First Impression

As soon as I put on the Vapor 17 for trainings and matches, what immediately strikes me is how light and minimalist the boot is on-feet.

This appeals to those who:

• Prefers a second-skin fit
• Is not into boot gimmicks
• Likes a close connection to the ground

Given its straightforward build, those looking for a cushioned boot are certain to look for other options.

What You’ll Find On This Page:

• Vapor 17 Elite 2026 Review
• Mercurial Vapor 16 Pro
• Academy Vapor Review
• Previous Models of the Mercurial Vapor
• Key Facts about Mercurial Vapor 17

What‘s New With The Vapor 17

The Vapor 17 gives you a Nike Mercurial with the following composition:

• Atomknit Upper
• Flylite Plate

‘Less is more’ is the Vapor’s interpretation of what a speed boot is.

And because of this, when comparing it to the previous generation:

Improved structure

While it is still knit and in the end feels sock-like, because Atomknit is comprised of threads that are fully stretched to their maximum elasticity the Vapor 17 has more structural integrity than the boot it replaces.

Direct ground contact

Nike stripped down the sole composition to a composite plate with cutouts, a thin, perforated stroebel piece and a thin insole to bring your foot closer to the ground.

Separate identity from the Superfly

The Vapor is back to being a different speed boot silo from the Mercurial Superfly.

FAQs about the Nike Mercurial Vapor 17:

1. How is it different from the Superfly?
   • Vapor 17 goes for a minimalist approach. Superfly 11 opts for more technology and responsiveness for its own interpretation of speed. More about the Superfly 11 here.
2. Is Phantom or Mercurial better?
   • Each silo has its unique attributes that make it distinct from one another. Read the Vapor review on this page and the Phantom here so you can make a comparison and decide which way to go between these two.

My Mercurial Vapor 17 Elite 2026 Review

• Release Year: 2026
• Generation Number: 17th
• Purpose: Speed Boot
• Competitor/s: adidas F50, Puma Ultra, New Balance Furon
• Notable Players: Bruno Fernandes, Vinicius Jr.

It’s a really special feeling to use these boots now, knowing the history behind them. They’re such an iconic boot and a symbol of one of the biggest legends of the game, Ronaldo.

Vinicius Jr., Winger

How I Tested the Vapor 17

• 3 competitive matches
• 2 training sessions
• Natural grass and synthetic pitch
• Dry and wet conditions
• Narrow foot shape
• Playing as a forward

You can maximise its lightweight build in tight spaces, 1v1s and cutting inside.

Who The Vapor Is For

What It’s Like In Actual Game Situations

1-on-1 Duels

Players who attack defenders 1v1, rely on sudden bursts of pace, and constantly change direction will get the most from the boot.

The lightweight construction and low-profile feel make it excellent for:

• Explosive first steps
• Rapid dribbling
• Touch-and-go movements
• Quick changes of direction
• Isolating fullbacks

Especially when partnered with proper timing and movement, gunning for those spaces can feel effortless with the Superfly boot.

Cutting Inside

For players who start wide but attack central spaces, the Vapor 17 feels extremely natural.

The thin upper allows:

• Sharp directional changes before shooting
• Cleaner shooting contact
• Fast touches in tight spaces

Tight Spaces

Creative players who rely on agility rather than physicality will enjoy the Vapor 17.

It’s particularly effective for:

• Dribble-heavy No. 10s
• Press-resistant creators
• Players who receive on the half-turn

The barefoot sensation gives excellent awareness of the ball during tight-space play.

On-feet Fit &Feel

The fit and shaping of the Nike Mercurial Vapor 17 arguably presents a familiar template to those who are already acquainted with past Vapors:

• Narrow and anatomical
• Toe is low and pointy (with even some slight tapering around the toes)
• Even tapers toward the midfoot and heel
• Accommodation of additional width depends on how much stretch and give you can get from the knitted upper and tongue
• At around 160g, one, if not the lightest in the market

Narrow to standard foot shapes can expect a welcome reception from the Vapor 17.

Real experience: It contours well to every bumps and curves of your feet, especially after break-in time.

Foot Containment

Despite its minimalist build, the Vapor 17 is above-average in securing your feet, with the following points to consider:

• Because of the stretch of the knitted tongue and just the knitted nature of the upper material, a nitpicker would catch that subtle slide of the foot in abrupt movements (very minimal and neglible though).
• Heel lockdown is even made better because of that pinch towards the top
• The anatomical shape itself helps prevent the foot from moving around

And we are not even discussing the possibility of doing a runner’s loop, which you can do if you really put a padlock onto it.

