The Nike Mercurial Vapor 16 comes in four different tiers: the professional-level, top-end Elite, high-quality takedown Pro, budget option Academy and entry-level Club. On top of that, different soleplate types are available to get the exact Vapor for your playing surface. Browse through for more details or go straight to our full Nike Vapor review here.
- Vapor 16 Elite 2024 Review
- Mercurial Vapor 16 Pro
- Academy Vapor Review
- Mercurial Vapor Club
- Previous Models
While technically not the first Mercurial to feature the zoom airbag (having produced the Air Zoom Mercurial VT twenty one years ago), Nike’s long-running speed boot line gets the first application of the Air Zoom technology ever since its conception as the Mercurial Vapor in 2002. Given the boot’s significant development in terms of the upper, fit, and tooling, Nike turns to its midsole as the centre stage for the latest and greatest from the Vapor line.
Vapor 16 Elite 2024 Review
Vapor 16 enters the fray as part of Nike’s effort to optimise its patented Zoom Air technology across different sports. And so the boot’s aim is to deliver an underfoot experience that would redefine speed in football. Does it work and is there more to the Vapor 16 than just the sole technology? Let’s go ahead and check on this generational release of this ever-popular silo.
Nike Air Zoom Mercurial Vapor 16
| Model | Quality | Pitches | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Mercurial Vapor Elite |  Gripknit+AtomKnit upper and Zoom Air outsole |  |  >> Get Elite Mercurial Vapor 16 at Nike |
Zoom Air Tooling
Before we get into Zoom Air, I would like to talk about the studs first. Having known the Vapor for most of its existence, I really missed those chevrons! There’s really something to that particular stud configuration that digs in well to the ground. That’s why the Mercurial Vapor has been known first and foremost for linear speed. I do welcome the return of the stud shape to the Vapor 16 (and by extension the return of focus on straight-line acceleration rather than multidirectional speed. With that said, I’m pretty sure I can play this stud layout only on natural soil, and would have to at least get the AG version (or find another AG-friendly FG boot) for synthetic pitches. There’s also these speed fin studs on the Zoom Air window that aid traction further and help disperse stud pressure, though some might still experience a bit of it around the midfoot chevrons.
When it comes to the Zoom Air bag, I don’t feel any clunkiness because of the fact that the three-fourths length strobel sits on a cavity on the soleplate itself. It does have that cushioned bounce, but not so much as to make you feel disconnected from the ground. Overall, it does have a comfortable squish that has been made more pronounced (relative to the Vapor 15 Zoom Air) by removing the flex grooves of the strobel itself. Nike initially marketed this Zoom Air football rendition as an energy return feature. I’m just not sure if it really works that way even back in Vapor 15. What I do notice is that there is now a little snap back effect on the soleplate itself to take care of that in the Vapor 16. It’s not wild like the Carbon Speedsystem of the Puma Ultra 5, but I think that’s a good thing as it feels complementary to Air Zoom at the end of the day.
Back to a Knitted Upper
Nike promised that the Vapor 16’s knitted upper to be 30% thinner than the Vaporposite+ of the Vapor 15. And based on my experience, it is indeed thinner, and I find it an extraordinary feat given that the previous material is already thin in the first place. Vaporposite+ though has that spongey sensation, and from anyone coming from Vapor 15, that is going to be missed when they transition to Vapor 16. Besides being thin, I find the one-piece construction as one of the softest material among current football boot uppers out there. The knitted setup of the Vapor 16 is divided into two: Gripknit on the forefoot and AtomKnit on the rear. I guess Nike’s goal is to prioritise the softness of the upper without making it feel clumsy. If that’s the case then the integration of AtomKnit is a success as it does help the boot maintain its shape. It’s not going to give too much structure and responsiveness to the Vapor 16, of course, but it gets the job done in terms of balancing out shape and pliability.
