We caught up with Nike designer Phil Woodman to talk about everything to do with the new innovative PhantomVSN football boot, here’s what we found out.

It took the Nike team over a year to take the PhantomVSN from an idea to a finished product, packing the boot out with a range of tech features and updates to earn the title of ‘game changer’.

The first thing you will notice is that they can be worn straight out of the box, with no need to break them in.

"We developed an internal Quadfit mesh bootie that conforms to an incredibly broad spectrum of unique foot structures. The four axes of fibers in the bootie conform to the player’s foot and provide support in all directions," explained Woodman.

This focus on support came after Nike let professional athletes speak their mind, as many up-and-coming footballers were raised playing on concrete in the streets.

"They have to navigate tight spaces, have a higher degree of control to attack and become multi-directional maneuverers with the ball at their feet."

This means they need a higher degree of control and ability to manoeuvre in all directions with a ball at their feet as they work in spaces much tighter than a traditional pitch.  

Another attacking edge is provided by the Ghost Lace system that provides a customised fit, with only one pull needed to activate the entire system. The laces are hidden away so that the boot has an even striking surface with no distractions.

Talking about the new Ghost Lace system, Woodman told FTBL, "Players keep telling us they need laces for support, but now they can be hidden away so there’s even striking surface with no distractions."

The boot was trialled extensively by athletes at every level and even by Phil Woodman himself. The main feedback was how great the boots feel right out of the box and the increased grip they feel on the ball in the triangle area of the PhantomVSN.

The Phantom replaces the Magista line and is available at nike.com.au