Arrays of aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) produced by supergrowth method were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and angle-resolved near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, which defined that nanotube disorder is 10e13 and 23e27, respectively. The latter value was confirmed by X-ray fluorescent spectroscopy. The difference in the obtained angular deviations was attributed to distortion of the SWCNT walls, because the X-ray spectroscopy methods are sensitive to a local environment of probing atoms, while the SEM examines the nanotubes at a substantially larger length scale. Significant distortion (20e24) of SWCNT walls could be related to the defects introduced during the growth process.