Aaron Hope 
Nike put a good bit of research into their new Martial Arts TD MMA shoe, but one wonders if their efforts can hold a candle to another effort from the Swoosh. We would have said “from Beaverton”, but this stunning soccer boot was the product of a development process spanning three years and four continents!
Easily the most exclusive of the perinneal Mercurial football cleat, the Mercurial Vapor SL represents a marvelous technological leap. Rather than the leather or nubuck uppers we’re used to seeing on most kicks, the shoe that the Swoosh held back no resource in creating sports a one-piece carbon fibre construction. In addition to being shockingly light at 190 grams (under 7oz — that’s just over half a Zoom Kobe IV), the thin and light carbon fibre stands to usher in a whole new level of ball control for global superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo. And they might stay on the feet of elite footballers, given the $400 retail price and sold-out status.
With only 2008 made for firm turf and another 500 for softer pitchs, these joints have gone the way of the buffalo. We’d check the ‘bay and trading forums. Be careful, though: the vast majority of Mercurial Vapor SLs you’ll find feature most of the tech specs that sell this pricey boot, but most are the slightly heavier non-carbon-fibre-upper general release. Pics via CarbonFiberGear
More photos below…
