Nike Launch Hypervenom II : Football Boots : Soccer Bible

The most difficult role for any new player at a club is replacing a great player that came before them. In the same vein, perhaps the most difficult job for a boot brand is updating or replacing a boot that is widely considered to be one of the best in the market.

Considering most boots receive a yearly update, it already speaks volumes that the Hypervenom has remained unchanged for two years, but now it's time for the second-generation. Gone is the honeycomb structuring of the upper, but agility is still the main target of Nike’s golden child.



Nike set out to bring in the trusted use of FlyWire to create an enhanced touch on areas of the boots that see the most action on the ball, an addition that has stayed throughout the design process and can be seen visibly upon the new boot. While some may see the design as a touch crazy, there's method in the madness, as Nathan Vanhook (Senior Design Director of Nike Football Footwear) explains, “All of the linear angles on the boot align with the natural flex of the foot. The Flywire powers a lockdown system that prevents the foot from sliding within the boot. We didn’t design a boot that works for the foot, but rather with the foot.”

Nike have taken their newest toy in the Dynamic Fit Collar and attached it in a way that stands in stark contrast to the other collared boots available. Where the Superfly and Magista Obra use FlyKnit throughout the upper and build of the boots, the HyperVenom II mixes the FlyKnit collar with an enhanced mesh upper and NikeSkin.


At first sight the Hypervenom II looks to have kept the soleplate unchanged, but the plate is actually created from a softer compound this time around for added comfort. Outside of the material being changed, the stud set-up, split-toe design, and length of the studs are untouched from the first-gen boot.

The Hypervenom II is the first true test for Nike in 2015 as many will be looking to find fault with the newest incarnation in an attempt to hang on to the original Venom. Is anyone surprised that Nike launched their biggest 2015 entry right before adidas hits the reset button? Of course not... and adidas will be hoping that the Hypervenom II ends up being 99% “hype” and 1% “venom.”

The Nike Hypervenom II will be available from May 27 at selected online stockists including Pro-Direct Soccer. First thoughts?