It’s truthful to say that the Nike Phantom line has develop into one thing of an issue youngster for the model over the previous couple of years.
Good boots, such because the Nike Phantom Venom and authentic Nike Phantom GX, have been sandwiched between ones that simply did not carry out anyplace close to as effectively, such because the Phantom Imaginative and prescient and Phantom GT. It has appeared at occasions a mannequin missing actual route, particularly compared to the clearer focus of Nike’s different fashions within the Mercurial and Tiempo.
However, with the discharge of the Phantom GX in 2023, Nike landed produced among the best soccer boots of the yr, and have made the clever choice of constructing on a number of the options that made it so widespread with the Nike Phantom GX 2 Elite.
Among the uncertainty concerning the route of the Phantom line can be nonetheless evident, nonetheless – so I attempted a pair of the brand new boots in a agency floor variation to get a clearer image of how they carry out on pitch.
Nike Phantom GX 2 Elite evaluation
One of many essential options of the Nike Phantom GX 1 that made it so widespread was the GripKnit that made up most of its higher. Added grip on higher supplies is a well-liked facet of contemporary soccer boots, however the GripKnit on the GX 1 was far superior when in comparison with different boots in the marketplace.
It’s no shock then that this has been introduced ahead to the brand new mannequin, and surprisingly there does even appear to be barely extra GripKnit on the higher of the GX 2. This time across the knit has some further texturing on high that Nike are calling StrikeZone, whereas the higher would not really feel fairly as sticky because the GX 1 consequently.
When taking these out of the field, I used to be immediately struck by simply how delicate the higher is – that is an impressively comfy boot and superior to the Phantom GX 1, which isn’t any small feat. As with the GX 1, the most recent Phantom deploys off-centred lacing, making a splendidly clear putting floor within the space surrounded by the StrikeZone texturing that’s reminiscent in look to a number of the nice Nike Complete 90 fashions. This makes them nice for strikers seeking to shoot at objective, in addition to midfielders hitting long-range passes throughout video games.
With this newest era, Nike have taken the Phantom in a route much like
that of the Mercurial by way of the 2 choices accessible. Whereas the Mercurial provides the Vapor and Superfly fashions, the Phantom has each the GX and the Luna. This does create some confusion inside the mannequin itself, nonetheless.
Simply as with the Vapor and Superfly, the GX 2 and Luna 2 share the very same higher and soleplate, with the one distinction being a mannequin with a mid-cut flyknit collar (the Luna). That is notably unusual for the Phantom fashions because the Luna 1 was first launched as a boot primarily for girls aimed toward combatting their elevated susceptibility to knee accidents and was a wholly totally different mannequin to the GX 1.
Now, with the second era of each fashions, the Luna shares the identical options. The messaging round them being particularly engineered for girls is now gone. This confusion continues onto the soleplate, with each fashions sharing the Cyclone 360 soleplate first seen on the Luna 1, which proved the principle focus of Nike’s declare that the boot might assist stop the intense knee accidents more and more seen within the ladies’s sport. The messaging round that can be not evident.
The soleplate itself is strong, however changing the unique one seen on the GX 1 is a mistake in my view. Whereas I discovered that soleplate barely too versatile, although actually manageable, now it is much more pliable within the midfoot – one thing I am not an enormous fan of as somebody who prefers a bit further stiffness for stability. Happily, the forefoot of the plate is splendidly snappy and a particular plus.
Curiously, the AG variations of each the GX 2 and Luna 2 function a soleplate that’s strikingly much like that of the GX 1, so this expertise remains to be accessible for many who find yourself craving for the outdated stud configuration.
When it comes to sizing, I might advocate going true to measurement. The GX 2 additionally has a good quantity of quantity and is a superb choice for these with wider toes. The toebox provides an additional little bit of room that fashions such because the Adidas Predator Elite share, whereas being a superior providing general to boots just like the Puma Future 7 Final.
General, the Nike Phantom GX 2 Elite takes many of the greatest options from the primary variations of the GX and Luna to create arguably one in every of the very best boots in the marketplace. I completely love the improved GripKnit, and it will be fascinating to see the place Nike take the expertise going ahead.
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