Aaron Kr. 
For this past summer’s World Cup, Nike made headlines with a new technology sure to revolutionize the world of cleated performance athletic footwear. Designer Andy Caine and the Nike Soccer division brought us the Elite series cleats, featuring a new adaptive traction system that features actual retracting spikes in key areas of the sole to provide just the right grip and feel underfoot when changing speeds and making quick cuts on the field. Building off the Nike Soccer technology, Nike Football designer Ken Link picked up where the Elite series left off, now translating the concept into the most ambitiously cutting edge football cleat ever created, the Air Zoom Alpha Talon.
With the retractable cleat system, sharkteeth heel lip and a Zoom Air-equipped Phylon midsole taking care of what goes on beneath your foot, other components like a Flywire-infused upper, Z-Bar heel structure, Kurim ankle collar and Deflex padding make sure that every section of the foot is protected and responsive as needed on the field of play. What’s perhaps most impressive is that Alpha Talon has been engineered to meet the needs of players of any size and position from the speedy receivers to lumbering linemen and everyone in between. Keep reading after the jump to get a better look at all the ins and outs of the Air Zoom Alpha Talon, and head over to Nike Football for more on the innovative new cleat.
Nike Zoom Alpha Talon Cleat
New Lightweight Cleat Features Unique Adaptive Traction System, Designed For Explosive Acceleration
Nike Football’s most advanced cleat ever, the Zoom Alpha Talon Cleat leverages the most innovative technologies to meet the performance needs of every position. Working with elite athletes, Nike designers delivered improved footing at full speed with an innovative on-demand, adaptive traction system. The interior cleats in the forefoot extend when full pressure is applied for more traction when needed and retract when not. The Air Zoom Alpha Talon cleat also features a Flywire upper for lightweight lockdown, a low-profile cushioning system for comfort, and Nike Pro Deflex padding around the ankle for breathable protection.
