Nike Phantom GT is the latest football boot release from Nike and they look like one of the most technical bits of kit to date.
Described as “The Most Data-Driven Boot Nike Has Ever Created”, the Phantom GT is aimed specifically at players who revel in ball control and skill. Your Neymar, Ronaldo and Salah types if you will.
While all sporting shoes feature highly technical designs, most are designed for fit and transference of momentum. But football boots must also account for interaction with the object of play. Scientists at the Nike Sport Research Lab (NSRL) have dedicated their time to analysing the various angles and intensities with which a boot makes contact with a ball. Studying at a micro level how the ball connects with the boot, NSRL scientists have recorded data points and created pressure maps to guide the design of the Phantom GT.
Nike Phantom GT Technology Breakthrough
This work also lead to the creation of an entirely new and innovative texture for the boot. That’s what gives the Phantom GT its name – Generative Texture. The surface of the new boot is said to help “unleash a player’s creative skills”. Following two years of development and hundreds of different iterations, the design team finally landed on the optimal patterns, height and angles of texture. This was after learning how much texture is “too much”, leading to excessive grip. By moulding the optimum texture to a Nike Flyknit upper, the boot retains a soft, pliable feel without risk of texture detachment.
According to Nike, “every element of the Phantom GT upper is strategically beneficial for the player, backed by data-driven science and testimonials from the pros.
“The boot encapsulates the optimum balance of feel and grip. And is properly scaled to every size offering and coated with ACC (All Conditions Control).”
In addition to its all-new upper, the sole plate and traction of the Phantom GT is entirely new. It’s designed to enable sharp cuts and boost underfoot control. The new “Nike Hyperquick System features a generative chassis with agility studs. It’s built to be more rigid in the heel for planting, while the forefoot is designed for swift changes in direction. Conical studs have been split for quick cuts, complemented by wide rotated chevrons.
This combination is said to deliver the best FEA (Finite Element Analysis) traction pattern that Nike has ever produced for medial and lateral movements. The underfoot of this boot features on open arch on the medial side, increasing the boot-to-ball control area. Anatomically tuned ribs on the lateral side, reminiscent of Nike Free, have been engineered for improved underfoot support.
Another first for Nike Football sees FlyEase offered as an option for this boot. The Phantom GT Academy FlyEase features a foldable heel for easy entry and a wrap-around strap closure in place of laces.
Carson Pickett, defender for the Orlando Pride, remarks, “Honestly, my first reaction when I saw the Phantom GT FlyEase was relief. I thought about my younger self and what it would have meant for me if something like this existed when I was growing up. I feel like this boot represents me and anybody else who is unique. FlyEase is very easy for anybody to put on quickly, which I love.”
The Nike Phantom GT is available August 3 on nike.com. The Nike GT Academy FlyEase releases in September.
