The Science of Speed | Introducing the EURO 2016 Nike Mercurial Superfly V colourway

17.05.2016

Written by Mathias

This is when the EURO 2016 hype really starts to build up steam! It’s the moment so many of us have been waiting for, as Nike spearhead their Spark Brilliance Pack with the first official Mercurial Superfly V colourway.

The silhouette and design of the Nike Mercurial Superfly V was first unveiled at the Nike Innovation Summit, more than a month ago, and since then we have waited eagerly in anticipation of the day we could finally show you all the first official colourway, which will grace the pitch during the Champions League final and the European Championship.

With the Mercurial Superfly V, Nike challenged their design team to once again reimagine the future of speed and evolve the game. They knew they had something pretty amazing already with the Superfly IV, so it was going to take immense research and design work to do so. Made as a metaphorical formula 1 car, the Nike Mercurial Superfly V is without doubt one of the most technically advanced football boots ever constructed and brings high science to the world of speed.

The formula 1 inspiration, and how the cars are constantly being developed, was key to the way Nike approached creating the newest incarnation. Every season the formula 1 teams dismantle the car and look for any and every way to make them faster and more reliable. This is exactly what Nike did with the Superfly and the results are nothing short of astounding.

The Nike Mercurial Superfly V will, along with the rest of the newly presented Spark Brilliance Pack, be made available on 31st of May on unisportstore.com.

The undoubtedly biggest piece of innovation on the Nike Mercurial Superfly V boots is the ultralight 3D Speed Plate, which for the first time is made with a very anatomical design that follows your foots natural curve. Soleplates are usually flat, however the human foot is anything but streamline and that is what the new Mercurial Superfly V frame looks to improve upon. Less space in the boots leads to a tighter, sharper and in every way more locked in fit, which in turn gives you a much more powerful feeling of explosive speed!

Adding to that, Nike have also incorporated their also newly developed NikeGRIP system on the inlay sole, which further increases your lockdown in the boots and once again leads to a heightened feeling of responsiveness and pace.

Another difference I’m sure you have all also spotted is the new Speed Ribs, which make up the Nike Mercurial Superfly V’s entire upper. They are layered as a part of the same Flyknit construction and are not separately added on top of the upper, which is what a lot of people feared when they first saw it. The ribs don’t restrict your feet's movement like Flywire did and instead enhance your touch when dribbling at high-speed. Never has Cristiano Ronaldo been better equipped to tear up defences

The Nike Mercurial Superfly V will, along with the rest of the newly presented Spark Brilliance Pack, be made available on 31st of May on unisportstore.com.