Although the first generation Hypervenom Phantom is only a few years old, Nike's design team didn't shy away from making the boot even better with an innovative re-design. The Nike Hypervenom Phantom II is the first boot of the Hypervenom silo to offer a Dynamic Fit Collar that flows seamlessly into a new enhanced mesh upper. Max Blau, VP of Nike Football Footwear, explained the design team's desire to push the boundaries with their newest boot: “Players loved the original Hypervenom, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do even better. We’re not afraid to make as many changes as the boot needs to be the best. The kind of players who wear Hypervenom would expect nothing less.”
The design team took a unique approach when they started the research phase of the design process for the new Hypervenom Phantom II. In order to find exactly where an athlete's foot flexed during soccer-specific movements, members of the design team wore white socks and spray painted their feet to identify prominent flex grooves during play. These grooves now make up the unique, and seemingly random, zig-zagging texture of the boot's upper.
Another upgrade in innovation was the use of Flywire along the sides of the boot. Flywire, a technology already used in Nike running shoes, comes up around the eyelets of the boot's laces and creates a lock-down fit through the middle of the foot. The enhanced mesh upper is also featured in varying density throughout the boot for maximum comfort in the most critical areas. The Dynamic Fit Collar was also added for comfort, featuring an asymmetrical back seam that reduces distraction and tension on the Achilles tendon. The design was finished off with classic Hypervenom details: the NikeSkin coating combined with ACC (All Conditions Control) for touch, an asymmetrical lacing pattern for a larger strike zone, and a conical split-toe stud configuration for added stability and traction.
The first release of the Hypervenom Phantom II features the Wolf Grey & Total Orange colorway from the Silver Storm Pack. The first ever Women's-specific colorway for the Hypervenom Phantom II was released as a part of the Women's World Cup Cleat Pack in Blue Lagoon & Volt.
Neymar JR and Alex Morgan are Nike's main athletes wearing this boot, but they are also joined by the likes of other world class players such as Wayne Rooney, Edinson Cavani, Robert Lewandowski, Meghan Klingenberg, and Christen Press.
The Soccer Shop will carry the Hypervenom Phinnish (a low-cut version of the boot) in both adult and youth sizes.