As teams start to gear up for preseason, Nike presents the latest version of its ‘Shadow pack’, providing understated blackout versions of the Air Zoom Mercurial Vapor XVI, Superfly X and Tiempo Legend X alongside the already released Phantom GX II and Luna II.
Arriving in stark contrast to the bright hues of the ‘Mad Brilliance’ pack, the brand’s current on-pitch pack, Nike release an update for the ‘Shadow Pack’. The blackout set sees the Phantom GX II and Phantom Luna II – which we’ve seen blacked out before – joined by the Tiempo Legend X and the newly released Air Zoom Mercurial Vapor XVI and Superfly X, as they all go down the zero-flamboyancy route of being drained of all colour.
We say drained of all colour, but there is actually the slightest hint of colour, with a “Deep Jungle” green outlining the branding across all the models in the pack. It’s incredibly subtle, but it’s there. Aside from that, it’s total darkness, leaving the silhouettes looking suitably seductive.
The main attention really should be on the new Air Zoom Mercurial, which is offered up in a blackout look for the first time since its launch as part of the ‘Blueprint’ pack. In the same way as that release the “AIR” branding shifts to the heel, with that huge Swoosh left to ride down to the forefoot.
The Tiempo Legend X takes on a look that is far more in keeping with its roots, and that embossed forefoot area looks all the more sumptuous in the sleek blackness in which it is presented in here.
Finally, we’ve already seen the Phantom twins in a similar look to this, but where the January release featured blue accents, here its that “Deep Jungle” green, most prominent in the Cyclone 360 tech on the underside. As with the Tiempo, the Gripknit upper arguably looks even better in black.
Shop the Nike 'Shadow Pack' at prodirectsport.com/soccer
