In an effort to add more diversity to the site, I picked up a pair of Nike Tiempo Flight a few weeks back for testing. The Flight offers players a 3rd option in the Tiempo range, behind the Elite and Legend releases. In a sense, they are seen as a more economical version for players who want the Tiempo look at a modest price. What I have discovered in the past few weeks is that these boots offer far than than I could have expected, and they make for a fantastic in-game boot! The pair in question comes in a refined Metallic Summit White/Metallic Gold Grain/Volt colorway and I tested a size 9US. After several games, here is how they worked out.

Breaking-In
After testing, I am adding these boots to the list of must haves when it comes to comfort, with the break-in period taking no more than one wear. Out for the box, there is a high level of flexibility right throughout the Flight. The soleplate has a comfortable break right under the big-toe ball socket. This is something that actually sets the Flight apart from the Elite version – in a positive way! I found the carbon fiber soleplate on the Tiempo Elite version to be tough to break-in, leading to the conclusion that sometimes less is actually better! A suede lining is used inside the boot and ensures your foot is kept snugly in place through wear. I wore these boots in 1 training session, right out of the box, before taking them into a game without any problems.

Performance
There is nothing spectacular about the performance of the Tiempo Flight – they are simply a steady boot that, in the words of a Sure, “won’t let you down”!! The upper is soft and gives a pretty solid level of touch on the ball. I am a fan of the stitching used on the entire Tiempo range, as it creates comfortable padding without being overly pronounced. I mentioned the soleplate above, but again it is a highlight of the boot with its simple construction and generalized stud configuration allowing players to play long games without worrying about any common problems.

Compared to the Legend
Other than the difference in price (around $55) the primary difference lies in the upper, with the Flight featuring a calfskin leather upper compared to a K-leather on the Tiempo Legend. The calfskin still feels extremely supple and it offers great touch, but you do lose out on some of the durability properties found in the Legend. In terms of visuals, it is pretty tough to tell both boots apart! The obvious difference lies in the heel, where Tiempo Flight is displayed and a heel counter is missing. Both versions are offered in the same colorways. On release, if you had given me an option between both boots, I would immediately selected the Legend. But having now tested both, there is much food for thought on simply picking up a pair of Flights and saving some extra money!

Negatives
On this colorway, the upper is naturally a little tougher to keep clean. But other than that there is not a lot of negatives to find out! For players who want technology, this boot is not for you – there is an air of simplicity about the whole package and there is nothing that explicitly separates them from other releases on the market.

The Skinny Summary
Highlight: A subtle and refined looking boot that provides consistent performance and a comfortable fit through wear, at a fantastic price point! Excellent value for money.
Category: 2nd level Heritage behind the Legend.
Weight: A very competitive 9.0oz, which is actually 0.6oz lighter than the Legends!
Would I Buy Them: Absolutely! Having tested them, these boots stand as one of the best value for money options on the market in my opinion.
Player Position: The Flight is a boot suited to most player types and positions, but ultimately I feel like defenders and center mids will benefit most from the simple boot design and soft leather upper. A fantastic option for players on a budget!

As part of my effort to review the lower tier releases this year, last week I picked up a pair of Nike Tiempo Flight. Having had them a few days, I have barely let them out of my sight. “Why?” you ask. Well, to be quite frank, from first impression these boots absolutely rock. Everything about them oozes class and they look/feel fantastic – yet they are not the high end release in the series!

The Tiempo Flight has a retail of $120, although you can pick up a pair for $90 right now. The best part about the Metallic Summit White/Metallic Gold Grain/Volt pair I picked up is the pretty fantastic $34 final price, which I got via the recent soccer.com sale (now, that is what you call a steal!)

Stay tuned for a full review in the next few weeks, until then enjoy the extra pics below.

(Worth noting: At time of posting, soccer.com has the White/Treasure Blue/Metallic Silver colorway listed for $50.99!)

The latest colorway release in the Nike Tiempo IV range comes in a relatively basic White/Siren Red/Metallic Platinum. White releases seems to be a currently trend with the Tiempo IV at the moment, with 2 other white colorways hitting the market in recent months. The difference on this one is the Red detailing through the upper. To be honest, I can’t say it is my preferred colorway release, but I am sure they will find a pretty nice following!  The one thing I am a fan of is how the actual boot performs in game!

I tested the Elite Tiempo IV a few months back with positive results. Performance wise, these just straight up work and they compliment any player looking for a boot that provides great touch and control. The leather upper is top quality and ranks amongst the best I have had the opportunity to test.

Worth noting is that fact that Nike has released this colorway in both the regular and Elite version. You need to compare the technology included on the Elite range to understand where the money is going. What you get with the Elite that you don’t get with the regular is a Carbon Fiber soleplate and the addition of Flywire. This results in a pretty minimal weight difference of 0.2oz, but a more protected upper on the Elite. Being honest, I have found that the regular version offers an enormously better value for money option and works just as effectively in game.

