Nike Mercurial or adidas X SpeedFlow

The best football boots: Nike Mercurial or adidas X Speedflow+; which is better? In today’s post, we’ll help you choose the right pair of football boots, so that when it comes to buying them, you won’t have any doubts.

12 September 2021 - Written by David del Río

adidas X speedflow+ Vs Nike Mercurial



Let’s take a look at a comparison we’ve been eagerly awaiting, as the arrival of the new adidas X Speedflow football boots means the competition in the top-tier speed range is fiercer than ever. We’ll go through the key differences between each model to see which one suits you best. 

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Comfort

Let’s start with this point, which is certainly a matter of debate, as comfort in a football boot depends on the shape of our foot, how we like the boot to feel, and the sensations we’re looking for on the pitch. With this in mind, both models are very comfortable for boots designed to help players reach their maximum speed. Starting with the adidas X Speedflow, we can say without a doubt that the new X Speedflow has taken a step forward compared to the previous generation. The inclusion of Primeknit provides a much more comfortable fit and feel which, after a few days, will make the boot and foot feel like one. 

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As for the Nike Mercurial football boots, we can say that since the seventh generation of the Superfly and the Vapor XII, they have been extremely comfortable, even for those with wider feet. 

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In conclusion, both models are very comfortable; however, we think that, by a very small margin, the Mercurials are still slightly more comfortable for most people. Bear in mind that this is a personal opinion and may vary depending on who tries them on. 

Sole

We wanted to include this section because, particularly with speed boots, the sole is of paramount importance, as it’s responsible for providing that perfect support for all our moves at top speed. 

In Cristiano Ronaldo’s or Mbappé’s football boots, we have the now ‘classic’ Mercurial sole, with tri-claw and semi-modular studs, as this version features the flex zone that forms part of the Aerotrak 2 Plate sole and provides extra stability. 

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If we look at the German brand, it offers an alternative in the same style – a very aggressive boot with laminated studs – but with one key feature: Carbitex technology, which provides the maximum possible responsiveness in a football boot. Carbitex is a small carbon fibre insert that ensures the boot returns to its original shape almost instantly. 

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So, thanks to this feature, the stud configuration and, of course, that chrome-finish sole, the adidas X Speedflow takes the crown, boasting the most technologically advanced sole in a football boot. 

Keys


And so we come to the end of this post, where we’ll go over a few key points about both boots. 

Firstly, it’s worth noting that the adidas X SpeedFlow offers a laceless option with the ‘Plus’ version. This is something the competition doesn’t offer and is unique to the German brand, so if you’re looking for a laceless boot, there’s no doubt which one you should choose. 

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If you’re looking for a boot that offers the full speed experience, the Nike Mercurial is the undisputed leader in this regard. The combination of the new upper, a very lightweight and aggressive outsole, and a perfect fit between foot and boot ensures an unrivalled speed experience. 

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In conclusion, we have two simply brilliant speed football boots, each with its own advantages over the other in various respects. The X Speedflow is a slightly more all-round boot, offering great touch and the best speed outsole currently available. And then there are the Nike Mercurials, the undisputed kings of speed for many years, which once again offer an incredibly solid option that is simply unrivalled when it comes to making you feel faster. 

Now that you know this, the decision is yours: which would you choose?

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  • Jesus Guzmán Rueda
    25 August 2019
    Los Adidas