Design Your Own Nike Boots

Most football boots come in the colours Nike decides on. Nike By You is how you change that.

The service (previously called NikeID) lets you build your own colourway across six boot options: the Phantom 6, the Mercurial Vapor 16, and the Mercurial Superfly 10, with Elite and Academy versions of each. You choose the base colour, the Swoosh, the soleplate finish, the lace colour, and where to add text. Then you wait roughly three to five weeks for a pair of boots that no one else at your club has.

Before you start the configurator, there are two decisions worth getting right first: which boot, and which tier. Both choices affect what you can customise, how the boot plays, and whether you can return it if something goes wrong.

Nike By You Football Boots

What Is Nike By You?

Nike By You is Nike’s custom boot service, previously called NikeID. The name changed; the concept stayed the same. You access it through Nike’s website, build your design using preset colour and finish options, and Nike makes the boots to your specification.

Right now, customisation is available for three boots: the Phantom 6, the Mercurial Vapor 16, and the Mercurial Superfly 10. Each is available in Elite (Nike’s top-tier match boot) and Academy (the entry-level version using different materials). That gives six total options.

The colour palette and available finishes change periodically as Nike updates the By You range. What stays consistent is the structure: base colour, Swoosh colour, soleplate option, lace colour, and up to five characters of personalised text.

Phantom or Mercurial? Choosing the Right Boot

This is the decision most people skip over, which is why they sometimes end up with the wrong boot in the wrong colours.

The Phantom 6 and the Mercurial family solve different football problems.

The Phantom 6 is a control boot. It’s built for players who need to receive the ball cleanly and do something with it quickly. The Gripknit and Flyknit upper gives the ball a soft, predictable contact point. The off-centre lacing system creates a clean striking surface across the forefoot. If you play in positions where you get the ball to feet under pressure, where you’re turning quickly in tight areas, or where your first touch is what everything else depends on, the Phantom is the boot for that.

The Mercurial family is a speed boot. It’s built around attacking before defenders can react. The contact feel is more direct and aggressive than the Phantom. Where the Phantom asks you to compose, the Mercurial asks you to commit. If your game is about creating separation, getting in behind, or being the player who stretches the defensive line repeatedly, the Mercurial is built for how you play.

Within the Mercurial, the decision between Vapor and Superfly comes down to one thing: the ankle collar.

The Vapor 16 is a low-cut boot. The Superfly 10 has the Dynamic Fit collar that extends up around the ankle. Same upper material, same soleplate, same explosive character, just a different preference around ankle coverage. Some players love the security the collar gives them. Others find it affects how they push off. There is no functionally better option here; it’s genuinely about which feels more natural to you.

If you play wide and make repeated attacking runs throughout a match, the Superfly’s collar suits the relentless nature of that role. If you play in tighter attacking areas and prioritise sharp, immediate separation, the Vapor is built for that first-step burst.

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Elite or Academy? The Honest Difference

The price difference between Elite and Academy is significant. The performance difference is also real, but it depends on what you’re using the boots for.

The Elite versions use Gripknit and AtomKnit (Mercurial) or Gripknit and Flyknit (Phantom). These are proper match-day materials. The Gripknit in particular gives you a textured contact point that you notice when receiving firm passes or striking diagonals. The Air Zoom cushioning in the soleplate adds responsiveness underfoot in a way the Academy version doesn’t replicate.

The Academy versions use NikeSkin, which is a standard synthetic upper. It’s durable and it’s adequate, but you feel the difference immediately when you put them on. The structure is simpler. The contact feel is less refined. The soleplate is a cheaper plastic construction without the Air Zoom unit.

Choose Elite if these are your main match boots and you want to actually feel the difference the materials make on the pitch.

Choose Academy if you’re buying custom boots for a child who will outgrow them, if you want custom training boots at a lower price, or if you play on artificial pitches that would chew through Elite-tier uppers quickly.

One more thing: some customisation options differ between Elite and Academy. The Elite versions offer chrome and iridescent soleplate finishes that aren’t available on Academy. The Academy sometimes has a slightly wider base colour selection. Both let you add personalised text.

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Nike By You Phantom 6

The Phantom 6 is the only boot in the Nike By You range specifically designed around control. The Gripknit forefoot gives you a consistent contact point when receiving; you notice it most when a firm pass arrives at pace and you need to kill it quickly. The Flyknit base wraps the midfoot and heel cleanly, and the off-centre lacing means you have a wider clean surface to strike across.

