NIKE introduces magista, a flyknit football boot that fits like socks

NIKE introduces magista, a flyknit football boot that fits like socks
image courtesy NIKE

at an event in barcelona, NIKE has officially taken the wraps off their highly anticipated flyknit development, the ‘magista’. conceived to fit like a sock, the knitted cleat claims to have changed the design of soccer shoes forever. to see for yourself, watch the video and listen to phil mccartney, NIKE’s global VP of sport performance in the clips below.

video courtesy NIKEfootball

image courtesy NIKEfootball

NIKE flyknit technology has been engineered for football for the first time, allowing the foot to get closer to the ball with enhanced ball-feel and control. the magista also features a new mid-cut dynamic fit collar for a more locked-down fit and increased awareness of the body’s movements and interaction with the ground and the ball. born from four years of r&d in the NIKE sport research lab and with feedback from some of the world’s best attacking playmakers, including barcelona’s andrés iniesta and german forward mario gotze, the magista is designed to enable devastating creativity in a game where space is at a premium.

image courtesy NIKEfootball

improved control
for consistent contact and increased control, the magista features a 3d-knit textured upper. the magista player needs a more aggressive texture to create friction on the ball for accurate dribbling and striking. to protect the foot from water and cold, NIKE’s design team developed a special application of NIKEskin placed over top the flyknit. the skin is less than 0.1 mm thick — thinner than a sheet of paper — and melts onto the knit to help protect from water that provide protection.

image © designboom

improved traction
the magista player stops, decelerates and moves in multiple directions while controlling the ball. for this player, NIKE added 360° rotational traction through conical studs and a pebax®-and-nylon plate to improve traction. compressed nylon offers a highly responsive plate that delivers strength while remaining incredibly light. combined with pebax, the structure allows for flex and increased movement with the foot while eliminating mechanical flex (an area where the boot always flexes in the same spot). nylon extends to the big toe and acts as a chassis to help players plant and then spring off the ground for more explosive speed. NIKE also removed the insole board to place the player closer to the ground for a better center of gravity and enhanced traction. finally, the entirely conical stud configuration is unique to the magista, enabling 360° rotation.

image © designboom

phil mccartney, as NIKE’s global VP of sport performance, sets the strategy and vision for performance footwear. mccartney shepherded successful designs and launches of hypervenom and greenspeed mercurial 8, among other projects including the product line for the 2014 world cup. prior to football, mccartney was product designer for NIKE running for more than four years. in that time, he led creation of the lunar glide and the 2008 beijing olympics product line, which included the victory track spike and the lunar racer.

he told us more about the new magista:

‘with magista, we’ve designed a shoe that feels like an extension of the player’s body. this isn’t a boot that just goes on your foot, it’s a boot that works with your foot. by eliminating distractions, players are free to unlock their potential and creativity. the magista’s mid-cut dynamic fit collar is not just a visually compelling innovation, it’s designed to create heightened feel for the ball and enhance the player’s touch. the mid-cut allows the foot, ankle, and lower leg work together as a single unit, emphasizing their natural movements.’

‘the magista is designed for the player who is always moving, creating the attack and dictating play. in a game that is faster than ever both mentally and physically space is at a premium and high-speed control is essential. while the magista player is constantly creating opportunities on the pitch, he needs to focus on seeing ahead, seeing the pass that no one else can see. the magista liberates the player to unlock his fullest potential and focus on that split second that could change the game.’ – phil mccartney, VP of sport performance footwear.

the mostly yellow version of the boot will be available to buy from may 22nd and will be worn by various NIKE sponsored players at the world cup in brazil this summer. the two mostly black colorways shown in this article will be released in september.