Fit Profile and Overall Feel
The last of the Mercurial Vapor is relatively narrow, and that has not changed in the Vapor 16. But to my surprise, this Vapor is the most comfortable Mercurial for wide feet-players. That is because the thinness and pliability of the upper allows the boot to have a one-to-one sculpted fit even to those with above-average width. If you have an extremely wide feet then there are more suitable options for you, though there’s a part of me that says Vapor 16 could be your chance to finally experience that classic secured, strapped-in feel of past Mercurials, made possible now as this is the most forgiving and most accommodating Vapor to date.
Because of that close fit, I can feel that the Vapor 16 has been able to offset whatever lockdown, lateral stability and upper responsiveness have been lost because of the softness of both Gripknit and AtomKnit. Speaking of Gripknit, the added optimal stickiness of the upper has introduced a concept that is not usually associated with the Mercurial: Ball Grip! The barefoot touch on the ball is a usual experience, but now with Gripknit ball control is now part of the discussion at least for this Vapor iteration. The Gripknit here is not Phantom GX level, which is for the best I think as you don’t want to overshadow both the essence of the Phantom line as well as the Zoom Air technology of today’s Mercurials.
As in the case of the Vapor and Superfly distinction beginning with the Vapor 12/Superfly 6, Vapor 16 offers the low-cut alternative. And being somewhat wary of that only difference, I would prefer to save up those extra Pounds and get a freer feeling around my ankles.
Length-wise, the Vapor 16 is true-to-size.
Final Words
I think the Vapor 16 is the embodiment of the saying ‘the best boot is the one that fits you well.’ And with its ability to adapt to a variety of foot shapes, it is turning out to be one of the best releases from Nike. It might not have something new to introduce like its predecessors, but the optimisations on the fit as well as on the proven Nike technologies are more than enough to usher the silo forward. There’s a sense that the Vapor is losing its ground as the leading speed boot. That might be true, but the likes of Vapor 16 is helping Nike have that breathing space again from the the Mercurial rivals.
Vapor 16 vs Vapor 15
Because Vapor 16 is back to being a knitted football boot, there are indeed some points where it differs from Vapor 15. I wouldn’t say the latest generation is necessarily better. It’s more of highlighting what your preferences are when it comes to football boots. And yes, at the end of the day, both are still excellent football boots.
So with the Vapor 16 you have an upper material that is softer than the Vapor 15’s Vaporposite+, which leans more on being structured and plasticky but does break down once used. From this the boot experience also becomes different. While the two are still geared towards being narrow, the Vapor 16 is the more forgiving to wider foot shapes. I do think that Vapor 16 is chosen by those who are more after comfort and better fitting, while Vapor 15 goes to those who wants more responsiveness, lockdown and lateral stability. And another thing: Vapor 16 has that stickiness to it because of the Gripknit technology. So if you are wanting of a Mercurial Vapor that does help you grip the ball, go for the latest one. Otherwise, stick to the Vapor 15 for its simple mesh texturing.
In terms of the outsole, nothing changes on the Air Zoom unit, so you’ll have the same cushioned underfoot experience. What’s new though is that the Vapor 16 brings back the Mercurial to those aggressive chevron studs. In addition, a series of cascading Speed Fin studs not only add traction but somehow diffuses the stud pressure even more. At this point, both Vapors are less friendly to AG because of how sharp their studs are. It just becomes more pronounced with Vapor 16. Choosing between the 16 and 15 in terms of traction is really more about selecting which has more or less bite on natural grass, and that boils down again to how you like your stud penetration to be.
One aspect of speed boots is weight. And so far, Vapor 16 and Vapor 15 are those that will not burden your feet with bulk. Mentally though, the Vapor 16 might give you that sense of being lighter simply because of its sock-like feel. At the end of the day, not much separate the two, and both give you that quick and nimble feeling on-feet.
Mercurial Vapor Questions Answered:
- Is the Nike Mercurial Vapor a good option for wide feet?
You’ll be better off with the Phantom GX or the Tiempo if you really have wide feet, along with these other options. With that said, the Vapor is now becoming more accommodating and can pack in some additional width. If you happen to test out previous Vapors and were a bit tight by the slightest of margins, then you might find the latest Vapor finally as a good fit.
- Who wears the Nike Vapors?
