Elite series place in the soccer market...

NIKE WC Elite Boots

With the introduction of elite boots by Nike and now adidas we have seen the price of boots increase. Furthermore, many of us Footy fans wonder why the increase in price, who is buying these boots, and why form an elite series/professional level boot is being available to public.

Adidas SL/Elite version of the adiPURE IV

The first answer to the price increase is the materials used but also with the boots weight is a major factor for consumers/players. Since the rise of the mercurial series boots have been dropping weight to what we now call the speed boot race. Over the years manufacturers/companies have put millions of dollars into testing and development to create the lightest boot on the market. It is called an elite boot because it is the top of the line, materials, weight, and not to mention it is what you see the professionals wearing. In the end, you are ultimately paying for the technology that went to produce the boots.

Furthermore, with these boots set at the prices they are at people keep wondering why make an elite boot, who is buying these boots? Well if you are an elite or serious soccer player in the world you want the best technology and the best boot money can buy. I have tested cheap boots in the past and compared to an elite boot there is no comparing. The comfort, fit, and performance enhance your ability on the field and are far superior then its knock down boot. Furthermore, equipment plays a major role in sports but in soccer specifically the boot you wear says a lot about you and your needs as a player in order to get the job done on the field. I personally believe there is a certain boot for everyone and that certain/perfect boot depends on your foot shape, the level of soccer you play, and position.

In the end, I believe football companies created another series/silo specifically focussing on the athletes needs and wants, that is why it is elite. However, through satisfying their needs companies like Nike and adidas have made a new silo which it geared towards the professionals or players that play at a high level that want the best money can buy. In this, by creating the elite series boots football companies were able to introduce a new silo/series to give consumers more options. The test subject were the elite boots Nike created for the world cup which were very successful and created a demand for elite boots because consumers saw those boots/specs and wanted the best money could buy, they did not care about the price point but rather cared who was wearing it, how much it weighed, and how cool it looked.

In my opinion, players/boots are categorized by four different categories;

Elite level- new market
Pro level
Club level
Intro level

Why do you think consumers are now buying the elite vs the pro level boots? Technology, fit, performance? I am interested in hearing other peoples opinions regarding the elite series of boots. Negatives, positives, etc.

Nike Tiempo IV; Dat New 'NEW'

Tiempo IV will also have an elite version to the series which includes fly wire.

The Tiempo series which is Nike's classic football boot has undergone little to no change in recent launches which has consumers wanting more from this boot/series in terms of style, price, and technology. What is so attractive about the Tiempo series is the price of the boot and the narrow cut of the boot which is perfect for players with narrow feet looking for a boot with an old school feel and look. In addition, with the purchase of these boots unlike other Nike boots you are not left with sticker shock after you buy these because for what you are buying in terms of style, price,durability and technology they are justifiable. Furthermore, Nike had to innovate this series due adidas recent success and growing popularity of the adiPure. I have said this many times but based on the value of the boot, the adipure is at the top of its class. I do not know how adidas does it, but to produce a boot and put it at a retail cost of $130 is beyond my and every other footballers wildest dreams. The price and the boot are HOT! Especially with the recent introduction of the adiPure IV, which shits pure class in opinion. The boot is tremendously well done and has a new school and an old school feel all at the same time which is hard to beat.

AdiPURE IV; Unreleased RED color way

However, with this launch and reconstruction/development of the Tiempo IV i think footy fans will be very pleased with the new style, design, and technology of this boot when it hits stores this summer.

Well fans I hope you enjoy the specs and leaked photos on this post. Nike has come to play with the creation of the Tiempo IV... The boot will come in an elite version, the regular version will feature a twist of kanga-lite and k leather a boot/upper that no other Nike Teimpo boot has seen besides the elite World Cup version, and the drop down version of the Tiempo which will feature a calf skin upper also looks to be a contender in terms of price, materials, and style in the boot market.

Key Information regarding the launch:

• Will have an elite version composed of flywire and carbon fiber outsole.These will be spendy but it will be an elite version which means it is superior in materials used, the weight of the boot, and do not forget the price tag that comes with a Nike elite boot.
• Tiempo Legend IV will feature a kanga-lite upper.The kanga-lite upper will help reduce the weight of the boot and make it more water resistant in wet conditions. Due to the change in upper this boot will be lighter then the Tiempo III.
• Launch date 7/1/2011

Mercurial vapor VII, Tiempo IV/SL, & Super Fly III

Dear footy fans,

I know a lot of people along with me have been excited about the teaser images/info released by adidas in the recent weeks. It has created a lot of hype that i believe However, I am excited to see what Nike has up their sleeves and I have found some pictures to confirm that the boots for 2011 that I have touched on in recent posts like the Superfly III, Tiempo IV and Tiempo IV ELITE are in fact in the works and expected to hit stores this coming summer and fall with what looks to be new color schemes/boots.

Check the boots/styles/colors out..

Nike Tiempo IV Preview

The boot that has lacked technology and change over the years has been the Tiempo series, which is weird because Nike Soccer has always been one to push the limits of technology and the color of their boots. However, the Tiempos have not had a face lift in terms of technology until now. The Tiempo IV will feature fly wire and also receive a face lift to make it look more like a stream line elite speed boot.

Until now like the Vapor series, Nike has only changed the outsole and color of the Tiempo series. The new Tiempo IV with the combination of a kanga lite upper along with fly wire on the inside and outside of the boot will drastically be changed. In my opinion, Nike should have kept the Tiempos series the same and called this boot another name and introduce another style to their boot line.

In the end, with the combination of technology and if Nike decides to go all out and put a carbon fiber outsole on this boot I am betting it will retail at over $300 which will be a bust in the market because adidas has found the perfect price for boots at around $150 for the adiZERO which has been a big hit.
What do you think about the boot?

It’s ‘Tiempo’ Time

Nike Soccer in 1992 was irrelevant. Shown below is a early model of the Tiempo Pro M


Prior to the 1994 World Cup, Nike’s soccer footwear collection was not something to brag about. In fact the line of shoes they produced before that was irrelevant in the eyes of football fans. However, in 1994 that changed when Nike got together as a collective group and redesigned what they thought was their best boot to date; which was the Tiempo Premier.

Rather than make the same mistake twice, Nike moved its footwear factory from Italy to Thailand, and kept a close watch on each pair of boots made. In the end, Nike was able to revamp the boot that would easily be their best soccer shoe to date.
Thoughts on the boot from Dave Daly the general manager of Nike Soccer at the time; “I felt at least from a quality perspective, the Tiempo Premier was the first one where we actually made a shoe the athletes around the world actually wanted to wear,” said Daly. “They didn’t wear it because they thought Nike was cool or because we paid them. They actually wore it because they liked it.”



The result, the Tiempo Premier was the boot worn in the 1994 World Cup Final by 10 Brazilians (9 on the pitch and a young Ronaldo who did not see action) and Italy’s Pablo Maldini on July 17th 1994. On that day, Nike had the world’s best forward Romario going head to head with the great Maldini.





Fast forward, since 1994 the Tiempo series has evolved with the game of soccer. In this day in age players need every advantage they can get on the pitch, and like the game of soccer Nike has evolved to help its athletes along the way.


In the end,here is a sample of the next Tiempo and where Nike is taking the boot. Boot includes an upper with fly wire and a carbon fiber outsole to decrease the overall weight of the boot.




What do you think about the boot? Should Nike keep this shoe classic or update it to the modern game of football where speed kills.