Anyone familiar with the world of football boots, and particularly well-acquainted with this range, knows full well that Nike Mercurial boots are not only regarded as some of the best speed boots on the planet, but are also among the best-selling and most successful models. Add to this the influence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé, amongst others. The entire Nike Mercurial range featured in this collection, which in an inspiring way, empowers the fastest footballers; every player in the world has their own dreams, goals and ambitions hidden within them. To bring those dreams out into the world and make them a reality, Nike brings us the new Mercurial Dream Speed.
Mercurial Dream Speed 4 inspiration
On previous occasions, Nike has drawn inspiration from spacecraft, but this time, the new Mercurial MDS embodies the power and speed generated when they re-enter the atmosphere. The immense speed generates energy, caused mainly by friction, resulting in temperatures of 1,650 degrees Celsius with visible effects and a speed of over 25,000 kilometres per hour. A veritable trail of energy and fire, embodied in the fastest boot on the planet.
There are many visual details featured on the Nike Mercurial Vapor and Nike Mercurial Superfly editions, and given that the aforementioned focus is predominantly on a pair of speed boots, one of these details is, above all, the fusion of colours that is projected by heat as it enters the atmosphere. And one detail that I personally love is that ‘double’ Swoosh, which can be seen on the mid-section of these Nike football boots. Presumably, they may represent the dominance of Nike Mercurial boots in the market and the fact that two of the world’s best players will be wearing them; consequently, they incorporate elements inspired by Mbappé and Ronaldo.
Technical features: Nike Mercurial
Since the launch of the latest speed boot models from Nike’s main rivals, the brand’s primary objective for the next generation of its Mercurial range is to improve grip, fit and stability in order to achieve even greater speed—if that’s possible—and offer all users better performance in an area that is becoming increasingly important in modern football.
Although we still have a 360° construction at the forefront of this new generation, we can see that these new 2021 Mercurials, when compared to the previous generation, appear to be much stiffer at first glance. But let’s not be fooled; this new upper is where Nike has invested most of its efforts to modernise and thus boost performance. Despite what many of you may already be thinking, Flyknit hasn’t disappeared completely; this material from the American brand’s boots is still present in this new generation of Mercurials, though it has been removed from just one area: the heel.
Given that we’ve hardly seen any Flyknit, and that’s largely why we mentioned that at first glance it appears to be much stiffer than its predecessor, what is this new Mercurial made of? The development work behind this new upper has a name: Vaporsite Upper and Technical Componentized Upper.
Technical Componentized Upper
This name is perhaps the most complex one Nike has ever given to one of its technologies. Not so much because of its length or its literal translation, but because of the perfect combination of the four materials Nike has used. Yes, FOUR – you read that right. The different types of materials and technologies that make up this new technology have completely revolutionised this new generation of Mercurials.
Part of this new technology is the seemingly unusual design that runs across the upper, as it features distinctive ‘holes’ from the toe box to the area where the heel and heel counter are located. For the most part, all these holes have been incorporated to improve breathability and reduce the boot’s weight whilst maintaining much-needed and useful stability.
To better understand the holes, let’s break this part down. We’ll start with the Avail Q Lining Material and the Titan Synthetic. Both materials are considered crucial in this boot, as together they give the boot the optimal shape that Nike was aiming for with this new generation, as well as greater waterproofing—despite the holes they have—and excellent elasticity. All this despite the stiffness we initially felt on the inside.
The remaining two materials are Engineered Mesh, the super-durable material which, in addition to the lightness and breathability that characterise this model, also significantly reduces its weight. We finish with Duragon WT Skin, which is nothing more and nothing less than the new material that completely covers the entire upper. This provides a higher degree of waterproofing to this new boot without increasing its weight and, above all, without losing any grip when touching the ball.
As for the outsole, this new generation of Mercurials has also undergone a minor revolution. Although the previous generation corrected the flaw present in the model before it—resulting in greater outsole durability and a significant improvement in the boot’s stability and grip—the American brand decided to further enhance and improve upon the already high standard it had set in this area.
The outsole remains a two-piece modular design (front and rear) – the Aerotrak 2 Plate – but it is no longer separate, as both parts are now connected by a small bridge that links them together. Together, they add up. They enhance the grip that is so essential for our sprints and stops, as well as our stability during all the movements we make on the pitch. It is also worth noting the internal counter, or in this case the newly developed one, which improves the fit when we slip our feet into the boots and thus also prevents the traditional ‘roll-over’ that can occur during training and/or matches.
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