A true Mercurial

For years now, many of us in the boot community have been wanting Nike to separate the Superfly and Vapor models by making the Superfly truly “super” again. Finally, Nike has not only listened to these demands but took even further by making something that is uniquely Superfly. This is a boot that is packed with tech and tons of clever design decisions that we knew Nike was capable of. I will not rehash all these new pieces of tech here, but I highly recommend you watch the BootNerds Podcast where JayMike and Josh sit down with Nike’s Odi Nimako.

Outside of that, it is refreshing to see something from Nike that feels new and not just a rehash of old designs. Along with the success of the new Tiempo (especially the Ligera Pro), Nike seems to have turned a corner in giving us products that will stand the test of time in terms of excitement. Similar to what adidas has done with the new F50 Hyperfast, with the Nike Mercurial Superfly 11, Nike has set a new standard for themselves to follow.

Fit and Feel

Out of the box, the upper is impressive because of its build. The new FlyWeave Ultra upper is a remarkable material that manages to remind one of Mercurials of old yet still feels very modern. It also feels well-constructed, so that the material should hold up well when it comes to rough play, heavy tackles, and the like.

There is also some extra reinforcement across the edge of the toebox, which will also help with the durability. What is nice about this reinforcement is that it is not stiff out of the box. The upper as a whole is not as stiff as I expected it to be, though it is stiffer than other speed boot uppers out of the box. It does have somewhat of a plasticky feel when wearing them for the first time.

While the break-in period is longer than something like a Mizuno Alpha 3 Japan (or even the Alpha 3 Elite), it is still surprising how nicely the upper breaks in. Initially, there was some pinching when I first wore the boots. This had gone away by my second session in the boots. I have also been pleasantly surprised with how nicely the upper breaks in. By the end of my second session, the Mercurial Superfly 11 felt ready for matches.

At the same time, the Superfly still retains its structure, and has not felt sloppy the longer I have worn the boots. In fact, the stability has been solid throughout the playtesting process, and I appreciate how nicely the boot hugs my foot, without feeling uncomfortable.

One of the most surprising aspects of the new Mercurial Superfly 11 is the lovely turn-and-stitch heel that Nike has put in the boot. Of all the companies to do this type of heel design, Nike is the brand I would have imagined doing it last. And the heel is very comfortable. There is the perfect amount of cushioning, just enough to be comfy, but not so much to make the heel feel bulky.

The faux suede lining feels premium, and the heel has nice structure to it. At the same time, it is also flexible enough to the point that it should fit a majority of heel shapes.

There is one issue with the heel, however, and this is something that has plagued other boots in Nike’s lineup, like the Tiempo Maestro. That is that the heel is overly wide. I am not sure why Nike has been using a shoe last with such a wide heel; it is such a weird choice.

No matter how tightly I cinch up the laces, I can still feel some shifting when making a hard cut in the Superfly, and it is a letdown that such a comfortable heel does not offer enough lockdown to stop the back of the foot from shifting about.

Sadly, this also means that the overall lockdown is affected as well. The lockdown is good, but I honestly expected there to be more lockdown. This is mostly because Nike was bigging up the design aspect that was taken from a four-point racing seatbelt. It is a very clever piece of design that is undermined by that wider heel.

The other thing that affects the lockdown is that the boots feel slightly tall. There is more volume than I was expecting. I would not say this makes the Superfly a wide boot, but there is more height to the boot than I was anticipating.

On the flip side, Nike deserves a lot of credit for their Zoom X insoles. The insole has just enough cushioning to add an extra bit of comfort, and it does a good job of distributing the stud pressure. This is an especially welcome addition (as is the extra pair of insoles) considering how cheap the insoles on other Nike boots have been recently.

As far as the sizing is concerned, I went with my normal size, which is a US 8.5/UK 7.5/JP 26.5/EU 42. Unfortunately, the Superfly runs slightly longer than previously, and for me personally, a half a size down would be better. This is also partially because I have a medium-to-narrow-width foot. If your foot is on the wider side, you should go with your normal size.

