This Nike Cryoshot Remembers R9’s “Chrome” Mercurial Vapor 1

The Nike Cryoshot franchise is built upon heritage. Having allowed a number of collaborators to reimagine popular football boots from the past during the 2026 World Cup™, an upcoming homage to 2002’s “Chrome” Mercurial Vapor 1 sees the Swoosh retake the wheel.

Akin to its debut on the feet of Brazil’s Ronaldo Nazario, the ode to the industry-challenging Nike Mercs indulge in a futuristic “Chrome/Black/Hot Lime” color scheme. The pair of boots are carefully recreated for the modern series, although the studs underfoot are covered with a plastic sole unit that recreates a block of ice that speaks to Cryoshot’s “frozen in time” concept. While not perceivable externally, the inside of the shoe is reworked with ZoomX foam cushioning, providing the same enhanced comfort seen on modern performance models like the Pegasus Plus 2 and Vomero Premium.

The Mercurial Vapor 1 instantly cemented itself as one of football’s more beloved modern boots thanks to its lightweight, innovative synthetic upper, eye-catching colorway, and co-sign by R9. And yet, the boots were notoriously uncomfortable when compared to more traditional builds—something that also plagued the RGN (read: regen) re-release of Fall 2024. Cryoshot, however, addresses these pain points by modifying the overall fit to best align with daily lifestyle wear.

Enjoy official photos of the “Chrome” Mercurial Vapor 1-inspired Cryoshot ahead. Pairs should land via Nike SNKRS on Tuesday, Oct. 13, for $200.

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