The Adidas Nitrocharge gets a revamped and is the Nitrocharge 2nd Generation. There are significant changes to the Hybridtouch upper and the Energy Sling that alter the performance of the Nitrocharge, and make it a very different beast from its predecessor. Do we like them, or do we not? How will they perform on the pitch? Tune in to find out!
Our very first video review on the Adidas Predator LZ 2 is up!
Introduction
The Nike Mercurial Vapor X has had a largely underwhelming release, playing second fiddle to the much-hyped Superfly IV. This is very unfortunate as with the Mercurial Vapor X, Nike have released a Vapor that is much-improved over its predecessor. The Vapor may seem like a lower grade model compared to the Superfly IV, but this is definitely not the case; both are top-grade, premium boots, simply offering their own unique experiences that is up to you to decide which one you prefer. Here, we bring you the lowdown on the new technology the Vapor X incorporates, but more importantly, we bring you how the Vapor performs in a game, our ultimate standard by which all boots are assessed.
Technical specifications
Upper
According to Nike, the Mercurial Vapor X still features the Teijin OLM12 synthetic, similar to the ones used on the Vapor VIII and IX. There are key differences, however, between the Vapor IX and X that make the Vapor X a very different animal. With the Vapor IX, we saw the introduction of the golf-ball dimples that in all honesty, to us, did not feel very significant in influencing the touch of the boot; if anything, the slightly tacky gloss finish played a larger role in determining the ever-so-slightly sticky feeling on the ball, which could explain Cristiano Ronaldo’s preference for the leather version of all his Vapors. The Teijin used on the Speed Control version of the Vapor IX was relatively soft and flexible, and became even softer after a few hours of break-in time, and expanded just a little to accomodate more players than its narrower predecessors. With the Vapor X however, Nike have completely redesigned the upper to make it more of a matte finish, which gets a thumbs up from us. For those who have a bit of trouble imagining it, think of it as the same “matte-ness” as the heel portion of the Vapor IX, that would be a good approximation of the feeling of the Vapor X. In addition, Nike added texturing on the boot that is best described as micro-protrusions – these purportedly add just the right amount of friction on the ball without being too tacky or sticky – a common complaint that users of the Vapor IX had when it came to the Speed Control version of the boot. It must also be noted that the upper of the Vapor X is thinner than the already super-thin upper of the Vapor IX, and this continues the Mercurial tradition of premium barefoot feel – this time, the feeling of playing barefoot is even more pronounced. In addition, it is softer and in fact, elastic (it actually stretches like a resistance band when you pull it hard enough) – and because it is so, it wraps and envelopes your foot unlike its relatively (note that it is relative) stiffer predecessors. For those who enjoy playing barefoot, this comes the closest where the Mercurial line is concerned.
Another radical change of the Vapor X is the fact that the upper is now almost completely a one-piece upper. Almost, because part of the tongue that is nearest to the ankle is not attached; for all intents and purposes, however, we would still consider it a one-piece upper. This allows for a seamless fit once you put the boot on, even without tying the laces. Once you do, however, you get a true lockdown effect and with the boot cradling every curve of your boot, it is truly a sensational feeling.
The boots are treated with All Conditions Control (ACC), which does allow for better grip on the ball in wet conditions.
Comfort (Fit, Inner materials, Sizing)
While the fit of the Mercurial line has always been up there with the best, this time round, the change of the Teijin synthetic to a softer and more flexible one means that the fit is even more improved. The boots seem to hug every curve of your foot, and this makes for a great feeling on the ball. The only complaint that we have about the fit of the Mercurial is its length; strangely, and more applicably to Asians, the Mercurial Vapor always seems to fit a tad too long. This increase in length however is not sufficient enough to warrant going a half-size down, which leaves many of its users in limbo. This means that when you flex your foot, the area where the boot has maximal flexion between the forefoot and the midfoot does not coincide with the maximal flexion of your foot itself; as a result, there is always a feeling that you are compensating for the fit of the boot with your touches, so the boot does not feel as if it has disappeared on your feet. While this does not have a major impact if you are having a casual kickabout, in the heat of a match, when close touches are crucial and the pace is faster, it is difficult to compensate every time and so quickly so invariably, touches get either too heavy or too light and it can be quite frustrating at times. Our recommendation is not to go a half-size down however, as the fit gets way to narrow and your feet start to feel ischemic (blood supply gets cut off). This is a point worth considering if you are a serious, competitive player.