Real experience: Whether it’s a stop-and-go, a feint or a full throttle, the Vapor does a good job containing your feet in place.

Overall Responsiveness and Ball Contact

If you fit well into the Vapor 17, then you’ll know that lockdown is decent. This makes the boot go and respond positively to where your foot want to go.

In addition:

• The bite on the ground from those chevrons means you’ll get stability in your step and won’t slide around the pitch.
• The rounded corners of those chevrons help ease your way into rotational movements, providing you some improved response time in those situations.

One thing to point out is that while the soleplate itself is nonetheless responsive, it is a bit behind especially when compared to its Superfly sibling. But then again, the Flylite system is for those who like that sensation of sinking into the boot and into the ground, given how minimal the sole composition is.

Real experience: I sense some flex even up to the midfoot. Not a deal breaker but I prefer more rigidity around that part of the sole just so I would more of that solid ground sensation.

At this point, you might already know that there’s pretty much nothing stopping the impact of the ball towards your feet. So much of your first touch and general ball control truly relies on your skill.

When receiving passes:

• You immediately feel the ball’s speed.
• Touches feel precise.
• The ball doesn’t feel muted or cushioned.

When dribbling:

• Every touch feels intentional.
• Small adjustments are easy to execute.
• Ball feedback is excellent.

All these matter most when you need to make split-second decisions in the final third.

Real experience: Because there’s very little material dampening the touch, I really have to focus on good technique.

What Stands Out In Vapor 17

How It Compares To Other Speed Boots

vs adidas F50

• Vapor = more barefoot
• F50 = slightly more material

Choose Vapor for:

• Greater ball feedback.

vs Puma Ultra

• Vapor = Less tooling layers and toned-down snapback
• Ultra = More energy return from the outsole, especially the carbon version, plus sharper FastTrax

Choose Vapor for:

• A more refined multidirectional traction and friendlier forefoot snap

vs New Balance Furon

• Vapor = narrow, anatomical and snug
• Furon = wider and more rounded

Choose Vapor:

• A tighter, more secure fit.

Final Verdict

With the Vapor 17, Nike has justified the need to have two interpretations of the Mercurial speed.

The speed of the Vapor is all about:

• Being lightweight and nimble, ready to explode at any moment
• A full, raw sensation when in contact with the ground and the ball
• Having a secured, locked-in foot containment

Even defenders can benefit from the Vapor 17, most especially if they play a system that relies on pressing triggers and quickly shutting down passing lanes.

Vapor 17 Quick Summary

Best for:

• Wingers
• Inside Forwards
• Mobile Strikers
• Attacking Midfielders
• Technical Dribblers

Strengths:

• Open-space attacking
• Counter-attacking football
• Rapid transitions
• 1v1 dribbling
• Aggressive pressing
• Fast-pitch performance

Weaknesses:

• Physical play
• Aerial dominance
• Maximum protection
• Cushioned comfort
• Traditional boot feel
• Strength-based football over agility-based football

Fit:

Best suited to narrow to standard feet.

Playing style:

Works great on players who takes on defenders, works around tight spaces and cutting into spaces.

*Takedown sections to be updated soon

Mercurial Vapor 16 Pro

With the Vapor Pro, Nike switches the upper to a full- Flyknit construction. It may not have the sticky Gripknit technology, but it still feels premium as it’s like the same Flyknit material used in previous Nike Flykit boots. And for that reason you still get that sock-like sensation when you go for the Pro. One thing I have observed is the lower you go in the takedown level, the wider the last gets. To be clear, the Mercurial is not a wide boot to begin with. But as the Elite Vapor 16 is already a forgiving narrow boot, that attribute gets amplified in the Pro (as well as in the Academy). You’ll have to monitor the heel though as the lockdown there might have been minimised by the lessening of the liner and padding.

Model	Quality	Pitches
Attack	Full Flyknit upper and Limited Air Zoom bag		>> Get Mercurial Vapor 16 Pro at Nike
Shadow			>> Get Mercurial Vapor 16 Pro at Nike
Mbappe Plum Eclipse			>> Get Mercurial Vapor 16 Pro at Nike

The Zoom Air bag in the Pro is limited to the heel, and so the cushioning technology does not really do much at this level. But at least the soleplate has been made more a bit responsive, so that should at least offset the toning down of the feature benefit. Furthermore, the same aggressive stud configuration is in place. You’ll have no problems digging into that natural ground when you start running around the pitch.

