Nike Launch The 'Future Lab' Pack

Nike make their first major moves of the new year, backing up the release of the next generation PhantomVSN II with the rest of the roster. All decked out in a combination of red and black with silver accents to complete the ‘Future Lab’ pack, it drops as the first on-pitch collection from the Swoosh for 2020.

There’s no doubting that the main talking point surrounding Nike’s ‘Future Lab’ pack will be the shiny and new PhantomVSN II, the brand’s first next-gen silo of the decade, but it also features a strong supporting cast as the PhantomVNM, Mercurial and Tiempo are all unveiled in the ‘Future Lab’ colourings to arrive as Nike's first full on-pitch refresh since the summer.

The Mercurial Superfly and corresponding Vapor adopts a strong "Laser Crimson" base, while the outline of the Swoosh comes in black. A slight change up in aesthetic is present as there’s no sign of the now-familiar 'Mercurial' print on the lower heel area. Instead it’s been replaced by a gradient design along with a silver Mercurial stamp of approval. Red Mercurial? They'll sell themselves these puppies.

The PhantomVNM takes on some strong CTR-vibes, with the red wrapping around the heel and stretching up the lateral side, upon which is a shimmering Swoosh. The black then covers the forefoot, stretching down the medial side, while the silver of the Swoosh is then carried onto the soleplate, with red stud tips completing the look.

While Nike have dropped in numerous releases since the 19/20 season kicked off, they've separated them in Phantom drops, and individual Mercurial and Tiempo releases. Meaning this collection brings every silo back in line for a strong on-pitch look heading into a busy part of the season.

Finally there’s the Tiempo Legend VIII, which features the biggest point of difference in the pack, with a block white wrapping around the heel, as has been seen before, most recently with the “Black/White/Volt” colour-up. But as with the rest of the pack, it’s combined with red, which dominates the forefoot. You can expect to see all of Nike’s contracted players switching into the ‘Future Lab’ pack this weekend.