NIKE PHANTOM ULTRA VENOM "ORANGE"

Back in 2017 Nike gave unto the world the Mercurial Vapor Flyknit Ultra, one of the best limited edition releases in recent memory and a sign of the direction the silo was set to head in in the future. Now, five years on, we get a follow up of sorts with the Mercurial making way for the Phantom, although with something of a twist: as much as this may be a glimpse into the future, it's also an homage to the past and the origins of the silo we have today.

The current Phantom GT II is a direct descendant of the Hypervenom line. After three models, the Hypervenom gave way to the Phantom Venom and Phantom Vision, which were then in turn combined to give us the Phantom GT, which is now on its second iteration. Despite the evolution, the Phantom has always held true to the fundamental aspects of the Hypervenom, and now the Phantom Ultra Venom arrives as a special edition dose of nostalgia, built from innovation.

So getting down to the nitty gritty, the Phantom Ultra Venom is a proper all-rounder, bringing together agility, speed, touch, and power under the Phantom name. Presented in a "Black/Black Bright Citrus" colourway, following suit with the Mercurial Vapor Flyknit Ultra, and the main calling card is the fact it’s once again constructed from Flyknit, with the lightweight layers combining with NikeSkin, while Flywire cables ensure a secure, locked-down fit.

A key identifier of the Hypervenom was always the trademark texturing, which gets a new take here so that the boot continues to offer superior control while its also able to generate extreme spin. 

Down below, and the Hyper-Reactive soleplate from the Hypervenom 3 makes a triumphant return, allowing your forefoot to flex naturally in multiple directions, providing a springy, responsive feel. It’s specifically designed to maintain good contact with the ground when cutting and turning, and it was always a favourite of professionals – for good reason.

So there you have it; a glimpse into the future wile nodding to the past, all wrapped up in a sleek presentation and ready to absolutely dominate on pitch – if you dare wear them on pitch, that is.