Blackout boots always seem to cause a stir through the football boot community whenever they are worn by a professional footballer, but it seems Neymar is now the go-to guy for Nike when it comes to testing out prototypes of new boots! Neymar wearing some mysterious blackout prototype boots last week had everyone asking the same question: what are they? We have taken a long, hard look at the photos (and deliberated for even longer) and we think we have come up with the answer.
So what do we think the boot is, well here is our judgement:
We have heard this one being thrown around. A lot. And we are going to rule this one out straight away. We did not think we would have to say this, but quite a few people believe it is the next T90. There are several reasons why we believe we can safely rule the T90 out, while Neymar’s boots are very low profile, it is nothing like the shape of a traditional T90 boot. Not only that, the stud configuration is definitely one that you are more likely to see on a Mercurial Vapor than you would a T90. Lastly, Neymar’s boots look rather light, a road that is not tread upon by the T90. The off center lacing is the only thing to suggest it could be a T90, but we think there is definitely a storng argument against it then for it.
Chance: 5%
The new Mercurial Vapor IX?
In short, no. Photos of the Nike Mercurial Vapor IX has been hanging around the net for quite some time now, and yes while it does feature the same dimpled synthetic upper as the mysterious Neymar blackout prototype, the Vapor IX will share the same stud configuration as the Vapor VIII. The Neymar prototype has a unique stud configuration different to anything that we have ever seen on a Nike boot. This is an option that has been thrown into the air by quite a few people, but we are going to be ruling this one out too.
Chance: 0%
The next Nike GS?
Hmmm, now we are getting into more interesting territory, but still going to give this one a very low chance. Nike are releasing a new GS around Christmas, but the design of the new GS is not that different to the design of the original GS released a few months ago. We have already seem Mario Gotze test out prototypes of the new boot and the boot we see Neymar wearing is definitely different to what the German midfielder was wearing. The soleplate is different, the upper is different, it has a different lacing system. We cannot see it happening.
Chance: 10%
The Nike Mercurial Vapor X?
Bingo, here we go. While it does seem very farfetched, hear us out here. You see, whenever Nike goes about designing a prototype of a Mercurial Vapor, they often keep something successful from the Vapor it is replacing to ensure that the boot is not 100% different. While the jump from the Superfly III to the Vapor VIII was pretty drastic, the Superfly III kept the Flywire and SenseStud of the Superfly II, the Vapor IX will keep the same stud configuration as the Vapor VIII. Here, we predict that Nike are going to keep the dimpled upper from the Vapor IX and throw it onto the Vapor X. This is one big similarity between Neymar’s prototypes and the soon to be released Vapor IX, and with Nike always trying to keep something from an old Vapor onto their new models, it does make sense.
But there is another way of looking at it, Nike will be releasing the Vapor IX in January next year, and considering Nike normally allows each Vapor 12-15 months in the spotlight until it gets pulled down, it means that we are anticipating the Vapor X to come out in the spring of 2014. And what major football event do we have in 2014? The World Cup of course. The companies know the World Cup is their best opportunity to cash in on football hype. The Vapor is the boot that will be seen on the feet of Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar at the World Cup, the two darlings of the football world, so Nike will want to make sure the boot is perfect by the time the tournament starts. Developing a boot takes a long time, so with Nike starting to develop a boot now, it will be ready by the time the Vapor X is expected to be launched. Definitely the favourite.
Chance: 85%
About Jordon English
Interesting synopsis…I agree with all your points, and i have to say Vapor X seems like the best bet! Although, i do feel its weird for Nike to be moving away from the centered lacing that made the Vapor range so popular.
And getting rid of the blades….It just seems weird. What about a GS 3.0? http://image.ohozaa.com/view2/wjS8Ybg5tSiYaeKr
If you look at those, the upper looks VERY similar to the GS. With the Toe and the Midsection being almost taped.
I was going to say the same thing. I have seen a similar picture to this on gunt22′s wall. I think you have it, however soccerreviews may also be correct with the vapor X
I think a new version of the vapor. new nike boots for 2013 or the world cup in 2014. This time adidas and nike are testing the ne shoes for the world cup
I think the only thing that could suggest it is the new Laser is the soleplate and the off-centre lacing. That design is found on the Laser IVs I believe for the soleplate? Something about energy return?
it is vapor IX , look at mercurialfield.com for them , yes they are fakes , but they are like prototype last year thei had vapor 8 fakes very early so I think it is true vapor 9 like in this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii898yBfuT4
ups sorry vapor IX*
D
There would be no point in having offset lacing on the vapors as the outside is the area which you touch the ball when dribbling at high speeds and the selling point with offset lacing is to have better striking zone but a vapor would be too thin to add any extra striking elements.
Perhaps Nike are changing the studs and layout in response to the FA investigation. Having conical studs would be much safer then the very sharp blades of the current vapor 8′s
what do you know about nike veno or venom project?? is it real??
