Sizing
For testing, I stuck with my Size 11 with these boots. These boots stick pretty true to size. They stretch a bit since they are made of a Kangaroo Leather Upper. But it’s not a problem since the stretching gives you some more toe room up top for a comfortable experience. I suggest staying with your usual size if you’re going to pick up a pair of these boots.
Weight
These boots weigh in at 9.4oz. Although these may sound heavy to Speed Boot wearers, this is pretty lightweight for a heritage boot. Most heritage boots come in at a 10-11oz. weight range, so 9.4 oz is a fairly light heritage boot.
Comfort
With all leather boots you’re bound to have a very comfortable experience. But the Kangaroo Leather promises one of the most comfortable experiences I have ever had with a soccer cleat. The Kangaroo Leather molds right to your foot the minute you put them on. The Kangaroo Leather also offers a lot of protection too. When I got stepped on a few times, even by a Vapor 8 Back Stud (ouch), the Kangaroo Leather was thick enough to protect me from getting injured.
Breaking in
The Kangaroo Leather not only gives you pleasurable comfort but also offers a quick break in period. When I laced these boots up for the first time it took a few minutes to get used to the new feeling of a leather boot after wearing Vapors for a few years but after that they were ready to go. I first used these boots on turf to see how they held up. If you’re a fan of wearing FG boots on turf, then these are one of the best boots to wear.
Design
All the regular Tiempo colorways look great but when I saw the Euro 2012 Clash Edition, I knew these boots would look amazing with my team’s blue uniform. The Design is part of the reason I choose the Tiempos over the CTR360s. Don't get me wrong, I love the CTR360 design, but the colorway on the Tiempo was better than the CTR’s in person. But colorway is definitely not the most important detail of the boot, it’s the performance.
Performance/Technology
These boots do everything they're said to do. They provide a very comfortable experience during the game and I didn’t suffer any strains or pulls. The stud configuration gives great traction on all surfaces. As I said before, if you’re a player that wears FG boots on Artificial Ground (Turf), like myself, I would highly suggest getting a pair of Tiempos. The only problem that arose is the soleplate blackened due to the turf but a Magic Eraser did the job of cleaning it off. There isn’t a whole lot of technology in this boot, but if you’re a player that lives for technology in their soccer cleats then they do have an Elite version of the boot. The Elite version carries Flywire technology on the upper for increased touch. Maybe someday I will have the chance to do a comparison article on the Regular Version and the Elite version, but for now let us move on to the durability.
Durability
I have said so many good things about this boot already but the durability is another great thing about this boot. I faced no durability problems at all. It was a relief after going through two pairs of Mango Vapor 8s and having lots of durability problems. Next to performance, durability is one of the most important characteristics of a soccer boot in the world today. Usually players don’t have to worry about durability. However, since the big move towards lightweight boots, companies have started to make the materials thinner and lighter. Even though making the material of the upper thinner does lead to a lighter boot, it can also lead to a lot of durability problems like the ones seen on the Mango Vapor 8s. The Mango Vapor 8s had such a soft and thin upper that they ripped very easily. The Tiempo are equipped with a solid Kangaroo leather upper, which ensures optimal durability.
Negatives
I have had absolutely no drastic problems with the Tiempos. I haven’t had any durability issues at all and I have worn them in a lot of games and practice sessions. The boot is very comfortable and I highly recommend it.
Final Thoughts
The Nike Tiempo Legend IV boots have proven to be one of the best cleats I have ever used. They offer amazing comfort as soon as you put them on. They are very easy to break in due to their soft kangaroo leather upper. Weighing in at 9.4oz, these boots are very lightweight for a heritage type boot. I highly recommend getting a pair if you can and I promise you will be very pleased.
Overall Grade: 5/5
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