Football boots have come a long way in a relatively short time, with the majority of pairs now featuring new technologies that weren't on offer just a decade ago. But, at the same, two things have regressed as these advancements have been implemented: simplicity and affordability.
Options that offer both of these characteristics as well as decent performance levels seems few and far between, with the cheaper ‘takedown’ models from brands varying massively in terms of quality year on year.
The Nike Premier, though, has emerged as a no-frills model that offers both comfort and quality at a reasonable price point, and I took a pair of the Nike Premier 3 to the pitch to see how well it stacks up to this reputation.
Nike Premier 3 review
Retailing at just £100, the Nike Premier 3 is considerably cheaper than the rest of the Swoosh's elite range. Indeed, the Phantom GX 2 is priced at £240, the Phantom Luna 2 costs £255, it costs £245 for the Mercurial Vapor 16 and £255 for the Superfly 10, while the Tiempo Legend 10, the closest direct comparison to the Premier, is still £230.
These prices aren't just reserved for the best football boots from Nike, either. The majority of big brands on the market, like Adidas, Puma, New Balance and Mizuno, all have high price points for their elite models. So, when it comes to the Premier 3, there's significant savings to be made.
In exchange, you get a much more stripped back football boot without some of the advanced technology that features on the elite models, but, interestingly, the Premier 3 does possess something that the rest of Nike’s current lineup lacks: a leather upper.
Nike have phased out the use of natural leather in recent years, with the next generation of the Premier also expected to be manufactured from synthetic materials. For now, though, the Premier 3 features an upper constructed from soft kangaroo leather. And, with the Tiempo Legend 10 moving away from leather, this makes the Premier the only option for traditionalists seeking a leather boot.
As you would expect given the material, the upper is both soft and comfortable immediately out of the box, and manages to soften up even more after a few wears. I found that the comfort of the boot is further enhanced by the thick, padded suede heel lining, which helps to create a pleasantly traditional feel all round. These, therefore, have great protection, ideal for defenders and tough-tackling midfielders.
The boot comes with a folding tongue attached with Velcro but there is also the option to cut this off with scissors using the dotted line on the underside of the tongue. I kept the tongue intact just because I prefer the aesthetics of an old-school folded-down tongue on a boot like this.
All foot types are also accommodated with the traditional two-piece construction of the boot, meaning that players with wide feet certainly won't have a problem slipping into the Premier 3.
Underfoot, the Nike Premier 3 features all conical studs in a soleplate that is in keeping with the rest of the boot in terms of simplicity. It is not an aggressive stud pattern at all, and I found the plate to be lacking in the responsiveness that the stiffer plates of most elite options offer. For that reason, strikers and wingers wanting to burn past their opponents might prefer looking elsewhere.
The lack of aggression in the stud pattern does mean that this is a boot that can very easily be worn on AG pitches without the risk that many other FG boots bring with them when used on artificial surfaces. The soleplate is, however, perhaps the area that the gap between the Premier 3 and elite options can be seen most pertinently. Much of the technology of modern boots is concentrated in the outsole, so it is difficult for a more budget-friendly boot like the Premier to compete. As a result, I found there was a lack of real energy return in the plate, something that is certainly a weakness in my opinion.
Despite that, the Premier 3 still outperforms 'takedown' models, which are often more expensive than the Premier anyway. As a general rule, I believe that the Nike Premier 3 represents a much better option in terms of performance than a 'takedown' model - especially when it comes at a slightly cheaper price.
In this climate, more ‘plug and play’ boots like the Nike Premier 3 that fit well, are comfortable and reasonably priced are as important as they are popular. That's because the football boot market is increasingly becoming a minefield, with brands releasing a plethora of options that all feature long lists of technological specifications and promises about new levels of performance.
Mauro Icardi, for example, is still seen wearing the Premier 3 in training and in games on occasion, highlighting the boot's performance quality. The throwback design of the boot, reminiscent of the Nike Tiempo Premier in the 90s worn famously by the likes of Paolo Maldini and Eric Cantona, lends itself perfectly to those wanting a retro-inspired boot that feels a lot more traditional underfoot and on the ball.
There is something of a ‘give and take’ with the Premier 3, with the saving on price and simplicity coming at the expense of some of the advantages of the modern boot technology. Having tried these, the trade-off is one that will be more than worth it to many.
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