What do you know about the Nike venom project? I’ve never heard of it, I’m just curious
how about it just being neymars personal boot. or a new boot to change the mercurial line. like the total 90 became t90 laser. mayby vapor x wont happen and it will be called something else, so the vapor doesnt go into double digits.
Highly doubt any football player will be getting their ‘own’ football boot anytime soon hartmann!
ronaldo has his “own” boot. the diffrense could be the finish. but it could still be a vapor.
but right now 5 european players have there own boot with the new gs2. so you never know. vapor 9 neymar edition??
You have to notice that the cleats Neymar is testing, and the picture we can see in Internet, are very similar, but have many differences.
First of all, Neymar boots are all in 1 part, with small cercles in the entire upper (similar to the Mercurial IX). The shoes we can see on internet are like the GS, in 2 parts, with the toe and the midsection taped together, and only have the toe box with cercles.
Second, the laces are diferents, Mercurial IX have central lacing, Neymar boots have off-center lacing, and the Swoosh is in the inside, while it is on the external part for the IX. So it’s 100% sure that those aren’t Mercurial IX.
So, for me, Neymar boots look like a mix of IX, with new soleplate (similar to Super Ligera Boots), in one part.
And the picture of the Cleats on internet look like a mix of IX, with GS, and new soleplate !
Hey guys, here are some pieces of the next generation of Predator (Absolado TF version in a flashy colourway), very interesting:
http://muare1.vcmedia.vn/images/2012/10/30/mr_512019_128919a325a56605.jpg
http://muare1.vcmedia.vn/images/2012/10/30/mr_512019_c1a174f666a8135f.jpg
http://muare1.vcmedia.vn/images/2012/10/30/mr_512019_b0e424088ae47032.jpg
those are the new preds????
Yeah, I think so. Surfed the web and found no information on those anywhere, even the prototype. IMO, this colourway is sick.
Yes they are the new predators, direct successors to the Lethal Zones to be exact. You can see the new zones concept on the shoes, but they are the Absolado version so the zones are heavily ‘dumbed down’. Can’t wait to see the top tier version of these preds!
Great stuff Nicky, where did you find them?
Also, do you know anything about the new adidas silo with the ‘rubber band’ around the forefoot. Looks like this: http://gunt22.com/uploads/3/0/7/6/3076495/9460016.png?677
Hey FootySpy,
We have talked about that boot extensively in the Soccer Reviews podcast. If you listen to podcast 2, we go through exclusive information relating to the boot
Thanks Jordon, I have watched all the podcasts so far, great stuff! Just wanted to see if Nicky has any pictures of the boots, as the only one I can find so far is heavily ‘filtered’.
Hi Jordon, I am also a big fan of your Soccer Review podcast, too:D Have never missed a single one so far. Keep on your great work! Btw, do you have any information on the latest Preds in the images that I found? Cheers!
Hi Footspy,
I found those pictures from a website of a online seller in Vietnam. Interestingly, he could have in hands quite many interesting boots before it is officially released.
Here is the website: http://xuanthanhsoccer.vn/
There are some cool samples there. Check it out guys. I don’t know how he could handle to have those samples in hands.
Many boots are made in Vietnam and China because the labour is cheaper. These companies get the orders for the boots early so they can produce them. That’s where you get most leaks from.
awesome find!
what if those are Vapor IXs but with a hard ground sole, a la http://www.sochuteiras.com/2012/09/novos-esquemas-de-cores-das-chuteiras_21.html
The off-centre lacing is a dead giveaway that this is not the Vapor IX.
GS¡¡¡¡¡
did anyone else notice Neymar has gigantic feet??
T90 SL. adidas put the F50 soleplate on the preditor sl’s.
hey there are models of these….. the blackones are GS2 and a similar white model… could be more like a total90 SL maybe??
check the pics here:
http://www.sochuteiras.com/2012/10/novas-fotos-do-novo-prototipo-nike.html
random guess but maybe Neymars own edition of the vapors?
http://www.sochuteiras.com/2012/09/revelado-novo-prototipo-nike.html
The boots Neymar’s wearing are horrible. The upper looks lik the power strike thing on the T90 laser iii
Def these are the next Nike GS nobody can tell??
The golf ball thing is pretty cool in my opinion
If they are Vapor 10s I would be very surprised but not in total shock
Guys it’s the new nike hyper-venom. It matches the exact design of the boot with the dimples upper. Pictures on this website!
http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/nike-football
Yep they look like the new nike hyper venom.
http://todosobrecamisetas.blogspot.com/2012/12/anticipo-nueva-linea-de-nike-hyper.html
I personally agree with jake and connor on this i have seen neymar on a poster featuring the hyper venom.
THEY ARE THE NEW NIKE HYPER VENOM PHANTOM. THEY ARE TO BE RELEASED THIS SUMMER SOME TIME . . . !!!
Hyper VENOM Phantom