Price wise, the Elite comes in at $349.99, while the regular version will cost $149.99.

I have personally been waiting for this latest Nike CTR360 Maestri II release to hit the US market for the past several weeks – and finally they are here! Keeping things simple can sometimes be as effective as releasing wild colorful releases, and in my opinion this latest colorway from Nike really works! It is officially a Dark Shadow/Volt/Metallic/Dark Gray – the Volt detailing giving the release a little extra pop.

Players looking for a more serious look in the touch and control CTR360 range will like these. Although they are not a perfect black match, they offer the darkest colorway we have seen yet in the range, and it really suits the Kanga-lite upper. If I was to choose from the current CTR360 selection, these would be my go-to option.

The CTR360 Maestri are one of the most consistent boots you will currently find on the market. They offer pretty much the complete package for any player who fits the playmaker mold, or any player that aspires to be a playmaker. On field, they offer great performance and work out exactly as you would expect – and better! While dribbling, you are able to keep the ball closer to your feet by using the dampening pods up around the front of the boot. The dampening pods are raised slightly off the boot and are basically padded regions that allow for a softer touch on the ball. The side pass and control pads and the control region serves a valid purpose.

The CTR360 Maestri comes in at $189.99, while there is also the option of picking up a pair of high-value Trequartista’s for $94.99.

Another Superfly III colorway release from Nike, this one coming in a Trace Blue/Anthracite/Cyber/Volt. It is funny to say, but this design is somewhat “taking it down a notch” in Nike’s books. Rather than employing extremely outlandish colors, as we have seen in recent times, they have gone with a simple yet bright primary color. It is difficult to tell from the images, but there is a slight hint of blue running through the almost white upper. Add in the some Volt detailing and you get a pretty inviting final product!

This release comes right off the heels of the Court Purple/Magenta from earlier in the week. Both offer vibrant looks, and I am sure both will receive their own large share of fans. This look is clean and fresh, while the Volt detailing adds a whole other dynamic. The biggest concern lies in keeping them clean, with the light colorway sure to pick up some scuffs – you need to promise to clean them after each use if you want to get full value out of them!

The Superfly III offers a tidy package but at a pretty high-end price. The two advancements with this boot are the use of Flywire, and the adjustable studs. Flywire is designed to act like the support cables on a bridge by taking and holding the majority of the weight of the upper. This, in turn, allows Nike to decrease the required materials and produce a lighter boot. The adaptive studs offer a very contentious addition to the boot. In theory, the studs have the ability to dig into a firm natural surface as you put your pressure down on the sole. It is something that is very difficult to actually see in action as the boot needs to be in contact with a surface as you put your full weight down.

Price wise, the Superfly comes in at $399.99. You can also choose from the Vapor VII at $219.99, or the more economical option of Miracle II at $129.99.

If you are a fan of the Nike Superfly III range, I think you will appreciate this latest colorway. Having seen the Court Purple/Metallic Luster/Magenta boots in action, I can tell you that they evoke similar visual emotions to the initial Red Plum release in the series – except these are a better looking pair! Rather than offering a dramatic pop, these offer up more of a lighter, slightly serious, “don’t mess with me” look.

Nike seem to have a habit of getting their releases in the Superfly range right visually. Both of the most recent releases (in Orange and Volt) received plenty of positive attention, and I have a strong suspicion that these will be no different.

The Superfly III offers a tidy package but at a pretty high-end price. The two advancements with this boot are the use of Flywire, and the adjustable studs. Flywire is designed to act like the support cables on a bridge by taking and holding the majority of the weight of the upper. This, in turn, allows Nike to decrease the required materials and produce a lighter boot. The adaptive studs offer a very contentious addition to the boot. In theory, the studs have the ability to dig into a firm natural surface as you put your pressure down on the sole. It is something that is very difficult to actually see in action as the boot needs to be in contact with a surface as you put your full weight down.

Price wise, the Superfly comes in at $399.99. You can also choose from the Vapor VII at $219.99, or the more economical option of Miracle II at $124.99.

Another one of Nike’s latest colorway releases in the T90 Laser IV hit the market this week and this one definitely has some flair to it. This is one of the those releases that could look pretty awesome, but it is really tough to tell until you see them in person! The official colorway is listed as Dark Grey/Black/Solar Red with the Solar Red detailing adding an extra dynamic of flavor to the synthetic upper.

Earlier in the week, I profiled the new Kana-Lite release that came in a much brighter Challenge Red. This version features a synthetic upper that offers a much different feel and experience on the ball. The benefit of course is a slightly better level of durability, ensuring your pair lasts right through the season.

One of the primary features of T90 Laser IV is the Adaptive Shield region across the strike zone. It is particularly effective and it effectively bend in motion with your foot as you control the ball, making for a really smooth strike just as Nike advertise. Along with the release, Nike introduced us to the slogan “The Perfect Strike”, giving you some idea of the direction they have headed with this boot.

