Inside The Vapor IV

True innovation comes from true insight. And, for the research and design team behind one of the most innovative boots to ever grace the pitch, there's no truer insight than this: short ten-meter bursts of acceleration are the single most frequent action in football.

So, how can the Mercurial Vapor IV maximize acceleration? Well, that's what we intend to find out, as 365 takes you "Inside The Lab."

Come with us as we pull back the curtain to expose Nike's most elaborate and ground-breaking efforts in the department of SPEED.

"The research process on the Mercurial line, for me, is synonymous with research on speed," says Senior Nike Researcher, Erez Morag. "It was clear that the game is changing and becoming faster; therefore, the importance of speed has increased with those changes in the game."

It's no secret that lighter boots equal faster feet. So that's where Nike's football footwear team started. They deconstructed the art of speed and broke the Mercurial down into each of its separate components and analyzed every aspect of the cleat; if it could be paired down, it was.

An anatomically contoured speed test was developed to shave off some grams, while providing better fit and stability. A revolutionary new lightweight synthetic upper, called Teijin, was utilized to conform to every curve of the foot. And, topping it all off is the lace shroud, which aims to reduce drag, while providing a smooth playing surface.

One of the biggest boosts to acceleration is the use of an asymmetric traction system, which is designed to more fully align with the principles of foot structure and function. Also helping acceleration is a carbon fiber heel counter, which stabilizes the boot at high speeds, while pods strategically placed in the heel reduce unnecessary movement of the foot within the shoe.

Depending upon which color you choose, orange or black, either a carbon fiber or glass-fiber internal chassis gives the shoe tremendous structural strength.

"In the end, we wanted to create some of the lightest boots on the pitch," says Tom Minami, Nike Football Footwear Designer. "And, we wanted to provide the fastest players with a weapon that is technically advanced and aesthetically disruptive."

What the football footwear team created is the ultimate lightweight performance beast that eats up split-seconds and spits out goals.

And, speaking of goals, since the Mercurial Vapor IV made it's debut on January 12 the goals have been flowing. Here's a sample of the damage done by just a few of the athletes wearing the new boots: Mercurial Vapor Stats: Cristiano Ronaldo (19 goals), Pato (8), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (8), Didier Drogba (7), Franck Ribery (6), Robinho (4), Theo Walcott (2) and Nicklas Bendtner (2)

Christian Ronaldo has taken to the boots like gasoline to fire and scored 10 goals in his first 7 appearances and leading Manchester United's charge as they remain threats for the double.

At Nike, the story of innovation never rests, never stops and never looks back. Today the MVIV weighs in at 230 grams, and the featherweight Mercurial SL tips the scales at 185 grams. Tomorrow's Vapor V? Well, just keep checking back here, and you'll know as soon as we do.