No Real Mercurials Anymore? Next-Gen Nike Mercurial Boots Feature Gripknit

Apr 18, 2024

by PTG

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Technology Shift: The Nike Mercurial 2024 boots will replace Flyknit technology with Gripknit technology, marking a significant change after 10 years.
Gripknit Details: Gripknit is a sticky material designed to improve ball touch, provide consistent grip in various conditions, and mold to the foot's shape.
Flyknit Overview: Flyknit is a lightweight, woven material used in previous Mercurial boots, known for securing the foot and providing support with variable knit patterns.

After 10 years of development, the Nike Mercurial 2024 (Vapor 16/Superfly 10) boots will likely no longer feature the iconic Flyknit technology, but instead Gripknit technology (from the Nike Phantom GX/Luna boots).

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Next-Gen Nike Mercurial 2024 Boots Feature Gripknit Technology

The new Nike Mercurial 2024 boots could be a revolution, as it is the first time in 10 years (from Superfly 4 to Superfly 9) that the Flyknit technology has been removed.

Over the last 10 years we have become very familiar with the Nike Mercurial Flyknit. Therefore, removing the Flyknit technology may make the Mercurial no longer a real Mercurial shoe.

Gripknit is sticky material technology currently used by Nike on the Phantom GX/Luna silo.

Gripknit Technology

Nike Gripknit is a sticky material that provides better touch to the ball. It covers the first 2 laces, taking up more surface area. It molds to the shape of your foot and gives you an equal grip in wet or dry conditions.

The upper is made with the new Nike Gripknit yarn, which is soft and pliable but has a grippy sensation that footballers love. It also offers unique weatherization benefits: The way the Gripknit yarn is melted and coated, it protects the knit from getting wet without having to add extra coating materials (skins) for weatherization, allowing the player to have a better boot-to-ball connection.

Flyknit Technology

Nike Flyknit is a material made up of strong yet lightweight strands of yarn that have been woven into a one-piece upper, securing an athlete's foot to the shoe platform.

Different types of knit patterns are used within a single Flyknit upper. Certain areas have a tighter weave to give the foot more support, while other areas are designed to be more flexible or breathable. Data from Nike's 40+ years of studying the foot determines where each pattern is applied.