Mercurial or Furon? Choose your fighter

Today we’re going to talk about two pairs of football boots that are very similar, both in terms of technology and design. Both are highly prized by many fans, yet they have completely different histories. One is a legendary boot that has been on the market for years and has become one of the best-selling and most beloved boots of all time; the other is a much more recent model that has gradually carved out a niche for itself, but is now gaining significant prominence, particularly in England. 

We’re talking about the Nike Mercurial Vapor and the New Balance football boots, specifically the Furon V6 Pro. We’ve chosen these two models because, as we’ve already mentioned, they’re very similar, and we’re going to find out which is the best football boot for speed by comparing them side by side.

Let’s start by talking about the Nike football boot. This model has always been one of the most popular from the American brand Nike, not least because we’ve seen it on the feet of countless champions, particularly on those of the man many consider to be the world’s best player: Cristiano Ronaldo. Ever since his early days at Manchester United, we’ve seen him wearing this model, which he continues to use to this day. What’s more, we’ve seen different versions and colours, as well as the boot’s evolution. It’s currently one of the lightest boots on the market thanks to its Flyknit upper – a very lightweight and stretchy synthetic material that also offers protection for the foot.

Finally, we’ll look at the sole, which consists of two separate plates. It is not a one-piece sole, but rather two elements featuring studs, designed to grip the ground firmly and provide stability for the player, but above all to enhance speed during changes of direction and sprints.

We’ll now turn our attention to the boots from the American brand New Balance. To analyse this model in detail, we’ll start with the upper, where the brand’s designers have incorporated the new FIT WEAVE technology, a revolutionary fabric designed to offer greater lightness and comfort. The combination of Fit Weave and Hydraskin helps to completely insulate the inside of the boot, just as with Nike’s Skin technology.

In the midfoot area, we find one of the key changes in this new generation compared to the previous one, as this section has been redesigned and has undergone significant modifications. For example, the internal tongue has been removed, making way for Hyper-Lock technology, which has also allowed for an enlarged loop area and improved foot support. The sock has also been redesigned. This area is made from a very soft and flexible fabric which, according to New Balance Football, retains all its properties throughout the fit.

Finally, we come to the outsole, comprising 11 triangular studs that provide excellent stability on the pitch, as well as enhancing speed.