How 3D Printing Supercharged Nike’s New Super Bowl Cleat

Almost a full year ago, Nike introduced its first shoe ever built with the help of 3D printing technology. The thing was, that cleat, the Vapor Laser Talon (seen below), was built for an absurdly specific purpose and market—just the 40 yard dash, just for NFL players. Now, though, Nike is bringing what it’s learned from the VLT to the consumer market—innovations that, without 3D printing, we might not have seen for years to come.The cleat, the Vapor Carbon II, is being promoted as part of Nike’s 2014 Super Bowl line, but the shoe represents an incredible achievement in its own right. Before coming up with the final product that benefits the whole,