Basketball has always been my game. But during my battle with the big C a few years back, I had no choice but to dabble in other sports.
Football was one of them, and I played varsity for my college - I was a forward. I may not be the most seasoned on the pitch but I was good enough to hang and battle with the best of them. I was surprisingly good at it.
I rocked the Nike Mercurial Vapor III back then, so you can just imagine how long ago that was.
My love affair with football ended as soon as I got my green light from my doctors to play hoops again. My short-lived career as a football player does not make me an expert, but I have played the game on a level that is competitive enough for me to know what is good and what works on the field. With that said, allow me to introduce to you a shoe so amazing it makes me want to lace up again!
The Nike GS Football boot is the perfect lovechild of innovative performance footwear engineering and genius product design. The Nike GS doesn't just make the player that wears it better, but also the environment that he plays in.
Nike has unveiled its Nike GS
football boot in London yesterday. The lightest, fastest, most
environmentally-friendly production boot Nike has ever made.
Constructed using renewable and recycled materials to provide a low environmental impact, the Nike GS is
designed to deliver lightweight performance and high speed control in
game situations. Every component was optimized to reduce
weight and waste - the Nike GS is Nike's lightest football boot ever at
160 grams for a size 9.
Due to be worn this summer,
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. The resulting boot is constructed
using renewable and recycled materials and designed for explosive performance
on the pitch and lower impact on the planet.
Every component of the Nike GS
has been optimized to reduce weight and waste, creating Nike’s lightest
football boot ever at 160 grams for a size 9.
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 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.
