Nike Tiempo vs Nike Premier

Tiempo vs Premier: Which Nike Boot is Best?

Nike consistently produces some of the most comfortable leather football boots on the market. There’s no better example of this than the Nike Premier 3 and the Tiempo Legend 9. These are two great options for any player looking for a comfortable, high performance football boot.

As these boots share a lot of similarities, you may be wondering, which is better? So in this article, we’ll be comparing the Nike Tiempo Legend 9 vs the Nike Premier 3 to see which is the best option for you.

You can see how these boots stack up against the other boots in the Nike lineup by checking our list of the Best Nike Football Boots to Buy in 2023.

If you’re interested in getting either of these boots, you can pick them up using the links below. Use promo code FINISH10 for 10% off your order. Now, let’s get into the comparison!

Nike Premier 3

Nike Tiempo Legend 9

Overall Design

Nike Premier 3

The Nike Premier 3 has the simplest design of any boot in the brand’s lineup, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Nike has focused on getting the most important things right with this model.

The design focuses on highlighting the full kangaroo leather upper that spans across the boot. The leather is soft throughout the boot, especially near the toe box, where Nike have added plush half moon sections to help cushion the ball.

From an aesthetic standpoint, the Premier 3 may be one of the best looking boots that Nike sells. The colorways are all great, and they perfectly accentuate the Nike swoosh on the sides of the boot. The fold over tongue also gives these boots a unique retro look.

Nike Tiempo Legend 9

Nike took a necessary step back with their newest Tiempo model. They removed some bells and whistles from the previous Legend 8 model to focus on what makes this series so great.

What’s always made the Tiempo special is that it’s a leather football boot that’s built for performance. That’s exactly what Nike has created with the Tiempo Legend 9.

This boot also has a full kangaroo leather upper, with the addition of foam pods and raised texturing to help improve traction on the ball. Nike have also gone for a more modern elasticated tongue instead of a traditional lacing system.

Fit and Feel

Nike Premier 3

The fit and feel of both of these boots is pretty comparable. The Nike Premier 3 fits exactly as you would want a kangaroo leather boot to fit. There is a lot of room in the toe box, making this a great boot for players with wide feet.

One important thing to note is that the leather on the Premier 3 stretches quite a bit over time. Therefore, you’ll gradually get more space in these boots over time. I recommend going true to size with these boots, just make sure to lace them up tight.

Nike Tiempo Legend 9

The Tiempo Legend 9 is considerably lighter than the Premier 3, and that difference does come through when wearing the boots on feet. Putting on the Tiempos, they almost feel like speed boots.

They feel snug against your feet, and the lockdown is really solid. The elasticated mesh tongue helps provide a more secure fit compared to a traditional lacing system. Despite being close fitting boots, I don’t feel any pressure points while wearing the Tiempos.

Both of these boots are supremely comfortable, but I would probably give a slight edge to the Tiempo Legend 9. The Tiempos feel more geared towards high performance as they’re both lighter and more streamlined.

Soleplate Comparison

The soleplates for the Nike Premier 3 and the Tiempo Legend 9 are very similar, and they both provide a snappy responsiveness. That being said, the Tiempo has a more rigid soleplate, so I found it more aggressive when running at high speeds.

The Nike Premier 3 features a conical stud pattern, while the Tiempo features a blend of both bladed and conical studs.

This makes the Premier 3 a good fit for both FG and AG surfaces. If you do play on artificial grass, you’ll want to get the AG variation of the Tiempo Legend 9.

Playability Comparison

When it comes to playability, the most important factor for me is comfort. If a boot is comfortable on your feet, it will give you the confidence to play at your best. Thankfully comfort is the strongest selling point of both of these boots.

It’s hard to pick a real winner in this category, as what you like will always come down to personal preference.

If you want to play in a softer, more relaxed leather football boot, then the Premier 3 is a great choice. If you’re looking for something more modern and streamlined, I’d recommend the Tiempo Legend 9.

Durability

Both of these boots have fairly solid build qualities. They’ve both been able to last me for over a full season of constant play.

After extensive use you will start to notice some sole separation on both of these boots. This is unfortunately inevitable with most football boots. That being said, both of these boots can take quite the beating.

I will say that the leather on the Tiempo Legend 9 has less stitching compared to the Premier 3. Additional stitching on the Premier 3 results in more areas where the threading can come undone, which has happened before.

Overall, I’d give a slight edge to the Tiempo Legend 9 when it comes to durability.

Value

When it comes to value, the Premier 3 is the clear winner over the Tiempo Legend 9. At just over $100, you can pick up the Premier 3 for less than half the price of the Tiempos.

If you’re willing to go for the calf leather takedown model of the Tiempo Legend 9, then you’re looking at spending about $130.

This makes the value proposition of the Tiempos a little bit better. However, for a full kangaroo leather upper, you can’t beat the price of the Nike Premier 3.

Final Thoughts

These are both amazing boots, and I can wholeheartedly recommend them both. If comfort is your main driving factor, you really can’t go wrong with either option.

If you’re looking for a more budget friendly choice, the Premier 3 should be your go to. If you’re looking for a more modern leather boot, then the Tiempo Legend 9 may be the one for you.

Nike Premier 3

Nike Tiempo Legend 9