For those interested in picking up a pair, they retail for $220.

For those interested in a slightly more economically sound option, check out the T90 Strike or T90 Shoot in the same colorway.

Nike has released another interesting colorway in the CTR360 Maestri II range, with this version holding a very one dimensional blue look. Having already seeing players wear them, I can tell you that they have a unique visual pop, but not in the same way as other bright releases of late. Instead, this Loyal Blue/White/Bright Blue/Total Orange colorway is a little more normal, shall we say.

You still get that great metallic look we are familiar with on the CTR360 range, but one single color shade gives it a more toned down feel. On top of that, I like the addition of some Orange detailing. Definitely a different look that is sure to receive mixed reactions from fans.

The CTR360 Maestri are one of the most consistent boots you will currently find on the market. They offer pretty much the complete package for any player who fits the playmaker mold, or any player that aspires to be a playmaker. On field, they offer great performance and work out exactly as you would expect – and better! While dribbling, you are able to keep the ball closer to your feet by using the dampening pods up around the front of the boot. The dampening pods are raised slightly off the boot and are basically padded regions that allow for a softer touch on the ball. The side pass and control pads and the control region serves a valid purpose.

The CTR360 Maestri comes in at $189.99, while there is also the option of picking up a pair of high-value Trequartista’s for $94.99.

Talk about a boot with a Christmas type feel! Nike released a bunch of new colorways today, but this one seems like the ideal boot to start with as it offers a look that will suit any pitch on a Winters day. The new Challenge Red/White/Anthracite colorway of the popular Nike T90 Laser IV range comes with a pretty classic Kanga Lite upper.

Personally, I like this colorway and feel that it suits what they T90 Laser range is all about, more so than any other colorway to date. The challenge red color used is the same as we saw on the initial CTR360 Maestri release and it features an almost metallic finish. I recently posted a full review for the synthetic version, and it tested really well. But, there is a big difference between the performance offered from the synthetic to Kanga Lite upper but I have heard very positive things about the KL upper.

One of the primary features of T90 Laser IV is the Adaptive Shield region across the strike zone. It is particularly effective and it effectively bend in motion with your foot as you control the ball, making for a really smooth strike just as Nike advertise. Along with the release, Nike introduced us to the slogan “The Perfect Strike”, giving you some idea of the direction they have headed with this boot.

For those interested in picking up a pair, they retail for $220.

For those interested in a slightly more economically sound option, check out the T90 Strike or T90 Shoot in the same colorway.

Since I have been wearing the Nike Mercurial Vapor VII CR for the past few weeks, I figured it would be a good idea to share my thoughts and some images on how they have worked out. For those that maybe don’t know, the only difference between these boots and the Nike Vapor VII is the actual design used, or in other words they are the same boots except for the colorway used. For that reason, there is little point writing another full review.

My Thoughts on the Design
After the initial shock of seeing a boot with two different designs, I have to admit that I am a big fan of how these look! Normally I am a little more reserved in my comments on the more exuberant releases, but I think Nike has got this one spot on, and the boots match the flair of Cristiano Ronaldo. This is the third CR inspired release and these are hands down the more visually effective yet in my opinion. The silver pinstripe design is particularly attractive and gives the boot a classy look. If you look at it closely you will notice there are very subtle lines running through it, like what you would see on a circuit board, with the number 7 printed just below the ankle. If you look very closely at the image below you will see it. The opposite and rather wildly striped side offers visual benefits, or a flicker effect as you are running fast. It is a little obtrusive to begin, but the clash of Metallic Mach Blue/Solar Red/Dark Obsidian has grown on me!

Comments on Their Performance
During testing of the Vapor VII I reported that “The one major positive about these boots is that they break in extremely easily. In fact, I was able to get some sprints and sharp turns in while wearing them for the first time! I love the feel of the well padded upper, which is extremely spongy just inside the ankle area, creating a comfortable fit.” And I am happy to report that there was consistency between both pairs, with this version providing a smooth break in period.

How they Fit
I found that the Vapor VII offers a very suitable option for wide fitting players. Many players suffer problems around the mid area of the soleplate, but Nike offer a nice wide fit to accommodate most players. Ordering true to size is the way to go, with a 9US suiting my fit perfectly. They also fit in a very similar fashion to other Vapor releases.

The Ultimate Question – Should I Buy Them?
There are certain characteristics you look for in a boot and the Vapor VII ticks most boxes. The most important question is how important are visuals to you? I would definitely consider myself as more of a conservative player, with simple designs suiting my taste- but when something a little more flashy matches my taste buds I have no problem wearing them. And these boots have really grown on me. I’m not sure that I would recommend the Superfly version (simply because of the price tag) but anyone interested in the Vapor will not be disappointed by what they offer – just make sure your skills are up to par before trying to wear them!

The Vapor VII retails right now for $179.