Hey everyone, this is my new review for the DC Block Spartan after about one month of using them for both skateboarding and every day wear.
Fit-8/10
These felt great as soon as I put them on. Not hard and tough like a lot of other skate shoes. They do fit a little on the small size so maybe buy 1/2 size bigger then you need. This is what I did and it’s worked out great. The tongue and collar on these is nicely padded and help keep my comfort level up and Ive found no matter what kinda of socks Im wearing with them they still conform to my foot great and always feel right.
Style-10/10
For me personally I love the look of these kicks. The graffiti graphics on the side are wicked and I love how they look. The colors are clear and crisp and over all they’re my favorite day in and day out shoes to wear. I find their look to be really versatile too and goes with tons of other stuff I wear. They come in a few really sick color combination’s just check out some below!
Duribilty-8/10
I’ve been skating in these a whole bunch over the past month and they’re holding up awesome! The fabric doesn’t come
apart of seperate at all. They have a cool lace saving feature which allows you to have the bottom two rows of laces behind an extra piece of leather to guard and protect your laces from being destroyed quickly by your grip tape.
Features-7/10
Upper vent system for maximum airflow (I found it actually works with these shoes) Padded tongue and collar for added comfort and ankle support. Stretchable tongue placements come in really handy and help the shoe totally stay in place on your foot, Performance rubber wrap cupsole, this shoe is also created with a revolutionary new system which gives you all the durable benefits of a vulcanized sole without feeling hard and inflexible.
Key Features:
- Soft yet durable leather upper.
- Ventilated details.
- Vented upper airflow system.
- TPU eyelets.
- Soft foam tongue and collar for ankle support and all around comfort.
- Light breathable tongue.
- Spandex tongue holders for great fit and placement on your foot.
- High performing rubber wrap cupsole, this is an awesome construction technique that gives you all the benefits of vulcanized sole without feeling uncomfortable or stiff.
Recently DC shoes finished off their “Tonik:Drink Up” tour up the California coast line. This tour was put on to celebrate the release of Dc new “The Tonik” skate shoe. Shane Auckland came along with the DC team and documented the daily events both of skateboarding and day to day stuff across the West Coast. The Berrics have recently put up Part 1 of the “DC to SF” movie. Be sure to keep a look out for part 2 of this coming soon.
This is my review of the Ipath Locust shoes that Ive had for just over 1 month now:
Fit-8/10
These shoes took me a few sessions to break in. They were somewhat tough to skate in at first but they started feeling good pretty quickly. I would suggest wearing them at home for a day or two to break them in. Also because of the hi tops make sure you wear full length socks so the leather isn’t rubbing against your ankle. Having said that these do fit great and true. They’re not too wide and feel great to skate in. They provide me with lots of comfort and decent protective padding without feeling too bulky although they are a good size shoe. They’re just the right size for my foot, the shoe feels very true to size.
Grip-10/10
These have some of the best grip Ive ever found in a skateboard shoe! Im also currently skating in a pair of Lakai and they’re not nearly as grippy as the Ipath Locust are. You will stick to the board with these guys on your feet. Also included for use is a Velcro strap which helps the shoes stay on even better with little slipping around. The soles seem pretty tough too and are holding up well..which leads us to..
Durabilty-6.5/10
All things considered (I put my shoes through hell) these are holding up nicely. Some stitching in the toe has come out but that was after a couple weeks of intense skating which is pretty much to be expected. However these are canvass and do not hold up as well as say the Ipath Grasshopper which is made from a tough leather.
Features-8/10
Like most of the Ipath shoes these also feature a hidden stash pocket on the inside part of the shoes tongue, also these kicks are made in a pretty enviro-friendly way by using materials like hemp and organic cotton and while this may not save the world it’s still pretty cool. These shoes also have a leather upper with rounded toe, a special customizable ankle strap for added comfort and fit (a feature I completely love) toe ventilation, foam padded lining, detachable CHT insole created out of coconut skin which Ipath claims will help your fee breath alot. These also feature a shock absorbing gel heel system which is really great especially for big tricks when your heel impacts the ground hard.
The Ipath Reed are the signature shoes from pro skater Kenny Reed. They have some pretty far out color and graphics combination’s along with some great features for skating. Some of the Ipath Reed shoes feature Vegan friendly materials. They offer a super comfortable feel and fit with protective foam padding on the color, footbed and tongue. The soles of these shoes are made from durable and tough polyurethane so they should last you a good amount of skate time. They come in some really great colors and styles to suit any look or style you may want. These shoes are made with the true skater in mind and they stand up to a good amount of wear and tear.
Kenny Reed has spent a large amount of time traveling all over the world and skating every single spot he can along the way. Very cool indeed. Reed says not only does he do this just to simply see if it can be done, but immerse himself in new cultures and partake in how other people around the world go about life. Often his nick name is “The traveler” because of this life style. Kenny Reed isnt the type of guy to be sitting around his house for too long, not when there is an entire world out there to skate. This type of lifestyle and philosophy fits right in with Ipath Shoes. Currently Reed is living in Barcelona, Spain.
