Nike Mercurial Superfly 7 or Nike Mercurial Superfly 8

Although at first glance it might seem like a boot that hasn’t changed much, the change in materials used for the upper by Nike is really noticeable. Let’s see if this change represents a genuine evolution. 

In the previous version of the Nike Mercurial football boots, we had a plate made entirely from Flyknit, which provided a spectacular fit with really good grip for a boot of this style. However, in the new Nike Mercurial Dragonfly, the Flyknit is concentrated around the ankle area (particularly in the Superfly version) and the lacing system – essentially where we need the specialised, compressive fit offered by Nike’s star material.

So where are the new features in the upper? Well, they lie in the new design that takes the Mercurial back to its roots with the use of VaporSite Upper and Technical Componentized Upper technologies. This technology combines four different materials: the first two, which form the boot and provide perfect support despite the holes visible on the inside, are called Avail Q Lining Material and Titan Synthetic. The upper is then finished with Engineered Mesh, which is essentially a weave of the synthetic material itself. Of course, the whole assembly requires a coating, which is provided by Duragon WT Skin; in addition to waterproofing the boot, this material ensures excellent grip on the ball. 

What do these technologies offer us then? A thinner surface compared to the previous generation and a bit (just a bit) closer to the ball, as well as providing better support during lateral movements, thanks, in part, to the material’s construction incorporating the technologies mentioned above. It’s an improvement that brings back memories of the old Nike Mercurial Vapor XI. 

There are also changes to the sole; whilst the stud layout and shape remain the same, there is now a central strip that complements the previous Aerotrak design, making the boot stiffer and more responsive, both during starts and sprints and when twisting sideways. 

In conclusion, although made from different materials, both boots offer a relatively similar feel on the pitch. With this change, Mercurial returns to its roots with a synthetic upper that is very lightweight and mouldable; after just a few wears, it softens, moving away from the ‘sock-like’ comfort and fit provided by the Flyknit in the previous generation.  A move that gives us a Mercurial that is much more Mercurial, as it retains the hallmark speed and ultra-precise fit characteristic of the boot’s history, and which, in turn, makes much more sense of the Nike Phantom GT football boots, which retain the Flyknit and are sure to win back those players with slightly wider feet who had switched to Mercurial because of the fit offered by this material. Nike, as we have come to expect, does not disappoint.