On the Ball

One of the aspects I really enjoy about the Nike Mercurial Superfly 11 is the feel on the ball. Because of the super thin upper, the touch on the ball is one of the closest on the market, and the phrase “razor-sharp” feels applicable here. And yet, the upper gets soft enough to the point that you do not have to suffer to have that sensation.

Another great aspect of the upper is the slight grittiness to it. This helps with the touch on the ball and overall ball manipulation. But I especially like that we now have some actual nice grip on the swoosh so that the ball does not feel like it will slide off when dribbling with speed. It was such a bizarre part of the previous Merc that you had this all GripKnit upper, except none of it was on the swoosh at all, which was an annoyance when dribbling.

The Superfly also feel classic Mercurial when shooting or hitting the ball with power. There is a lovely pingy sensation that offers direct feedback. This is one of the things that I know a lot of people enjoyed about Mercurials of old, and it makes a nice return here.

One thing I do wish Nike did is for there to be slightly less height to the toebox. I know that Nike did this to help make the boot fit more foot types, but it is just tall enough that the forefoot does not sit fully flat across the forefoot. It is not overly noticeable, and it is something I got used to, but I would have preferred it to sit lower down like a Sokito Scudetta or the F50 Hyperfast.

Grip

Nike has produced something special here. I was extremely skeptical about the new Zoom Air unit, especially, and I thought the tech was one of the worst parts of the previous Mercurial. Having worn the new boots, however, I am impressed. The snapback is excellent, yet at the same time, the soleplate still flexes in the right place when going to sprint.

This means that when I am sprinting on my toes, I can feel the soleplate add that bit of push forward. The Air Zoom unit itself also has some slight flex to it as well, which allows the soleplate to flex naturally, without feeling awkward underfoot.

I am surprised that there has been no negative physical sensation regarding the Air Zoom unit, though it still takes some getting used to mentally.

The stud layout is nicely aggressive, and one of the better ones that Nike has made in some time. There is a lot of grip while still offering some slight agility when it comes to making tight turns and cuts.

One of the only slightly negative aspects of the boot is that while I do feel the soleplate is good overall, and I have just praised the slight agility of the soleplate, the Air Zoom unit feels that it stops the soleplate from being more suitable for sharp cuts and getting out of tight spaces. It is a difficult thing to balance, but I do feel that other speed boots offer more in this aspect.

That should not take away from the fact that the Air Zoom unit is an excellent addition to the boot, and it makes the boot feel more out there and somewhat groundbreaking, like we expect from a Superfly.

A New Era

It seems like I’ve been waiting for a long time for Nike to do something truly groundbreaking with the Superfly. While it does not quite reach the lofty goals it set for itself, it is still something special that truly sets the boots apart from the rest of the market. It has all this tech that truly makes the boots seem super. However, the best part is that this tech comes together to make a compelling and enjoyable boot. As much as I like what Nike has done with Techleather, as a boot overall, the Nike Mercurial Superfly 11 is now my favourite Nike boot. This is even to the point that I may pick up a pair (in a colourway that suits me better) when Speed Boot Summer is all said and done. A great product, and definitely something that pushes speed boots forward.

What do you think of the Nike Mercurial Superfly 11? Please share this with your friends and make sure to follow me on Instagram!

Also, check out the Football Boot Hour Podcast I co-host with Boot Wizard!

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I split my time between wearing HAVO Grip Socks and PureGrip Socks for training and matches.

Use code LOCKHART15 to get 15% off your HAVO Grip Sock order or click the link here: https://havosports.com/LOCKHART.

Use code lockhart for 10% off your entire PureGrip Socks order here: https://puregripsocks.com. Along with the socks, I also recommend the Pure laces and Pure Carbon 2.0 shin guards.

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