Nike Mecurial Vapor Review

Overall Rating

First off, the Mercurials are light. You've heard it before, and you'll hear it again. Remember how fast you could run in slippers, or bare feet? Same here. They really are feather-light. I don't know if I'd recommend the Moulded (Blades) version for anything other than soft-ground, but for that, they're perfect. Studded are fine, too - but if you are playing on hard ground, I'd recommend some Tempo astro-turfs, or such-like. Some might question the durability of the Mercurials and they might have a point, but to be fair, such light-weight material isn't going to be as durable as solid leather that you'll find on Adidas WC's or the Puma range.

The bad points are few. First off the mercurials are expensive. You have to ask yourself if you'd go for a pair of these over a pair of Puma King Pros AND some Adidas World Cup's as back/up or one pair of Mercurials. I got mine at a very good price, and they're the kangaroo leather versions, so I might get some back-ups for the new season, but if you've got the money to spend, and have your heart set on a pair, you'll like them.

One thing to note, is that they can fit quite slim. Mine are the MK I models with the fully moulded heels and if you don't have a standard heel, you're going to experience some discomfort initially. Also, if you take out the insoles, you'll find they fit a lot nicer. The insoles are around a quarter on an inch thick in some places so if you need a touch extra room, take them out and get some thin ones from Scholl.

My cancanium (heel) bone is a touch off centre. Nothing embarrassing, but it can be a pain when breaking in boots. I simply heated the plastic moulding of my MK I Mercurials while wearing them. I crouched down (team-talk style) and the plastic has moulded in a more comfortable shape. Clearly you void any warranty by doing this, but if you've had yours a few months and haven't worn them much because of the heels, try this. In addition to making them more comfortable this - combined with discarding the insoles - has made them very comfortable. I have wide feet and thought I'd have to frame these rather than wear them, but now that's not the case. Buying a new pair of boots I a special thing. Nike are a flashy brand and Mercurials are at the top of the pile, so while I'd recommend these, there's certainly a lot of competition - SO SHOP AROUND!

All the best!