Nike Mercurial Vapor III - The Best Vapor Yet?
The Mercurial Vapor III might just be Nike's finest Vapor boot to date. That's the opinion of many boot fans anyway. In a recent SoccerBible Facebook poll, Nike's third generation Vapor - launched in June 2006 - came out on top as your favourite, narrowly beating the latest Vapor VIII to the no.1 spot.
By the time of the Vapor III, the Nike Mercurial was one of the biggest selling football boots in the game. Built on Nike's newly introduced 'Speed Last' for added comfort and maximum speed advantage, the Vapor III was faster than any of Nike's previous Vapor editions. Six years on, they're widely regarded as Nike's best ever Vapor model. 
The boots were so popular that Nike splashed out on an astonishing 14 different colourways - a record for any single Nike boot! Significantly, the Vapor III featured new advances in every key area across the upper, mid-sole and outsole. The boot was a more refined, advanced adaptation of the Vapor II. The Mercurial was evolving quickly and represented some of the most exciting advances in boot technology at the time. 
Nike used a Teijin super-microfibre material, providing a soft, ultra-lightweight and highly durable upper. Teijin - the same material used on the AZT 90 Supremacy - offered a thinner, more reliable and comfortable alternative to the NikeSkin used on the Vapor II.
The Vapor III used a carbon heel wrap that combined with the Vapor heel lock, allowing for solid protection and a comfortable fit. Inside the heel, Poron inserts were used for added comfort - a popular feature at the time that carried through to the Vapor IV. 
The dual outsole comprised of a two-piece TPU plate, making manoeuvring much easier and faster. The internal chassis was made from a dual compound of carbon fibre and glass-reinforced nylon to transfer energy directly to the boots. For the firm-ground plate, Nike used directly injected bladed studs with optimal orientation for multi-directional traction and instant acceleration. 
Complimenting the technology, it was the boots clean and simple aesthetics that made these such a hit. Headlined by a star-studded cast of the world's finest attacking players including Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo and Didier Drogba, the Vapor III was the speed-boot of its time. But is it Nike's best ever? Let us know what you think!
