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Hi and welcome to Unisport WebTV where we on today's agenda have got the new Nike Mercurial Vapor VIII -
- which explosively burst onto the top of the speed boot market.
Furthermore it resembles some of the earlier incarnations of the Mercurial Vapor silo.
The question is, will it be able to hold its own on the competitive speed market -
- and will it be able to live up to the early incarnations of the Mercurial collection?
That and much more will be answered today, as I review the new Vapor VIII. Welcome.
To begin with, we're going back to school with a history lecture -
- as I've allied up with Nike and gotten my hand on every incarnation of the infamous Mercurial collection.
Not every colourway, but every model is here nevertheless.
It all started back in 2002 where the first Vapors hit the market -
- nothing short of revolutionary, weighing just 196 grams and featuring a microfiber upper called Nike Skin.
An absolutely magnificent boot with a great fit and overall comfortability.
In 2004 it was relieved by the Vapor II also weighing a mere 196 grams -
- and like its predecessor featuring a slightly more padded Nike Skin upper and an enhanced heel counter aiding stability.
The next evolution of the Mercurial came in 2006 in line with the World cup, where the Vapor III was released -
- which for the record is my all-time favourite boot, so far at least.
For the Vapor III the Nike Skin upper was replaced with a Teijin microfibre upper and Nike added carbon-fibre to the heel to add more stability.
Unfortunately the Vapor III only lasted a year as the Vapor IV was rolled out in the year of 2007 -
- on this boot they fitted the notorious lace cover and Nike furthermore introduced the Vapor IV SL on which a full carbon soleplate featured.
The Vapor IV weighed 210g and the Vapor IV SL weighed a staggering 185g thereby becoming the lightest of the Mercurials ever so far.
In 2009 Nike rolled out the Vapor V, still featuring a lace cover but for the first time with fly-wire integrated in the upper, weighing a full 230g.
The Vapor V was followed by the first ever Superfly which featured a teijin upper specced with fly-wire and a full carbon fibre soleplate.
The year after, in 2006, came the Vapor VI which was still fitted with a lace cover, but now featuring a fiberglass soleplate, something we'll look into later.
Then, naturally, followed the Superfly II which further increased the integration of Nike Flywire technology and still fitted with a carbon fibre soleplate -
- but as a new thing featured the heavily debated Nike Sense stud pattern which helped the SFII reach a weight of 230g.
In 2011 then came the Vapor VII on which Nike had scrapped the lace cover, but they stuck to the fiberglass soleplate and teijin microfibre upper.
This boot weighed 235g just as the Superfly III did, which greatly resembled the SFII but differed with a lower profile of the forefoot -
- and still sporting the Nike Sense stud configuration, it still weighed a massive 235g, just as the Vapor VII and it has to be said that that's a huge gain of weight -
- since the first incarnation of the mighty Mercurial Vapor I.
In the meantime the calendar shows 2012 and a new Vapor boot is ready to take the scene.
The name is Vapor VIII and how will it measure? Well, that's what we're here to find out.
Superfly III has been a very popular football boot, but despite it's popularity I've still had three major issues with it as I played in it.
The issues I had were the low level of comfort, the high profile of the forefoot and the heavy weight of the boot.
The issue regarding heavy weight Nike have discarded as unnecessary, but keeping in mind that this is a Mercurial boot -
- and having tried the other speed boot alternatives on the market, the high weight keeps annoying me.
The question therefore is, will the Vapor VIII stumble into the same issues we experienced with the SFIII or will it take us back to the glory days of the first Mercurial Vapors?
One of the main alterations Nike have rolled on to the new Vapor VIII is a newly designed stud configuration.
It still pride itself on a fiberglass soleplate, but the one on the Vapor VIII is two-layered which boosts shock-absortion.
One of the reasons for the two-layered fiberglass soleplate is the new stud configuration which demanded more stability than the one on the Vapor VII.
So as you can see Nike have opted for a single stud here, here and here in favor of two studs -
- and instead Nike have fitted small 'wings' to provide the much needed stability.
The same goes with the heel as Nike have preferred two studs over the classic four. Here as well 'wings' have been added to aid stability.
The though behind the two-stud setup is, that two studs not only penetrate the ground faster than the usual four but they also get out faster and that should give you more speed.
It actually works very well and it feels quite a lot faster than the Vapor VII as well as the Superfly III -
- and also when you're running at full speed this centrally placed, V-shaped stud adds extra traction in such a way that you can make the most of your speed.
In fairness it has to be said that the stability isn't as good as on the Vapor VII, but the two-layered fiberglass soleplate compensates very well -
- the soleplate absorbs the shocks that would have been otherwise dampened by your foot. So all in all, you get more speed -
- and overall great stability from the new stud configuration than you would get from the Vapor VII, which sums up to a small improvement.
Good job, Nike, Good job.
When it comes to weight Nike said regarding the SFIII that stud configuration and traction is more important than sheer weight, but the problem with the SFIII was that it weighed a massive 235g!