Check out the new Emerica Reynolds 3. This is the signature skate shoe from pro skater Andrew Reynolds. He has designed and tested this shoe himself so you know this is a serious product and features some sick stuff including diamond accents, Suede or leather upper. Aesthetically designed toe guard which blends perfectly into the shoe. Isolated lace protection system, Elastic tongue stabilizers. It also has a kick ass foam shock absorption system in the footbed, a System G2 heel cushion. Soft padding on tongue for added support and comfort. These come with a vulcanized rubber sole as well.
Besides all these awesome features and colors the Emerica Reynolds 3 has some other interesting facts. The shoe initaly came out for the Christmas season. The shoe model did great and has been a backbone of the Emerica line since it’s first realese, but but it was only around for a couple seasons.
Going back in time a litlte bit to 2008, one of the Emerica message board members had a killer idea. The plan was to re-release the original shoe in its original red color and after receiving a lot of positive feedback from skaters and fans alike, Emerica decided to give back to the fans and supporters. So in early 2010 they re-released the original Reynolds 3 skate shoe.
To show appreciation to all their our loyal site members, Emerica offers some special surprises with this shoe. One of the first things you might notice when you grab a pair fresh from the box is the unique EMB tag on the heel. An even close look at these kicks revels even more cool stuff. The insole of the right shoe reprints the original post requesting these kicks be brought back, and the left shoe commemorates all of the top EMB contributors who made the entire thing possible. Pretty cool stuff indeed!
The Adio Eugene skate shoe is one of our favorites not only for it’s awesome look and design but for it’s great fit and performance. Strong colors and powerful graphics dominate this shoe. Throw in the traditional cup sole Adio is known for and double protective padded tongue support and additional ankle supports and you’ve got an all around killer shoe for skating or just chillin in.
Adio footwear was created with a specific goal which is to bring skaters across the globe together by making top of the line footwear designed by the Adio team of pros that would function flawlessly for every kind of skater. These shoes are made by skaters for skaters. For over a decade now, Adio has been
world renowned as a leader in the industry of skateboard shoes, but as always their goal stays true to it’s origins, to create reasonably priced, high performance footwear for all skaters around the world.
The Adio Eugene come with the following features:
- Features the traditional Eugene shape.
- Regular fit with a good level of width and padded for a old school skate feel.
- Leather or synthetic leather upper.
- Killer graphics and colors.
- Strobal stitching for added resistance and wear and tear.
- Adio shock absorbing system with full midsole for great fit and support while skating.
- 400 NBS rubber cupsole for super board grip.
With all their success in recent years, Adio has created a team of top pro skaters to stand behind their cause. Kenny Anderson, Matt Mumford, Ernie Torres, Joey Brezinski, Steve Nesser, and Christ Troy all bring their own unique styles to the mix and help Adio come up with some excellent skateboard shoes.
Created and designed by professional skater Kenny Anderson and the Adio team, the Adio Kenny skate shoe is simply a skater dream come true with all the features and functions of them. The tough resistant upper comes in either action leather, dual leather, synthetic leather or canvas. The excellent cupsole function gives gives you great board feel when riding. The 3 dimensional rubber toe guard and P.U soles make this one of our favourite Adio shoes out there! They look great and are super durible. They also provide awesome board grip and that’s a very important feature in a skate shoe. If they’re no good for skating then they wont be much good for you. Besides all the techinal features the Adio Kenny also looks really slick and comes in several terrific colors and styles.
Features Include:
- Durible leather upper.
- Well built cupsole design for an awesome riding experence.
- 3D formed toe guard for protection and long wear and tear.
- 3D molded logo.
- Hidden lacing system.
- Tongue placement straps.
- Lightweight
These shoes are Designed and tested by pro skaters from the Adio team, the Adio Hamilton shoe combines clean, crisp style with everything you need in technical skate shoe. They come with either a Soft yet durable leather or sport suede upper. An awesome design includes the Adio logo in 3 dimension on the sides and back of the shoe and features like thick supportive mesh tongue with placement straps and foam protective collar keep you comfortable while wearing them and helps to protect your foot and ankle from injury. Super comfortable fabric lining and padded insoles top it off for maximum comfort and performance. These skate shoes will also maintain a super sweet board grip and feel with the addition of herringbone stamped gum rubber soles.
While these shoes may not turn you pro in a week they can help your skating reach that next level with top of the line features created specifically with the skaters needs in mind. Other features include a dual leather nubuck upper, with a 3D protective toe-guard, optional hidden lacing system and streachy tongue-stabalizing straps to keep the tounge in place and prevent the annoying feeling of having it move from side to side as you walk or skate.
Features include:
- Mixed leather combo, textile and durable uppers.
- Tricot inner for a ultra comfy fit.
- Venting systems for breathability and airflow.
