Kenny Anderson leaves Adio

Well from what we are hearing Kenny Anderson has left Adio and is now back skating for Converse. This change was said to have happened a week or so ago, but it has been something Kenny has been thinking about for quite some time. It was an amicable split, it looks as though Kenny just needed something fresh and new.
At Converse Kenny joins, Pops, Ethan Fowler, Sammy Baca, Raymond Molinar, Nick Trapasso Rune, and Eli Reed! Visit Converse Skateboarding for more information on Converse and their newly formed team. Good luck with Converse Kenny!

My Top 5 with Brandon Biebel

Name: Brandon Biebel

Sponsors:
Girl Skateboards
Lakai
Matix
Silver
FKD
Dakine
FTC
The Berrics
Diamond
Redbull
Neff
Mobb
Momentum

Top 5 Skateboard footwear:

Lakai Shoes, Lakai Sox

Bonus Question: Name your favorite basketball shoe(s) of all time!

Jordans All Day! Lebrons, Kobes, Carmelos


Linkage:

www.twitter.com/bbiebel
www.BiebelsWorld.com ( Coming Soon )

Jamie Palmore now on Osiris Shoes

Well its official! Sk8Mafia's own Jamie Palmore is now riding for Osiris! We feel this is a very good move by Osiris. Adding Jamie to the team brings them one more notch up in getting "back into the game." Now with Jamie skating along side Corey Duffel and Shuriken Shannon we can only dream and wait for the next Osiris video.

Congrats Jamie!

My Top 5 with Willy Santos

Name: Willy Manaloto Santos


Sponsors:
Birdhouse Skateboards
Satori Wheels
Ninja Bearings
Ironhorse Griptape
Arnette
Willys Workshop
Happy Sushi

My Top 5 skate shoes Past or Present

1. Vans Era

My mom promised me if I scored a goal she would get me a pair vans. So, I scored!
(Note: We are guessing Soccer, since we highly doubt Willy has ever played Hockey! hah! )

2. Nike Air Jordan 1

These were obvious made for basketball but they were super durable for skateboarding & very comfortable.

  




3. Airwalk Enigma 

I got sponsored by Airwalk & these were the 1st shoes they sent me. I was so happy when I got that package.

  




4. Vans Steve Caballero Full & Half Cab

Not much to say here... Just simply the best.

  




5. Vans Willy Santos 1


It was an honor to have a signature shoe with vans & I'm super thankful for that & the way the shoe turned out.

Linkage!

Twitter.com/WillySantos

www.WillySantos.com 


Note: If youre ever in the San Diego area make sure to visit Willys two skateshops in Rancho Penasquitos and Mira Mesa! For all shoe heads the Mira Mesa store is currently have a 60% OFF sale on ALL shoes.. Cant beat that!

Lakai MJ5 video

Here is a new video of the Marc Johnson 5 Lakai/Chocolate Colab..

Cup Soles vs. Vulcanized Soles - The Debate Continues.

In recent years the most debated part of a skateboarding shoe, that we have heard, has always been the difference between the cup sole, and the vulcanized sole.

To those not familiar with the terms or the difference. Let us explain.

Sneak Peak: Etnies Ryan Sheckler

Here is a quick look at Ryan Sheckler's upcoming Etnies pro model shoe. Its a pretty simple design, which is great! The design kinda reminds me of Vans, which is such a hot thing right now! We arent complaining though we love Vans and we love simple skate shoes! The one piece toe cap is nice, less fabric to frill from ollies and flip tricks. As always a good number of nice colorways can make a shoe go from "Ehh its ok" to "WOW!" we will just have to wait and see!

 We dont have a release date for the shoe, but we are guessing Spring 2010. Well let you know more about the shoe and release date once they become available.

Photos were made available via Ryan Sheckler

For more information please visit Etnies

Sneak Peak: Chico Brenes DVS x LRG colab "NOW"

Early this year LRG got together with DVS shoes to come up with a two part shoe for long time rider Chico Brenes. The "Then" version was a special designed DVS Munition CT Mid with Red Flannel Accents and the insole printed with Chicos first pro board graphic from World Industries.


