The Tiempo Mystic IV turf is the only traditionally styled, natural leather shoe on offer from Nike, besides the lower-end Tiempo Natural IV. The top end Legend IV, which is not available in turf, is a fantastic shoe, using premium kangaroo leather, as well as premium synthetics. While the Mystic IV is three tiers from that top end model, but the feel is still pretty good, especially considering the Mystic IV costs about half as much as the Legend IV. Out of the box, the natural, full-grain leather upper feels pretty soft, but not without need for some break-in time. The central lacing system allows for a very secure fit when you pull the laces tight, and strip of foam running through the center of the tongue eliminates any chance of lace-bite. Unfortunately, the insole is non-removable, but there is still plenty of cushioning from the EVA foam sole, giving the shoe a very cushioned feel.
As far as sizing is concerned, the Mystic IV in turf seems to fit a little funny. The sizing dilemma is all due to the strip of suede that wraps the forefoot and toe box area. The suede strip is much stiffer than the leather, and does not stretch at all, so the toe box does not have the ability to expand. I wore my usual size 9US for review, and I felt like the toe box was a little cramped. I generally wear my shoes very tight, especially leather shoes, allowing them to stretch to a perfect fit, but this particular shoe just doesn’t seem to stretch, so I would definitely recommend going up half a size if you’re looking to order a pair. As far as the width of the shoe is concerned, the Mystic IV fits moderately wide all the way through. The one thing to take note of is that the shoe is not going to stretch much. Given that you do not have overly wide feet, you shouldn’t have any issues with the fit of the Mystics.
Weight
The Tiempo Mystic IV Turf weighs in at a very average 10.6oz. When it comes to turf soccer shoes, it is very difficult to keep the weight down, simply because of the full rubber sole, as well as the extra material that needs to go into the shoe in order to ensure that the shoe is going to last. The weight of your shoes should never be your main concern, but when it comes to turf soccer shoes, you just aren’t going to find anything that could be considered “lightweight”.
Traction
The turf sole on the Mystic IV is pretty straight forward, featuring little, conical nubs of varying sizes all throughout the sole of the shoe. When it comes to turf stud patterns, it is very difficult to differentiate them in terms of the amount of traction that they will provide, simply because they all tend to feel about the same. The only real difference from one turf sole to another is the length of the nubs, and I would say that the Mystic IV Turf features a moderately aggressive turf sole. For use on artificial surfaces, you should have no issues with traction whatsoever. It is also very common for many people to buy a pair of turf shoes for use on turf, as well as indoor surfaces, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend doing so with the turf version of the Mystic IV. If you are going to be playing mainly on an indoor court surface, I would recommend going for the indoor version of the Mystic IV.
Touch
Like I said earlier, the Mystic IV is the only traditionally styled, leather soccer shoe from Nike. The natural, full-grain leather spans the entire forefoot and toe box area of the boot, with the mid-foot of the shoe being synthetic leather. The leather is on the thinner side, but still remains nice and soft, making for a nice feel on the ball. The only complaint that I have regarding the touch on the shoe has to be the tongue, which feels just a little bit bulky in my opinion. Otherwise, the touch on the ball is surprisingly good. The synthetic leather through the mid-foot of the shoe does not feel cheap at all, and for what the shoe costs, the touch on the ball is surprisingly good.
Shooting
Striking the ball in the Mystic IV is not going to surprise anybody. The simple design makes for a very clean striking surface, and the extra padding through the tongue makes for a more cushioned feel overall. If you’re looking for a more traditional feel when striking the ball, you should feel right at home with the Mystic IV.
Durability
Turf is a playing surface that can really destroy your soccer shoes, which is why you see so many extra “durability” elements on a turf soccer shoe. The Mystic IV features a suede wrapped toe, which essentially makes the front of the shoes indestructible. There is also an enlarged rubber lip at the toe box, as well as the entire toe box area of the shoe being stitched to the sole of the boot. If you’re worried about the sole separating from the upper, than don’t, because you should not have any issues at all. The shoe is also not going to stretch very much at all, making for a shoe that is going to have a quality fit, even after months of use. One thing to keep in mind is that the shoe does feature a natural leather upper, so some maintenance is required if you want to keep your shoes in optimal condition. If you’re looking for a pair of turf shoes to last, you should have no issues getting plenty of wear out of a pair of Mystic IVs.
The Verdict
The Nike Tiempo Mystic IV Turf is a very nice leather turf shoe, especially if you aren’t on a large budget. The leather is soft, the fit is pretty good, and the EVA foam sole provides a nice amount of cushioning when running. If you’re a fan of the Tiempo line of shoes, and would like something similar for use on turf, than the Mystic IV in Turf is a great option for you.
| Comfort/Fit | 8 out of 10 |
| Weight | 8 out of 10 |
| Traction | 8 out of 10 |
| Touch | 8 out of 10 |
| Shooting | 8 out of 10 |
| Durability | 9 out of 10 |
| FINAL SCORE | 49 out of 60 or 82% |
