Rather than trying to determine which is actually the best football boot, what we’re going to do here today is analyse and compare the strengths of each of these boots in three parts, so that you can decide which is the best option for you.
Weight
- adidas X Ghosted: 189 gr
- Nike Mercurial Vapor: 205 gr
Although every detail matters in modern football, we believe it is even more important—and may even be decisive—to gain small advantages over your opponents in the form of a few grams. These differences, however slight, can influence performance, both in these boots and in any other models we might compare here today. In any case, the most important thing is that this difference in weight is due to the changes both brands have made to the soles of these football boots, something we will analyse in the third and final part of this comparison.
Upper
The adidas X Ghosted football boots feature a new one-piece, laceless upper, crafted from a new MIRAGESKIN microfibre – a material developed with the aim of reducing weight, making this boot much slimmer than the previous generation. However, the upper also includes another very important detail that adds a significant advantage to this boot: a technology that provides a great fit from the very first moment. VACUUM FIT EXPERIENCE allows players to quickly feel a very comfortable fit, which also supports all kinds of explosive movements thanks to its close fit to the foot.
When we talk about the new Nike Mercurial Vapor, we can see how this completely redesigned upper features a new arrangement of materials such as Flyknit, particularly in the instep area, where it blends seamlessly with the new “Technical Componentized Upper”. This new technology incorporates four materials that provide breathability, weight reduction, support and feel. One of the most important is Duragon WT, a material that will be primarily responsible for providing a higher degree of water resistance and grip.
Sole
The heart of the adidas X is its outsole. The German brand uses a new plate called CARBITEX SPEEDFRAME, inspired by the origins of the previous Speedframe, which is characterised by the durability and lightness it offers, all thanks to that carbon plate located in the centre of the outsole. As well as providing the player with great stability and durability, it also offers a very noticeable feeling of lightness, something that is particularly evident when comparing the weight of the X Ghosted with the new Mercurial.
This new generation of the Mercurial continues to feature a two-piece Aerotrak 2 Plate modular outsole, but this time the two parts have been joined by a sort of backbone, acting as a bridge that connects the two sections and adds extra stability and durability to the outsole. Despite the addition of this extra element, Nike has managed to minimise the weight of this new generation whilst simultaneously enhancing the sole’s responsiveness for any type of movement on the pitch.
Conclusions
With the new design and construction of the adidas X, the fit has also changed completely. That previous design that so many of you loved has been modified. It’s much slimmer, and we think this has been done with a narrower foot type in mind. Even so, for those with slimmer feet, this boot will perform better than ever.
In Nike’s case, the redesign of the upper has been a real highlight. Although they’ve removed much of the Flyknit material and replaced it with this new technology, We believe that what’s lost in comfort is gained in efficiency, stability and a new internal fit. The difference in weight, whilst significant, doesn’t strike me as a major issue as long as these boots are being compared between players of a similar physical and technical ability.
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