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On a controversial move, Nike stopped the production of their well-liked T90 series and concentrated on their Hypervenom series. Nike shut the mouths of naysayers with Hypervenom Phantom.
Since its release in the early 2013, Nike Hypervenom Phantom has become a must have pair of boots in the market. It’s known for its lightweight structure and it is hyped as the silo for game changing attack. It’s as deadly as the name suggests. It focuses on speed, agility and handling of the ball, making it an attacker’s favourite.
LOOKS AND FEEL
It has a very unique design. It clearly stands out with its ambitious design. The boot is incredibly lightweight and has a gaunter upper than one would expect. The boot has NikeSkin upper with a honeycomb panelling as you can notice from the images. This provides a good grip on the ball while moving.
The Phantom is the first football boot to have the NikeSkin upper. NikeSkin upper is a synthetic material which is very gaunt. It gives a textured finish to the boot and also gives cushioned feeling. When you put on the boot you get a natural feel.
COMFORT AND FIT
The boot is designed using a new “Anatomical X1.1”, which gives a generous width and a comfortable fit. This is very good news for the ones with wide feet. Nikeskin is highly responsive and flexible. When you put on the boot, the upper wraps around your foot, sort of like a second layer of skin. It feels weird at first, but trust me, you’re gonna love it.
The pleasant surprise here is the heel. Nike altered the heel construction making it more softer and responsive design. This provides a more natural fit and also avoids blisters. Now that’s one worry off my mind.
PERFORMANCE
Nike introduced Phantom as a speed boot which gives importance to agility. The upper is really tractable and it adapts to your movements. The high friction of the NikeSkin upper gives a good grip on the ball. While dribbling, the boot helps us to keep the ball under close control.
The Phantom much like its predecessor doesn’t disappoint when it comes to striking the ball. With the laces being placed in the upper part of the boot you get a wider striking area. With the help of NikeSkin upper, you can feel the ball completely and is really helpful in the sense of control while striking the ball.
DURABILITY
When you are introducing a new product with new design and material, durability is always a concern. Although the boot is really lightweight it is pretty durable. With regular usage it might last at least a season
Still comparing with other boots it’s not really that impressive. This would be the slight issue you’ll be facing while using the Phantom.
PROTECTION
Phantom has very little to offer in terms of protection. Even though the upper gives a comfortable padding, it doesn’t really offer anything for protection. When the material is this soft and thin you can’t really expect a lot of protection from it. You’ll feel every bit of pain when you get stepped on.
When you buy a speed boot, protection is one of the things you’ve to compromise on. If you prefer protection above performance Hypervenom Phantom isn’t the boot for you.
Pros: Good control over the ball, great comfort and fit, suitable for people with wide feet, lightweight silo, speed and agility.
Cons: Durability, looks(especially the skull for some), protection.
Nike Hypervenom Phantom is one of the most unique boots in the market. It is a step up from Nike’s T90 series. Phantom stands a band apart from what Nike has given us so far. So if you want a speed boot with great control, and if you don’t have some aversion to Nike, I’ll recommend you to go with Nike Hypervenom Phantom.
Buy the shoe here
Buy the shoe here
