Now that this particular range is becoming very hard to find in the reseller market, prices are starting to go up, up and up so we thought we'd do a quick review onto why this boot is quickly becoming a classic.
Nike Mercurial Superfly IV was one of the top football boot models on the market.
The Mercurial was first unveiled in 1998, the original Mercurial was a radical and unprecedented piece of design that established Nike as the leader in football boot innovation. With the new Mercurial Superfly, Nike created not just another cutting-edge boot but a leap forward for on-pitch speed.
Maintaining the Superfly’s signature carbon fiber soleplate and a FlyWire-esque support system, now called Brio Cables, pretty much everything else about the Superfly 4 is new and never been done before. With the main talking points being the FlyKnit upper and Dynamic Fit Collar, the Superfly 4 is unlike any of its predecessors, and is truly the next step in Nike ever-evolving Mercurial line.
New Collar
Of course as the flag ship range, these boots look really great. The most notable thing is the NIKE brand sign on the toe but the biggest difference was of course the DF (dynamic Fit) collar which totally changed the silhouette of the modern day boot.
It took a little getting used to visually (had a distinct American feel to it) but once the Pro's started wearing them they were a smash!
The Superfly 4 fits and feels unlike anything else on the market, although the Nike Magista Obra will provide a somewhat similar type of feel. The upper is entirely made from FlyKnit, a material that Nike has been implementing in many of their performance models across several different sports over the last couple of years. FlyKnit is a machine knit material, made from various types of yarns and other synthetic fibers, creating a one-piece, seamless enclosure for your foot. What’s particularly attractive and exciting about the introduction of FlyKnit on a soccer cleat is that the construction process is 100% engineered, so Nike has control of every square millimeter of the upper. Nike can determine the thickness, strength and stretch of the entire upper, without seams, without extra material and without extra bulk, something that only makes this shoe great, but also leaves so much room for potential in future models. The possibilities are endless.
What’s great about the mid-cut design is that it provides that seamless sensation. As opposed to being shoes on your feet, the sock-like fit and mid-cut design makes the Superfly 4 feel like an extension of your body, part of you as opposed to a piece of equipment.
Inside the shoe, the heel is lined with a smooth synthetic material, similar to what you might find in other Mercurial models, backed by a decent amount of padding. The rear portion of the shoe also features an internal heel counter, providing the necessary structure and stability required of any soccer cleats. The insole is also fully removable, but definitely nothing special. It’s made from a single layer of perforated foam, with a mesh lining, providing some decent underfoot cushioning, and most importantly, it doesn’t slide around.
There were lots of different colours available and plenty of collectable limited editions as well as a CR7 range.
MATERIALS
Synthetic
NikeSkin
ACC technology
Carbon-fibre plate
UPPER: micro-textured Flyknit upper
Flywire cables, knitted directly into the one-piece upper
Just like the Superfly 2 and 3, the Superfly 4 is light, but certainly not challenging for the lightest boot around. The Supergly 4, in a size 9US, weighs in at 7oz, which is light, but certainly nothing ground breaking. For the sake of comparison, the other high-end model in the Mercurial line, the Vapor 10, weighs in at 6.4oz in the same size, which isn’t what I would consider to be significantly lighter, buts its still enough to feel at least a little lighter. With that being said, the Superfly 4 is light enough, and still maintains a solid feel on feet, which is all I was looking for.
SOLE PLATES
FG - firm, dry, natural grass surfaces
AG - artificial grass surface
SG - soft, wet and muddy natural grass surfaces
To go along with a new line of Mercurials, Nike has also introduced a new Mercurial stud pattern. The new layout is less aggressive than what we got from the Vapor 8 and 9, and unlike the Superfly 2 and 3, does not feature Sense Studs. Instead, the latest stud variation is more classic Mercurial, a change that I was very happy about.
DURABILITY
The Superfly 4 is a shoe that I can confidently say is built to last. This is a boot that should pretty easily get you through at least a season’s worth of play, if not longer should you take good care of them.
Please keep in mind that the firm ground version of the Superfly, or any FG boot for that matter, is designed for use on firm, natural grass, and nothing else. Using any FG boot on artificial grass/turf will result in premature durability issues with your shoes.
For the best durability, stick to using your boots on the playing surface that they are designed to be used on. Also keep in mind that the Superfly 4 is also available in soft ground and artificial grass stud variations, so you’re pretty much covered for all types of playing surfaces, its just up to you to buy the right model.
Verdict?
The Superfly 4 is a speed boot - light weight and sharp so obviously created for attacking players. Not only does it visually make a statement, demanding attention with its bright color and unusual mid-cut design, but it also performs the part!
The FlyKnit aspect of this boot is very impressive, and really shows the versatility of this new technology. They can make a more rugged, structured upper which they showed with the Obra, and can also make a more delicate, yet incredibly solid upper in the form of the Superfly 4. The upper is thin, soft and flexible but somehow maintains an incredible amount of support and responsiveness.
The sock-like fit, seamless design, carbon fiber soleplate and unique Mercurial stud pattern combine to make one of the most unique experiences I’ve ever had with a pair of shoes. As technologically advanced as the Superfly 4 may be, when you’re actually wearing the shoes, they just feel so simple. Everything feels right.
These boots are really sought after and come in some amazing colourways - interestingly they harder to find boots are now the standard non limited ones as they are most likely to have been used.
Check out our selection in the shop section when you get a chance!
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