Nike Tiempo Legend VII

Nike has truly built a name for itself in the boot world with the Tiempo line. The Tiempo Legend has been one of the most comfortable and reliable boot lines of the last decade. The latest release, the Legend VII has taken several leaps forward with its development of the line, and with technology integrated into the boot. The main technology that has made it way on to the Tiempo Legend VII is FlyKnit.

The first things many people want to know about a new boot are the all of the new tech specs that have been included on the new boot. The boot of course features ACC technology which is found on all of the high end Nike cleats. ACC helps the boot continue to give a premium touch on the ball no matter what the weather is like. FlyKnit has now made its way onto every single Nike high-end cleat. However, it is not necessarily just for a gimmicky marketing strategy. The FlyKnit wraps around the midfoot and heel area to create a 22% lighter boot than the Legend VI. The FlyKnit features FlyWire Cables inside of the knit to allow a more adjustable and locked in fit. The tongue is also FlyKnit, but made of the same soft and adjustable FlyKnit that we find on the Dynamic Fit Collars. Small raised sections on the tongue allow for a plush, cushioned sensation on the tongue. While playing and testing the Tiempo Legend, I did enjoy the FlyKnit implementation into the boot. The tongue allows for a more customized fit and made it easier to slip on the boot. The FlyKnit in the heel allowed for a lighter, more custom fit, and breathable material to have from the midfoot back. While playing four matches and several training sessions over the past two weeks of testing, I was able to truly get a feel for how the Legend VII performed and how well constructed the leather and FlyKnit were together as one. Speaking of leather, the soft and supple Leather upper is soft to the touch and gives a clean touch on the ball. Underneath, we find an improved “cage” called Fit-Mesh. The Fit-Mesh is designed to react like a Chinese Finger trap. Which, if you have ever had your finger stuck in one of those, it is tighter when more pressure is given or applied to it. I noticed that the Fit-Mesh felt like a new and improved version of the internal cage I tested last year on the Legend VII. The Legend VII is not only an improvement from the previous generation in terms of tech, but in touch and lock down while playing. The brand new HyperStability sole plate takes the place of the famous Tiempo plate that many professionals used to customize their own boots with. The HyperStability plate is designed to allow for easier multi-directional movement, and with that it shed nearly 60 grams of weight off of the previous plate.

Nike Tiempo Legend VII

On the inside of the boot, Nike have implemented a new insole that features Nike Grip technology. The Grip elements are within the insole and are supposed to work with your sock but of course will work better with Nike Grip Socks. But for most player, normally soccer socks are the socks of choice. To be honest, I did not really notice much of a difference in how much grip my insole had from some of my other boots. On the other hand, I did not have any issues with slipping and sliding around in the boot, but I felt like that was more because of the FlyKnit and Stability Pods in the heel. The pods are designed to provide a more comfortable heel area and to stabilize the ankle, and during my testing, I would say that was a nice addition to the boot.

As far as performance goes, this may have become my favorite Tiempo yet even in such a short amount of time. The leather is soft and comfortable straight out of the box. The way the FlyKnit tongue just simply slips on and molds to your foot’s specific shape is perfect for a leather shoe that will do the same after breaking in the boot. The Fit-Mesh allows the boot to mold to your foot will, while keeping you locked in and allows the cleat to still keep it’s shape, much like last year’s Tiempo but will last a lot longer than the VI. Two weeks of training and matches and the Legend is not showing any wear and tear. During my testing, I try and play for 60 minutes at least two/three times a day when I receive the boots. That does include wearing them around my house to break the Legend the first night. That way, I can have a realistic look at the boot with how it will perform in the long run. The leather softened up and molded to my foot better than the previous model while still staying in tact, which the Legend VI was known for after not too much use. The HyperStability soleplate has quickly become one of my favorite soleplates in short succession. The ability to have some flexibility under the toebox and stability in the midfoot and heel is a huge plus for me. One of the big selling points of the old Tiempo soleplate was the lack of stud pressure the plate gave off. The new plate gave this reviewer zero issues with pressure or discomfort from studs and for me, that is always a good sign.

Nike Tiempo Legend VII

Overall, what you are receiving with the brand new Legend VII is arguably the best Tiempo Legend yet. The only other Tiempo I liked nearly as much as the VII was the Legend V. But this boot offers more lockdown, more long-term stability, and so muc tech, it is hard to fathom how much has changed in just two generations. I personally would say this is the best Tiempo Legend VII to date. Don’t believe me? Just wait until it is on your feet.

 

Tags: , , , , ,