Soleplate/Traction
Following the success of the Nike Hypervenom, and of its nylon soleplate, it comes as no surprise that Nike have adapted it to the Vapor X. What makes it even more tantalising this time round is they have taken the low profile, comfortable soleplate with the perfect balance of stiffness (for push-off) and flexibility (for freedom of movement) and made the conical studs bladed, but with rounder edges than the Vapor IX. What this means is that you get the aggressive push-off that Vapor users love, while maintaining the ability to rotate once your foot is planted on the ground. It truly combines the best of the Hypervenom and Vapor soleplates, and we have grown addicted to it – there is truly nothing like it on the market. The closest any traction has come to this is the CTR360 Maestri IIIs with the “half-moon” studs, but that had a bit of a drag that we disliked. This traction pattern is something else. The insole is a typical lightweight perforated Mercurial insole, for which we have no complaints.
Weight
Nike have managed to shave off more weight for their Vapor X compared to the Vapor IX. It now weighs in at 6.2oz, a 0.4oz decrease from the Vapor IX. This difference, while minute is noticeable in-game, but very, very subtly, so for all intents and purposes if you want to have a gauge of the weight, simply pick up a Vapor IX and that would roughly be it.
Performance
Dribbling
The main attraction of a Vapor, to many, would be the barefoot feel on the ball when dribbling that gives a precise idea of what you’re doing with the ball and where the ball is going to end up with your every touch (assuming you are skilful enough – we cannot stress the importance of ability over boot type). The Vapor X, in this aspect, gives us something of a mixed feeling. While we thoroughly enjoyed the thinness of the upper and the way it conformed to the shape of our feet, we couldn’t quite get past the extra length that it had and the aberrant area of maximal flexion as mentioned earlier. At crucial moments of our matches, where we had no issues with other boots such as the Hypervenom and the Adidas Predator LZ 2, we seemed to take too heavy touches on the ball and our minds were more occupied with compensating for that flexion difference rather than that we were going to do with the ball. That said, this issue is not a huge one and if it is something that is acceptable to you, then this boot is perfect because we have no other gripes about it. The traction, as mentioned earlier, allows for great aggressive push-off and rotation once your foot is planted, crucial movements when dribbling and we have to say we thoroughly enjoyed it. If Nike could just decrease the length of the boot by a small bit, we believe the boot will be flawless – the lightweight nature of the boot, the way the boot moulds to your feet, the amazing traction and the thin, flexible upper make the Vapor irresistible.
Passing, Shooting
Where passing and shooting are concerned, the name of the game in the Vapor X is precision. It does not have any extra padding or extra material to soften the impact or allow for more material between your foot and the ball, but this lack of material is more than made up for with the precise strikes that you are able to make with the Vapor. Paradoxically, we found the Vapor to offer us a better platform for harder strikes on the ball, and we were able to generate more power in our shots. Why? Because the Vapor wraps around the foot, following every curve of the foot, and so when striking the ball hard, especially when taking a shot at goal, you are able to use precisely the base of your first metatarsal to strike the ball, giving a very optimum and sweet strike. Perhaps an easier way of putting it would be the Vapor takes away all the gimmicks of a boot and gives you just enough protection for your technique to shine through. We love the feeling of shooting in this Vapor.
Off-the-ball running
The Mercurial Vapor X are very lightweight, so we expected them to have the sensation of disappearing on our feet, but because of the bit of extra length, we were conscious of the fact that they were there throughout the match. This however is just a small minus in the many great virtues that the Mercurial Vapor possesses.
Protection
Protection is not an aspect that the Mercurial line focuses on and therefore is very strong in. If you get studded, it is going to hurt. With a boot this light and flexible, something has got to give, and protection is sacrificed in this aspect.
Durability
Being such a lightweight boot, the durability is great. The material is elastic and offers some stretch, and because it has a sort of give to it less stress is placed on the seam between the upper and the soleplate so sole separation is actually less likely. The upper itself is durable and will not rip easily, while the soleplate, being made of nylon, does not wear out very quickly. Playing on artificial turf will decrease the lifespan of the boots compared to if you played on natural grass, but even then, we found the Vapor to hold up very well and it feels very solid in general.
