After seeing Braden’s breakout part in Emerica’s Emerge video, with his first two rail tricks alone, it’s clear he’s been mentored by Leo Romero and is a natural fit for both Emerica and Toy Machine. It wasn’t until watching him live at World Skate Lausanne, where he landed a kickflip nose grind on the massive hubba in every run, that we fully realized his consistency, skill, and unique style. His flair not only sets him apart among the world’s best but also builds anticipation for his next street part.

Originally from Encinitas, California, Hoban has been carving out a name for himself and his sponsors, bringing a raw edge to modern skateboarding that hasn’t been seen since the early 2000s. Just last month, Emerica released his Into The Light video part to celebrate his first pro model release, The Hoban. We got our hands on a pair and put them to the test—read on to see how Emerica’s newest addition performed in our 10-hour wear test.

SIZING

The Emerica Hoban fits true to size.

DURABILITY

The Emerica Hoban performed well in terms of durability during our 10-hour wear test. The sole is thick and high, making it the first area to show signs of abrasion, yet it withstood wear impressively. Thanks to the sole’s high sidewalls, the upper sits deeply within the shoe, offering excellent protection.

As a result, the upper showed minimal wear and it includes several durability features. First, the toe cap panel is triple-stitched and attached to the forefoot panel using a stitch-and-turn technique, creating a thick seam that enhances the flick. Second, the quarter panel is positioned away from the critical Ollie zone, reducing wear. Finally, while the lacing system is wide and somewhat susceptible to ripping, the Hoban offers a hidden lacing option for added resilience. Together, these features contribute to the shoe’s robust durability.

CUSHIONING

The Emerica Hoban features a straightforward vulcanized sole construction, with cushioning provided by the insole. The sole itself is thin, which limits its natural cushioning ability. As shown in the profile picture of the shoe, the removable insole, known as EM-PACT, is designed with a raised heel for impact protection and a lower profile in the toe area for enhanced board feel. During our 10-hour wear test, the sole and upper together provided reliable impact protection.

SHAPE

The Emerica Hoban features a slim forefoot design that widens through the midfoot and heel areas. The heel is cut low, leaving the ankles more exposed, which accommodates both wide and slim foot shapes. Subtle padding in the heel and tongue adds bulk to these areas but tapers to a thinner toe area for a streamlined fit. The midfoot tapers almost parallel toward the toe, ending in a slightly pointed shape. The sole is well-designed with an ideal height, allowing the rubber and suede materials that contact the griptape to work effectively together, providing a precise and direct flick.

BOARDFEELI&IGRIP

The thick insole has the main aim to increase the cushioning of the Hoban. As seen in the cross section picture, the insole tapers from a heel to toe. In the toe area the difference in thickness essential for boardfeel. The thin front of the Hoban creates a good board feel and the feet have a close connection with the board, exactly where it is needed. The sole construction felt rather stiff in the first session and developed its full flexibility throughout our 10 hour wear test while staying on a high level. The sole construction did not get softer over time.

The Emerica Hoban has excellent grip and is the highlight. The wider sole thread patter in the first two thirds of the show is flexible so the sole sinks well on the griptape and create a grippy feeling. In the beginning the grip was almost too much so it needed some time to get used to and with that said, the grip did get better with more skating and after being broken in.

COMFORTI&ISTABILITY

The Hoban has two drawbacks and one positive point in terms of comfort. On the plus side, the inner construction is clean, and the tongue strap effectively keeps everything in place. However, the shoe is quite heavy for a vulcanized model, which was noticeable right out of the box; this is due to the sole construction and full-suede upper. Additionally, the shoe lacks breathability features, so there’s nothing to prevent feet from overheating.

The stability of the shoe is solid. After our 10-hour wear test, we found that the sole is stable, while the suede overlays on the upper maintained their structure throughout. Though the shoe is cut very low, Emerica added a “heel anchor”—a padded, inset collar—that effectively helps lock the heel in place.

SUMMARY

The Hoban is an all-around high-performing shoe, noted for its excellent grip, durability, and stability. However, there’s room for improvement in terms of comfort, as the shoe is somewhat heavy and lacks breathability.

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SIZING

The Emerica Wino G6 Slip Cup fits true to size.

