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Welcome to a new dawn of speed. This here is the Nike Mercurial Air Zoom Ultra SE and it will be dropping in limited numbers at Pro:Direct Soccer on March 21. How will you have the best chance to bag a pair? Read on and we’ll hook you up.

Ahead of a landmark year of tournament football Nike have disrupted the market with the launch of the long-awaited Mercurial Air Zoom Ultra SE that was originally announced in February 2020 as a concept boot during Nike’s Innovation Summit in New York City.

We’ll cut to the chase before we explain more about the technology on the boot. The Nike Mercurial Air Zoom Ultra SE football boots will be available to our Elite+ Priority members at 8am on March 21 for an exclusive window of time before, should any remain, be placed on general sale later in the day. So, your best chance to own a pair? Sign up for Elite+ Priority Membership here and you'll be emailed exclusive links ahead of launches to get first pick on limited edition drops throughout the year, archive re-releases and the hottest sneaker drops, as well as free delivery.

 


As for the Nike Mercurial Air Zoom Ultra SE, the Nike team experimented with a few of the best footwear innovations across the company and put them into this design. Taking innovation from the basketball court, the Mercurial Air Zoom Ultra SE was built around a full-length articulated Zoom airbag that provides a unique underfoot sensation and enhanced energy return. Nike designers aimed to have the Zoom airbag be the focal point of the boot and to achieve this they created a light and airy translucent upper combined with Flywire to properly lockdown the midfoot for a secure fit. The Zoom airbag is also visible and even exposed and touchable in one spot on the underside of the boot.

Just 1,000 pairs will hit general sale as Nike use this release as a tease to how the technology will be incorporated into more general releases as we creep towards the women’s EUROS and the men’s World Cup.

Ready for some tech bullet points? Let’s go…

Air Zoom & Synergia Plate

  • The 4.5mm full-length articulated Zoom airbag is the same air bag as the KD 12, providing the athlete enhanced energy return and designed to help maximize responsiveness on the pitch.
  • Based on athlete insights, designers shifted their focus from providing cushioning in the heel of the boot to increasing responsiveness in the forefoot, which is what this Nike Zoom airbag provides for those fast and reactive footballers.
  • Players who wear the Mercurial constantly take off from their forefoot at full speed and the full length Zoom airbag allows for a snappy, propulsive energy return Transitioning the plate directly to the internal boot chassis resulting in the elimination of an extra layer of material leaves only the sockliner between the foot and the Zoom airbag for a springy and responsive experience.
  • Objective was to bring Zoom Strobel to life in a playable manner Light and snappy Synergia Plate with cavity to create a 1:1 lock with the Zoom unit The plate is 40% lighter than the carbon fiber plate it replaces, yet it is stronger and more responsive.
Upper & Flywire 
  • A re-engineered upper makes the boot more comfortable with a lightweight and breathable design.
  • Transparent mesh with zonal embroidery which helps secure the footballers foot in the boot  Perforations and cutouts on the lining provide support where it’s needed most Flywire provides mid-foot lockdown for a more secure fit.

Key differences between February 2020 Concept Book and the Mercurial Air Zoom Ultra SE 

  • Along with rigorous testing and listening to the voice of Nike athletes, the Swoosh improved the comfort with the introduction of a lofted transparent mesh that’s been zonally engineered for proper lockdown of the foot while being both lightweight and breathable.
  • A new mesh upper has a strong focus on a secure lockdown of the foot. It includes perforated lining and cutouts to only provide support where it’s needed.
  • Embroidery across the mesh and Flywire through the midfoot also provide lightweight lockdown.
Sign up to Pro:Direct Soccer Elite+ Priority Membership for your best chance to buy a pair on March 21.