Nike Tiempo Legend IV ACC Review

Arguably Nike’s most reputable boot series, the “Legend” is known to deliver exceptional comfort and solid, all-around performance for those no-nonsense players.  As we have seen through the evolution of the initial Air Legend I release to the latest Tiempo Legend IV, not a whole lot has changed – for the simple reason that this formula works! A super-soft kangaroo leather upper accompanied by an excellent fit, allows the player to match up to his/her maximum potential, without any gimmicky technology between their foot and the ball.
by Ricky Patel

Sizing

I wore my normal size 9 US with this boot and the fit is fantastic. If you are interested in purchasing the Tiempo Legend IV, I highly recommend getting your normal size; the initial fit is quite tight, but after a few uses the k-leather upper softens and molds nicely to the shape of your foot.

Comfort

This is the most important aspect when choosing your next footy boots – and with the Tiempo Legend IV, that is exactly what you get!  As I mentioned in the “Sizing” section, the fit right out of the box can be quite stressful on your feet.  Nike had a purpose for this – so the soft k-leather upper would stretch perfectly and mold to the shape of your foot.  So if you are finding that the initial fit is extremely tight, do not worry as you will need a solid 3-4 uses to get the leather loosened up and stretched out.  After the break in period (about 5 uses/5 hours), these are easily one of the most comfortable boots you are likely to wear.  The heel is lined with a suede material, which hugs your foot like a pillow.  The soleplate is thick enough to avoid any stud pressure on firm ground or artificial/turf surfaces (for the FG stud pattern) – with the exception of hard ground, you might find some slight discomfort on these sorts of fields.  The front half of the boot is kangaroo leather, which is soft and hugs your forefoot very well, and the back half is made up of Nike’s KangaLite material, which their “synthetic kangaroo leather” where it is supposed to mimic the qualities of leather, but retain less water and be more durable.  The kangalite portion feels sturdy in the mid-foot and allows for great arch support and protection.

Durability

There is always the fear of durability issues with a predominantly leather upper, but the Tiempo Legend IV is honestly an extremely well-built boot.  If you use these on its intended grounds (firm ground on natural surfaces, etc, etc.) you should have no problem with these lasting a season, maybe even two depending on how well you maintain them.  Wearing these on artificial grounds is a huge toss up, as the turf pellets can easily find their way into the spaces where the upper meets the soleplate – however, after about 10 uses with them on turf, they have still held up quite well – but I think I just got lucky!

Performance

The Legend series is known for its use of no technology and just using a plain surface so the players can have maximum exposure between his/her foot and the ball.  Typically, these are categorized for those no-nonsense players, and to an extent, I agree with that claim – because there are no useless gimmicks anywhere on the boot, but rather just a clean surface to play.  The soft, padded k-leather upper offers an exceptional touch on the ball as well as clean striking surface.  The kangalite in the mid-foot holds up very well when making sharp turns and playing passes with your instep.  At 9.4oz, these are not too heavy to the point where it feels like they are weighing you down, but not super light where you feel instability and your feet feel vulnerable.  In my opinion, they are actually in that perfect weight range (7.5-9.5oz).  The mix of conical and, sort of, semi-bladed studs allow for optimal traction.

Negatives

There really are no negatives to the latest release of the Legend series, the Nike Tiempo Legend IV.  If I had one thing to complain on, it would be the break in period.  The fit out of the box is slightly painful and it is extremely tight – almost to the point where it feels I needed to get a half size bigger.  But in the end, it was worth the slight pain, as the fit after break in was inch perfect!

ACC

It's honestly hard to tell any difference between the ACC and non-ACC Tiempos. The difference may be subtle to notice, but I'd like to think it helps!

Treatment

I highly recommend you invest in some leather food, not just for Tiempo Legend IV, but for any leather upper boots.  These are amazing when it comes to prolonging the life of your upper.  I apply it every 4-5 uses just to maintain the softness and strength of the leather.  Recommended brand: Chelsea Leather Food – can be found at soccer.com for around $10, and each tub will last you quite some time.

Conclusion

This has now become my all-time favorite boot.  Its performance is suitable for any player who wants to take his/her game seriously, and the comfort after break-in is second to none.

Comfort: 9/10

Durability: 9/10

Performance: 9/10

Value: 9/10

Overall: 9/10