Ninja Stars and Latex KA-POW!

Remember the days when skate shoes looked like they were lined with bubble wrap? Bulky shoes that somehow became a huge fad to skaters and all those kids who dressed like skaters. In those days there was one company, to me, that was the epitome of bulk. That was Osiris Shoes to their defense Osiris was not the only shoe company that produced these types of shoes, but for me at least whenever I thought about it. I thought Osiris.

Well its 2009 now and thank God that most skateboard footwear companies have trimmed down on the fat ( sorta speak ) Osiris has always had the reputation for building tough shoes. Shoes that can stand the wear and tear of daily skating. To this day my Jerry Hsu Chinos are still being actively used and have stood the test of time and failed heel flips!

Our Test Subject today is the new Osiris Shuriken Shannon signature shoe aptly named The Shuriken at a retail price of about $69.99 its a decent price point for your typical skater and their parents.




Construction:

The Shuriken is constructed with a combination of Suede and synthetic uppers. Its a standard skate shoe shape very much like the Chino. It comes with a EVA full latex wrapped mid-sole for durablility. Vulcanized out-sole with a vulcanized wrap.

The synthetic leather upper is accented by a shimmery leather than adds a bit more pizzaz to the shoe. So you can possibly wear this out on a dinner date with your favorite girl/guy. Metal Osiris accents adorn the upper as well as a Ninja Star/ Shuriken on the tongue. Horizontal stitching run up the upper to add reinforcements. Aesthetically this is a nicely built shoe.

Another nice touch is the metal aglets ( shoelace tips ) on the shoelaces. It simply added to the overall sleek design of the shoe.


The ollie area is triple re-inforced for added durability. One area could have received more coverage, but design-wise I can see why it was done. Hey, you cant have looks and performance all the time! haha!




Toe Cap:

The toe cap comes with a double stitched suede / synthetic leather construction. The synthetic leather on the toe cap is so buttery smooth and comfortable. Aesthetically I like how it shimmers. Not only does it give it a bit of a fancy side, it also aids ( somewhat ) in hiding toe creases. The smoothness of the toe cap also aided in performing flip tricks. It was soft enough to give me maximum feel of my board while keeping me confident that the construction will hold up over time.




Breathability: Aside from the two vent holes and maybe the tounge there isnt much in the way of ventilation on this shoe. It was a hot day here in San Diego today so my feet were burning a bit. As always it doesnt help wearing black shoes on a hot day, but aside from that breathabilty was not a serious issue.






Insole: Standard insole.







Outsole:

The outsole is a vulcanized outsole with a traditional herringbone pattern and the traditional Osiris Logo locaton on the balls of your feet. The herringbone is designed aggressively for added traction. The grip of the outsole is nice very grippy which gave me a bit more confidence that board would stay beneath my feet.






Overall: This is one comfortable shoe. Much like the Jerry Hsu Chino's these are simply comfortable. The padded collar and the padded tongue add to the comfort. From time to time I like to wear my shoes with no socks. Yes, its a bit gross, but its a habit of mine. These shoes felt so comfy with no socks it was an added bonus.

The board feel is nice and the shoe is pretty light weight. After skating on them for a few hours, they show little signs of use and im pretty sure once they really break in they will perform to its full potential.

Shuriken Shannon and Osiris have designed a very nice shoe at a very modest price point.

Special Thanks: Osiris for hooking me up with pair, much appreciated!

To view more of Osiris' 2009 line of footwear please visit www.osirisshoes.com