The Nike Mercurial Vapor 14 Academy is made with a tight fit and responsive materials. Its soft uppers may not be as form-fitting as the rest of the shoe, but the heel area is nicely shaped. The fit is tight and comfortable. And the Zoom airbag makes for a solid touch on the ball.
Flyknit
The Flyknit Vapor 14 is a high-performance shoe that combines a lightweight upper with a streamlined, supportive platform. Its upper is made of synthetic and soft Avail Q microfibre, which helps create more excellent structure and grip. A Nike ACC midsole provides additional support and stability. Its upper is lined with premium “Avail Q” microfibre to give a high-quality feel. This material also allows for a tighter, more stable fit and increased traction.
The Vapor is becoming more versatile as a running shoe and is now more accommodating to wide feet. It can now be packed with extra width. This feature makes it more comfortable for players with wide feet, including Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski, Ansu Fati, Bruno Fernandes, and Vinicius Jr.
While the Vapor 14 Elite offers similar features as its Elite counterpart, its design is more relaxed. While it provides a respectable spring back, its heel is slightly less padded than the Elite. However, it is still relatively light and performs similarly to the Elite. It is versatile and provides a good balance of stability, traction, and responsiveness.
Colorways vary slightly from model to model. The Vapor 11 was part of the Euro 2016 Spark Brilliance Pack. Its upper was made of Teijin synthetic and featured Speed Ribs texturing on the forefoot. Its launch colorway featured a red-and-black design that faded to black towards the heel. The Vapor X also came in a red and white version with a black Swoosh.
Zoom airbag
The Zoom airbag is an innovative feature that sits within the soleplate of the Nike Mercurial Vapor 14. It helps to keep the foot closer to the ball, which increases control. It also adds propulsive energy to the player’s foot. This feature is paired with the Vaporposite+ upper, combining a grippy mesh with high-quality material.
The Zoom airbag feels good underfoot but is not a valid Zoom Air unit. The midsole comprises two pillars, one of which has less rubber while the other includes more foam. As a result, the transitions between the two midsole halves aren’t seamless. Nonetheless, the bag is made from tried-and-tested materials and should last long.
Good touch on the ball
The Nike Mercurial Vapor 14 is a highly responsive football shoe that has a good touch on the ball. Its thin Vaporposite material gives players a pinging sensation when they contact the ball. After break-in, this material becomes pliable, giving the player a better feel for the ball. The shoe also has an Avail Q microfibre lining that helps with comfort.
Snug fit
If you are looking for a shoe that provides a snug fit and a good grip, the Nike Vapor 14 is the shoe for you. The Vapor 14 is available in several colorways, including the Citron and the Max Orange colorways. These colorways are popular with many professional players, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo.
If you are looking for a new football boot, the Vapor 14 is one of the best options on the market. Top players like Juan Mata, Didier Drogba, Eden Hazard, Neymar, and Paul Aguilar wear this shoe. Other Vapor players are Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Mesut Ozil, Christian Eriksen, and Theo Walcott.
The Nike Vapor 14 was designed to mimic the feel of the Mercurials, and as such, it is lightweight and comfortable. Its thin Vaporposite material provides a pingy sensation when it makes contact with the ball. After break-in, this material becomes more flexible, and the Vapor 14’s Avail Q microfibre liner also helps make it more comfortable.
The Vapor 14 Elite is a lightweight boot, weighing just over two hundred grams in the US, UK, and EU. The Vapor 14 Elite also has a matte finish and a texturized upper. Despite its weight, this boot is an excellent value for money and has a tremendous weight-to-price ratio.
