Mercurial Vapor IX Cleats
The new Nike Mercurial Vapor IX has already made a huge impact on the pitch with the Sunset and Fireberry colorways demanding much attention. Now they have added another colorway to the collection – a slightly less outlandish platiunum/black/green.
Nike have released their version of the teijin synthetic upper boot which offers increased leather-like properties to be available alongside the completely new upper developed especially for the Vapor IX. The real improvement that I noticed from this cleat compared to previous pairs was the strength of the material on top of the cleat. It felt strong and stable on my foot. Nike's All Conditions Control (ACC) technology further aids a player's performance, to help ensure the cleat gives a consistent touch whether playing in wet or dry weather.
If you are a pacey winger, or top goal-scoring striker, then these are definitely the cleats for you.
After slipping the cleats onto my feet I instantly noticed the teijin upper, and how it still delivers a high level of support and touch for those who like a snug and responsive fit. I was impressed with how well the upper locks down on the foot and prevents any kind of unnecessary movement within the cleat. The heel gave a soft cushioning, even though the traction from underneath is everything an explosive speed player needs.
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| Perfect fit!! |
There are twin studs at the back of the cleat which allow for a quick release from the grass, and then a further four studs that make up the rest of the underneath grip. I noticed that the blades felt highly responsive and allowed for me to make game-altering changes of direction at high speeds. I ran a speed training session in these cleats and couldn't help but notice my explosive speed coming off from the ground- what a bonus!
The new lightweight Vapor IX have shaved another 2 grams off the cleat, which now tips the scales at 214g. You can really feel the lightness of the cleat on your feet when you're playing, which is just want you want. It is great when you don't notice a cleat on your foot. It certainty makes it easier when it comes to controlling the ball. Even with the lightweight cleat, it still felt very durable. The sole plate consists of two layers of glass fiber fussed together for a flexible forefoot, this provides excellent energy return when a player is trying to push off from the ground.
The breaking in part of these cleats was outstanding. I have never experienced anything like this! Coming from someone who struggles to break in cleats, wearing the new Mercurial Vapor IX for the first time was astonishingly pain-free. I left the field with ZERO blisters- which is a first may I add. This is a definite improvement on previous pairs of Vapor's, which have often taken me a while to break in properly.
The only real negative that I found from using these cleats is that if you get stomped on then it WILL hurt, but this is the sacrifice you make when you go for a light, thin upper cleat. However, in my opinion the sacrifice is worth it because having the lightness and perfect touch on the ball is something very few cleats can offer. If you are a defender, I would think twice about wearing these cleats because of how lightweight and flexible they are. They're a perfect striker's cleat, but defenders have to make many crunching tackles which could leave you with a bruised foot if you attempt that with the Mercurial Vapor IX.
The Mercurial Vapor IX is a really great cleat that can take any player and make them better. It gives them a small edge on their competition. If you're looking for a cleat that can give you the head start above your opponents, I would recommend looking no further. The Mercurial Vapor IX is your cleat.
This is my sixth pair of Mercurial Vapor's and I have yet to be disappointed with a single pair. It seems that every year Nike top themselves and introduce a better, more comfortable, sleek cleat.
Check out the Nike store online to get your very own pair of Nike Mercurial Vapor IX. Trust me, you will not regret it. Once you try Vapor's, you will never want to wear another cleat.
