Who is Ready For the Nike Premier?

With all the flashy, high profile releases that have hit the market in recent months, it is quite refreshing to see a boot that features a tradition look and doesn’t cost an absolute fortune.

Welcome in the Nike Premier

Nike has taken a completely different approach with this boot by setting out to create the best $100 boot there is on the market. It is a bold move but one that really sets the brand and this boot apart. It is set to mix it up with several other boots on the market, but it is the Adidas Copa Mundial fans that Nike really want to reach out to. The Copa has a cult following of sorts and owns a key piece of the market. Many players consider them to be the most consistent boots currently on the market and the creation of a Nike counterpart is well overdue.

Key Features

Nike has gone with a premium but very supple goat leather upper on this one. It is a interesting addition since we don’t see a lot of goat leather releases, and I am keen to see what it really has to offer. In terms of weight, they come in at 8.6oz – or in other words a pretty pitch perfect weight for what we expect from a release like this. When it comes to traction, Nike has taken on a new conical configuration that is designed to provide an extra stable ride through quick turns and twists.

And of course, the general design has been kept simple and very functional. There are no wild colors or odd gimmicks. It is a basic release that caters for players with more of a no-nonsense style.

Visually, the inspiration from the boot came from two sources: the iconic 1994 Tiempo Premier, worn by 10 of the players in that year’s World Cup final, and the first shoe to ever carry the Swoosh, a 1971 boot called ‘The Nike’.

“We wanted the Premier to have a simple visual design but for it to be bold and, stylistically, carry a lot of Nike Football DNA. There are players out there who want a beautiful black leather boot that delivers a great fit and a ultra-soft touch on the ball. The Premier is for those players.”

Although Nike has taken the fundamentals of the Tiempo release, it is important to note that this is a completely separate release that take modern concepts onto a very economically efficient release.

Overall, everything seems to be extremely positive about the Premier. They look the part and have a lot of extremely modern features that allow it to compete with the Copa Mundial, while boasting a more modern set of characteristics. But of course, the real test will be on the pitch – and we already have a pair secured for review.

Final note – in terms of retail the cheapest price we found for a pair was on WeGotSoccer, where they are listed for $89.99. Soccer.com also has them, but they are listed at $99.99.

What do you think of this release and will it compete with the Copa?