NIKE vapor ultimate football cleat

NIKE vapor ultimate football cleat
images courtesy of nike unless stated otherwise

the new NIKE vapor ultimate cleat combines NIKE flyknit with NIKE’s latest game-changing cleat plate, to allow american football players to make faster split-second movements on the field without compromise.

‘we’ve created a cleat that can withstand the forces generated by today’s athletes on the football field. flywire and NIKE flyknit combine to create a second-skin, sock-like fit that adapts to each individual player’s foot as well as to his style of play. our most innovative upper combines with our most revolutionary, proven football plate technology to help athletes perform at the highest level.’ – ken link, NIKE football cleated design director.

 
NIKE vapor ultimate football cleat
bright crimson/black colorway

NIKE flyknit debuted with the NIKE flyknit racer in 2012 and more recently in the kobe 9 elite basketball shoe, NIKE magista soccer boot and NIKE mercurial superfly.

this revolutionary technology defies conventional shoe manufacturing processes by creating an engineered one-piece upper that knits lightweight strength and durability directly into the cleat. for football, a new NIKE skin overlay material works in concert with the flyknit, providing additional durability, strength, and protection in high-impact areas. flywire cables, wrapping the arch of the foot, are also woven directly into the knit fabric to create a full one-piece upper engineered for strength and durability. the dynamic fit augments the natural motion of the carbon V-plate.

NIKE vapor ultimate cleat
volt / black colorway

flyknit and flywire combine for a lightweight boot with maximum support

NIKE vapor ultimate cleat
volt / black colorway

the 40-yard dash is championed as football’s defining speed metric, yet american football itself is all about multidirectional acceleration. the NIKE vapor ultimate incorporates the carbon V-plate that debuted on the NIKE vapor carbon 2014 elite. the carbon V-plate is the culmination of intense athlete-driven research into football-specific speed, and the first plate inspired by, and developed from, NIKE’s 3D printing and testing facilities—accelerating development and testing timelines, pushing faster innovation and supporting faster athletes.

NIKE vapor ultimate cleat
v-plate

‘3D printing revolutionized the way we design cleat plates. the process gives us the ability to accelerate innovation and create solutions that were not possible within the constraints of traditional manufacturing processes.’ – ken link

the studs on the NIKE vapor ultimate are designed for zero-slip traction in both acceleration and breaking. the pattern allows for optimal ignition off the back foot, hitting the precision cuts to avoid a tackle, and the explosive propulsion required to make a critical catch. at the forefoot of the plate, an aggressive tri-star traction system allows for more confident movement overall.

the NIKE vapor ultimate achieves the perfect balance of durability, power and speed. it is a cleat born from precision engineering, incorporating innovative technologies designed to match the forces generated by football’s new breed of athletes.

NIKE vapor ultimate cleat
volt / black colorway

NIKE vapor ultimate cleat
volt / black colorway

NIKE vapor ultimate cleat
volt / black colorway

detail of the VPR graphic on the heel of the cleat

NIKE vapor ultimate cleat on display at NIKE WHQ
metallic silver/volt-wolf grey colorway

NIKE vapor ultimate cleat
metallic silver/volt-wolf grey colorway

NIKE vapor ultimate cleat
detail flywire

NIKE vapor ultimate cleat
v-plate

NIKE vapor ultimate cleat
photo © designboom

NIKE vapor ultimate cleat
photo © designboom

richard sherman, cornerback for the seattle seahawks was on hand to test out the new vapor ultimate cleats

vapor ultimate cleats with motion sensors attached

vapor ultimate cleats with motion sensors attached

sherman sprinting – his every movement recorded and analyzed by motion sensors at the NIKE sports research lab

richard sherman, cornerback for the seattle seahawks

more – read our recent interviews with NIKE designers:
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