Venomous Wallet Killer

Nike HyperVenom Phantom FG

Although it is not obvious in my blogs (which are mostly about Magic: The Gathering), i am a huge football fan, and am a player. I support my home team, Chelsea Football Club. Right winger is my preferred position, but sometimes i can go full back. But that’s not what i’m here to talk about.

I’m writing this to talk about this snake of a cleat. I’m actually more of an Adidas fan because Nike has a bad reputation for being easily worn and torn. I bought my Adidas Predator LZ (blue w/ orange LZs) and had a Nike Mercurial Vapor 8 as a gift from my girlfriend about a year ago. The LZs are still alive whereas the Vapor…well, vaporized. I was saving up for a new Adidas Lethal Zones TRX FG (image below) but upon seeing it in the boot shop, i thought it looked absolutely pretty, so i tried it

Nike Mercurial Vapor 8 before committing suicide (Left) // Adidas Predator LZ TRX FG (img from Boot Camp)

FITTING– At first it felt quite tight on the feet. It hugged your feet like a kid and his first porno. But after trying it out on the field, it felt better. It was like it disappeared from your feet. Perfect fitting. After breaking it in for like 30 minutes i think, it felt great. It follows the fold (wut) of your feet when pivoting and maneuvering, making it feel soo much comfortable.

GRIP- I was very particular at this part because grip was the ace of the Lethal Zones, so i was quite biased. At first, the waxy texture of the skin felt a wee bit too sticky, as if you stepped on a turd or something. But when taken to the field, it actually turns out to be just right. The grip can match that of the Lethal Zones in dribbling. The slightly-sticky grip also gave the ball a really good spin. As a winger, spin is important to get that perfect curve when crossing. And it did it’s job very well. Almost too well…

ACCELERATION & DECELERATION– It didn’t do as well in the “initial push” area as the Nike Mercurial Vapor 8 did, but once you get moving, accelerating and decelerating was sublime. I’m not an expert in spikes, but i think the soles and studs had a role in this. Like the grip on the ball, the grip on the ground was phenomenal. Not slipping when maneuvering is a must to any player. Last but not least, we have

DURABILITY– As i’ve said earlier, Nike has a bad reputation for durability. The stretchy-rubber top of the shoe felt like it would tear off quickly. Hopefully not, for i don’t want to suddenly change my shoes in the middle of the match. Also, its weight and how it held your feet felt like it would rip when you make a bad turn or something. Or maybe i’m just overreacting. I hope to be able to wear this until i get tired of it, instead of it getting tired of me. If it doesn’t, you’ll hear it from me.

Overall, i have nothing bad to say about it, besides my doubts in its durability. It has everything i need in a boot, plus the added bonus of comfort. This venomous wallet killer, pricing at Php 10,000 (around $225) proves to be worth the stick-up…unless it tears itself apart after only 6 months of use, like the Mercurial did.