Nike Mercurial Superfly FG $384.99 Check Price

This Soccer Cleat is constructed of Synthetic Leather and is a small fit and true width.

Style
Construction
Performance

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Overall

Will your game ever be the same? Not sure where to start on this one. Nike’s loaded up the boat and sent it out to sea while constructing this boot. First, the shoe is striking – dare we say gorgeous? It’s definitely going to turn heads on the field. Then, when you pick the shoe up, you’re struck by just how light the shoe feels. How do you build a shoe at 6.8 ounces and still make it perform? Well, they’ve injected some technology that will make the biggest Shoe Dog drool like Pavlov’s bell just rung. Oh, and, they’re hand-crafted in Italy.

We love the concept, look and performance. But, we’re just concerned about the longevity of the shoe (can a $400 shoe stand up to the rigors of the entire season?) and any potential foot injuries that might occur as a result of trying to create the lightest shoe ever. And, while we’re all for pushing the limits, we’re just not sure that a $400 makes sense for everyone.

We recommend this shoe for outdoor soccer as well as artificial turf.

Style

This baby isn’t just the Porsche – it has the panache of a Mazerati and Lotus built into it as well. Opponents will admire, teammates will be jealous and referees will give you every call. Yes, they’re that cool.

Soccer.com reviewer:

Eyecatching…Devastating…Sick…The Best…whats there left to say except “These boots speak for itself!!” Very light and they feel great during play. I damage the opposition in every way possible with my weapon of choice…the Nike Mercurial Vapor Superflys…

Yeah, we pretty much agree.

Construction and Durability

Hand-crafted in Italy. It’s a good start. This shoe is ten grams lighter than the original, which was achieved by coring the studs in the front and back of the shoe. Utilizing a direct-injection process makes these studs lighter and stronger and more durable. Pretty good, huh?

Check out this Nike Superfly construction video

Nike uses its ultra-thin synthetic kangaroo leather, Teijin material, and has integrated Flywire. These filaments span the upper and attach to the outsole which provides support and durability. This is basically the tradeoff in trying to take the upper down to nothing. You have to reinforce it somehow. When I first saw it, I couldn’t help but to think of a homeless man using ten plastic bags to tie cardboard around his feet. I’m sure this stands up a little bit better. Nike’s Mercurial Vapor Superfly has an integrated, vented tongue for a low profile fit.

To provide support and rigidity to the outsole, Nike constructed a three layer, twelve bar carbon fiber chassis. This engineering creates flexibility in the forefoot (for running) and stiffness in the arch (for stability in cutting and turning). The contoured speed last is anatomically correct and mirrors the shape of the foot. Yes, the insole is removable (we’ve heard of people taking them out and playing without them) and has ventilation holes.

Again, when you try to widdle down a shoe to essentially nothing, we are concerned about the ability of this shoe to perform for more than a season. When you’re spending $400, you want them to last. The early reports seem to indicate our concerns are unfounded, but only time is going to tell.

Performance

6.8 ounces and built to move at superfly speed. It’s hard to argue that you simply won’t be faster on the field with the lightest soccer cleat in the game. With all of this integrated technology, you’ll feel more like a NASA astronaut than a soccer player…but the shoe does perform. There’s just something about playing in a synthetic leather shoe compared to a genuine kangaroo. While the touch is good, it can never match the touch of leather. Life is a series of trades – you give up one thing to get another. So, give up a little touch to get some more speed. I’m ok with that.

We sincerely believe that part of playing well is feeling good and confident about yourself on the field. The Nike Superfly will definitely help you to achieve that.