Nike Mercurial Vapor 17 vs Superfly 11: Which Should You Buy?

Vapor 17 vs Superfly 11: The quick answer

Choose the Nike Vapor 17 Elite if you want a super-light, soft and barefoot-like football boot that feels free and nimble. Choose the Nike Superfly 11 Elite if you want stronger lockdown, a stiffer soleplate and a more aggressive sensation when accelerating.

That is basically the comparison in one sentence.

The Vapor flows with your foot.

The Superfly locks you in and pushes you forward.

There is no right or wrong choice here. It comes down to your foot shape and what kind of speed sensation you prefer.

Vapor 17 vs Superfly 11: The Biggest Differences Explained

Even though both boots carry the Mercurial name, the Vapor 17 and Superfly 11 offer two very different speed experiences.

Here is the simple version.

Nike Mercurial Vapor 17 Elite: Lightweight, Free and Barefoot-Like

The Vapor is the lighter, freer and more minimal boot.

You get:

• Atomknit upper
• A softer and more barefoot-like sensation
• More freedom around the foot
• A slightly wider and rounder toe box
• A very close and seamless heel fit
• A thin FlyLite soleplate
• A low-to-the-ground feeling
• Easier twisting, turning and pivoting
• A sharper and slightly stickier touch on the ball
• Weight: 150 grams

Basically, the Vapor feels like it wants to disappear on your foot and just let you move.

Nike Mercurial Superfly 11 Elite: Locked-In, Aggressive and Responsive

The Superfly is the more aggressive and locked-in speed boot.

You get:

• FlyWeave Ultra upper
• A soft but more structured sensation
• Stronger lockdown
• A slightly more tapered toe shape
• Slightly more width through the forefoot
• A comfortable and supportive heel
• Air Zoom under the forefoot
• More stiffness and snap from the soleplate
• A more explosive feeling when accelerating
• A thin but slightly more structured touch on the ball
• Around 175 grams according to JayMike

Basically, the Superfly feels more powerful. It holds your foot in place and gives you that wild, responsive Mercurial speed sensation.

Read our full Superfly 11 Elite review here

So, if you want something light, natural and nimble, the Vapor 17 is probably where you should look. If you want lockdown, power and that aggressive push when you accelerate, the Superfly 11 might be the one for you.

Upper Comparison: Atomknit vs FlyWeave Ultra

One of the biggest differences between the Nike Vapor 17 and Superfly 11 is the upper. The Superfly 11 uses Nike’s FlyWeave Ultra material, while the Vapor 17 comes with an Atomknit upper.

Both are thin, soft and premium Mercurial uppers, but they deliver two very different experiences once you put them on.

Superfly 11 FlyWeave Ultra Upper: More Structure and Lockdown

The FlyWeave Ultra upper is a woven material that allows Nike to create different zones across the boot. Some areas can be softer and more flexible, while others can have more structure to help with lockdown - and that is exactly what you feel.

The forefoot and midfoot are soft and comfortable, and the material molds nicely around your foot. But at the same time, the Superfly has more structure on the sides of the boot, helping your foot stay more securely in place. The tongue construction also adds more tension around the foot, creating that locked-in feeling.

So, don’t get it wrong - the Superfly is still soft. It just feels more controlled.

Vapor 17 Atomknit Upper: Softer, Lighter and More Free

The Vapor 17 goes in another direction. The Atomknit upper is extremely thin, lightweight and flexible, and straight out of the box JayMike found it slightly softer and more pliable than the Superfly.

Once broken in, it feels even more natural around the foot. The best way to describe it is freedom. The Vapor feels softer, more flexible and almost like it moves together with your foot. The trade-off is that you do not get quite the same structured lockdown as you do in the Superfly.

Fit and Sizing: Which Mercurial Fits Better?

Both the Vapor 17 Elite and Superfly 11 Elite have that classic Mercurial feeling:

Sleek. Snug. Close to your foot.

But Nike has actually built them on different foot shapes, meaning the fit is not exactly the same.

Toe Box: Which Boot Gives You More Room?

The Vapor 17 has a slightly wider and more rounded toe box. It also gives you a little more height and volume around your toes, so if you have a bigger big toe or simply like a bit more room up front, the Vapor will probably feel better.

The Superfly 11 goes in the opposite direction. The toe box is a little more tapered, gathering your toes a bit more and giving you that locked-in sensation. It never feels uncomfortable or overly narrow—it just feels more fixated.