In the By You range, only the low-cut Phantom 6 is available. There is no high-cut version. Soleplate options are FG (firm ground) and AG (artificial ground) only. Soft ground is not currently available on the Phantom By You.

Custom Phantom 6 Elite

The Phantom Elite configurator gives you seven elements to adjust:

1. Gripknit: The textured forefoot panel. Limited colour options here; the palette is intentionally restrained so the Gripknit texture reads clearly.

2. Flyknit Base: The main body colour that extends across the quarter and tongue. This is usually your dominant colour.

3. Soleplate: FG or AG, with tonal, chrome, or iridescent finish options.

4. Text : Up to two alphanumeric characters per boot (uppercase only), placed on the medial side of the quarter. You also choose the text colour separately.

5. Swoosh (lateral): The large Swoosh on the outside of the boot. This is where the metallic and gold/silver finish options are available.

6. Small Swoosh and Accents: The smaller branding elements on the medial side and midfoot. Selecting this colour also affects the small PHANTOM and NIKE GRIPKNIT labels.

7. Laces: Match them or contrast them; both work depending on whether you want the laces to disappear or pop.

Customisation: Phantom 6 Academy

The Academy configurator follows a similar structure but with some differences. The seam can be coloured independently from the quarter, which gives you a colour split option not available on the Elite. The soleplate options are more limited (no chrome or iridescent finish). The text placement and two-character limit remain the same.

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Nike Mercurial Vapor 16 By You

The Vapor 16 is a low-cut speed boot. The boot is built around attacking space the moment it opens. The Gripknit and AtomKnit upper sits close to the foot and the Air Zoom soleplate gives a reactive push-off feel underfoot that you notice most during acceleration. This is not a boot that asks you to think; it reacts when you do.

In the By You range, both FG and AG soleplates are available. The Vapor By You is available in Elite and Academy.

Customisation: Vapor 16 Elite

1. Base:  The main upper colour. The Gripknit forefoot and the AtomKnit quarter take colour slightly differently because of their different textures. On some colour choices you’ll notice a tonal difference between the two zones; on others they read as one.

2. Soleplate: FG has the full range: transparent with a coloured inner board, fully iridescent, or fully chrome. AG is limited to the transparent option with black or white board.

3. Plate Accent: The colour applied to the Air Zoom window on the forefoot. This small detail has a noticeable effect on the overall design.

4. Swoosh: Wide colour range including solid, metallic, and gradient finishes.

5. Swoosh Outline: Adds a border to the Swoosh. This also applies to the NIKE GRIPKNIT label under the medial Swoosh and the small Swoosh on the tongue tip.

6. Laces: No reflective lace option currently available on the Vapor By You.

7. Text: Up to five alphanumeric characters per boot (uppercase), placed within the AIR heel branding: left boot uses the leaning leg of the R, right boot uses the left leg of the A.

Customisation: Vapor 16 Academy

Most Elite options carry over, with some exceptions. The Swoosh outline is not available. The chrome and iridescent soleplate finishes are not available. The Air Zoom window accent is removed. AG is still available.

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Nike Mercurial Superfly 10 By You

The Superfly 10 is the Vapor 16 with a Dynamic Fit collar. Same explosive character, same soleplate, same upper materials. The collar extends up around the ankle and is designed to move with the foot rather than against it. Players who like ankle coverage find it improves their sense of connection to the boot over a full match. Players who find it restrictive prefer the Vapor.

The Superfly is particularly suited to players who make repeated attacking runs throughout a game. The collar tends to feel more natural the more you’re moving; it’s less at home for players who spend long periods standing or receiving.

FG and AG options are available. Elite and Academy both available.

Customisation: Superfly 10 Elite

1. Base: Applies to the upper and extends up to the collar. Also applies a tonal shade to the AIR heel branding.

2. Soleplate: FG has solid fill, chrome, and iridescent. AG has black or white only. No SG-Pro option.

3. Plate Accent: Applied to the Air Zoom window panel.

4. Swoosh: Applies to the large lateral Swoosh and the small medial Swoosh. Wide range including solid, metallic, and gradient finishes.

