When you throw the word “Legend” into the name you’ve got to ensure that the boot has longevity. It must be iconic, reliable and trusted. The Tiempo justifies its legendary status in the game, and as we move onto an eighth generation it further consolidates itself as one of Nike’s most heralded boot series.
From its inception to our recent introduction to the eighth incarnation of the boot, the Tiempo has always been the choice for players searching for that magic blend of incredible comfort, majestic feel for the ball, and a quality leather. All these attributes are merged together to create the Tiempo 8. So let’s see what it’s all about…
For the Tiempo 8, Nike have given us a look that is certainly a bit off the beaten Legend path. The upper’s diamond pattern caused a stir upon release and the retention of kangaroo leather had the traditionalists on board early doors. As did two stunningly simplistic colourways.
First Impressions
Once you actually get the boots in your hands, you find that the diamond design that dominates the upper has very little actual depth. If you’re looking for some type of control or shooting element, you won’t find it here. This appears to be a cosmetic choice. It looks far more cushioned than it actually feels, and even with the diamonds, your first experience with the boot shows that the kangaroo leather isn’t very thick. There's no quilted feel that you might expect to experience when you first take them out of the box.
The thin nature is surprising given how much the design stands out on first glance, but impressive given how much Nike has altered it visually.
The first two colorways are gorgeous. A whiteout for purists and a “Black/Blue Hero” number that will be the first on-pitch drop of the 19/20 season.
On Feet
Slipping on the Tiempo 8 is a lesson in how Nike is killing it in using their newest pieces of tech. The FlyKnit tunnel in the midfoot and Quadfit have you feeling like these boots are made for you before you even get them completely laced up. People have been begging for the opportunity to custom fit their boots, and Quadfit might be the closest you can get without a foot mold.
Once you’re running, it all combines to give a great feel at pace or slipping into space to receive a pass. We were hoping that dribbling would showcase the thin kangaroo leather at peak Tiempo level, but we did notice that Nike might have thrown one too many ingredients into the pan with this. The FlyKnit, Quadfit, and leather are all fantastic on their own, but together… you’re dealing with two materials sitting between you and the kangaroo leather that is supposed to dominate the feel for a Tiempo.
It’s odd to describe, because we never felt that our touch was truly hindered or that you get anything less than a quality feel on the ball. The best we can do is say that it’s not the feel we anticipated from a kangaroo leather boot… especially a Tiempo. As the leather softens with each moment you’re playing, you still get the same feel that you got out of the box because of how the interior of the boot is built instead of that ever-improving sensation as the leather melts to mould around your foot.
Once again, because it bears repeating, the feel and quality on the ball is what you’d want from a boot at this price point and from a name like Nike. It just isn’t what we tend to gush over when it comes to a boot of this style. Add in that by putting this stuff between you and the leather, you start to wonder what the Tiempo offers that we haven’t enjoyed with the PhantomVSN.
Balls Out
Passing and shooting are extremely clean, and, for those that worried, both are completely unaffected by the design on the upper. You get that slight bit of padding you want from a leather build that lets you take the sting out of a rushed pass or a stray stud, which plays into Nike’s slight leaning of this boot towards defenders. The defender angle was one that we found a bit surprising since shooting is one of the best qualities for this version of the boot. The FlyKnit tunnel and leather combine for that perfect warm pressure you want when trying to put your foot straight through the back of the ball or bringing a ball out of the air.
The one benefit of all these materials attempting to blend is that this might be the perfect boot for anyone hunting for a top-tier option that can offer a high level of protection. Where most boots allow you to experience the pain from every opposition stud that scrapes by your foot, the newest Tiempo's battle proof.
Soleplate
If we’re going to talk about the soleplate, then we need to have a talk about VAR. For VAR to work, we need to know that it is doing its job without us feeling like it is impeding the game. Your soleplate is the same way: you need the confidence of knowing the soleplate is working, but you should be able to get through 90 minutes without feeling like it’s having any type of negative effect on your play… for the Tiempo, it absolutely fits that bill.
A mix of conical studs, chevrons, and blades combine to give you the great quality underfoot. The chevrons near the forefoot help you dig in quickly when trying to sprint, the conical studs provide that consistent traction that Tiempo has always offered, and the blades in the heel make sure you never feel like you’re not firmly planted before you smash through a shot on the half-volley.
Comfort
If a Legend can’t bring elite comfort, is it even deserving of the name? Luckily, the VIII still meets the standard of comfort that the Tiempo has been offering for years, but through materials that are completely foreign to Tiempos of the past. The Quadfit system and FlyKnit combine to give you a snug fit straight out of the box. It’s amazing that Nike doesn’t think their Quadfit would be the perfect entry route to a laceless boot, but we’re not too angry with laces still being a part of the Swoosh’s equation.
Break-in is non-existent, and the Quadfit system means that the overstretching fear that usually accompanies leather without proper stitching is not a worry. Nike has also made sure that the right level of heel padding is there to avoid hot spots, keep your ankle locked low in the boot, and add to the comfort. We might not love all three upper materials combining in terms of time on the ball, but they hit all the right notes for making your feet sing. It feels noticeably sleeker than previous Tiempo designs, and a tad lighter too.
Bringing it all together on top of a soleplate that is flexible enough to keep you from feeling like you’re attached to a brick, but rigid enough to make sure the boot is still fairly responsive. It’s an identical plate to the Tiempo VII, so it’s easy to see that Nike did choose one portion of the boot to fall under the old "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it" adage.
Summary
For a boot with such a history, it’s always going to be tough to meet the bar that your own product has set in the past. It’s also interesting to see Nike try and steer their marketing towards making the Tiempo a welcome home for defenders. In a move to try and make so many changes to the one boot on their roster that’s so dependent on classic stylings, we feel this one leaves us wanting just a little bit more.
The Tiempo 8 is a great boot that has nearly every aspect of current Nike tech on display. The FlyKnit to offer that top-tier fit, the Quadfit to try and craft fantastic out-of-the-box comfort, and a soft kangaroo leather that the Tiempo silo demands.
The kangaroo leather on the boot is very soft and thin enough to keep the boot from feeling bulky, but a layer of Quadfit and the Flyknit tunnel on the newest Tiempo keeps you from being able to completely enjoy the upper and get in the feel that we long to experience from a Legend. Long standing fans of the silo will still be pleased, but if you’re looking to switch from a speed boot like the Mercurial then it will take some getting used to.
Pick up the Nike Tiempo Legend 8 football boots at prodirectsoccer.com