Local Quirks
1. Asian feet
We found, as mentioned earlier, that these boots run just a tad too long in length, but not enough to go a half-size down. For players that prefer a fit that is perfect in length relative to your foot, you might want to try these pair of boots to see if you can accept the extra length. Another alternative is to wear thicker socks to make up for the increase in length.
2. Hot artificial pitches
We are happy to announce that these hold up really well! In previous incarnations of the Vapor, most notably in the Mercurial Vapor IX, the heat that built up in the soleplates on a very hot day was just unbearable. Some players had to temporarily sit out because the boots became too hot to stand in. With the new nylon soleplate in the Vapor X, it absorbs and traps heat much lesser than its predecessor and it was a joy to finally forget the pain and focus on our game.
ABC (Anatomy, Biomechanics, injury Caution)
In general, we find that the Mercurial Vapor X fit longer feet better. For players with wider feet, these boots are actually more forgiving than previous generations, and even players with slightly flat feet will be able to fit into these boots. That said, we always recommend going down to stores to try these boots out yourselves, if you have the option of doing so.
Where biomechanics are concerned, the Mercurial Vapor X maximises the biomechanics of the by virtue of its ability to follow the curves of our feet. Because it ensures no dead space (except where the length is concerned), the foot is able to move very fluidly, which is good thing. However, it must be noted that the Mercurial Vapor X is (as Mercurials have always been) a bit on the restrictive side and the muscles of the foot may not be able to perform at their optimal length and tension – this means that throughout the course of the game, the amount of compensation or effort that you put in will be greater than another pair of boots that is less restrictive, for example the Nike Hypervenom. While this did affect our touches, it was less pronounced than the Mercurial Vapor IX, so there is a definite improvement in this aspect.
For the Mercurial Vapor IX, the studs were very aggressive and there were only 2 of them in the heel that were rather long so it actually predisposed players to ankle sprains due to stud breakage, with many complaints of that actually happening around the world. In the Vapor X update, this problem is solved, not only because there are now 4 studs at the back (leading to better pressure distribution) but also because they are shorter in length. For those who are worried that grip and traction will be sacrificed, fret not – the Vapor X still performs amazingly where these 2 aspects are concerned.
Comparisons
The most common comparison that we get is: how do these boots compare to the new Superfly IV? Is it worth it splashing out more cash for the Superfly? Our answer is, it all depends on personal preference. These 2 pairs of boots are very different even though they both carry the Mercurial name. The Vapor has more of an elastic feel that feels thinner than the Superfly, and it is great for the player who prefers something more traditional (although we must stress that the Vapor is not something we would define as traditional, given the new concept of the one-piece upper). The Superfly on the other hand, focuses more on the lockdown effect that the Flywire provides with an upper that is just a tiny bit thicker. The Vapor X weighs in at 6.2oz while the Superfly weighs in at 7.1z, so with a difference of nearly an oz, the weight disparity is certainly noticeable in-game. We actually find the Vapor X to be a more traditional Vapor which focuses on touch, traction and decreased weight, while the Superfly seems more to us like a tighter Magista with a focus on fit. If you want the traditional Vapor experience, go with the Vapor X; if you want to try something that is Vapor-like but with additional tweaks, go with the Superfly.
Common concerns
The boot is durable, so for those who worry about it not lasting a season, if you take proper care of the boots, they will. The other concern has to do with the length of the boots, it is just a little bit long – but if you can get around the problem with thicker socks or simply just bearing with it, then the Vapor X has a lot to offer.
Conclusion
On the whole, the Mercurial Vapor X is a definite improvement over its predecessor. With a thinner upper that is softer and more flexible, a closer fit, a traction pattern that outperforms the Vapor IX in both grip and rotation when the foot is planted, Nike has produced another winner in its venerable Mercurial Vapor line. There are many boots out there where companies make changes simply for the sake of doing so, but for the Vapor X, Nike has listened to feedback from players and redesigned aspects that were not fully satisfactory, resulting in a boot that is much improved and quite simply, a joy to play in.
Rating
– Comfort 4/5
– Weight 5/5
– Dribbling 4/5
– Passing 5/5
– Shooting 5/5
– Protection 2/5
– Durability 4/5
– Biomechanics 4/5
– Injury concerns 4/5
– Suitability for Singapore 4/5
Score (Singapore context): 41/50
Score (Local conditions not taken into account): 37/45
The Straight Shooters 