DURABILITY

We evaluated the durability of the Wino G6 Slip Cup by examining both the sole and the upper. Starting with the upper, it features a minimalist design which leaves very little space for seams or material to rip in the critical forefoot area. In our 10-hour wear test, the main upper panel showed almost no signs of wear. However, the seams connecting the forefoot panel with the heel panel, including the lining, ripped on the upper.

When it came to the sole, which is the key player of the shoe’s overall durability. The thick outsole side areas provided protection for the toe area, and the durability was good, despite some signs of wear in the kickflip area.

CUSHIONING

The Wino G6 Slip Cup excels in cushioning performance, making it one of the model’s key technical highlights. The shoe’s polyurethane cushioning material is poured into the cupsole, resulting in a sole construction that consists of a thin outsole, G6 cushioning foam, and a sockliner. The cushioning is designed to be slightly thinner in the front for better boardfeel, while the thicker layer in the heel protects against heel bruises. Additionally, the shoe comes with a removable insole that provides an added dampening effect. As a result, the Wino G6 Slip Cup is not only recommended for low-impact skating, but also for tougher landings, as it effectively cushions falls.

SHAPE

The shape and silhouette of the Wino G6 Slip Cup is very streamlined. The upper pattern feels tight and close around the feet, but all designs maintain their classic Emerica Wino look.

BOARDFEELI&IGRIP

When we reviewed Spanky’s KSL G6 shoe, which has a similar sole construction as the Wino Slip Cup, we criticized its boardfeel and grip. However, when we skated in the Wino G6 Slip Cup, we were impressed. The boardfeel and grip were comparable to those of a vulcanized shoe, thanks to a different upper construction, compared to the KSL G6. The shoe’s extremely simple upper combined with the advanced sole construction provided more flexibility for the shoe to lay into the concave of the board and maintain a larger surface area in contact with the griptape.

COMFORTI&ISTABILITY

The Emerica Wino G6 Slip Cup offers average comfort and stability. Let’s start with the positive aspects: the shoe’s well-designed straps and pattern make it easy to step into, and the padding in the heel area feels great due to a careful selection of materials. However, the shoe lacks ventilation to allow hot air from the feet to escape. After skating in the heat, those who easily get sweaty feet will find it hard to keep the shoes on for a long time since the suede absorbs some of the sweat.

The Wino G6 Slip Cup fits snugly to the feet, providing a secure feel with no slipping, but its thin upper construction and materials offers only minor protection. Despite this, the shoe keeps its shape very well and the cupsole construction helps to create very stable feeling for a slip-on model.

SUMMARY

The Wino G6 Slip Cup strikes a great balance between boardfeel and cushioning, and its cupsole construction is solidifying its place as one of the most stable slip-on shoes in the market. Durability could be enhanced, and it can’t be matched with a full-on cupsole shoe, but is a great offering for those who want an aesthetically minimal looking shoe that can handle wear and tear.

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SIZING

The Emerica KSL G6 fits true to size.

DURABILITY

The three main areas to evaluate the durability of a skate shoe include the toe area, the mid foot area, and the outsole. The KSL is made out of a combination of suede and synthetic materials. The synthetic material enhanced the structural stability of the shoe and the suede attributed to the flick and durability of the shoe. The material of the first material layer in the forefoot was suede and overall, held up very well. The double-stitched suede piece around the toe kept its place during our 10 hour wear test, but the stitching ripped quickly. The midfoot area of the shoe didn’t show too much signs of wear, and even seams that connect the two pieces together did not rip. Lastly, the shoe’s thick outsole side areas helped to protect the toe area and the durability was good. All in all, the KSL has an overall solid durability with the most wear concentrated in the toe area.

CUSHIONING

The KSL G6’s cushioning performance is one of the highlights of the model, with Emerica’s G6 cushioning featured in the name of the shoe. The polyurethane cushioning material is poured into the cupsole, which creates a sole construction out of a thin outsole, G6 cushioning foam and a sockliner. The cushioning is designed slightly thinner in the front to provide boardfeel while the thicker layer in the heel protects against bruises. Not only that, it’s combined with a removable insole that adds a certain dampening effect. As a result, the KSL G6 can be recommended not only for low impact skating but also for tougher landings as it manages to cushion bails quite successfully.

