All-New Adidas Copa, Nike Phantom Venom & Nitrocharge - Did Adidas and Nike Copy Bikkembergs Football Boots?

Sep 12, 2018

by Chris

Both Adidas and Nike will launch all-new football boots for 2019 - the Adidas Copa 19 and the Nike Phantom VNM. Both boots seem to be all-new at first glance, but they share a lot of features with previous boots. Some of those elements are remarkably similar to the cleats of Bikkembergs, a brand many of you may did not know until today.

Bikkembergs football boots were first launched in 2006 by Belgian designer and football enthusiast Dirk Bikkembergs. Bikkembergs football boots were worn by former FC Barcelona striker Ludovic Guily in 2006. The brand released three different football boot silos in total, with the last being launched in 2010.

Big thanks to Botas de Jugadores for the hint and Footy Boots for some info.

Bikkembergs Capitano (2010) x Adidas Nitrocharge (2014)

Bikkembergs' third and until today last-ever football boot was released in 2010. Called the Capitano, the new Bikkembergs football boot from 2010 were marketed as the ‘Ultimate merger of passion and performance’. The most remarkable feature was the rubber strip that runs across the top and sides of the upper (designed to invoke a Captain’s Armband), which should feature in a similar fashion on the Adidas Nitrocharge just a few years later.

Bikkembergs Bix (2006) x Adidas Copa 19 (2018)

Bikkembergs' first-ever football boot was dubbed the Bikkembergs Bix. The cleat featured no ‘deluxe’ elements (back to basics, no futuristic forms or hi-tech materials, just kangaroo skin and exquisite handiwork). The distinctive circles of the upper are very similar to the all-new Adidas Copa 19+ and 19.1 soccer boots...

Bikkembergs Capitano (2010) x Nike Phantom Venom (2019)

In 2019, Nike will release an all-new football boot silo, the Nike Phantom VNM. The Nike Phantom Venom obviously takes elements from the Nike Total 90 Laser III cleat while also drawing inspiration from the Nike Hypervenom.

However, the cleats come with one important feature that had been used for the Bikkembergs Capitano. The 'Captain Armband' rubber stripe that, according to the press release eight years ago, "enhances ball control on the ‘laces’ and instep of the boot, and partially covers the bottom of the lacing area and tongue for a larger striking surface."