Nike Vapor Ultrafly Elite, a cleat set to release on 10/1, is a true hybrid baseball cleat, part plastic, part metal—something we’ve been waiting for at WPW for ever since Bryce Harper started wearing hybrids back in 2013. Disappointingly, Harper’s new signature cleat (set to release in time for the All-Star Game) does not feature the metal front/plastic back that we see Bryce wearing on a nightly basis (below). The Vapor Ultrafly Elite, however, has it—and if you’re a serious ballplayer, this might be your cleat.
The player who will see the most value from hybrids like the Nike Vapor Ultrafly Elite is the guy playing a heavy schedule. If you play 90+ games a summer in metals, your feet will start to feel it, but if you go with plastic, you may not get the traction you’re looking for. Enter the Vapor Ultrafly Elite:
Unlike Harper’s which have metal fronts and plastic backs, Nike has strategically placed the metals at points where traction is most important, and the more forgiving plastic under the balls of the foot and at the front of the heel. Nike would be able to explain it better than us, but the placements look like the best case scenario for traction and comfort. Expect to see burners like George Springer and Alcides Escobar to be all over these.
Combine the exciting technology with the fact that these are sexy as hell, and I think Nike has got itself a winner. At $110, its a little more reasonable than the Trouts, and these could perform even better. They’ll release October 1st. Here’s a couple more looks: