Nike PhantomVSN vs PhantomVSN 2 – Whats The Difference?

With the arrival of the all-new Nike PhantomVSN 2, many of you have been asking how they compare against the first generation version. Featuring a striking Risk Red upper colorway, Nike is proudly showcasing their latest creation in style with a revamped fit, superb texture and an easier foot entry. It comes together as a boot t0 fulfill the performance needs of attacking players.

Looking at both boots side by side, it might be a little more difficult to spot each individual update. So, we wanted to run through some of the key modifications that take the performance of the PhantomVSN 2 to the next level.

1. Lower Ankle Cut – To bring a more dynamic and sleeker silhouette, the cuff has been lowered under the medial malleolus bone to maximize ankle mobility versus containment.
2. Front Pull Tab – Pull tabs were added for ease of entry and exit, featuring a small numeral graphic calling out the GPS coordinates of the Nike Football’s design space.
3. Flyknit Update – For exquisite fit, the boot upper is constructed with a symmetrical Flyknit external layer.
4. Upper Texture + Touch – To keep touch at the forefront, the PhantomVSN 2 texture is significantly reengineered and informed by four different quadrants — medial trap zone, strike zone, knuckle zone and dribble zone. As the ball travels through each one, the volume of the texture is adjusted up and down to accommodate.
5. Thinner Upper – A 20 percent thinning of materials across the touch zones helps increase ball control.
6. Heel Design – An external heel clip is notched for better lateral containment, as well as adding structure and support to one of the main irritation zones.

But of course, there are also several pieces of the original that Nike found that there were some pieces that matched their performance specifications. Take for example the very effective concealed Ghost Lace system, which allows an even strike surface and one-pull fit customization, along with Quadfit technology, a stretchable mesh that provides foot lockdown. And underfoot, the Nike PhantomVSN 2 retains that same Nike React cushioning and a lightweight, responsive plate for FG surfaces.

Putting them on side by side, they fit very similar. Nike has kept the overall shape pretty identical, with a medium to wide fit when you finally squeeze your feet into them. I have to say, the pull tab is a huge addition, so simple yet it proves to be super helpful as you pull them on. When it comes to the other major change, the lower cut collar, I prefer how the PhantomVSN 2 is constructed. It just feel a whole lot more natural as you look to cut and swivel on your ankle.

We have a few more days to wait for the PhantomVSN 2 to officially drop on the market – Monday is the day. Obviously you will find pairs of the first generation on sale right now as Nike looks to move onto the latest, making it a pretty good time to invest in a pair!

If you have any questions related to performance or differences between both models, let us know in the comments!