Nike Tiempo Legacy FG Review
The Nike Tiempo Legacy is the first takedown model in the latest evolution of Nike’s Tiempo line. In comparison to the top-end Legend 5, there are a surprising amount of similarities, not only making the Legacy a great quality boot, but also a great value.
Comfort/Fit
The fit and overall shape is easily the most noticeable change coming from any of the previous Tiempo models, as it features the x1.1 last, borrowed from the very popular Hypervenom Phantom. This gives the Legacy quite a unique fit in comparison to any other traditionally styled leather boot currently on the market. The X1.1 last is all about having a more natural fit, where the boot is slightly wider in the forefoot and slightly narrower in the toe box.
From right out of the box, it is very apparent that the Legacy needs some break-in time. That’s not to say that the boot is uncomfortable from brand new, but instead the fit is just slightly more snug, allowing the leather to stretch and form to the exact shape of your foot. I found that it took about two hours of wear-time until I started to feel truly comfortable in the Legacy, which isn’t too bad. Also keep in mind that I had no issues whatsoever with discomfort or blistering throughout the break-in process.
Once broken-in, the Legacy is suitable for a wide variety of foot types, as long as you don’t mind having a slightly tighter fit in the toe box. I have average width feet and am also slightly flat footed, and found that I was able to achieve a very comfortable fit. Like I mentioned earlier, the X1.1 last is all about providing a tighter, closer to the foot feel, that requires the leather upper to stretch to the exact shape of your foot. As long as you don’t have excessively wide feet, you shouldn’t have any issues wearing the Legacy.
Sizing is also one of the significant changes coming from past Tiempo models. The Tiempos have always fit true to size, but the Legacy, as well as the rest of the latest Tiempos, fits half a size small. Instead of wearing my usual size 9US, I needed to go half a size up to a 9.5US for the proper fit. The change in sizing is most likely due to the new shape of the boot, but trust me when I say that this boot runs half a size small, just like the Nike Premier. The leather will stretch width-wise, but the length of the boot is half a size small.
As far as comfort is concerned, once broken-in, the calfskin leather upper feels great. Its soft, flexible and allows for a truly custom fit once they’ve stretched. In comparison to the Kangaroo leather upper featured on the top-end Legend 5, there is a noticeable difference in quality, but not so much so where the Legacy feels like a takedown model. The quality of the leather upper on the Legacy is great, and holds its own with most high-end leather models currently on the market.
The Legacy, just like the legend 5, features Nike’s all-new Hypershield liner, which is essentially a thin, honeycomb mesh, similar to what you’ll find as the base layer for Nike’s NikeSkin synthetic. Not only does the Hypershield liner make for a very soft and comfortable fit on feet, it also makes for minimal extra bulk, does not take away from the ball feel and also allows the leather the dry more quickly!
Other comfort elements include a synthetic leather tongue, with a memory foam insert running through the middle. The heel is lined in padded synthetic leather, which is not only comfortable, but also does a good job of keeping your heel locked in place. The insole is fully removable and made from a high-quality foam that feels great. I’m also a big fan of the flexible soleplate, as it gives the boot a very natural feel when running.
Overall, the Tiempo Legacy offers the premium feel that you would expect from a “heritage” boot, but doesn’t lack the modern innovation that you expect from a boot in 2014. It’s a great blend classic feel and modern innovation that just works extremely well. It’s a takedown that doesn’t feel like a takedown.
Weight
Since the Tiempo Legacy shares so many of the same features and elements as the Legend 5, it shouldn’t be much a surprise that the weight of the boot is virtually the same as the top-end model. Weighing in at a very impressive 8.8oz, the Legacy is one of those boots that will provide a high-quality, traditional leather feel for the ball, without weighing you down. If you’ve always been hesitant to go for a more traditionally styled boot because of weight, than the Legacy might be a great option for you.
Traction
The latest Tiempo line introduces some minor tweaks to the classic Tiempo stud pattern. The core of the stud pattern remains the same. You’ll find four bladed studs under the heel, and four conical studs on both the lateral and medial sides of the forefoot. What has changed are the two bladed, support studs running through the middle of the forefoot, which are now positioned at a slightly different angle, change that has no noticeable impact on performance.
The biggest change in the stud pattern is the introduction of one small, Mercurial-esque bladed stud right at the tip of the toe. While the stud is very small, I found that it does make a noticeable difference when it comes to the amount of grip you get when pushing off for a sprint.
Nike has also made changes to the soleplate that have an impact on the overall traction. The soleplate is still made from a relatively thin, and very flexible TPU, which allows the soleplate to move very naturally with the bend of your foot. Nike implemented a small slit through the middle of the forefoot, inspired by the Nike Free, designed to allow for better flexibility. In all honesty, the slit is so small, I don’t think that it makes the soleplate any more flexible than it already is, but I do think it’s a good idea.
Nike has also implemented the same split toe design found the Hypervenom Phantom. Essentially the split toe design is supposed to allow the toe box area of the soleplate to move more naturally with the bend of your foot, but in all honesty, I did not notice any difference in feel whatsoever. It certainly doesn’t hurt the performance, just don’t expect too much from this fairly gimmicky feature.