SHAPE

The shape and silhouette of the KSL G6 is interesting. The model has a slightly wide cut in the toe area, but offers closer contact within the midfoot section and the heel area, which improves board contact without compromising stability. The model has a nice ankle height, which offers a secure feeling for those who dread the random ankle rolls during a session. The shape of the toe area, and the suede material, provides a great flick, and in combination with the leather material, the shoe kept its high performing shape over the 10 hour test. The shape can be recommended for people with wider feet especially in the toe area and ankle area.

BOARDFEEL & GRIP

Boardfeel and grip were two weaknesses of this newly released Emerica model. Even-though the outsole was very thin, there was still some material between the board and foot, which made the overall boardfeel feel very indirect and soft. With regards to the grip, the rubber composite used held up well during our 10 hour wear test but the grip feels weaker than most and not very sticky. In all, the shoe’s boardfeel doesn’t feel very direct to the board and not as grippy as we typically like.

COMFORTI&ISTABILITY

The most important features for a comfortable skate shoe includes weight, ventilation and a well-crafted inner shoe area. The Emerica KSL G6 is lightweight and the inner area was designed very well to allow a nice fit to the feet. The breathability of the shoe was adequate; just enough, but no bells or whistles. The combination of suede and synthetic upper materials has its strength when it comes to stability. Overall, the stability is good and well balanced, ensuring a secure feeling on and off the board. The heel area is stiff and the padding not only makes the shoe extremely comfortable to wear, but also secures the heel when skating. The midfoot area keeps the foot in place and prevents any horizontal movements within the shoe. The upper material did not stretch out at all during the test; this means the sidewalls won’t get flexible and lose their shape. The stability of the shoe should maintain its full potential over the whole lifespan of the shoe. The only disadvantage we noticed was within the forefoot area, where the shoe felt quite roomy and the material did not come that close to the toes.

SUMMARY

The Emerica KSL G6 is a clean looking shoe that features a well balanced design highlighted by the high performing durability and comfort/stability. The shoe also excels with its cushioning, which was a personal highlight. With that said, the boardfeel and grip in the forefoot section could be further improved, and the extra space within the toe area was quite noticeable.

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SIZING

The Emerica Gamma fits true to size.

DURABILITY

The three main areas to evaluate the durability of a skate shoe include the toe area, the mid foot area, and the outsole. The Gamma colorway we tested out was made of synthetic leather around the toe area. This enhanced the structural stability of the shoe, but the durability of the first material layer in the forefoot was only average. The double-stitched wrap around the toe cap kept its place during our weartest, but the stitching ripped quickly and the first layer was noticeably worn down. With that said, there is a rubber underlay beneath and once the first layer was ripped, there was another rubber layer and leather layer that reinforced the shoe’s durability and lifespan. The midfoot area of the shoe didn’t show too much signs of wear, and even seams that connect the two pieces together did not rip. Lastly, the third point of reference when evaluating the durability of a shoe, is the shoe’s outsole. After our weartest, the side areas of the outsole helped protect the toe area and the durability was very good. All in all, the Gamma has an overall average durability with the most wear concentrated within the toe area.

CUSHIONING

The Gamma’s cushioning performance was good, mainly due to its Formula G full length EVA foam cushioning layer. The cushioning was designed thinner in the front to provide enough boardfeel while the thicker layer in the heel protects against bruises. It is combined with a removable insole that adds a certain dampening effect. As a result, the Gamma can be recommended not only for low impact skating but also for tougher landings as it manages to cushion bails quite successfully.

SHAPE

The shape and silhouette of the Gamma is a highlight. The shoe is designed to have a clean cut from heel to toe. The model has a slightly wide cut in the toe area, but offers closer contact midfoot section and the heel area, which improves board contact without compromising stability. The clean toe area provides great flick and in combination with the leather material the shoe to keep its shape over the 10 hour test.

