Nike Hypervenom Phantom brought control boots to an entirely different direction at a time when it was the likes of Nike Total 90 and adidas Predator setting the tone for them. Suffice to say it is now being remembered fondly by those who know their football boot industry. But what was that that help it make its mark, and what can we expect from future remakes? Tune in to this page for a quick brush-up on your Hypervenom Phantom memories, and for other related news about present remakes…
Recent Hypervenom Phantom Remakes
Special Hypervenom Phantom Releases
Future DNA Phantom VSN 2 (2020)
Not really a Hypervenom per se, but as part of the pack that replicated the iconic looks of past silos in then current ones, Nike dressed the Phantom VSN 2 with the black and bright citrus launch colourway of the Hypervenom Phantom 1. It even had the crossbones symbol around the heel to make sure the VSN 2 captured the vibe of its source inspiration, at least on an aesthetic sense.
2018 Harry Kane Special Edition Boots
2018 was an individual success for Harry Kane, as it was the year he became the 2nd fastest player to score 100 Premier League goals and later became the Golden Boot winner at the World Cup. For the first milestone, he had a pair of Hypervenom Phantom 3s with a half-and-half colourway of white and blue. Matte gold details abounded, but central to these was the numeral 100 at the heel. The second Harry Kane pair was all gold though, shimmering in contrast to the minimal black accent of the Swoosh.
Hypervenom GX (2017)
With the Air Max designs getting remade in 2024 and 2025 for the Mercurials, it’s worth noting that the Hypervenom also had the same stint. It came in 2017 as it looked to revive the spirit of the 1997 Nike Air GX, released first with a black with blue colourway and another one that was black with red. The GX was first produced in Nike’s Montebelluna facility, which to this day still provide the boots for the brand’s elite players. T
The only thing with the Hypervenom GX was that they were technically not a Hypervenom, as the boots combined Alegria leather with a Flyknit tongue.
WR250 (2017)
This one was for Wazza as he clinched the all-time goalscoring record for Manchester United. The white with red made no mistake identifying his achievement as a Red Devil. It also had that crackling zigzag visuals along the sides for that explosive feel.
NJR x Jordan Hypervenom Phantom 2s (2016)
These came in black and white editions, and were one of the early attempts to merge basketball and football in football boots. As a result, these special edition boots had the vibe of casual trainers and were perfect for those were fans of both sports.
Transform (2015)
This limited-edition Hypervenom had a unique heat-activated upper that literally transforms the boot from being a simple black boot to something that displays a fiery orange pattern when worn. It did look like the boot heats up when used and cools down as you put the boots back to storage.
Neymar Golden Dream (2014)
Linking the Hypervenom to the World Cup, one thing popped right out of my mind immediately- that is the flashy signature Neymar boot for the 2014 World Cup. It essentially reflected how Neymar, in his childhood, would spraypaint his boots gold. Even with the bright canary yellow of the Brazilian kit, Neymar and his Golden Dream boots still stood out.
Hypervenom Phantom Generations
Hypervenom Phantom 1 (2013)
Here we go. The boot that started it all way back 2013. At a time when attacking and scoring were being paired with the relatively tanky and bulky Total 90 series, Nike did a 180° and replaced the beloved line with the Hypervenom Phantom. And it was truly the opposite of what fans got used to as the silo focused instead on agility and touch. Getting Neymar to headline was definitely fitting, but the boot itself had what it takes to bring agility and touch to the forefront of the game.
A big part of this was the revolutionary NikeSkin upper comprised of a base mesh, a foam skeleton and a film coating. It was thin and incredibly soft as an upper material, and the end result was a boot that had a barefoot sensation on the ball and a comfortable wrap on your feet, plus a lightweight feel overall. With its off-centred lacing, this pair of dimpled boots encouraged everyone to go for the ball and leveraged the increased striking surface. To complete the nimble composition, the tooling was comprised of conicals for ease of twist and pivot.
Hypervenom Phantom 2 (2015)
The Achilles heel of the first generation was durability. And so Nike decided to use a relatively denser NikeSkin material with Flywire cable reinforcements for the second Hypervenom Phantom. They also introduced the silo for the first time to the Dynamic Fit collar, though a low-cut Hypervenom Phinish was made available. The changes arguably made the boot more responsive, longer-lasting and more protective.
Only that Nike at some point had to return to the now-beloved, honeycomb-textured NikeSkin mesh on the Hypervenom Phantom 1 to continue selling the Hypervenom Phantom 2. For all the improvements in durability and responsiveness, the second iteration of the silo was simply stiff and uncomfortable to wear. It also somehow disconnected itself with the agility and touch focus when the silo debuted. Going back to the OG NikeSkin was a saving grace.
Hypervenom Phantom 3 (2017)
With the Hypervenom Phantom 3, Nike striked a balance between the softness and comfort of the 1st generation and the responsiveness and lockdown of the second generation. They did so by using a one-piece, Flyknit-based upper with Flywire cables and knitted texturing pods. Besides balancing comfort and performance, the other effect was replicating the small amount of grip of the earlier Phantoms and adding a bit of a dampened ball touch. The Hyperreactive soleplate also eased up some of the stiffness of the previous Pebax-outsole and added more traction through the hexagonal and blade studs.