Bruno Fernandes and Robert Lewandowski are some of the high-quality names playing with the Vapor. Joining them are the likes of Vinicius Jr., Ansu Fati, and Joshua Kimmich.
- Is the Vapor good?
Yes! It’s the reason why the Vapor is now more than two decades old and is ever-present both among professionals and casual players. We could say it pioneered, and arguably still leads, the speed category in football boots.
How I Tested And Reviewed The Nike Mercurial Vapor
You can read how we approach boot testing overall here. For the Nike Mercurial Vapor specifically, I looked at how they compare to my old Vapor 15 as well as the other competitive models of Puma Ultra & adidas F50, which are marketed in a similar way. I spent time wearing them in training and for match day as well.
I did subject then to more and more running, I still went on with my drills, but straight-line acceleration is what the Mercurial are known for and Nike has made the Zoom Airbag its centre piece and marketed it as an energy-return feature for boosting speed.
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Mercurial Vapor Pro |  Full Flyknit upper and Limited Air Zoom bag |  |  >> Get Mercurial Vapor 16 Pro at Nike |
 Mercurial Vapor Pro Nike Jr | Full Flyknit upper | |  >> Get Mercurial Vapor 16 Pro Kids 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.
Pro Nike Jr
Your best-in-class Mercurials for the Kids. Still made out of premium materials, but slightly toned down a bit to make it more kid-friendly. Has a tacky finish on the upper to simulate Gripknit. More importantly, it maintains the Zoom Air unit so that the young players can experience the benefit of the tech.
Academy Vapor Review
| BOOT | DESCRIPTION | SOLE | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mad Ambition Vapor | Overall blue colourway to start the 2024/25 season; Multigrounded by default | 
MG – Mix Grass & Artificial |  >> Get Academy Vapor 16 MG at Nike | |
Nike Vapor By You | Budget Vapors that allow you to customise and personalise the design of your own pair | 
MG – Mix Grass & Artificial |  >> Get Academy Vapor 16 MG at Nike | |
 | Hollowed conicals prevents abrasion and heat build up from synthetic grass | 
AG – Artificial Grass |  >> Get Academy Vapor 16 AG at Nike | |
 | Vapor SG has that Anti-clog technology to clear off mud and dirt from your outsole | 
SG – AC Soft Ground |  >> Get Academy Vapor 16 SG at Nike | |
 | Short rubber studs are designed for traction on first-gen synthetic pitches | 
TF – Turf |  >> Get Academy Vapor 16 TF at Nike | |
 | Vapor Academy for the flat surfaces like indoor courts or concrete street | 
IC – Indoor Court |  >> Get Academy Vapor 16 IC at Nike | |
 | Kid-specific Vapor Academy sizes perfect for both Older and Younger Children | 
Nike Jr – Child’s Size |  >> Get Academy Vapor 16 Kids 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
- Costs £80; can even get for less in Nike’s clearout sales of older colourways
- Multiground tooling exclusive to the Academy level; not available in the top-end models Vapor Elite and Pro
- Offered alongside the Academy Tiempo 10 and Phantom Luna/GX 2 Academy
- Kids Mercurial Vapor Academy available
- Competes directly with the adidas F50 League and Puma Ultra 5 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.
Mercurial Vapor Club
| Model | Quality | Pitches | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Mercurial Vapor Club |  Synthetic upper and MG outsole |  |  >> Get Club Mercurial Vapor 16 at Nike |
At this point, the only reason to get the Club Vapor, the cheapest entry-level option of the Nike speed boot, is price, and price alone! For whatever reason you need just something to put on with thinking too much about the volume inside, the thickness or stiffness of the upper, or any performance benefit in general, you can certainly try the Vapor Club.
Club vs Academy Vapor
With that said, Mercurial Vapor Club is usually bought to for young players just starting to play the beautiful game, with the expectation that cheap boots would be economical given how fast they develop physically. Other than that, you can’t go wrong by settling at least with the Academy takedown.
Previous Models
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.
Vapor 16 is the current model, revealed in the Summer of 2024 and launched with the Air Blueprint colourway. It was debuted for the Euros of the said year.
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.
