Nike release 100 pairs of blackouts ahead of the official Tiempo Legend 7 launch

Test pairs of unreleased football boots are made black to conceal the technologies, but with their new innovation Nike flip the script entirely. The classic Nike Tiempo is about to receive a stroke of modern genius and to let the world know, Nike has created 100 pairs that will be given out to people like us at Unisport to show off the tech changes, which we can already now tell you there are more than a few of.

Worn by the world's most dominating playmakers, including Andrea Pirlo, Jerome Boateng, Sergio Ramos and Thiago Silva, the Tiempo Legend is Nike's cleat for first attack. Everything about the classic leather boot is made to emphasise the dominating touch - combining modern quilting, a revolutionary lockdown fit and lightweight traction.

So, what's the big deal with the new Nike Tiempo Legend 7 then? Well, it's certainly not like any Tiempo you know, as Nike's focus has been on innovations that enhance and compliment the features players already love, while also significantly reducing the weight of the boot. Notably, this means we can today confirm the long-standing theory that Nike are indeed going to add Flyknit to the Tiempo construction. That means all four Nike silos now utilise Flyknit as a part of their construction, but all in completely different ways.

Continued below.

With the Tiempo silo as a whole, but especially this new Legend 7, it's all about modern technologies meeting classic design. The premium leather is still the dominant aspect of the boot, but with Nike Flyknit you will now get a more dynamic fit and improved lockdown. The Flyknit through the midfoot encases Flywire cables that can be adjusted to preference. Flexible, lofted Flyknit throughout the tongue area helps provide cushioned coverage atop the foot. The knitted material also helps the boot retain its shape, which even further enhances the fit and comfort in a boot that is 22% lighter than its predecessor. Lots and lots of good stuff!

“It all starts with premium leather, but with Tiempo Legend 7, we’ve integrated Nike Flyknit for a more dynamic fit and improved lockdown.” - Nike Football Designer Vianney de Montgolfier,

To help prevent overstretching of the leather toebox, Nike has developed Fit-Mesh, which makes its debut inside the Tiempo Legend 7. The Fit-Mesh is woven to act like a Chinese finger trap. The more pressure you apply, the tighter it holds, and it helps contain your foot so the leather doesn’t have to.

With Fit-Mesh providing stability, it was made possible for Nike to leverage a much softer and seamless leather throughout the forefoot. The leather is fused with a thin foam that provides the touch and control benefits of quilting sans perforation. There is not a single stitch in the strike zone of the boot - the Tiempo provides pure leather to ball contact. The plush feel of the Tiempo Legend 7 extends all the way to the heel, where cushioned, articulated pods hug the foot in place.

“There is not a single stitch in the strike zone of this boot. The Tiempo provides pure leather to ball contact.”

The Fit-Mesh isn't the only debuting technology on the Tiempo Legend 7. The Nike Hyperstability plate also makes it way to the Nike boots for the first time. This is designed for multi-directional movements and helped shave 60 grams off the boot. The plate features a mixture of jagged conical studs, chevrons, and blades.

Any update as large as this, on football boot that has had such a great influence on the game, has to be considered a certified game-changer! Now all that remains to be seen is the first colourway, which can't be far away.