THEN

 

 Today via his Twitter account, Chico gave us a sneak peak of the "NOW" version of the shoe. The shoe is set to drop soon along with new footage. For more information visit www.dvsshoes.com for now enjoy the sneak peak!

NOW

The shoe appears to have a snake skin accent. Along with snakeskin like laces to match. More info as the release date gets closer!

Sneak Peak: Mike Mo Capaldi's new Lakai signature shoe

We were blessed today with a sneak peak of a finished sample of Mike Mo's upcoming Lakai signature shoe. Set to be released March 2010. This picture was provided via Mike Mo from Twitter this morning. Theres really not that much info we have on the shoes other than the picture, but we do trust in Lakai to put out a quality product. As the release date gets closer we hope to be able to provide you with additional details regarding the shoe.


Enjoy the pic

Nike SB Omar Salazar Pro Model

As many of might have already heard. Nike SB is coming out with an Omar Salazar signature shoe. It will incorporate Nike's Flywire Technology to assist in locking down your ankle.

Check out this video from Nike SB regarding the new shoe.



Watching the video makes you appreciate this shoe that much more. It gives you insight on construction, technology, inspiration. From this video alone, I have become a fan of this shoe.

As footwear junkie, Im totally geeking on this shoe. Nike has always set the standard for innovation and with this shoe, it seems as though they have upped the ante.

Release date: Spring 2010

Check out more future releases from NikeSB

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

An instant Classic?

DC Shoes have come a long way from the days of Droors Clothing. In my opinion no company has been so adamant about design and the advancement for technology in their footwear. Some have been successful and some have been either mocked or ridiculed by their target group. As the say, however, beauty is in the mind of the beholder. Say what you want about DC and their so called space boots or futuristic design, you cannot take away the fact that if you really love shoes, you love their dedication to advancement of skateboard footwear technology. From nylon hoops to protect laces, to their super suede technology every shoe DC comes out with reflects the love and the dedication they have for skateboard footwear.


Our test subject for today is the Rob Dyrdek 1.0 Signature Model.



Construction:

The Rob Dyrdek signature model is crafted using Performalite Polyurethane, Super Suede and abrasion resilient leathers. The shoe is a super light and at times it felt as though I was wearing flip flops. They are nice and comfy and require little break in. The shoe comes equipped with heel air bags for greater comfort and protection. I must admit im not a bog fan of air bags on skate shoes due to their ability to pop and pop often, but with everything else that comes with the shoe. That is one thing I can look past.





Toe Cap:

The toe cap comes with a triple stitched construction that will assist with helping the toe cap last through the numerous ollies and flip tricks. The toe cap is constructed using DCs abrasion resistant leathers, along with super suede. The shoe has remarkable feel while skating and performed well during flip tricks. Not too bulky and not too thin.





Breathability:

Surprisingly this shoe has decent vents to keep your feet nice and cool. The tongue comes with the standard mesh vents and the top cap comes with perforations to add more breathability. After 2-3 hrs of skating I had no issues with my feet getting hot and uncomfortable.




Footbed:

A footbed is a footbed! Got issues? Buy some Dr. Scholls.... :)





Outsole:

This is what impressed me the most about the shoe. The outsole is specifically design with a skateboarder in mind! The toe and heel of the outsole comes with your standard herringbone pattern for traction when pushing your skateboard from one obstacle to another. The rest of the outsole is made with DCs Dynamite Grip Technology ( DGT ) which is designed to not only grip your board but is somewhat flexible to give your feet just enough movement without causing injury.






Overall:

Overall I love this shoe! Its one of the better skateboard shoes I have put on in a long time. Its a classic DC shoe. No frills, No gimmicks, just an awesome skateboard shoe. DC and Rob Dyrdek have done a great job on this shoe. I now wish I would have bought multiple pairs since we all know skate shoes dont last forever... unless, you dont skate...

