Nike Tiempo Classic AG Review

Throughout the past 12 months, there has been one strong new trend on the field that I have specifically noticed – a shift towards Artificial Grass (or AG) soccer cleats. AGs are, as you would expect, designed specifically for artificial soccer pitches. The unique layout and design of the molded studs is what sets them apart from FG or even turf shoes!

I haven’t had an opportunity to test out a pair, so I entrusted the help and advice of a good friend of mine, Kyle Holland, who has played in AGs for the past few seasons. Kyle is currently an assistant coach at Cal State Dominguez Hills, and we play on the same team (Doxa Italia).

In recent times, he has been wearing, and scoring goals in, a custom pair of Nike Tiempo Classic AG in a Black/Black/White colorway, and he has shared his full review after testing the boots for several weeks below.

Kyle is participating in coaching sessions daily as well as training and playing games each weekend, so his review is very valuable.

Reviewing: Nike Tiempo Classic AG
Regular Size: 8 US
Size for this review: 8 US

First impressions of the boot (or history using):
Very comfortable for all activities – coaching, playing, refereeing.

How were they breaking in, have you had any problems with them, comfort:
These shoes are made of soft, yet durable natural leather. They are not stiff like many natural leather boots are when first wearing them. The leather is supple which allows for great feel of the ball for collecting, passing, and shooting. These shoes are ready to play in straight out of the box, no breaking in required.

Since you started wearing them how have they performed, any issues, have they lasted well:
These shoes hold up well without tearing like many boots do after several uses on artificial turf. The outsole is perfect for artificial surfaces. The multi-ground cleat size and formation provide great stability for changing directions and don’t slip like firm-ground cleats do on artificial fields. These boots also do not have any uncomfortable “hot spots” where a cleat will irritate the bottom of the foot because it doesn’t sink into the turf.

Overall impression of the boot:
The best thing about this shoe is that it has the traction and stability of a turf shoe, yet it plays like a firm-ground boot. The awkward touch of a turf shoe is eliminated because it is shaped like a regular soccer shoe. So you can ping long balls without hesitation or thinking you may not get under the ball enough like with a turf shoe. And you still have the control on the bottom of the shoe to do roll over moves and collect with the sole of the foot with the full feel of the ball.

Would you recommend them, if so to which type of player:
I would recommend this boot to all players, coaches and referees at all levels for games or training on artificial surfaces. They take pressure off your joints because the outsole of the shoe is designed to distribute pressure through more points than the firm-ground cleats.

Anything else you want to add about the boot or the range:
There are a couple of negatives things I found in the multi-ground shoes. One drawback to the multi-ground shoes is the weight. In the era of ultra-lightweight, synthetic soccer boots, this shoe feels like a full leather boot similar to the Adidas Copa Mundial. The other is the water retention of the leather. These shoes soak up moisture like a sponge. When playing in the rain or on damp surfaces this shoe gets wet and stays wet. So stuffing them with newspaper and leaving them in the garage overnight is required after playing on rainy days.

Thanks Kyle for the excellent review! The best place to find a pair of AGs is at Nike ID, where you can create a custom pair for around $170.