More of this, please

One of the more frustrating aspects of the modern market is that there has not been enough value for money boots. However, the past few years have seen the rise of brands like Sokito and the release of boots like the adidas Icon II. While Nike has often stood above its peers when it comes to the pro level model boots, the boots themselves still seemed like obvious takedowns. However, with the release of the Nike Tiempo Ligera Pro, Nike has created a boot that not only looks premium but feels premium as well. I would argue that the release of the Tiempo Ligera is a direct response to adidas releasing the Icon II, and it is Nike admitting that they needed something to compete. It is also appreciated that the boots are even cheaper than the Icon II, meaning that adidas will be forced to make a proper response if they want to stay competitive around this price point. But most of all, I appreciate just how good the Tiempo Ligera is.

Fit and Feel

It is always super promising when a boot is this soft out of the box. The Tech Leather upper on the Ligera feels plush and pliable from the get-go. Obviously, with the foldover tongue (and massive advertising) the Totti vibes are present. Aside from that, it is immediately clear that the Ligera is a more premium product than its price would suggest. While part of this is down to the Tech Leather, other parts of the boot reinforce this feeling.

For example, the neat stitching on the heel as well as the underside of the tongue are lovely touches that look and feel classy. The laces are really nice, which is a weird thing to mention, but I am sure there was a temptation to cheap out here. The heel is lined with a faux suede that is also found on the underside of the tongue.

Since I have now mentioned the heel, it is not bad. There is cushioning but it is not overly thick, and it feels comfortable around the back of the foot. However, it follows other current Nike models in the it is overly wide. I cannot for the life of me understand why Nike continues to do this and it is the major drawback to the Ligera. I personally am tempted to follow my buddy S2S Creations’ example and reshape the heel so it fits better.

Something else that is strange is that as Boot Wizard has pointed out, the other colourways of the Ligera have a taller heel that locks in the foot better. It is a bit of a weird choice that the other colourways vary that much from the launch colourway.

The overall lockdown is just ok, but I would argue that the boot is not really designed for that, so I do not mind too much. The other colourways also do not have a foldover tongue, which means that the opening around the foot is smaller and thus allows for better lockdown. But again, a ton of lockdown is not really the point of these boots, so I do not have too much of an issue with this, though I would like to see some extra lacesholes so I can do a runner’s knot.

What is an issue is how cheap the insole is. Again. It is not that expensive to make a good insole and yet time and time again the fact that Nike continues to fail at this relatively inexpensive and easy task is pretty telling. It is also frustrating because as premium as the rest of the boot feels, the insole seems like it was taken from a sub $50 boot. And no, making the “cushioning” look premium does not fool me in believing it is premium.

Going back to something much more positive, the Tech Leather upper, it is impressive how quickly the material breaks in, and there is just a slight amount of stretch to it. I found that within thirty minutes the boot felt that it was just about ready for anything, so well done Nike again.

In addition to this, the fact that the boots have a floating tongue also means that there is a ton of adjustability to the fit. Therefore, the Ligera feels like it will fit a variety of foot types with relative ease. In fact, I personally think that the Tiempo Ligera has the most adaptable fit of any Nike boot.

As for sizing, I went half size down from my normal Nike size which means I got a US 8/UK 7/EU 41/JP 26. The boots just about fit, but they are very snug, and because of this, I recommend that everyone go with their normal Nike size.

On the Ball

As is already becoming a theme with Tech Leather boots, the upper is super nice when doing anything with the ball. While I must repeat that I do not think it is better than modern kangaroo leather boots, I do think that it is better than some leather uppers on the market. There is a slight plushness to the upper that gives a lot of positive feedback when controlling the ball, especially when receiving a hard pass.

There is also a great feeling when hitting the ball hard and while obviously there is no pingy feeling, I personally prefer uppers like the one here on the Ligera. So, great marks all around from me here. I really enjoy how simple the upper is as I am sure there was a temptation to add something extra to upper. But sometimes simplicity is best, as seen here.

Obviously, dribbling holds no surprises either, but as many who read this blog will know, that is my preference. The overall upper package on offer is uncomplicated but focused with the touch on the ball. The only possible thing I would like to add is some texture on the bottom of the studs for rolling the ball around. However, that is personal preference.

Grip

The soleplate is also pretty simple, and I find it works well on multiple surfaces with few issues. Understandably, there are a multitude of soleplate options for the Ligera (even an HG outsole here in Japan), but the standard FG soleplate is functional enough that even on AG it performs well.

It helps that the studs are not particularly tall, but this does not mean I have experienced slipping on any surface I have worn the boots on. That being said, if you are on a softer firm ground, you might prefer a taller stud. Just something to be aware of.

Overall, I hope Nike continues to use the soleplate, and I personally think it matches the upper well and could even potentially be handy for other silos.

Nike Tiempo Maestro versus Nike Tiempo Ligera Comparison

While both boots have a Tech Leather upper, the upper on the Maestro feels slightly thinner than the Ligera and also feels more premium. However, the Ligera still has an excellent upper. The Maestro has a snugger and more locked down fit, whereas the Ligera has a much “freer” feel on the ball. For me, I find that the Ligera has a better heel than the Maestro, as the padding is in a better place to offer comfort. If your feet are on the wider side, I would say the better option is the Ligera as there is a lot more adjustability in the overall fit.

Between the two soleplates, the Maestro has a more aggressive plate that while I had no issues with on AG, some people might find the studs to be too tall, so the Ligera would be option if you are stuck with the FG plates. Bear in mind though that the Maestro AG seems like it will be OK on dry firm ground surfaces as well as AG.

While I did mention in my review for the Maestro that it might be my favourite Nike boot on the market, I have changed my mind. The Ligera is. Mostly this comes down to the heel fit, which cannot really be fixed in the Maestro, can be changed somewhat in the Ligera. The fact that I even tempted to hold onto the Ligera instead of selling it should show how highly I regard the boots.

Nike Tiempo Ligera versus adidas Copa Icon II Comparison

This is where things get a bit more difficult for the Ligera. While the Nike boot is cheaper, even in Japan where is around 35 USD cheaper than the Icon II, I personally feel the Icon II is the better of the two boots. This will vary from person to person as everyone has different things they are looking for when choosing boots. For me, it comes down to the fact that the Icon II has a better overall performance. While the touch on the ball is better in the Ligera, the fit, heel fit and lockdown are all better in the Icon II. I do appreciate a great upper, but I also like feeling locked into my boots when playing. So, for me the Icon II is my choice between the two, but for others I can understand why they would choose the Ligera.

I have to add this

Nike, you greedy, unethical idiots.

Conclusion

The Nike Tiempo Ligera Pro is a very impressive boot. The quality of the upper, fit, and presentation makes the boot look and feel more impressive than its price point would suggest. I said previously in my Maestro review that I hope to see Tech Leather used on other boots and I would like to see that extend to pro models as well. The fact that we now have Nike and adidas competing harder at lower price points can only be a good thing as Elite models are often too expensive and many pro models have represented poor value for money in the past (looking at you, Tiempo Legend 10 Pro). My hope is that other brands see what Nike is doing and try to compete at a similar price point. Going back to the Ligera itself, I really enjoyed my time in the boots, and it feels like something worth hanging on to. Sure, the heel could be better, and maybe it could use two more laceholes for a runner’s knot, but it cannot be denied that the Ligera is an enjoyable boot to play in, and great value for money.

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