Nike Mercurial Super Fly III Review

In recent years and particularly recent seasons, Nike have been under increasing pressure to revamp and reinvent their most famous boot series - the mercurial vapor. When the boot was first introduced to players it became established as the first true speed boot around and was endorsed by the worlds greatest player of the time, R9 Ronaldo, the phenomenon. New speed ranges however, from brands such as puma and more significantly adidas have seen the beloved mercurial forced out of the limelight in its category because mainly, it simply isn't light enough despite having the elite version of superfly's available. The newer technology in the superfly's, appears not to have revolutionized the silo but rather added more and more things trying to improve it although really doing more damage than good, over complicating the boot. For me, Nike are relying on the boots reputation and the advertising around it as opposed to the actual boot and its performance. The only difference between the superfly II and III is the color schemes and designs, how can this be? How can the superfly II and III be practically the same? We really expected better Nike.

When wearing the superfly III boots they are definitely lightweight weighing in at 210g, easily the lightest vapor to date. Although still not managing to break the 200g mark a feat easily achieved by its competitors which is frankly disappointing. The teijin synthetic leather is a stubborn material and does take some getting used to. As a firm leather boot man i found it very stiff when moving around. Unlike leather boots the crease created at the toes when wearing the vapor does not come as naturally resulting in a more uncomfortable feel. The stiffness of the material held the boot's shape very well but by doing this it doesn't hug your foot like leather does. As a result the feel of the ball isn't as close and i didn't feel like i had the control i wanted. This is despite the 'strategically located coating in the forefoot area to assist control', for me it didn't do what it promised. I must stress though, i have not been a vapor wearer for some time now, thus this stiffer feel may suit those who have vapors already and are used to it. I would advise any leather wearers to stay well clear. Striking the ball on the other hand was fine. The material didn't cause any problems curling the ball or striking with the laces. The rounded toe was especially helpful to allow a clean strike of the ball.

The heel counter was a nice change from previous versions of the boots however. This has been a recurring improvement of the entire superfly range. In the past the heel has ridden quite low down which for many people wanting to switch to vapors causes blisters and overall discomfort. Such appears to have been changed with this latest version, the heel is slightly higher on the ankle than it has been before, yet is still unique with it's cut off look unlike the T90's, Tiempo's or CTR's.

The sole of the boot is one of the most innovative things that has been introduced and changed with the superfly. Carbon fibre is used to reduce weight quite dramatically and for the newest of superfly's there has been the introduction of the sense studs. Firstly, the carbon fibre. A brilliant idea initially, introducing this material, though pricey, is able to significantly reduce the amount of weight a boots carries whilst maintaining the stability and strength to hold everything together. Often a problem for boot designers, is producing light and thin boots that can withstand the force exerted on it in all areas of the boot. The carbon fibre does allow you to do that very well. Despite this, the material doesn't allow the boot to bend and flex very well. Such may cause some discomfort for the wearer because of this harder, stiffer feel. Podiatrists (foot doctors) have also suggested that having this stiffness and not allowing your foot to fully bend with ease when running, strain on various parts of the foot may be caused which can lead to injury. However, i stress that this is not a major factor but merely an opinion of some doctors. Some players on the other hand may view this stiffness as a positive note granting a certain spring in their step, but really it is down to personal opinion and the degree of contrast to the boots that you are currently wearing.

The sense stud. A circular stud that is able, says Nike, to adjust length according to the surface played on to maximize acceleration and speed on all surfaces by enhancing the grip of the boot. Now i can confirm that the circular stud does in fact move, and as a result i tend to believe that the science behind it is accurate. The rest of the boot is fitted more blades than studs with holes in them to again aid in reducing weight. All theoretically a superb idea. BUT. And this is indeed intended to be a big 'but'. The holes in the blades are constantly clogged with mud, even  on dry grass pitches (astro is the obvious exception), the sense stud also suffers from this 'clogging' when playing. So i think to myself, what on earth is the point? The sense stud is unable to provide the traction promised because most of the time it has mud stopping it from moving freely. The design of the circle around the sense stud again, encourages mud to get stuck. To a greater extent the holes in the blades become clogged as well. So a hole that was designed to reduce weight is entirely counter effective when full of mud and grass. 'Pointless' appears to be an understatement. This was the single greatest problem i had with the superfly's, something i couldn't get my head around. Why pay an extra 100 odd pound for a feature that doesn't work? It is here where i gather my opinion that Nike rely on the advertising to a greater extent than performance. The fact that so many world class players who wear the superfly still don't have the newer sole plate and studs is not a coincidence. It just isn't as comfortable and it just doesn't work practically. Drogba, Dempsy, Lennon, Walcott, Arshavin, can all still be seen often with the original superfly soleplate and even Ronaldo took a surprisingly long time to switch and get used to the different circular studs despite being the main sponsor for the boots.

Taking everything into consideration then, the Nike mercurial vapor superbly boots are still a very good boot, offering a lot of unique aspects a positive attributes. But, i cannot see why someone would pay an extra 100 pound for them when there are cheaper and lighter options on the market. Moreover, unless already an experienced vapor wearer i wouldn't suggest switching to them because they were uncomfortable to play in at first and didn't really ease up at all.

Just as a little side note, does it hack anyone else off that you cannot seem to get superfly boots with SG studs? I've definitely seen many players have them fitted with a carbon fibre sole plate and its quite annoying that this isn't an option for the greater public. Why aren't they available?

PRODUCT INFORMATION/SPECS:

Total speed, support and power dominate the field in the Nike® Mercurial Vapor Superfly III FG soccer cleat. Flywire technology provides the incredibly lightweight support you need, keeping the foot in place and increasing ball feel. Nike® SENSE technology works to adjust the stud length of cleats to shred the ground with explosive acceleration while a carbon-fiber chassis makes the cleat almost weightless for added speed and strength.

FEATURES:

Nike® Flywire thin nylon fibers offer lightweight support and enhanced ball feel
Perforated sockliner gives cushioning, backing while cutting down on cleat pressure
Carbon-fiber chassis minimizes weight, adds support
Contoured design imitates the shape of the foot for a personalized, custom fit
Vapor Traction system promotes cutting, instant acceleration
Cored out studs in the heel lower weight, add stability and speed
Nike® SENSE technology adjusts stud length according to surface type for top-line speed and traction

Footy Guru Rating:
Comfort / fit : 5/10
Performance : 7/10
Value : 6/10
Total: 6 (Good)

6.0 to 6.9 = 3 stars (Good):
This range represents a boot that is above average. Its strengths slightly outweigh its weaknesses, making it good for most uses but not a standout.

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