At Nike the Phantom and the Tiempo run wider, while the Mercurial is deliberately narrow. There is no separate wide range, so the choice lies in the range and the tongue construction. The Phantom 6 is the widest option, and the Tiempo Maestro suits a wide midfoot and heel.
Selected with the same logic as the boot advisor, from the boots we rated.
The widest Nike last, with extra height in the toe box and a roomy heel. The knit upper stretches.
Classic leather model with a traditional tongue that is comfortable right away.
Soft leather that gives. Nike describes the fit as snug.
A U-shaped throat with a separate tongue, so the fit can be adjusted with the laces for both wider and narrower feet.
Wide in the midfoot and heel, with a low and pointed toe box.
Narrow speed last, slightly roomier than the previous generation, with a stiff collar that does not give.
The narrowest Nike last, with low volume and a low toe box. A speed boot for narrow feet.
Nike wide football boots are found mainly in the Phantom and the Tiempo. Nike has no separate wide range, but it does build different lasts: the Mercurial is deliberately narrow, the Phantom has a roomier fit and the Tiempo moulds to the foot. With Nike, fit therefore depends on the range and the tongue construction far more than on the tier.
Below you can read how Nike fits in width and length, which ranges are wide, normal or narrow, what the tiers mean and which size to take. The list at the top of the page shows every Nike boot we have rated for wide feet.
Nike itself describes the fit of most football boots as snug. The product pages for the Tiempo Legend 10 Academy and the Mercurial Vapor elite versions say you can order half a size up if you prefer a roomier fit. That is advice for a looser feel, not a fixed correction.
In practice the range differs a lot from line to line. The Phantom runs wider and the Mercurial narrower than the size number suggests. A size at Nike is also not necessarily the same as the same size at another brand, so compare by model and not by brand. How each line fits in terms of size is covered in how Nike football boots fit.
For extra wide feet there is no wide version at Nike. If you want a proper wide fit, read about extra wide football boots.
The verdicts come from manufacturer information, fit notes from retailers and the experiences of players.
The Nike Phantom 6 (Low and High) is the widest Nike. The toe box is higher and wider than on any Mercurial, the midfoot and heel are roomy and the knit tongue stretches. It needs no break-in time and runs about a quarter of a size long, so your normal size usually fits. Junior sizes consistently fit wider.
That also makes it the best Nike for a high instep and for flat feet. The heel of the Low is particularly roomy, which is too much for a narrow heel. The High version slims the heel slightly with its collar. The knit tongue offers little room for adjustment if you need a lot of instep adjustment.
The Tiempo is wide through the midfoot and heel, with a round, open heel, but the toe box is low and pointed. That counts against you if you have high or long toes.
The Nike Premier 3 is a classic with a traditional tongue and adjustable midfoot tension. It fits true to size and is comfortable from the first sessions. Nike is phasing out kangaroo leather, and the Premier is the model most affected by that. Whether your version still has kangaroo leather or already uses synthetic leather is shown on the product page at the retailer.
The Mercurial Vapor and Superfly are deliberately narrow, with low volume and a low, pointed toe box. In fit comparisons the Superfly comes out as the narrowest consistently. For wide feet you skip these, including the junior version.
For narrow feet they are a good choice instead, and the page on football boots for narrow feet goes into that. Nike suggests half a size up for a looser fit.
Nike uses four tiers: Elite (top), Pro, Academy and Club. The Tiempo also has the Ligera Pro with a separate tongue.
| Tier | What changes | Effect on fit |
|---|---|---|
| Elite | Top version with the most mouldable upper | Most close-fitting and mouldable |
| Pro | Same technology, less grip and a less mouldable upper | Almost the same shape, slightly less give (a Pro does not exist for every range) |
| Academy | Thicker synthetic upper, simpler soleplate, cheaper tongue and collar | A tighter feel, less give |
| Club | Entry-level version | Least mouldable |
No source confirms that all tiers share exactly the same last. We work on the assumption that a line shares one last, and we mark a lower tier slightly down for width and instep room if the upper is thicker. On the Tiempo Maestro, the Academy is less thin and soft than the Elite and has a heel cutout. For a child with wide feet, the Phantom Academy is an entry point: it fits wider in junior sizes.
If you are weighing up the tiers across brands, Elite, Pro, Academy and Club explained sets out what each one gives you.
Start with your normal size and then look at the range.
With a wide foot, choose a wider model instead of a bigger size, because a bigger boot causes heel slip. If you are stuck between two sizes, the between two sizes tool helps you decide.
The material decides how much a boot gives. The Phantom uses Flyknit or Gripknit in the Elite and NikeSkin in the Academy: knit wraps around the foot and stretches under force, but springs back. The Tiempo Maestro has TechLeather and the Academy FlyTouch, synthetic materials that hardly stretch.
The Mercurial has Atomknit, a thin material with little stretch. Kangaroo leather, which does give, is being phased out by Nike. So on a synthetic Nike, do not count on a boot that is too tight loosening up.
Not every model comes in every soleplate. The Phantom 6 Elite and Pro come in FG and AG, the Academy in MG, TF and indoor, and the Club in MG. The Tiempo Maestro Elite comes in FG and AG, the Ligera Pro in FG, TF and indoor, and the Premier 3 in FG, SG and TF.
For 3G and 4G pitches look for an AG, MG or TF version, and for sodden grass in winter an SG plate such as on the Premier 3. You will find more about surfaces on the page about wide football boots for artificial grass.
For a high instep the Phantom 6 is the logical choice, and the page on football boots for a high instep has the detail. For flat feet, sources name the Phantom 6 explicitly, and the Tiempo and Premier are wide through the midfoot and heel. The Mercurial is not suitable for either complaint. If you are unsure between two Nike lines, Mercurial, Phantom or Tiempo: fit compared puts them side by side.
If no Nike fits, these are the obvious alternatives.
If you hesitate between brands, use the football boot adviser, which takes your complaint, surface and budget into account.
The advice is the same on both sides of the Irish Sea. Sizes follow the UK scale, and the surfaces are the ones you meet at home: firm ground in summer, soft ground in the wet months and 3G or 4G pitches for training and five-a-side. Check the soleplate code before you buy, because the same model often comes in several versions.
The Phantom 6 is the widest. The Tiempo is wide through the midfoot and heel but has a low toe box. The Premier is normal to wide. The Mercurial is narrow.
Nike describes the fit as snug. The Phantom runs about a quarter of a size long, the Tiempo Maestro runs true to size and the Mercurial fits narrow. For a roomier fit, Nike suggests half a size up.
No. Nike has no separate wide range. The Phantom and the Tiempo are the broader lasts. A proper wide version is something you find at New Balance and Mizuno.
No. The Mercurial is deliberately narrow, with low volume and a low, pointed toe box. For wide feet choose a Phantom or a Tiempo.
The Phantom 6, with its high toe box and a knit tongue that stretches. The Tiempo Maestro has a low toe box and suits a high instep less well. Avoid laceless and narrow models.
They probably share the same last, but the upper is thicker and gives less. That is why an Academy often feels tighter. Always try it on.
The Phantom 6 junior fits consistently wider than other junior models. The Mercurial junior is the narrowest Nike, so avoid it.
Not automatically. Nike suggests half a size up if you want a looser fit, but a bigger boot mostly adds length. With wide feet it is better to choose a wider model.