5. Swoosh Outline: Border treatment for the Swooshes. Choose the same colour as the Swoosh for a solid-fill effect.

6. Laces: Full colour range.

7. Text: Up to five characters per boot (uppercase), positioned on the leaning leg of the R in the AIR heel branding.

Customisation: Superfly 10 Academy

The Academy uses NikeSkin rather than Gripknit/AtomKnit. The base colour selection is wider than on the Elite. The Swoosh options remain similar but the outline customisation is not available. Soleplate is solid-fill only (no chrome or iridescent). Text personalisation stays in.

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Before You Order

Delivery

Nike By You boots are made to your specification. They are not sitting in a warehouse waiting to be picked. Most Nike By You football boots take three to five weeks from order to delivery, though it can be a little faster or slower depending on the style and current production schedules. Nike gives you an estimated delivery date during checkout.

Do not order Nike By You boots if you need them for a specific match in the next three weeks. Leave enough time.

Returns

This is the most important thing on this page: Nike By You boots cannot be returned or exchanged. Once you place the order, the boots are made for you. If they arrive and the fit is wrong, you cannot send them back unless they are defective or faulty.

This means getting your sizing right before you order matters more than with a standard boot purchase.

As a general guide: the Phantom 6 fits true to size with a slightly wider forefoot than the Mercurial. The Mercurial Elite (Vapor and Superfly) runs narrow, particularly in the toe box. If you are between sizes or have a wider foot, consider sizing up half a size on the Mercurial. If you have worn the standard Phantom before and know your size, order the same.

If you have not worn either boot before, try the standard (non-custom) version first to confirm your size before committing to a custom order.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you return Nike By You football boots? No. Nike By You boots cannot be returned or exchanged because they are made to your specification. The only exception is if the boots arrive defective or faulty. Make sure your sizing is correct before you order.

How long does Nike By You take to deliver? Most Nike By You football boots take three to five weeks. Standard delivery timescales do not apply to custom orders. Nike gives you an estimated delivery date at checkout.

Can you make your own football boots? Yes, though “making your own” means customising an existing boot rather than building one from scratch. You take a current model and choose its colours, finishes, soleplate and personalised text. Nike offers this through Nike By You on the Phantom 6, Mercurial Vapor 16 and Superfly 10, each in Elite and Academy. You design the pair online, Nike makes it to your specification, and it arrives in roughly three to five weeks. The trade-off is that custom boots cannot be returned unless they are faulty, so confirm your size before you order.

What is the difference between Nike By You and NikeID? They are the same service. Nike rebranded NikeID as Nike By You. You may still see NikeID used on older pages and in search results; it refers to the same customisation platform.

Is Nike By You Academy worth it? The Academy boots are a significantly cheaper entry point into custom Nike football boots. The trade-off is the NikeSkin upper instead of Gripknit/AtomKnit, and a simpler soleplate without Air Zoom. If the boots are for a child who will outgrow them quickly, or for training use on rough pitches, Academy makes sense. If these are your match boots and you want to feel the full boot performance alongside the custom colourway, the Elite version is worth the additional cost.

Should I get a Phantom or a Mercurial By You? The Phantom 6 is the right choice if your game is built around receiving the ball, controlling tight situations, and operating in central areas. The Mercurial is the right choice if pace and attacking space are the foundation of how you play. Neither is objectively better; they solve different football problems. If you play wide and make runs in behind, Mercurial. If you play as a technical midfielder or forward who holds the ball and turns quickly, Phantom.

What is the difference between Vapor By You and Superfly By You? The Vapor 16 is low-cut and the Superfly 10 has a Dynamic Fit collar that extends up around the ankle. Same upper, same soleplate, same performance character. The choice is purely about ankle preference. The collar adds a sense of connection for some players; others find it restricts how they push off. If you have worn either boot before and know which you prefer, go with that.

Can kids get Nike By You boots? Yes. The Nike By You range is available in junior sizes. The Academy versions give younger players access to the custom service at a lower price, which makes sense given how quickly kids’ feet change size.

What are the soleplate options on Nike By You boots? FG (firm ground) and AG (artificial ground) are available across all three boots. Soft ground (SG) is not currently available on any Nike By You option. Soleplate finishes vary by boot and tier: Elite versions offer tonal, chrome, and iridescent options on FG; AG is typically more limited.