Soccer Reviews now has now posted about the Nike Mercurial Vapor VIII official release, so view the linked article for more details.
After years of dominating the speed boot market, the Nike Mercurial has now fallen miles behind Adidas (and perhaps even Puma) in the race to have the ‘world’s fastest boots’. While the Superfly III was a liability, Nike hope that the newest addition to the Mercurial family will get them back to the top of the market. Introducing the Nike Mercurial Vapor VIII.
It’s pretty evident that a lot has changed with the new Mercurial, so let’s just skimp over the basics. We believe that Nike have plans to dump the Superfly and they will go back to just having the Vapors as the flagship boot. While we don’t 100% trust our source, our insider claims to have the inside information on the boot range.
The evolution of the next Mercurial model is huge when compared to the difference between the Superfly II and Superfly III. Nike haven’t given the boot a paint job and claimed it will make your team mates see you on the pitch. They’ve overhauled the whole boot in an effort to show Adidas that the Nike brand is far from dead.
Nike have changed the whole stud configuration of the boot. With only two studs on the heel of the boot, Nike have virtually returned to the popular Superfly I stud configuration, which is still used by Drogba and Benayoun on their customised Superfly IIIs. This will, of course, all be in an effort to aid acceleration and speed.
The other major change for the new Vapor VIII is a newly re-designed upper. This piece of information is exclusive to Soccer Reviews, and our source is our very own James Batchelor. James saw a kid testing out a pair of Vapor VIIIs while he was playing at a summer football tournament. When James picked up the boot, he claims that the upper was very different to the one on the current Superfly. It was thinner and felt nothing like any other upper he’d felt before.
We’re only working on estimates and rumours, but it’s fair to say that the Mercurial is making a comeback. We believe the new Mercurial is going to weigh in around 180 grams. While this is far from the lightest boot on the market, I’d rather have a boot that weighs 40 grams more than the AdiZero if it offers better protection and durability. And how many of us believe 40 grams is going to make us quicker?
The two colourways above are the two launch colourways for the boot. While the Orange/Black colourway looks like it would stand out on the pitch, I think the White/Blue colourway looks absolutely spectacular and I have to get that colourway myself! The sharp readers might also notice the blue and yellow strip on the heel of the orange boot. We believe this will work to allow your team mates to see you easier on the pitch, much like the purpose of the bright Superfly III colourways. We also expect the boots to be released around April or May, just in time for Euro 2012.
We’re going to keep searching for more pics and specs for you guys. But until then, what do you think about the new Mercurials?
About Jordon EnglishLeaks: Nike Mercurial Vapor VIII (First Pictures)){kind=link}
Nice to see Nike actually trying to compete at least! Are they going to drop carbon fiber as well?
Also is it me or the fg version has only 2 studs at the back?
I think there are only 2 studs on the heel, but it looks like nike has made them longer.
yeah only 2 studs at back on fgs, hate too see they drop the superflys. superflys look way better and most people buy because of looks
is that maybe a new tiempo iv colurway next to the boots. in the trainer version.
If those are tiempos, then what’s to the left?
Another vapor colourway.
I am a fan on the Superfly – I own 2 pairs – but this is the right way to go. Also, the SG model looks like Ronaldo’s custom plate
Yes ronaldo has been testing out the plate on his boots now
love them look so nice! white and green tiempo in the background on the right
what a joke, scrap the best boot nike have…
there’s a mixed stud sole plate there….think they will be better than superflies..
is it me or the swoosh is smaller..
Cry Wolf.. They always saw that the new mercurial is soo much better.. but its not. just new colors. Nike < Adidas
Hmmm The boot thats facing up looks like a talaria/miracle, because the swoosh looks too small…
I think those are the vapors or superflys, not the miracles (look at the insole, it has holes in it like vapors and superflys)
mannnn just when i saw the link i thought i would be in for a treat…….but really it’s gettin even worser……just look at the swoosh……it sucksss mannnn…….!!!!!
I think they look good; they kind of look like vapor iv’s
what’s that off to the left….
vapors>sf
It’s about time nike did something to breathe some life into the mercurial range
I am not sure if I like them…
yeeeeaaahhhh!!!!!!! new vapors defo gonna get em!!
It looks like they also have a swoosh in the internal part of the shoe, I think they´ll be awesome boots, Iwear adizeros but I will not bother at all changing to theese ones
i reckon these will look sickk! can’t wait till they come out… it’s time for new boots anyways! i hope its not so expensive anymore..! PLEASE don’t let them be US$400 again!
Just so you guys know, I think that’s a sneaker on the right. It just doesn’t look like a football boot, right?
Pretty sure it’s a Street Gato, just bought a pair in that same colorway.
It’s not a StreetGato, we can only see the instep and it isn’t anywhere as nearly exciting as the Gato!
If that’s a sneaker, somebody please tell me what’s on the left. I mean, just look at the studs!
Hey Harry,
That’s simply the orange boot with an AG stud configuration.
Thanks Jordan, I honestly feel stupid now.
well.. first of all i have to say that the new vapor will not call vapor viii, it will call vapor IIX.
and secondly there wont be a superfly model, but vapor IIX elite will replace the superfly line.
BTW, sorry for my bad english im not from there and GOOD JOB SOCCERREVIEWS!!!
wow… no they will be Vapor VIII because that’s how roman numerals work…
and to others. they swoosh is smaller yes, that’s because its a new vapor, the superfly I had a tiny swoosh so you can’t really complain and I like the difference because the superfly’s basically have looked the exact same for ages now. I’m tempted to get he white/blue when they come out. Mercurials seriously lack decent white colourways aside from that 1 Superfly II colourway which was great.
i hate it when people come on here spouting facts that aren’t true, Omer why would they be called Vapor iix when iix isn’t even a roman numeral (i dont think) and the last were vii (7), and vi (6) before that and so on. So why would they not be viii (8)? clown…
They look like different boots (the white/blue one in the middle and the orange ones). One has a small tick near the middle at the front (white/blue), while the orange ones have two large ticks on the sides which the white/blue clearly doesn’t have
Well the boots are going to be 6.5 ounces (184 grams) and the teijin is a lot thinner. and the are getting rid of the superfly so it will be called vapour 8 and they are getting rid of the “elite” line so they will not be called “elite” it is just vapour.
comes out in americas summer next year i think. same time as when they stop branding their boots elite. i hope the mercurial soleplate is not flimsy like the adizeros
The thing that excites me most about this boot is that nike will finally be able to compete with adidas on how light the boots are. I own a pair of adizero primes and they are honestly terrible boots, they feel very cheap and flimsy. I know nike is all about traction so i doubt they will give up traction for lightness. I think it will be a great mix of traction and how light the boot is. This will be a great boot when it is released.
does the orange boot on the left have a mixed soft and firm ground sole plate like the ones cristiano ronaldo wears?
nike mercurial vapor viii these will be with the 2 types of plugs (rubber and aluminum) in a single boot