It’s been just over a year since we last reviewed an ASICS skate shoe, but the brand hasn’t been idle. ASICS put together an Australian team and dropped a team video, they’ve been strategically seeding pairs to some of the most stylish skaters out there, and expanding their distribution footprint across North America and Europe. Most recently, they’ve partnered with artist Lucas Beaufort to launch the “Heartsy Tour,” a vibrant cross-country initiative repainting iconic skate spots and throwing skate jams in collaboration with local shops.
Unlike other brands flooding the market, ASICS is taking a measured approach. Their skate lineup remains tight—just three to five models depending on your region—anchored by the Vickka Pro and Japan Pro. Rather than chasing hype, they’re focused on authenticity, planting roots in the skate scene the right way.
With that philosophy in mind, we got our hands on the ASICS VIC NBD. While it looked like a low-profile silhouette in clips, in person, the shoe revealed a ton of thoughtful design details we couldn’t wait to test. Interestingly, the VIC NBD draws inspiration from the outsole of the 1989 GEL-EXTREME, a high-performance basketball shoe that’s now considered retro gold. ASICS Skateboarding has taken that legacy and reengineered it—boosting its cushioning and durability to meet the demands of modern skating. Naturally, we had to see for ourselves. Read on to find out how they held up.
The Asics Vic NBD fits true to size.
The ASICS Vic NBD features an intriguing mix of materials in its upper construction, with one side crafted from durable suede and the other from lightweight, breathable mesh. A reinforced suede toe cap adds extra protection in a high-wear area. Over the course of our 10-hour wear test, the suede toe cap showed some signs of abrasion, but the rest of the upper remained virtually untouched—a testament to the thoughtful material choices.
Much of the shoe’s durability comes from its robust sole construction. The outsole is notably thick and made from a harder rubber compound that proved highly resistant to wear, most likely inspired by the retro basketball days. While this contributes to impressive longevity, it does come with a trade-off: the hard outsole material made it noticeably harder to flick during flip tricks, which may be a drawback for more technical skaters.
The cushioning on the ASICS Vic NBD strikes a well-balanced feel. Its construction features a thin cupsole, a foam wedge made from ASICS’ FF BLAST™ material, and a cushioned foam insole. The foam wedge is the primary source of impact protection in the midfoot and heel, but the high sidewalls of the outsole also play a key role—they allow the foot to sink slightly into the shoe, offering not just underfoot cushioning but also added lateral support and containment. Overall, this setup performed well in our wear test, effectively absorbing medium-impact landings while maintaining board feel and stability.
The ASICS Vic NBD has a unique shape with two distinct visual impressions. From a top-down view, the shoe features a slim, snug-fitting upper paired with a relatively wide sole—an element that actually helps provide added protection against ankle rolls. However, from the side or in photos, the shoe appears bulkier, largely due to the thicker-looking sole construction. Despite this visual contrast, the fit while skating feels tight and secure across the entire foot. The silhouette runs parallel through the midfoot and tapers into a nicely pointed toe, giving it a precise, responsive feel on the board.
From a sole construction standpoint, the ASICS Vic NBD checks all the boxes for solid boardfeel. The forefoot is thin, with minimal material between the foot and the board, allowing for precise contact. However, the boardfeel took a few sessions to fully develop, as the outsole was initially quite stiff and needed time to break in. After about three sessions, the shoe began to mold to the griptape, and the boardfeel improved noticeably—remaining consistently sharp from that point on.
That said, the trade-off for the outsole’s impressive durability is a slight compromise in grip. The harder, more abrasion-resistant rubber sacrifices some stickiness compared to softer outsoles, which typically offer better grip but wear down faster. As a result, the Vic NBD’s grip lands at an average level for a cupsole—not bad, but not exceptional either.
The ASICS Vic NBD stands out for its comfort, thanks to a combination of thoughtful design choices. First, the padded tongue and collar offer a snug yet comfortable fit, minimizing unwanted foot movement inside the shoe. Second, the tongue is secured with internal straps that keep it firmly in place during sessions. Third, the mixed-material upper—featuring suede on one side and lightweight mesh on the other—helps reduce overall weight, especially considering the shoe’s robust sole.
Stability is another strong suit of the Vic NBD. The wide, stable sole combined with the slim-fitting upper creates a locked-in, confident feel while skating. The heel area is particularly well-reinforced, with multiple structural layers that help the shoe maintain its shape even after 10 hours of wear testing. However, one trade-off comes in the form of the large mesh panel: while it enhances breathability and comfort, it slightly reduces upper stability compared to a full-suede or leather construction.
The ASICS Vic NBD delivers standout stability, durability, and boardfeel, with grip and flick performance that may take a bit more time to dial in.
