and then throws in some wild “NRG” colorways for players who want to stand out. Whether you want stealthy black or something flashy, there’s something for every player’s style.

Price

Retailing at $50, the Vapor Jet 8.0 sits right in the middle of the premium glove price range. And for what you get, it’s honestly one of the best deals in football.

You’re getting elite grip, lightweight materials, great breathability, and top-tier style—for a price that’s reasonable and repeatable if you need a backup pair. Some other gloves charge $60–$70 and don’t even come close to the performance or feel of these.

If you’re looking for a high-performance glove at a fair price, these are absolutely one of the best bang-for-your-buck gloves on the market.

Final Verdict

The Nike Vapor Jet 8.0 gloves are everything you want in a skill-position glove: tight, breathable, lightweight, and ridiculously grippy. The small comfort hiccup in the finger bunching might affect a few picky players, but for the vast majority, these are going to perform exceptionally well.

You get that second-skin fit, premium Magnigrip+ grip, clean aesthetics, and a versatile price point—all wrapped up in one of the most trusted glove designs in the game.

Whether you’re a wide receiver, cornerback, safety, or running back, the Vapor Jet 8.0 should be at the top of your list for 2024. Nike stuck to the formula—and it still works better than almost anything else out there.