And for a boot labelled as light-weight, that's just too heavy!
The Vapor VIII doesn't share the same weight-issues as it weighs just 185g and therefore checks in as one of the lightest boots on the market. It should be safe to check off "High Weight".
Therefore the Vapor VIII can boast of low weight and at just 185g it aligns itself with the Vapor SL as the lightest Mercurial ever.
The lightness of the boot doesn't quite reach the Adidas F50 Adizero, but the difference is almost unnoticeable.
The low weight might not make you faster, but it gives you a mental boost when you're at high speeds or attempting a smart dribble.
That's a super feat and it's great to see Nike reach such a low weight.
The SFIII also struggled with a high forefoot which made shooting a hazzle and you could risk toeing the ball out of the park.
But here as well Nike have improved as well, as the Vapor VIII doesn't share the same problem.
As Nike have re-made the last of the boot in such a way it gave the Vapor VIII a lower, pointier profile of the forefoot than the one on the Vapor VII and the Superfly III.
This makes the shooting abilities nothing short of phenomenal -
- which makes for some great shots in the Vapor VIII. As long as you have the required technique of course.
The low-profile forefoot makes it much easier to get in under the ball and the boot gives you a nice, clean striking area.
There might not be any shot-improving technology on the Vapor VIII upper -
- but even so, I feel the last of the Vapor VIII provides a great base for these straight, powerful shots you get when you put your laces through the ball.
At least, that's what I've experienced.
In other words the shooting abilities are great, no nonsense on the Vapor VIII.
Vapor VIII is very much tailored to the quick, technically strong player and the credit falls to the new microfiber upper designed by the Japanese specialists from Teijin -
- who also designed the one seen on Vapor VII, but for the Vapor VIII Nike asked for a completely new microfiber upper.
The new teijin upper on the Vapor VIII is just 1,2mm. thick whereas the one Nike used on the Vapor VII was 1,5mm. thick.
At the same time the new upper features a new fiber build which not only makes it more flexible and thinner, but also a lot lighter.
And this material provides an insanely precise touch on the ball. It's almost unbelievable and it's difficult to explain to the camera, but I can't stress it enough -
- the Vapor VIII is one the most precise boots on the market when it comes to touch, and how so you might ask.
Well, because the upper molds to your foot you get a sock-like fit and therefore you're able to feel even the slightest touch you get on the ball.
On top of that the coating is slightly rough and that gives for some good friction on the ball and believe it or not, the Nike 'swoosh' has a neoprene-like feel to it which also adds to the grip you get on the ball.
The ball will just glue itself to your foot. This upper is just top notch.
The Vapor VIII is tailored to the quick dribbler -
- because of it's unrelenting precision it measures up to some of the best on the market. That is of course, if it isn't the best out there as it is a really, really good boot.
The last area we're going to look into is an area I've always dreaded as I bought a new pair of Mercurials - the comfort.
Neither the Vapor I, Vapor III or Superfly III for that matter have done well in this area and it's widely accepted that Mercurial boots have always lacked comfort -
- and that you needed to suppress the pain in order to play in them.
But guess what? That problem doesn't extend to the Vapor VIII.
For the Vapor VIII Nike scrapped their Flywire-technology and once again it was a tech that didn't last for too long.
Furthermore Nike went out of their way when designing the new heel which featured a T-bar coating -
- and that results in less annoyance in the heel even though its held in place tightly, which means that I for the first time in a Mercurial boot haven't experienced any blisters or discomfort.
NEVER AGAIN!
That is absolutely fantastic.
The exclusion of Nike Flywire also means the boots aren't tight in the wrong places and there's actually plenty of wiggle room -
- whilst the boot fits just as you'd hope, so the hot water trick, forget it, it's totally unnecessary.
As the verdict is to be given on the Vapor VIII I get somewhat nostalgic as the best Vapors ever, have been the Vapor I, the Vapor II and the Vapor III -
- and the latter is the best boot I've ever stuck my feet in.
In my opinion the Mercurial series went on a downhill course following the first three Vapors, but it is definitely back with the Vapor VIII -
- and maybe this boot should have been the heir to the Vapor III, but even though it took Nike five years to give us the Vapor VIII, it's definitely been worth the wait.
As Nike take the best assets from Vapor I, II and III, they combine it to perfection in this new boot.
I'm crazy about the Vapor VIII and even though it took some hard thinking, I've come to the conclusion, that this is the best Mercurial boot ever from Nike -
- and thereby becoming the best boot that I've ever played in.
Sorry, Vapor III.
But this has all been my personal opinion and I'm eager to find out what you make of this wonderboot from Nike -
- so I therefore encourage you to let your feelings be known in the comment box below the video.
Are you going to get these boots? Are you a bit disappointed or what exactly do you think? Let's hear it, so write away!
That's all for me folks, I hope you enjoyed my review of the new boot and in the mean time I look forward to seeing you again, here in Unisport WebTV, take care.
...and you get a really clean strike.. Holy ***, I thought I was about to take a ball to the face. Phew, just a crow.