In terms of overall performance, the Legacy offers a good blend of grip, maneuverability and stability. The studs themselves are slightly longer than average in comparison to other conical stud patterns, so on a high quality, natural grass, firm ground playing surface, the traction is great. There is plenty of grip when pushing off in nearly every direction, and since the soleplate is so flexible, no matter which way you twist or turn, you’ll have as many studs as possible under your feet at all times.
The new Tiempo stud pattern is ideal for somebody looking for a good blend of everything when it comes to traction. You get a lot of the grip that you might expect from a bladed stud pattern, but at the same time, you’re still free to pivot and maneuver in any direction when planted, with very little restriction.
Touch
When it comes to touch, both the Legend 5 and the Legacy are fairly unique. Not only do you get a high-quality leather upper, but also the all-new Hypershield liner, which has a bigger impact on the feel of the boot than you might expect.
The Hypershield liner does a great job of cutting down on extra bulk that would normally be present with traditionally styled leather boots. The Hypershield liner is thin and flexible, and doesn’t take away from any of the natural softness of the leather upper, providing a very pure feel for the ball.
Another significant change to the Tiempo line is the new layout of the upper. The lacing system is still central, but is now slightly shallower, leaving the forefoot and toe box area free and clear of any laces or extra bulk. This makes for a much more natural, less bulky feel in comparison to past Tiempo models, which is something that I really enjoyed about the Legacy. Many, including myself, immediately made the observation that the shape of the new Tiempo isn’t necessarily “all-new”. For those that can remember back, or perhaps even had a pair of the Nike Tiempo Ronaldinho Dois, the overall shape and appearance of the latest Tiempo is almost identical, which isn’t a bad thing in my opinion.
While the calfskin leather isn’t quite as soft as what you’ll get from the Legend, what you do get, especially for the price, is still what I would consider to be premium. The soft leather upper in combination with the non-restrictive Hypershield liner makes for a touch on the ball that is undeniably satisfying.
Shooting
Striking the ball in the Legacy is nothing that you wouldn’t expect. The soft leather upper and memory foam padded tongue provides a nice cushioned feel when striking the ball. There is no additional grip anywhere on the upper, and for the most part, what you see is what you get. The soleplate provides plenty of rigidity through the mid-foot, giving the boot a nice solid feel when striking through the ball, while the bladed studs under the heel offer plenty of stability when planting for a strike. If you’re a fan of the very natural feel of leather, than you’ll enjoy striking the ball in the Legacy.
Protection
In comparison to most synthetic boots, the Legacy is going to be a fair bit more protective. The natural padding of the leather upper provides some decent impact protection should you get stepped, absorbing some of the blow. The boot also features an internal plastic heel counter, which provides some decent protection against kicks to the back of the heel. Overall, if protection is a concern for you, than you’ll be happy with the Legacy.
Durability
The build quality of the Legacy is really solid. Everything is well put together and the quality of materials is great. The simple design definitely lends itself to being more durable in that very little can actually go wrong. I had no issues whatsoever throughout testing with the durability of the boot, and nothing jumps out at me as a potential concern. The Hypershield liner is also an interesting feature when it comes to durability, in that it definitely does allow the upper to dry more quickly. I would assume that this can only help with the longevity of the boot, but of course only time will tell.
Keep in mind that the Legacy is made from natural leather, so some maintenance is required in order to keep the upper in optimal condition. It is also worth mentioning that the FG version of the Legacy, or any FG model for that matter, is designed for use on firm, natural grass playing surfaces, and nothing else. Using any FG cleats on artificial grass/turf will surely have a major impact on the durability and longevity of your cleats. If you frequently play on artificial grass, the Legacy is available with an AG stud pattern.
The Verdict
The Legend 5 is perhaps the biggest change we’ve ever seen from Nike’s Tiempo line, and really got boot enthusiasts excited about what modifications could be done to a leather boot that would allow it to retain that classic feel, but at the same time maintain some modern innovation. The Tiempo Legacy benefits from this new design, in that it shares 90% of the elements from the Legend 5, but at much lower price.
For about $100 less, you’re swapping kangaroo leather for calfskin leather, getting a slightly different insole, and losing the ACC feature, but virtually everything else between the Legend 5 and Legacy is exactly the same. I must admit that the Legacy doesn’t have that same ultra-premium feel that you get from the Legend, but with that being said, what you do get is still amazing, especially for the price.
The soft, calfskin leather upper, Hypersield liner, lightweight construction, quality fit and awesome stud pattern are all highlights of the Legacy that make it an incredibly attractive option. In its price range, there aren’t many shoes, other than the Nike Premier, that can match the quality to price ratio that the Legacy has to offer. If you’re on the market for a great leather boot at a fair price, you absolutely cannot go wrong with the Tiempo Legacy.
| Comfort/Fit | 9 out of 10 |
| Weight | 9 out of 10 |
| Traction | 9 out of 10 |
| Touch | 9 out of 10 |
| Shooting | 8 out of 10 |
| Protection | 8 out of 10 |
| Durability | 8 out of 10 |
| FINAL SCORE | 60 out of 70 or 86% |
