Call it soccer 2.0.
Nike today said it will release the Hypervenom II, a revised iteration of the 2013 launch, on May 25.
The move comes days after chief rival Adidas said it would scrap much of its soccer cleat line to focus on two key styles.
Nike said in a statement that it believes the new line will be “the definitive boot for deadly agility.”
“We started very simply, with members of our team wearing white socks and spray painting them while their feet were flexed in various football-specific movements,” said Phil Woodman, Nike’s soccer footwear designer. “As they unflexed their feet, the unpainted white lines identified prominent flex grooves. That exercise quickly escalated into visits to Nike’s Sport Research Lab to consult with our scientists on how the foot can best move with the boot for ultimate agility.”
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The company said the original Hypervenom found success early on, but executives at the company wanted to improve the line’s functionality. To that end, Nike incorporated its Flywire technology in the new cleats, along with additional siping in areas of the shoe where players most often come into contact with the ball.
A number of the world’s best soccer players will wear the cleat, including Wayne Rooney, Robert Lewandowski and Neymar da Silva Santos Junior. Similarly, on the women’s side, Alex Morgan will take the field in the cleat.
The company said it will release a women’s version of the Hypervenom II for the first time.
“Hypervenom II is designed for attacking players who are deceptive by nature on the pitch — capable of moves in any direction and usually making the one their opponent least expects,” said the company statement. “The boot had to be crafted to support those kinds of movements, all while delivering a strong sense of style.”
The cleats will be sold on the Nike app on May 25, followed two days later on Nike.com. A women’s version will be released in June.
