What is the go to material when you are looking for the best soccer cleats you can find? C’mon, it’s carbon fiber of course! Who better to utilize carbon fiber into an unbelievable looking and performing cleat than Nike. That’s where their Mercurial Vapor SL cleats come in, just take a look:

Nike Mercurial SL carbon fiber soccer shoe

Nike Mercurial SL carbon fiber soccer shoe

These $400 (retail) cleats are approved and worn by the one and only Cristiano Ronaldo (as well as Didier Drogba), and are made almost entirely from carbon fiber. As you can see, the entire upper portion is made from one piece of carbon fiber, and then the seven-layer outsole plate is made from a carbon composite interwoven with TPU and polyurethane. They call this Tepex, which you can read more about here. The studs at the bottom of the shoe are directly injected onto the chassis, giving maximum flexibility and speed.

Nike Mercurial SL carbon fiber soccer shoe

Nike Mercurial SL carbon fiber soccer shoe

Nike Mercurial SL carbon fiber soccer shoe

The shoe is aimed towards increasing a players speed by utilizing the extremely lightweight and strong material in as many places as possible…hence the SL in the name, which stands for “Super Lite”. In fact, it only weighs in at 190 grams. The development process for Nike took 3 years, and spanned four different continents. When developing the cleat, Nike didn’t care about money, time, or manufacturing considerations. They had one goal…build the best soccer cleat.

Nike Mercurial SL carbon fiber soccer shoe

Nike Mercurial SL carbon fiber soccer shoe

Only 2,508 pairs were made, each one of them numbered. From those, 2,008 were “firm ground” and 500 were “soft ground”. It was released in August of 2008, and as far as I know you can only find them used now. The last I saw, a pair went for about $1,000 on eBay.

Nike also recently released matching carbon fiber Mercurial Blade shin guards, which we’ve written about here.

Now here’s some good videos, the first one being a great commercial that Nike did (We all know Nike makes awesome commercials) featuring Asafa Powell:

This next one is just some guys opening a box up with the shoes:

Big thanks to Chris for sending this one in, as well as sending some of the pictures in, thanks Chris!

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by Dave P.
Posted January 8, 2009
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Comments 168 comments

  1. Erik

    I want theses boots anybody got size 9us used torn new dosent matter I want them have all the other vapors but these! Email at Erik_barrios15@yahoo.com

  2. Adam

    anyone got a size 8 1/2 or 9us citron mercurial vapors for sale

  3. Darren

    i have a pair of nike mercurals with carbon fibre on the heel and are looking for someone to buy them for around £60 im selling them for that price because they have marks on them i bought the boots for £145 pound if u are intrested ring this number 01302 349077 they are size 8 and half

  4. zac

    i got these for free

    i had number 0007

    still got them they are the baddest boots ever but i will be willing to seel them for $1007

  5. Kevin

    want to buy Nike mercurial SL carbon us 10 / Eu 44. if anyone got these shoes please contact me!

  6. PLATNUIMROCK

    I have pair 1 of 2008 fg.

  7. I have a pair I think they are 10.5 us Anyone interested and they are used

  8. izze

    Does anyone have some nike mercurial vapor sl? ive been looking everywere for them and i cant find any.

  9. Lia

    You guys know anyone that has some of these boots a size 7.5? Please leave a comment. Thanks

  10. $ 120 still have them

  11. Frederik

    David!?

    If they are size US10 and EU44. contact me! i’ll buy them! frederikv_-@hotmail.com

  12. modou

    ive been looking for this boots for 2 and a half years please contact me mo.dou@hotmail.co.uk

  13. morgan jones

    i willl buy them from you, for a price under 300

  14. Lance

    I will pay whatever u want for the cleats. money is not a problem. email me at liv4soccerdie4grls@yahoo.com
    if the all carbon fiber cleats are available. thanks

  15. scout

    omg i love these boots i wish they made my size 13.5 and i had enough money

  16. Troy.m

    Please, if you have a size 7 or 7.5 in UK anything around that would be awesome if I could buy it off you. I will be getting the Nike BLADE shin guards which is the same material. CAN I PLEASE HAVE A OFFER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Contact me please at dmtmarshall@optusnet.com.au
    PPPPPLLLLLEEEEEAAAAASSSSSEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  17. luke

    what i buy it?

  18. Selena

    anyone selling a size 4 ??

  19. Rob

    If anyone has these in 7.5 or 8 please leave a coment or website. THANKS!

  20. Ryman

    Anyone got these 8 1/2 us? new or worn I dont mind. thanks

  21. Steve

    I’ve been look for ages for these boots and I’ve came so close to but them twice but have been told they didn’t have my size :(
    I am a US 7 & 1/2 or 8
    Will pay a reasonable amount for them. If you have them new or in good used condition, please comment.

  22. Steve

    “I’ve came so close to BUYING them but….”

  23. Cesar Perez

    there is actually going to be much more shoes made there isn’t a limit believe it or not because there magazines that say there is going to be more made there isn’t a limit

  24. Johnny.L

    I really would love to have these boots, in a size 43 please, email me if you have them jlindgren97@gmail.com

  25. kemal kepelek

    ich hab ein paar nike mercurial sl carbon und würde die schuhe vielleicht verkaufen!
    meldet euch einfach mal per e-mail aber bitte nur deutsch oder türkisch nicht englisch!
    only in German/turkish I am able nobody in English

    kemalkepelek@hotmail.com

  26. David

    I sold my 10.5 us SL for $80.00. No one wanted them when I posted them ,so practically gave them away to some high school kid . SMH!

  27. Contact me for a size 10 will pay anything name your price

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