Nike Tiempo Legend V AG (Artificial Grass) Review
The Nike Tiempo Legend V AG brings the Tiempo line into the future. While the Legend 5 maintains a high quality kangaroo leather upper, offering a premium feel, pretty much everything else about the boot is different in comparison to past Legend models.
Comfort/Fit
The fit and overall shape is easily the most noticeable change coming from any of the previous Tiempo Legend models. Nike has implemented the X1.1 last base shape of the Legend 5, borrowed from the very popular Hypervenom Phantom. This gives the Legend 5 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 Legend 5 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 an hour and a half to two hours of wear-time until I started to feel truly comfortable in the Legend 5, which isn’t very long at all. Also keep in mind that I had no issues whatsoever with discomfort or blistering throughout the break-in process.
Once broken-in, the Legend 5 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 Legend 5.
Sizing is also one of the significant changes coming from past Legend models. The Legend has always been a boot that fit true to size, but the Legend 5 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.
When it comes to overall comfort, the high quality kangaroo leather upper is very soft and extremely flexible, giving the boot a very natural feel on feet. Obviously great comfort is expected from a kangaroo leather boot, but the Legend 5 is not a standard kangaroo leather soccer cleat. 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 very high quality, featuring Poron inserts in both the heel and forefoot. I’m also a big fan of the soleplate flexible soleplate, as it gives the boot a very natural feel when running.
Overall, the Tiempo Legend 5 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.
Weight
The weight of the FG Legend 5 is pretty impressive, weighing in at 8.8oz, where as the AG model weighs a little more, 10oz in a size 9.5US to be exact. The difference in weight is due to the soleplate and stud pattern. The soleplate is made from a slightly thicker plastic and there is more plastic and rubber used to make up Nike’s AG layout. In all honesty, the extra weight is not something that bothered me, or even all that noticeable, but is does serve its purpose when it comes to performance and durability, something that is extremely important for any AG soccer cleat.
Traction
The Legend 5 shares a lot of design elements with Nike’s own Hypervenom Phantom, something that is even more apparent with the AG stud variation. The Ag soleplate and stud pattern of the Legend 5 is identical to the AG stud pattern featured on the top-end Hypervenom Phantom, which is by no means a bad thing. This is my personal favorite AG layout currently on the market, and it suits the Legend 5 extremely well.
With artificial grass, or AG, becoming more and more common nowadays, the type of traction pattern that you use should change too. Just to clarify, AG is the playing surface featuring plastic blades of grass, with rubber pellets scattered throughout, hence the name “artificial grass”. Right now, it is not at all uncommon to see somebody wearing firm ground soccer shoes on artificial grass, but what nobody realizes is that there are so many negatives to doing this. Not only is it potentially dangerous, due to excessive amounts of grip that can be generated from an FG stud pattern on AG that could potentially lead to some pretty severe injuries, but artificial grass will also have a major impact on the durability of your soccer shoes. So much so, that many companies are no longer providing warranties to FG shoes that have been worn on AG. The main reason for the durability issues can be attributed to the abrasiveness of AG, and when using an FG stud pattern on AG you get too much grip, causing your shoes to literally be pushed to the breaking point, generally resulting in premature sole separation. An AG stud pattern is designed to provide the same type of grip on AG that an FG stud pattern would provide on natural grass.
The difference is mainly in the layout of the studs, as they cover pretty much all areas of the forefoot and heel, allowing for plenty of traction no matter which way that you twist or turn, without feeling clingy.
The stud pattern features hollowed out, ring shaped studs. The tips of the studs are made from a firm, yet slightly flexible rubber material, allowing for each individual stud to have a small amount of flexibility to it, which is the main reason why you don’t get that dangerous cling when playing on AG. You’ll also notice that the studs themselves are just a little shorter than your average FG stud pattern, allowing for a more stable feel when playing on shallow artificial grass.