Forefoot and Midfoot Fit: Freedom vs Lockdown

Interestingly, the Superfly actually gives you slightly more width through the forefoot. From there, both boots narrow towards the midfoot, creating that classic anatomical Mercurial fit.

The biggest difference is really the tongue construction. The Vapor has a more flexible tongue that gives you a little more room to adjust the fit, while the Superfly feels more fixed around your foot.

And honestly, that sums up the whole comparison.

The Vapor gives you freedom.

The Superfly gives you lockdown.

Heel Fit: Comfort vs That Spray-Painted Feeling

The Superfly 11 has a very comfortable heel with a soft liner and supportive feeling. It locks you in nicely while still feeling comfortable.

But the Vapor 17 heel is something special.

It sits extremely close around your heel and transitions smoothly into the lower ankle. JayMike describes it as one of his favourite Mercurial heels ever.

The Superfly heel is great. The Vapor heel is just that little bit more seamless.

Are Vapor 17 and Superfly 11 True to Size?

Yes. JayMike went true to size in both boots. For him, his normal size was the right choice for length in both the Vapor 17 Elite and Superfly 11 Elite.

However, because the shape is different, one boot may naturally suit your foot better than the other.

Soleplate and traction: FlyLite vs Air Zoom

This is where the Nike Vapor 17 and Superfly 11 really start to feel like two completely different football boots.

The Vapor 17 is all about being close to the ground, while the Superfly 11 gives you a much more powerful and aggressive sensation under your feet.

Vapor 17 FlyLite Soleplate: Low, Connected and Nimble

The Vapor 17 uses Nike’s FlyLite plate, which gives you a very low and connected feeling. Instead of feeling like you are standing on top of a stiff soleplate, it almost feels like your foot sinks into the boot.

You feel close to:

• The boot
• The ground
• Every movement you make

And that is really what defines the Vapor 17. It feels nimble. It feels natural. It feels like it is ready to move with you.

The studs still give you an aggressive push-off, but because of the slightly more rounded edges, twisting, turning and pivoting feels smoother and more easy-going compared to the Superfly.

JayMike mentions that he personally would have liked a little more stiffness through the midfoot. But at the same time, that flexible feeling is part of what makes the Vapor feel like the Vapor.

You cannot have everything.

Superfly 11 Air Zoom Soleplate: Powerful and Explosive

The Superfly 11 is a completely different experience. This is where you really feel the aggressive side of the boot.

You get:

• A stiff midfoot
• A powerful forefoot snap
• The Air Zoom sensation under your foot
• Very aggressive traction

When you push forward, the Air Zoom unit compresses and gives you that trampoline-like feeling. It almost feels like the boot gives you a little extra push. And that is what makes the Superfly 11 such a unique Mercurial.

It feels fast. It feels powerful. It feels like it wants you to attack.

Of course, this type of sensation is also very personal. Some players will absolutely love that responsive feeling, while others might prefer something more natural and flexible.

Which Mercurial Speed Boot Should You Choose?

Who Should Choose the Vapor 17 Elite?

Choose the Vapor 17 if you want a football boot that feels:

• Super lightweight
• Minimal
• Soft
• Barefoot-like
• Close to the ground
• Easy to move in

The Vapor is all about freedom. It feels like it follows your foot instead of controlling it.

Who Should Choose the Superfly 11 Elite?

Choose the Superfly 11 if you want a football boot that feels:

• Locked in
• Powerful
• Responsive
• Stable
• Aggressive when accelerating

The Superfly is for players who want to feel the boot working with them when they push forward.

You feel the structure. You feel the snap. You feel the speed.

Vapor 17 vs Superfly 11: JayMike’s Final Verdict

So, which Mercurial should you buy? Honestly, both are incredible football boots. But they offer completely different experiences.

The Nike Vapor 17 Elite is the free one. It is lightweight, minimal, flexible and gives you that close-to-the-ground feeling where the boot almost disappears on your foot.

The Nike Superfly 11 Elite is the aggressive one. It locks you in, gives you more structure and delivers that powerful Air Zoom sensation that pushes you forward.

At the end of the day, it comes down to what you prefer.

Do you want freedom? Go Vapor.

Do you want that wild, responsive Mercurial speed feeling? Go Superfly.