Nike Launch Mercurial FlyLite Guard With A Revolutionary Design Featuring A Specially Engineered Shock System Built For Premium Protection With A Barley-There Feel.
Following their first showcase at Nike's 2014 Innovation Summit in Madrid, Nike have officially launched their next breakthrough product: the Mercurial FlyLite shin guards. The tech-infused pads, designed in a Clear/Volt/Black colourway, offer new levels of lightweight protection (weight TBC) and will be worn by players inlcuding Neymar this summer in Brazil.
The Mercurial FlyLite Guard replaces traditional foam backing with a new webbed shock system that, gram for gram, provides more consistent impact absorption hit after hit than foam. The innovative webbed backing utilizes pips, which come into contact with the outer shell to help absorb and disperse impact, protecting the shin while removing excess materials.
The Nike Mercurial FlyLite provides the most anatomical fit to date. In addition to the increased flexibility, allowing for a more customized fit, the pips cover a larger surface area along the shin bone to help distribute force over a greater area and absorb impact. The honeycomb structure also delivers optimal airflow and breathability, while the thin profile offers the ultimate in lightweight strength.
Nike’s equipment design team also utilized 3D printing technology to experiment with hundreds of impact patterns. “With 3D printing, we were able to quickly innovate, experiment and test hundreds of patterns and prototypes for the engineered shock system,” said Martin Lotti, Nike Football Global Creative Director.
“We found that the more material you took away, the better the guard protected the shin,” added Lotti. “Reducing material also allowed for unprecedented flexibility, creating a fit that was unlike anything players had experienced.”
The Nike Mercurial FlyLite Guard will be available at nike.com beginning July 1, with price TBC.