Academy Vapor Review

Model	Quality	Pitches
Attack	Nikeskin upper and heel Air Zoom bag		>> Get Academy Vapor 16 at Nike
Shadow			>> Get Academy Vapor 16 at Nike
Mbappe Plum Eclipse			>> Get Mbappe Academy Vapor at Nike
United 003			>> Get United Academy Vapor at Nike
Nike By You			>> Get Academy Vapor 16 at Nike

Vapor 16 Academy

Both in Adults & Kids Sizes – Cheaper entry level boot, that suits amateur players and those with growing feet, has the same look as the Elite version. It has a more substantial feel to it as far as the Nikeskin upper material itself is concerned, and once broken-in it does replicate the overall snug profile that the Vapor is known for. You can get the Academy Vapor in AG and SG-specific toolings on top of the Multiground default.

Things to Know about the Vapor 16 Academy

1. Costs £80; can even get for less in Nike’s clearout sales of older colourways
2. Multiground tooling exclusive to the Academy level; not available in the top-end models Vapor Elite and Pro
3. Offered alongside the Academy Tiempo and Phantom Academy
4. Kids Mercurial Vapor Academy available
5. Competes directly with the adidas F50 League and Puma Ultra Match

Vapor 16 Academy Upper

The upper of the Vapor 16 Academy is comprised of Nikeskin. It’s a mesh-based material and has a great history in Nike football boot usage, beginning with the OG Hypervenoms. The Nikeskin here is of course not as premium as those used in the past for the brand’s top-end silos, but for the price point it does feel above-average. In fact, it does fare better than the Nikeskin of the Vapor 15 in that it is much softer and more pliable out-of-the-box. That change alone has significant implications to other aspects of the boot.

On that note, I can say that the Academy Vapor 16 also checks the box of at least giving that preview of how the Elite’s Gripknit+AtomKnit upper going to feel like. Whereas the previous generation trended towards the synthetic side, this iteration is all about giving you that sock-like feel ala Vapor 12/Vapor 13. I guess the only downside is that Gripknit is not replicated at this level. If the minimal chevron texturing is their effort at doing so, then I would say that it’s a very weak attempt.

Vapor 16 Academy Outsole

As always, Nike intends the Academy Vapor 16 to be multigrounded. They have done so by replacing some of the blades and chevron studs with conicals. I still think it’s best to use the Vapor 16 MG for natural surface as those blades and chevrons still give too much cling. And I would argue that it’s better to go for the AG-specific Academy Vapor not only for playing on synthetic pitches but also for the purpose of finding a boot that is more adaptable to both natural and artificial grasses.

Zoom Air technology has some presence in this level via the bag on the heel. You can think of it as a nice consolation of still giving you some taste of how Air Zoom affects the Mercurial line. But it’s positioning on the heel I think lessens it’s already minimal impact on the outsole experience. Overall though, the soleplate’s flexibility jives well with the pliability of the upper, making its flex feel natural and in-sync with your step.

Vapor 16 Academy Fit and Feel

Comfort is what comes to mind because of the upper profile. And it’s just not comfortable after breaking them in; they do feel pleasant right at the gate. It may not be as light as the Elite, but it’s something that you can still consider as a lightweight boot. Besides comfort, the pliability of the upper also works in harmony with the tight shaping of the boot, delivering a nice glimpse of how the Mercurial line works as far as boot experience is concerned. Vapor 16 Academy wraps your foot closely, and when partnered with the laces tied tight, does a decent work in locking down your foot. The give on the upper makes it forgiving for more width, but extremely wide-footed players might have to look elsewhere.

Previous Models of the Mercurial Vapor

Officially launched in 2002 (albeit with strong connection to Brazilian Ronaldo’s ‘R9’ Mercurials that first appeared in 1998), Nike unveiled their first ever speed-themed silo which has since become arguably the most iconic boot of the past two decades. Updated usually every two years, Nike release a new generation for World Cup and European Championship tournaments.