You get that multi-directional traction and sensation of grip that you would get from an FG stud pattern on grass, but without that clingy feel that can very unsafe and harmful to the boots. If you frequently play on artificial grass, I would strongly recommend investing is a pair of AF cleats. Not only is the performance and feel better, it’s also safer and will allow your shoes to last a lot longer.
Touch
One of the most significant changes that you can’t really see, but can definitely feel is the improved touch of the Legend 5. Nike has managed to more or less modify, and arguably “improve”, the already great upper material that is kangaroo leather. The leather on it’s own is great. Not only is the quality awesome, you also get plenty of it, as it spans the entire mid-foot, forefoot and toe box, giving the boot a very uniform touch across the entire foot.
ACC, All Condition Control, is also a present feature on the Legend 5, acting as somewhat of a wet control element for the boot. ACC is a secretive process that Nike has, which improves the performance of the boot in wet weather, mainly by providing slightly more grip on the ball. Its tough to determine whether or not its an actual feature or simply the placebo effect in action, since you can’t actually see ACC, but I personally can notice a difference between an ACC and non-ACC boot. With all of that being said, it’s a nice feature that I’m glad Nike includes, but it isn’t something that is going to make or break your overall experience with the Legend 5.
Another significant change to the Legend 5 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 Legend models, which is something that I really enjoyed about the Legend 5. Many, including myself, immediately made the observation that the shape of the Legend 5 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 Legend 5 is almost identical, which isn’t a bad thing in my opinion.
The Hypershield liner also deserves a mention when it comes to touch, simply because it does a great job of cutting down on some of the bulk that is sometimes present with traditionally styled leather boots. The Hypershield liner is thin and flexible, and does a good job of not restricting the flexibility of the leather or taking away from the natural, soft feel of the upper.
The Legend 5 is a very refined and well thought out kangaroo leather boot. It offers and ultra-soft, high-quality and uniform feel for the ball. What makes a full leather boot great is the consistency in feel that it provides, and you get just that from the Legend 5. If you’re a fan of that soft kangaroo leather touch, with no extra bulk or “touch modifiers”, than you’ll love the clean, natural feel of the Legend 5.
Shooting
Striking the ball in the Legend 5 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 kangaroo leather, than you’ll enjoy striking the ball in the Legend 5.
Protection
In comparison to most synthetic boots, the Legend 5 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 Legend 5.
Durability
The build quality of the Legend 5 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. You’ll find that the AG model features a rubberized, sand-paper like texturing wrapping the toe and forefoot area at the base of the soleplate, which helps to strengthen the boot and allow it to last as long as possible. 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 Legend 5 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 AG stud pattern is designed for use on artificial grass playing surfaces and nothing else. If you want to get the longest life out of your AG boots, stick to using them exclusively on artificial grass.
The Verdict
The Legend 5 is the first time we’ve seen Nike make some pretty significant changes and forward progress when it comes to technology and innovation with the Tiempo Legend series. The boot still maintains the high quality kangaroo leather upper and classic feel that we’ve come to expect from the Tiempo Legend series, but also introduces several new technologies and concepts that are not only interesting, but are actually effective when it comes to performance.
The new X1.1 last gives the Legend 5 a much more snug fit than the average traditionally styled boot, which will be more appealing to players who are used to the fit and feel of a synthetic boot, but are interested in trying something with a natural leather upper. The Hypershield liner is a very unique feature that not only feels good, but also solves, or at least improves upon a problem that has always existed with natural leather materials. It’s also nice to have the option of an AG stud pattern, especially one that performs as well as this one does.
The Legend 5 might not come across as a particular innovative or exciting boot at first glance, but trust me when I say that the experience is quite unique. If you’re looking for a very pure, no nonsense type of feel and playing experience, than I would strongly recommend the Tiempo Legend 5.
| Comfort/Fit | 10 out of 10 |
| Weight | 8 out of 10 |
| Traction | 10 out of 10 |
| Touch | 10 out of 10 |
| Shooting | 8 out of 10 |
| Protection | 8 out of 10 |
| Durability | 8 out of 10 |
| Overall | 62 out of 70 or 89% |
