New women’s football boots – a big step forward or a marketing ploy?

W ith just five weeks to go before the Women’s World Cup kicks off, Nike has launched its new Phantom Luna boot, described as the “most innovative and researched women’s-led boot” in the company’s history. Its release has garnered the spotlight with conversation returning to the importance of having equipment for women designed around them and whether major corporations are doing enough.

Until relatively recently, this seemingly common-sense concept has largely been ignored by manufacturers. Women’s bodies are built differently but female athletes at all levels have been expected to perform in kit built for men. This has, at best, caused mild discomfort and, at worse, increased susceptibility to injury.

The need for something specific for women has never been more prevalent. At one point this season, 25% of the 2022 Ballon d’Or nominees were sidelined with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, which are so serious they can take away at least 10 months of a player’s career. Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema were among the high-profile players who were struck by the curse. Research released by Dr Katrine Okholm Kryger of St Mary’s University, Twickenham, last year revealed how the use of unsuitable football kit could increase instances of injury. In terms of a boot, a woman’s foot differs in shape and size to men’s, while a lighter bodyweight affects the length of studs required.

In the past, boots have tended to be marketed towards women without being truly designed for them. One of the first companies to tackle this was Ida Sports. Its co-founder Laura Youngson had experienced pain while wearing children’s boots in order to play, and came up with the idea in the process of helping to break a