INSIDE THE LAB: Licensed Football Gear Explained: DC Comics, Nickelodeon, and Kool-Aid Collabs
Phenom Elite produces officially licensed football gear under partnerships with DC Comics, Nickelodeon (SpongeBob and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), and Kool-Aid. Each line includes football cleats, gloves, mouthguards, and back plates engineered to actual on-field performance specs. Below: what's currently available, what each line includes, and why licensed gear matters for youth athletes.
What "officially licensed" actually means in football gear
Most character-themed athletic gear in retail is fan apparel — a brand puts a logo on a generic shoe and ships it. Officially licensed football gear from Phenom Elite means the opposite: a performance cleat or glove built on the same platform our non-licensed gear uses (Quantum Speed 2.0, Vapor-Stick), then designed in collaboration with the IP holder's creative team to use the actual character art, colors, and design language.
The licensing partner approves every product. The performance specs don't get watered down to fit the design. That's the whole pitch.
DC Comics: Joker, Batman, Superman, The Flash
The Phenom Elite x DC Comics line is our longest-running licensed partnership. Currently active products:
- Cleats: Classic Joker Quantum Speed Cleats (purple), Batman Quantum Speed Cleats (black), Superman Quantum Speed Cleats (royal blue), The Flash Quantum Speed Cleats (red/yellow).
- Gloves: Classic Joker VPS5 Gloves, Batman VPS5 Gloves, Flash VPS5 Gloves, Superman VPS1 Gloves.
- Mouthguards: Joker (Classic and Iconic), Batman, Superman, Flash — all on the Hexa-Flow platform.
The DC line skews toward youth and middle-school athletes. Joker is the strongest-performing single character across the line, with both cleats and gloves consistently turning in retail.
Nickelodeon: SpongeBob, Patrick, and TMNT
Our Nickelodeon partnership covers two flagship properties: SpongeBob SquarePants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The line is the strongest fit for younger athletes (ages 6–12) who want loud, character-forward gear that still performs.
SpongeBob SquarePants:
- SpongeBob Quantum Speed 2.0 Cleats — yellow base, Bikini Bottom design language
- SpongeBob VPS5 Gloves
- Patrick Star VPS5 Gloves — pink, currently outpacing SpongeBob in youth turn at retail
- SpongeBob Hexa-Flow Mouthguard
- SpongeBob Back Plate
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — Raphael:
- Raphael Quantum Speed 2.0 Cleats — kelly green
- Raphael VPS5 Gloves
- Raphael Hexa-Flow Mouthguard
The TMNT line launched in 2025 and the Raphael colorway anchored the rollout. Additional turtles (Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo) are on the development roadmap.
Kool-Aid: Cherry, Sharkleberry Fin, Great Bluedini, Mixed Berry
The Phenom Elite x Kool-Aid line is the loudest, most flavor-driven licensed lineup we make. Each colorway maps to an actual Kool-Aid flavor:
- Cherry — red cleats with white splatter detail and matching VPS4 gloves.
- Sharkleberry Fin — teal cleats with pink accents and matching VPS4 gloves.
- Great Bluedini — royal blue cleats and matching VPS4 gloves.
- Mixed Berry — Columbia blue cleats with red accents and matching VPS5 gloves.
Kool-Aid colorways tend to land hardest with athletes who want a colorway that visibly stands out at camps and 7-on-7. They also build well into matched setups where the cleat and glove use the same flavor identity.
Why licensed gear matters for youth athletes
Three reasons that show up in customer feedback and turn data:
- Identity. A youth athlete in Raphael cleats or Joker gloves is making a statement. That confidence translates to play.
- Camera presence. Loud, story-driven colorways make highlight footage and Hudl clips pop. Recruiters notice them. Parents share them.
- Trade-in friendliness. Licensed gear holds resale and hand-me-down value better than generic colorways because the design itself is the asset.
The performance is the floor; the licensing is the ceiling. Phenom Elite is one of the only football gear brands building both into the same product.
FAQ
What does "officially licensed" mean for football cleats and gloves?
Officially licensed gear is approved by the IP holder — in our case, DC Comics, Nickelodeon, and Kool-Aid. Every design is reviewed and signed off by the partner brand's creative team. Unlicensed character gear lacks this approval and often uses generic art or off-platform performance specs.
Are Phenom Elite licensed cleats sold at Dick's Sporting Goods, SCHEELS, or other retailers?
Yes. Select licensed colorways are carried at Dick's Sporting Goods, SCHEELS, and Dunham's Sports. Availability varies by store and season. The full licensed catalog is always live on phenomelitebrand.com.
What ages and sizes do licensed Phenom Elite cleats fit?
Cleats run from youth size 1 (roughly age 6–7) through adult size 14. Gloves run from Youth XS through Adult 3XL. Mouthguards are one-size.
Are licensed mouthguards different from regular mouthguards?
Same Hexa-Flow performance design, same protection rating — only the colorway changes. The licensed Hexa-Flow mouthguards run $24.99 vs. $19.99 for non-licensed colorways.
Browse the full licensed football gear catalog, or stay close to launches via the Phenom Elite drop list.