The name of the game is controlled speed, and every footballer wants it. One way to gain a half step over your opponent is to wear a lightweight, quick-reacting cleat. Enter the new Nike Zoom Vapor Carbon Fly TD.
“If you’re the fastest guy on the field, but you can’t break down or change direction, speed doesn’t do anything for you,” says the Detroit Lions’ speedy wideout, Calvin Johnson. “Having a good cleat that can create traction so you can get in and out of routes is real important.”
Nike took to heart what top professional athletes were saying, and they used it as inspiration for the new Vapor Carbon. “We are listening to the voice of the athlete,” says footwear designer Ken Link, “and what it keeps saying to us is this: ‘I want to be lighter and I want to be faster, faster, faster.'”
Less is more for Nike’s new cleat design. Shedding a few excess ounces and adding the lightweight flywire support system was a simple fix for speed. Next came traction, for which Nike added over 20 studs [or cleats] to each shoe.

Nike’s standard primary cleats are incorporated along the outside of the sole, with a secondary stud system running through the center. “So when a defensive back digs in and plants to go backward, [the shoe] supports his cut,” Link explains. “[The Vapor Carbon] also has sidewall shovels—that’s what we call them. They actually catch the ground when you’re cutting.”

Finally, Nike added a carbon fiber plate to the bottom of the cleat. This creates a strong foundation and actually helps propel the feet forward.

Overall, Nike’s Zoom Vapor Carbon Fly TD is built for one thing: speed. Do you have what it takes to control this cleat, or will the turf monster claim another victim during a critical moment of play this season?
Check out STACK’s Gridiron City section for more info on Nike’s latest “built for speed” football cleats.
Source:  nike.com
Photos:  nike.com