Mercurial Vapor 16

Vapor 16 brought back knit, specifically the Gripknit technology that proved to be a hit for the Phantom line. It added a sticky ball grip and control dimension on top of its speed-focused silhouette. The quarter provided the structural reinforcement with the use of Atomknit, which was later used as the base material for the Vapor 17. Like the Vapor 15, a 3/4 length Zoom Air bag provided a cushioned underfoot sensation.

Mercurial Vapor 15

When it came to Mercurial and Zoom Air, more than the 2001’s Air Zoom Mercurial VT, it was going to be the Vapor 15 that was going to be equated with Nike’s patented underfoot technology. It was the first full application of the strobel bag, running three-fourths in length and providing a truly distinct running experience in football. It also built on the synthetic built of the Vapor 14 with the Vaporposite+ upper inspired by the Roman sandal construction.

Mercurial Vapor 14

The Vapor 14 was like a prayer answered for those desiring to return to the synthetic days of the Nike Mercurials. The new Vaporposite material was thin to give you that raw pingy sensation upon ball contact. And after just a short break-in time, the material became more pliable and complemented the softer Avail Q microfibre liner, making your feet comfortable in the long run.

Mercurial Vapor 13 (2019)

The Mercurial Vapor 13 released in July 2019 had the best construction of Nike’s trademark knit material called Flyknit. A soft yarn base layer had a structural reinforcement in the form of Nike’s High-Tenacity yarns, resulting in a Flyknit that remained pliable while also being structurally sound. This reinforcing yarns also worked in harmony with the boot’s tight-fit built and central lacing closure to produce a boot that had a very secure lockdown and noticeable responsiveness.

The 2019 Vapor launched with the New Lights colourway made up of light blue base colour and white accents, the crimson-based Future Lab, chromic Neighbourhood, and vibrant Daybreak Vapors got wide releases in terms of usage among Nike-contracted professionals. Neymar’s last few Nike-signature boots were the racing-inspired Vapor 13 Speed Freak and the kaleidoscopic Jogo Prismatico, whilst the Future DNA Vapor 13 finally brought the orange and silver Superfly 1 colourway available for retail.

Mercurial Vapor 12 (2018)

The Vapor XII started the trend of essentially being the same as the Mercurial Superfly, just less the collar. Called the Vapor 360 at launch, this Mercurial had the first Flyknit construction that completely hugs the foot up to the underfoot, made possible by the split soleplate and anatomically-shaped internal board. The chassis inside the boot had a debossed pattern that matched the embossed pattern underneath the insole, locking in together and reducing internal boot slippage.

Mercurial Vapor 11 (2016)

Together with the Superfly 5, the Vapor 11 were launched in May 2016 under the Spark Brilliance Pack dedicated for that year’s Euro tournament. The Vapor 11 had a Teijin synthetic upper and Speed Ribs texturing on the forefoot, the paint job of the launch colourway was predominantly red that faded to black towards the heel with black and pink highlighting the Speed Rib elements. Other black accents included the tongue, laces, and soleplate, with Volt details such as the Swoosh and the stud tips. Neymar’s first signature Mercurial Vapor were the Vapor 11 Written in the Stars; this blue-green Vapor with yellow accents showed a constellation graphic whose points detail the journey of Neymar in the football world at that time.

Mercurial Vapor 10 (2014)

In May 2014 Nike followed up the release of the then-new gen Superfly IV with the Vapor 10. Vapor 10 utilised an ultra-thin microfibre upper that introduced the integrated tongue construction. TPU studs filled in the nylon soleplate. The launch colourway of the Vapor was the same Hyper Punch Red and Gold as that of the Superfly IV. If you liked the Laser Orange Superfly 7 Limited Edition, then the Fall 2014 Vapor X might have also appealed to you, partnering the laser orange upper was a white Swoosh with a black outline. Nike’s penchant for bold colour combinations was also evident early on with the Vapor X Silver Storm which had an understated wolf grey upper and a hyper pink swoosh and soleplate, that were debuted on pitch for the 2015 UCL Final.

Key Facts About Nike Mercurial Vapor 17

1. Nike Mercurial Vapor 17 has a AtomKnit upper and a Flylite outsole.
2. Available models: Elite (~160g), Pro (~205 g) and Academy (~225 g).
3. SRP: Elite ~£255, Pro ~£145, Academy ~£80
4. The Mercurial Vapor 17 is the preferred boot of the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Vinicius Jr.