Nike Mercurial Vapor 12 Elite FG Review - after 31 months

 A brand new concept for its time, but does it hold up?

Nike's Mercurial line of football boots was always a staple for innovation, for generations it has retained somewhat of the same formula and construction-a Teijin synthetic upper with a lightweight soleplate. But for the Vapor 12, Nike decided to use their ultra-premium Flyknit material instead of its traditional Teijin synthetic. So after all these years and 2 generations of new mercurials, does the Vapor 12 still performs like it used to? 

The Flyknit upper on the Vapor 12 is thin and offered a pingy sensation, surprisingly it doesn't lack stability even without any type of external reinforcement. Even after 31 months, the upper just feels more natural and doesn't feel like it is degenerating, the quality of the upper is truly superb. Many synthetic uppers lose structure and lost the anatomical feel of the brand new shoe which the Vapor 12 doesn't, the upper does feel a bit different, softer, and more pliable, but still retains its anatomical fit nicely.

Upper 4/5

Lightweight shoes are often seen as more fragile to thinner uppers and lighter plastics used in the construction, however, my pair of Mercs has none of these issues. I bought the pair at the beginning of 2019 around mid-February and it's still in one piece after all these years. Some stitches have poped but the overall experience is still here is pretty much 100% usable.

Durability: 4.5/5

For sizing, I went with my usual Nike size 42euros and it fits perfectly. After tons of wear, it has molded around my feet quite a lot which is a little bit unexpected but it's a positive. The fit of the shoe is still as good as brand new even with this much wear and tear which really surprise me as synthetics materials tend to degrade over time. The Vapor 12 however, proved me wrong.

Fit and sizing: 5/5

Although it is not recommended to use FG boots on AG pitches, many people still do it, myself included. Not concerning about potential injury is a thing, but I would like to focus more on the wearability of the shoes in this area as AG pitches are the norm here in Hong Kong. Well, surprisingly, it is as good as its durability, just a few spots fraying out but nothing severe. The studs did wear out a bit but perform normally even back on FG pitches.

Wearability: 4/5

Overall the Vapor 12 is an excellent pair of football boots, it has lasted long and done age well, being still pretty much a fantastic option after all this time. The shoe has become a safe house for me when I am not sure what I want to wear for a specific day, literally becoming the white canvas shoes(white rice fish) for grass pitches. If anyone has a different opinion feel free to let me know as I would love to hear more about football boots. See y'all on the pitch!