Soccer Cleats 101 Soccer Cleats News and Reviews
We have been getting a lot of questions about the Nike Hypervenom Phatal, so Bryan and I decided we should both add our thoughts to give a more broad ranging opinion. Bryan got them in first and gave them a run around before sending them off to me. Nike’s penchant for producing high quality mid-tier boots has given us high expectations of the little brother to the massively popular Hypervenom Phantom.
Nike have put a lot of effort into making sure that the “agility” factor that is heavily emphasized in the Phantom gets translated over to the mid-tier version. However something that has been lost between the Phantom and the Phatal is the texture that comes with the nikeskin which has been replaced with Mirage Synthetic. It is actually very soft and very much reminds me of the V8 and Miracle III material.
After two testing periods the Phatal is ready to be reviewed and here are our findings.
Shop current Nike Phatal AG boots at soccer.com.
Bryan’s Take
In general, Nike produce the highest performing second tier boots on the market. So, expectations for the Phatal sit just as high, especially factoring in how the Hypervenom phantom tested.
There is an air of simplicity about these boots, and although it leaves them looking “ordinary”, they prove effective in game. The upper feels very thin and has more of a paper feel than a soft material. This allows for a nice feel on the ball, especially as you are playing passes. But, I was definitely left wanting more from the release. Considering the Hypervenom Phantom has that dimpled mesh upper, the bland smooth forefoot doesn’t inspire or create a new age air of confidence on the ball.
[Also: Checking out the Nike Phatal AG]
Like most Nike AG boots I have tested to date, the soleplate and configuration work very effectively on AG surfaces. You can cut and chop without any problems or fear of slipping. In a sense, this is the type of boot that offers the right type of traction performance in a much more economical package – that is something to consider if you are looking for a new pair of boots.
Final note, in terms of size they fit very similarly to the Phantom except that the upper on the Phatal is more rigid. That is not surprising considering the fact that the Phantom has a super soft mesh upper. Length wise they are true to size, with a Medium/Wide fit through the forefoot. I normally wear a size 9US and the Phatal in a size 9US fit nice and snug.
Jim’s Take
This is the second Blinding orange and Black boot from nike that I’ve gotten to test after the Bomba Finale II so I can’t help but measure them up against each other. Unlike Bryan I haven’t tested the Hypervenom but have a pretty good idea how nikeskin performs from the Finale II. I have however gotten to test the next boot down in the Hypervenom silo in the form of the Phelon Turf, it is very interesting in how the bottom two compare.
First off I have to liken the material to that of the Miracle III minus the suede feel. It feels a tad thinner but has similar flex to it so there is that paper feel to it like Bryan said. Sort of like a halfway point between the Vapor 8 and the Miracle III. Having said that the touch is similar as well, not quite like NikeSkin. There is very minimal dimpling so the friction is lacking but not completely absent. As far as synthetics go, it is pretty nice but it doesn’t quite wow me. As Bryan says, the smooth texture kind does kind of take away a bit from the over all performance but I feel like the ball feel makes up for it. I actually found that the Phelon turf was a better alternative which is kind of surprising. The texture in that upper was many times better and made a huge difference.
Sporting the AG configuration the Phatal is under 8 oz, which is very nice for a mid-tier with an artificial grass soleplate. I’m quite pleased with the level of traction. I’ve experienced Nike’s more traditional AG configuration but for the Hypervenom AG configurations the studs are arranged a little differently to accommodate similar tech to the firm ground version. No slipping or catching so it works very well. However it is almost impossible to tell if the agility geared sole plate makes any difference at all. It is very hard to gauge.
Overall the boot is very decent, though I would go with a half size up from a 9 if I were to get another pair. Those who are fans of the last Mercurial and the Miracle III will find that this boot is a very good option as it has a similar vibe to it. But if the choice came down to choosing either the Phatal or the Phelon, I would go for the Phelon hands down.
Consensus
We both agree that the boot would be better off with some added texture in the upper. The upper material is in no way bad but they could have done better (Jim finds the Phelon to be evidence of this). As far as the stud configuration goes it is very much the ideal configuration for artificial grass with neither of us having any issues with traction.
Shop current Nike Phatal AG boots at soccer.com.
Currently, the Phatal AG seems to be a very popular option for players who find themselves consistently playing on artificial surfaces. If you are considering a pair, and have any questions you want our opinion or feedback on, leave them in the comment section below.
