Nike Cryoshot: price, colorways, and where to buy
The Nike Cryoshot is a lifestyle collection unveiled by Nike Sportswear for the 2026 World Cup. The concept is simple: take the iconic football shoes that have made history for the brand, like the Mercurial Vapor R9, the Tiempo, the Striker, or the Zoom M9, and wrap them in a translucent TPU shell to bring them off the pitch. Made in Montebelluna, at the Italian factory that has been producing Mercurials since the mid-90s, the Cryoshot reinterprets Nike's football heritage through the lens of streetwear culture. Seven collaborations will launch the model between June 11 and June 16, 2026.
Where the Nike Cryoshot Comes From
Designer Enrico Carbonere, hailing from the Treviso region, shares the spark behind the project in the official Nike magazine: what if we could showcase the stud plate of a 1998 Mercurial R9 without making it unwearable in lifestyle? The answer was technical. Finding a TPU that was transparent enough to reveal the original plate, yet flexible enough for everyday wear.
Several years of research later, the Nike Cryoshot reintroduces those iconic football silhouettes. It retains their exact upper, reproduced stitch-for-stitch, and places it on a new sole designed for the streets. This approach sets the project apart from a simple lifestyle reissue like those that have accompanied the Nike Air Force 1 or other sportswear staples.
How the Nike Cryoshot is Built
The uniqueness of the Nike Cryoshot comes from the injection process developed in Montebelluna. The translucent TPU shell wraps around the original stud plate, which remains visible but becomes non-functional on the ground. Beneath the shell, an opaque TPU plate and rubber pads provide the necessary traction for urban use.
Key features:
- Upper: replicates the original football silhouette in leather/synthetic
- Shell: translucent TPU, showcasing the original stud plate
- Cushioning: drop-in Zoom Air unit in the heel
- Outsole: opaque TPU outsole
- Construction: assembled in Montebelluna, Italy
- Core silhouettes: Striker 1976, Tiempo 1994, Mercurial Vapor R9 1998, Zoom M9 1999
The game-changing detail. The drop-in Zoom Air in the heel was not present in any of the original football shoes referenced by the collection. It's this addition, invisible to the eye but real underfoot, that explains why a Cryoshot can handle a day of urban walking where the original shoe is designed for short gameplay phases.
Seven collaborations for the Nike Cryoshot World Cup 2026
The Cryoshot launch isn't following a typical inline release. Nike has chosen seven collaborations, one for each creative brand and one for each national federation, timed with the World Cup 2026 schedule.
Here's the lineup: Patta for the Netherlands on a Cryoshot Mercurial R9, Jacquemus for France on a Tiempo R10 inspired by Ronaldinho's Tiempo Legend, Virgil Abloh Archives (V.A.A.) for the United States on the Zoom M9 worn by Mia Hamm in 1999, Nocta for Canada on a Tiempo 94, Palace for England on the Air Speed M, PeaceMinusOne (G-Dragon) for South Korea on the CTR360 Maestri, and Slawn for Nigeria.
The schedule follows a three-phase plan.
On June 11, 2026, the seven collaborators will launch their sneaker through their own channels and those of the associated national federations. On June 13, the drop will expand to a more limited selection of concept stores. On June 16, everything will be available on SNKRS. The standard versions without collaborations are expected later in 2026, with no specific date announced yet.
What size to take for the Nike Cryoshot
Sizing verdict: TTS (True To Size) on the Cryoshot Tiempo and the Zoom M9, half a size up on the Cryoshot Mercurial R9 if you have a wide foot.
The Nike Cryoshot is too new to have solid reviews. So, the verdict is based on the football shoes associated with each silhouette in the collection.
The Mercurial Vapor R9 traditionally fits snugly, close to the foot, with a rather narrow toe box designed for precise striking. The Cryoshot Mercurial R9 logically inherits this construction. In contrast, the Tiempo has always offered a more natural fit, with more room in the forefoot. The Cryoshot Tiempo and the Tiempo R10 follow the same pattern.
Practical side: TTS on the Tiempo and the Zoom M9, half a size up recommended on the Cryoshot Mercurial if you have a wide foot or high arch. Since the Cryoshot is made in Montebelluna on the same base as the football models, the official Nike sizing remains a good starting point for the silhouettes you already know in performance versions.
Price and Where to Buy the Nike Cryoshot
The Nike Cryoshot (Mercurial R9 OG, Tiempo, Striker, Zoom M9) is expected to retail around €200 in Europe. The seven collab versions will go for more, around €210 depending on the finish and the partner.
At this price point, the Cryoshot is clearly positioned above standard Nike lifestyle offerings. This aligns with its Italian craftsmanship in Montebelluna and the TPU injection process.
Distribution will happen in two phases: the seven collabs will drop in short releases starting June 11, 2026, through the collaborators' own channels, and then on SNKRS on June 16.
FAQ
When does the Nike Cryoshot drop?
The first drop is set for June 11, 2026, through the channels of the seven collaborators (Patta, Jacquemus, Nocta, Palace, V.A.A., PeaceMinusOne, Slawn) and the associated national federations. An intermediate release follows on June 13 at a selection of concept stores. The wide release on SNKRS and at official Nike retailers is scheduled for June 16, 2026. The inline collection will arrive later in the year.
What’s the difference between the Cryoshot Mercurial, Tiempo, and Striker?
Three historic Nike football shoes, three different constructions. The Mercurial Vapor R9 (1998, Ronaldo Nazário) features a high-density synthetic upper, close to the foot, designed for speed. The Tiempo (1994) offers a kangaroo leather upper, more natural and generous in the toe box. The Striker (1976) is the first Nike football silhouette, the most raw of the three.
Is the Nike Cryoshot playable on a football field?
No. The original stud plate remains visible under the translucent TPU shell, but it is encapsulated and no longer in contact with the ground. Traction is provided by rubber pads and an opaque TPU plate, sized for urban use on hard surfaces. The Cryoshot is explicitly a lifestyle silhouette, not a performance shoe.
