In February 2008, Nike celebrated 10 years of its Mercurial football line with the release of two of their most innovative football boots to date, designed to be the fastest with the ball: The Mercurial Vapor and the Mercurial Vapor SL. Both of the highly anticipated additions to the Mercurial Vapor family carry on the tradition of being extremely lightweight, while integrating Nike’s patented traction into an innovative footwear design that has changed the game at light speed.

The Mercurial has always stood out from the rest, from the first pair Ronaldo wore in March 1998 playing for Inter Milan against Parma to the latest Mercurial Vapor and Mercurial Vapor SL worn by players such as Didier Drogba and Cristiano Ronaldo separating them technically, aesthetically—and physically—from any other boot on the pitch.

Aerodynamic Ball Control

The new Mercurial Vapor and Mercurial Vapor SL both feature an innovative upper, re-engineered not just to make players faster, but faster while dribbling and shooting. As a result of direct input from players such as Cristiano Ronaldo,” explains Andy Caine, Nike Football Design director, “the new aerodynamic design minimizes the boot to its streamlined essence, only embellishing the striking surface with what it needs to increase control.

Just one seam exists in the shoe’s upper material (at the heel), while a new stitched stretch lace cover creates a cleaner ball contact area. The boot is wrapped in clear tactile coating and strategically placed ball control lines run from the toe to the instep, creating a grippy surface for all playing conditions.

Clean Handling at Full Velocity

The Mercurial Vapor SL Introducing the new Mercurial Vapor SL. Weighing just over 200 grams, Nike’s most elite model in the Mercurial Vapor line is designed to take on-pitch speed to new levels. The core technical innovation of the boot is an ultra-light carbon fiber Speed Plate that reduces weight while providing maximum acceleration, strength and support to the player. The plate was adopted from Nike’s conceptual extremely lightweight—almost completely carbon fiber—Mercurial SL.

The Speed Plate is so strong that its able to serve the dual purpose of providing torsion stability, for greater acceleration, and strength to protect the foot during hard kicks. Bringing the foot even closer to the ground, cleats and studs are injection molded to the plate, creating a single outsole piece that gives players a smooth ride. Combined with a carbon fiber external heel counter and the minimal-yet-tactile upper, this is one of Nike’s lightest best-handling boot to date.

Speed and Tested Traction

The Mercurial Vapor’s patented Vapor Traction System provides low-profile acceleration and multi-directional grip . A modified last in the new 2008 Mercurial Vapor broadens the scope of player fit; heel pods have been expanded laterally for more cushioning and extra protection.

Stabilizing the foot, a form-fitting EVA insert cradles the heel, while injected clear TPU/Glass Fiber heel wrap—visible from the outside—provides lightweight stability with minimal slippage.

All told, the comfortable ride of the Mercurial Vapor allows for sustained play at speed, keeping the ball where it should be: on your feet or in the net.

The Mercurial Vapor SL is designed to bring new speed to the pitch with patented traction technology.