- Foam tongue and collar for support and fit.
- Synthetic herringbone outsole for a great grip and board feel.
- Comes with extra set of laces.
Before going and spending good money on a great pair of skate shoes you should take a little bit of time to consider your specific needs and wants in a skate shoe. A little bit for forethought and research will pay off big time in he end and keep you from having a great pair of shoes that do nothing but collect dust in your closet. Here are a few items to consider before making your purchase:
* Fit: Some shoes have a wide fit and some a narrow fit. Don’t just get something because it looks cool. If it isn’t a proper fit to your foot then don’t waste your money. You want to get about one half inch between your big toe and the end of the shoe.
* Skating needs: Consider if you will be using your new skate shoes for a lot of skateboarding or do you want something that just looks good to hang out in. If you are going to be using them for a lot of skating then be sure to get something made from tough, long lasting materials.
* Cost: Everyone wants a great looking pair of shoes. But you don’t want to be scared to shred em up and have some fun in them either. Think about how much you want to spend and how quickly your skating will wear out your new kicks. If you think you will be going through a lot of skate shoes then budget accordingly and pick a shoe that will meet both your skating and style needs.
* Read The Specs: Be sure to read through the details we provide you when you find a new shoe you like. We offer you all the info you need on every pair of skate shoes so you can make an informed decision. Things like lace protectors, ollie and toe pads, heel cushion systems…we give you all the details so read before you decide. Many brands like Adio Shoes and DC Shoes offer you an huge variety of fit, grip and flex to give you the very best board feel and skate experience.
On April 3rd,2008 ESPN announced it would be ending its Vert skateboarding contest for the X Games.
This is one of the X Games longest running events and has naturally caused a great deal of controversy throughout the extreme sports world. It was during the vert skating that the world witnessed Tony Hawks mind blowing 900,pushing the bounds of skateboarding and physics Tony Hawk has picked up 16 gold medals since 1995 in the vert section and it’s been a staple for many other pros like Andy Macdonald and Pierre Luc Gagnon, both multiple gold medal winners.
The X-Games vert contest helped push skateboarding into the mainstream in the late 90s and also paved the way for things to come in the world of the X-Games and extreme sports.
But as early as 2000 ratings for the vert contests have have gone down and ratings have dropped significantly every year over the last 4 years. Sponsors such as Red Bull and Vans have pulled out and ESPN fully stand behind their choice to replace it with a “super park” saying it was verts time to go.
The Call To Save Vert…
A lot of industry pros are standing up for X Games vert.
Skaters like Andy Macdonald are pushing to keep it and have cited the events format as a possible cause in the down slide of ratings. Macdonald has said the contests needs more skating action to keep the interest peaked and to keep the entire thing feeling less like a “Golf game” with far too many breaks in the action.
Many skaters and fans alike want to keep the event around and are hoping to get bigger ramp contests involving new super ramps such as the “Mega Ramp”. Many fear without the support of the X Games this evolution of Vert skating will be stunted. Along with the progression of vert only tricks and the sport as a whole.
Time to go?…
Other Skaters and industry leaders agree with ESPN, even if it’s with a heavy heart. Some see the decision as merely an attempt to stay ahead of the curve and the introduction on the super park as a way to push the limits of skateboarding and skate contests. For now the X Games will have to wait and see if the super park pays off and is a positive influence on the sport.
The future of vert is unknown at this point. If this is another mini death for the sport it wont be the 1st.Vert has been forced underground a number of times over past decades. There has been a decline in vert ramps at parks and many feel it will be going back to private warehouses and backyards.
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Price is often an issue when buying new skate shoes, especially with today’s tough economy. Most people don’t want to be putting out hundreds if not thousands of dollars in new skate shoes every year. However it’s always a balance act between good price and good durability/board feel and grip. You may find that saving a few dollars on cheap shoes will only result in them getting worn down quickly and you having to go through more pairs. Pretty much defeats the purpose of buying cheap ones in the first place, doesn’t it?
Well there is a difference between “cheap” and inexpensive. If you really need a solid skate shoe to last you for months or maybe longer consider buying shoes with a non-vulcanized sole. This will give the soles of your shoes extra toughness and long life. Do consider however that vulcanized soles are thinner which will result in a somewhat better skating experience due to heighten board feel and grip. Brands like DC Shoes and Adio Shoes offer you awesome technical skate shoes at a decent price. Some of their series get expensive but a mid rage DC shoe should offer you top of the line features without breaking the bank. If you need something that costs a little less consider a brand like Vans skate shoes. They make good all around shoes at excellent prices. You may not have all the bells and whistles that come with the more higher end brands however for the money spent Vans are a great buy indeed.
So take your time and figure out what skate shoe is going to both meet your budget needs and your skateboarding needs.
With so many awesome shoes and signature models on the market today it should be no problem finding the right one for you. And we are here to help
We hope this gives you a little insight on price factors when considering buying new skateboarding footwear.