Parts of a shoe

As this blog rolls along I will be talking about parts of different shoes and using names some might not be familiar with. I will try not to get to technical with it 'cause for one it gets to be too much and two I just wont have the time to explain EVA Injection molds to you all HAH!

To help here is a simple sketch of a shoe with call outs of the different parts of an athletic shoe.

Nike SB Zoom FC

First of all I know this shoe is roughly 2 years old. Maybe even more, but you cant deny a good shoe no matter how old it is. Just look at the long lasting boom of the retro shoe craze!

Our first shoe to review is the Nike SB Zoom FC. This shoe was in production in 2006. It is a shoe that is inspired by Football ( Soccer Trainers ) trainers. I recently ran into these shoes while shopping at Willys Workshop in Mira Mesa, CA www.willysantos.com . To my surprise these shoes were a whopping 60% off! I just couldnt resist! This was also the shoe that inspired me to start this blog, therefore it gets the first review even though it is 2 years old. So here goes!


Construction:

There is really nothing new to the design of this shoe. It is a classic Football Trainer. Exquisite in its simplicity this shoe will catch your eyes on and off a skateboard. To those that are not familiar with football trainers, they basically are shoes that Football players use off the field therefore the style and construction mimics that of a Football/Soccer cleat.

The contrast double stiching on the shoe is a nice touch that adds elegance to its look while adding reinforcments to all areas of the shoe through the rigors of skateboarding.

Another nice touch is the faux snakeskin on the swoosh. Again a nice elegant touch by the Nike design team.

I have my doubts about the longevity of this shoe for skateboarding due to its denim fabric. I have a good feeling that after a few hours of skating you would really see a big difference in how your shoe looks after. I personally prefer a suede toe cap for skating 'cause IMO i just feel they last longer.



Toe Cap:

Due to the nature of skateboarding the toe cap plays a pivotal part in the longevity of the shoe. This shoe comes equipped with a double reinforced toe cap as well as added layers to ollie spots.
However these shoes are not bulky and provide an excellent feel when skating.


Breathability:

This is the one thing that worries me about the shoe, the most. Its Denim, I live in Southern California. When it gets hot, this shoe will get hot with it! The padded tounge appears to have this problem solved with a mesh overlay, but its more for aesthetics than anything. It will give you some relief, but not much.


Footbed:

As the name its self implies this shoe comes with a zoom air footbed. The zoom air footbed is a nice addition strong enough to prevent heel bruises, but also thin enough to give you that adequate board feel.




Outsole:

The outsole is a standard herringbone pattern with strategically placed sections at the ball and heel of the outsole for added traction during pivoting.




Insole:

To me an insole is an insole..but thats just me. This one comes with a anatomically contoured footbed, which was designed to make your feet that much more comfortable.

Overall:

I like this shoe... am I gonna skate in them? I highly doubt it! The NikeSB Zoom FC is tagged as a skateboarding shoe, but we all know the market for them. Hypbeasts, SneakerHeads. Sadly the FC was discontinued from the SB line, but suprisingly there has been 2 new colorways introduced in 09. We'll just have to wait and see!

Intro

What is MidSole Story?

MidSole Story is my new blog dedicated to reviewing Skateboard specific footwear. I will attempt to provide in depth information regarding each specific shoe from top to bottom. Each shoe will be wear tested ( if possible ) to give you a more precise look into the durability of each shoe.

I came up with this idea, because I love shoes first and foremost! Another reason I decided to do this, is because I was having such a tough time looking through sites hoping to find REAL reviews of shoes, other than descriptions provided by the maker.

So in the next coming weeks look out for our first reviews!

NOTE: I am not affiliated with any of the companies I will be reviewing. The funds for the footwear come right out of my own pocket! BUT if companies wanna send me some to review I wear a size 9! HAHA.

In all seriousness this is about the shoes....the love for them and the joy of breaking one fresh out the box!


Rich