Tiempo Legend Vs Tiempo Legend Elite

The Nike Tiempo range launched Nike into the world footballing stage in the 1994 world cup final where 7 players alongside Romario and Maldini wore the Tiempo, plus a young Ronaldo on the bench. Since the final the Tiempo has become a staple in the boot bag of many amateur footballers due the soft leather upper and the simple colour ways, however the boot has never made a big splash into the professional game the same way the Adidas Predators did in 1994 or the Nike Mercurial range did in 1998.

This summer however Nike made a long overdue revamp to their heritage boot using tried and tested materials and technologies from their other silos to create the new Nike Tiempo IV. Initial reaction the boot seems successful with a number of elite players including Patrice Evra and Ashley Cole switching to the boot from other silos.
In the Elite and Pro model of the Tiempo Legend Nike have created two quality boots and a number of players including Raul Meireles (pictured) have chosen to wear the Pro level boot rather than the Elite level, but what are the major differences in two models:

Upper
Nike Tiempo Legend IV Elite – Nike have developed an upper that gives a great touch and buttery feel but maintaining a lightweight frame. They have accomplished this by using natural and unprocessed premium kangaroo leather at the front of the boot while utilising flywire technology which has been a success in the Superfly in the midfoot
Nike Tiempo Legend IV – Similarly the pro level boot incorporates two different materials in the upper, using a kangaroo leather at the front of the boot and Nike’s Kanga-lite synthetic material in the midfoot. The kangaroo leather used in the pro boot has been processed more and is not as soft, the kanga-lite material used in the midfoot is the same material used in the CTR 360 elite so if very soft but provides more water resistance and support than the K leather. Both boots also utilise memory foam under the tongue to provide a flat surface over the metatarsals for striking the ball.
Outsole
Nike Tiempo Legend IV Elite – The elite version utilises the much talked about carbon fibre which reduces the weight of the boot by up to 40g and also gives the athlete a greater return of energy.
Nike Tiempo Legend IV – In contrast the Pro level boot uses a slightly heavier TPU outsole that has been used of previous models of the Tiempo.
Verdict
The Nike Tiempo Legend IV Elite for me is a better boot, it has a softer leather in the forefoot and the flywire keeps you nice and secure in the boot while reducing weight. I also like the continuation of the carbon fibre outsole, which reduces weight and gives me a psychological edge knowing I’m wearing the best boot in that silo.
Having said that the Tiempo Legend IV is an excellent boot and I believe that the Pro Level Tiempo utilizes the best material in the upper out of all the Nike boots except obviously the elite version. The K Leather gives a great touch while the Kanga-Lite material is the same used in the CTR 360, a boot that has took the football market by storm creating a new “silo” that most brands are entering into. The boot itself is only a fraction heavier that the Elite version weighing in at 272g compared to the 266g of the elite. The boot is also a cheaper option and comes in a soft and firm ground option making it more viable for amateur players.


Verdict – Nike Tiempo Legend IV 
On paper the Legend IVs win, but how do they fare on the pitch? Stay tuned for the full regular and elite reviews in the coming weeks! 
- soccerreviews.com