As far as boot releases go, it’s hard to top this one: Nike’s lightest ever boot and one of the most environmentally sounds sports products ever developed – all in one great-looking package. Check out the Nike GS.
The Nike GS short for GreenSpeed – are the lightest, fastest and greenest production boot to come out of Beaverton, Oregon.
Weighing in at 160g, the Nike GS beats out the Vapor VIII by around 20g to take the crown of Nike’s lightest and – whisper it – challenges the adiZero and Puma v1.11 SL for the title of lightest boots in the world.
But as much as we boot-fans get caught up on weight, the real story here the Nike GS position as the most environmentally-friendly football boot you can buy.
As mentioned by Puma’s Chief Executive last week, there’s a lot of pressure on sports companies to find alternatives to leather production that leave a lower carbon impact, and Nike have pushed the boundaries of what’s possible on a performance football boot to achieve a minimal-impact boot on the GreenSpeed.
Designers were challenged to create a new football boot stripped down to include only the essential elements that deliver lightweight performance and high speed control in game situations; every component of the Nike GS has been optimized to reduce weight and waste
Conceived and engineered in Italy, the Nike GS features recycled and renewable materials throughout the upper and plate design. A bio-based traction plate made primarily from castor beans ensures strength and flexibility on pitch alongside a sock liner made from 100% castor beans.
The boot laces, lining and tongue are made from a minimum of 70% recycled materials. The toeboard and collar, feature at least 15% recycled materials.
“The Nike GS is the lightest and fastest football boot we’ve ever made and really defines a new era in how we create, design and produce elite football boots,” said Andy Caine, global design director for Nike Football.
“When you can deliver a boot that combines high end performance and a low environmental footprint that’s a winning proposition for players and planet.”
Nike GS includes the following performance, recycled and renewable materials in the new boot:
Traction Plate & Stud Configuration
Nike GS traction plate combines a high performance chassis with a strong responsive and agile form.
The sole plate is made of 50% renewable Pebax Renu (a plant derived material made with 97% castor beans) and 50% TPU, made from 32% renewable materials. The plate is 15% lighter than a traditional plate composition.
The traction plate includes a minimalist diamond-silhouette spine, which provides optimal flex and agility in plate performance. Anatomically positioned studs maximize speed in multiple directions to ensure responsive and assured movement on pitch.
Touch & Control
A solvent-free Kanga-Lite synthetic upper provides zonal reinforcement for exceptional touch and control.
The synthetic upper also supports lockdown on midfoot and arch area. The lightweight and chemical-free sock liner is made of 100% castor beans and eliminates any layers for a snug fit and enhanced touch on the ball.
Stability & Support
Anatomical and asymmetrical heel counter and heel bucket locks the foot down for stability and support.
The counter is made of Pebax Renu, derived from castor bean oil.
Nike GS will be available through Nike.com and selected online retailers from August 15th. The price will be $300.
Although it will retail, seems to be more of a concept boot rather than replace the Vapor at the top of the Nike Speed silo. I cant see that many pros taking this up, a la the Predator SL, Prime etc. The new Vapor is a cracking boot anyway.
Neymar has been wearing this boot for the Olympics.
oh my…. these boots are amazing… and cheaper than superflys… can’t wait to get them.
they are made of recycled materials and they cost 300$. Well….. that’s not what I call recycled !!!!
I need these in my life. O.O
Yawn, wasn’t it said that the recycled shirts they make are actually toxic? So these boots probably are too. Besides how can something that is recycled cost so much, the price should reflect the materials used imo. They don’t look great, they aren’t anything innovative and they weigh more than other speed boots out there, all in all a pretty poor effort from Nike here, though no doubt the fan boys will go mental for them!
They actually are. They are mostly made out of castor beans which is the most poisonous plant in the world.
you better not eat wild almonds then either because when chewed they release a hydrogen cyanide that would be equally as fatal. There is also a process to remove the poison from the plant anyway so I do not see your point which was ignorant to begin with…I think it is a good idea by nike, but not a great result (crappy looking, expensive boot)
Did you read anything at all? They are lighter than all the other speed boots. I’m not for them, but if you are going to bash something in reply to an article/review you should at least read first. 5.6 oz or 160g is the lightest shoe on the market now.
the pumas are 5.4 ounces idiot
i agree… recycled materials are virtually worthless. It cost nike about 28 cents (per shoe) to make vapors in sweatshops in asia… and that is with high grade material like carbon fiber. With recycled material they are making 110% profit on us for each boot they sell. This boot should pretty much be free.
except the costs of recycling the material in the first place is greater than what most pay for materials. Why don’t you think more recycling is done if it is so much cheaper to just reuse things?
Too bad vapors are made in italy.
Dumbass if you look clpsely all the legit vapors(superflys)are made in italy not asia. so its much more expensive to produce -_____-
Designing a boot and making it so expensive that the only people who can afford it are the ones they pay to wear their products anyway. Making an eco-friendly boot is fantastic, but if only a few can buy them what impact can they expect to make?
They are not really expensive, 300$ is about what you have to spend to get real football equipment. Myself, I’m only 14 years old and I’m planning to buy it with my own money, which I can earn by working a little. I’m not paid to wear their products, and about everyone who is going to buy them are neither.
If at 14 years old you do not think that $300 is expensive, you are very very lucky.
agreed after eco the next step should be affordable and acsessible to everybody
The shoes dont make the football player 😉
well it is just a concept boot at the moment so more could be made in the future.
So…… basically even you don’t wear it out in 2 weeks, it’ll naturally degrade into mulch in 1 month then.
Whats the price and the release date?
Am I the only one who can’t help but think the shiny black parts look like duct tape?…
… something for display then. vapor IXs already at gunt’s site.
A pair of nike mercurial superflys cost about $5-$10 odd dollars to make (including labour from weatshops) and they retail at around $300 brand new. These pairs would cost consierably less to make. I don’t know why high-end football boots are highly priced because in reality the only ones who can afford to wear it are proffessionals who get paid $100,000’s per game (and who knows how much they get paid for advertising) and they are the ones who get them for free, even get paid for wearing them. Don’t get me wrong, i fcking love Nike’s products, they are just selfish biatches who don’t care if you can afford it or not.
idiot
Come on guys. I’m 15 and I’m actually surprised at the price, I thought they’d be more expensive. I don’t work very much but I’m going to be able to afford these easily. I cant wait!!
the nike gs is totally fabou just beautiful
Are there any reliable websites where they sell these still?