BoardfeelI&IGrip

Boardfeel and grip are two additional strengths of this newly released Emerica model. The thinner forefoot area and sockliner in the first third of the shoe create a close connection between foot and board. As shown in the cross sectional cut, the sole is thin in the front and quite thick in the last third, the balance between cushioning and direct contact to the board was designed very well. With regards to the grip, the rubber composite used held up well during our weartest and provided a good abrasive flick. The sole of the shoe features a flexible sole tread pattern. This was a highlight since no blowout spots appeared and the grip of the sole proved to hold it down during the test.

COMFORTI&ISTABILITY

The most important features for a comfortable skate shoe includes weight, ventilation and a well-crafted inner shoe area. The Emerica Gamma is lightweight and the inner area is was designed very well to allow a nice fit to the feet. The breathability of the shoe was adequate, enough but no bells or whistles. The white leather upper material has its strength when it comes to stability and but wasn’t as flexible from the start. Overall, the stability is good and well balanced, ensuring a secure feeling on and off the board. The heel area is stiff and the padding makes the shoe extremely comfortable and also helps secure the heel when skating. The midfoot area keeps the foot in place and prevents any horizontal movements within the shoe. The upper material did not stretch out at all during the test. This means the sidewalls won’t get flexible and lose their shape, and the stability of the shoe should maintain its full potential over the whole lifespan of the shoe. The only disadvantage we noticed was within the forefoot area, where the shoe felt quite roomy and the material did not come that close to the toes.

SUMMARY

The Emerica Gamma is a clean looking shoe that features a well balanced design highlight between cushioning and boardfeel. The shoe also excels with its grip and shape, which was a personal highlight. With that said, the durability in the forefoot could be further improved, and the extra space within the toe area was quite noticeable.

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Sizing

The shoe fits true to size.

Durability

The clean-cut design of the Dickson is the true highlight for the overall shoe’s durability; but don’t mistake simplicity as a weakness, Emerica has also added a bunch of hidden technical features to further improve the shoe’s performance and lifespan. The most notable feature of the shoe is the one piece vamp in the forefoot area, which is well constructed by design as the panels stretch far back to the midfoot, which prevented redirected a lot of griptape contact away from the double seams in the ollie zone. Most abuse from skating is happening in the forefoot area, so Emerica took matters into their own hands, and added an additional thin rubber underlay beneath the suede, called Flick Shield. In our 10-hour test, the suede did not rip at all, so the Flick Shield didn’t show (you can see it in the half cut picture) but the addition of this Flick Shield technology not only provides more rigidity and structure to the toe cap area, but will serve as a second layer of defense and definitely make the shoe skate longer once the suede is ripped. Also, the shoe featured a double wrapped vulcanized construction which made the shoe’s outsole much thicker and helped withstand all 10 hours of skating, with minimal wear on the suede. Although overall the durability of the Dickson is very good, the laces did not last the first session due to its wide placement construction, and the lining of the heel collar did show signs of wear within the first 3 hours of skating.

Cushioning

The G6 cushioning has been in the product line for quite some time now and most Emerica signature models will feature this high-impact protective cushioning. G6 is made of an impact resistant Polyurethane foam. Emerica basically made a very thin vulcanized construction to have good boardfeel and flexibility of the sole while the G6 insole has the job of protecting from impact. This is a rather typical construction for vulc shoes. With that said, the impact filters through the midsole a bit, but ultimately hits directly to the feet through the G6 insole. If you take the Emerica Wino for example, it was originally an after-session chilling shoe, and the addition of the G6 helped it handle small to medium impact, proving the performance capabilities. All in all, the cushioning was fair for the Emerica Dickson.

Shape

The shape of the Dickson is a feature that’s well appreciated in a time where skate shoes are often either bulked up, cramped down, with an overcompensation of technical design features. The Dickson is long, a bit slimmer, and its weight of padding is evenly distributed which helps for a responsive flick. The toe piece tapers off a bit, but rounds out well. Moreover, the vulcanized construction is double layered so even when the first layer starts diagonally from griptape wear, there’s another layer there to maintain the shape of the shoe.

Board Feel & Grip

As with most vulcanized models, boardfeel and grip are the highlights of the shoe. This was definitely the case with the Dickson, which proved to have amazing grip throughout the 10 hour weartest, and had a lot of life in them for future sessions. The main technical feature of the shoe in terms of grip was the double vulcanized construction. It’s a classic design that many vulcanized skate shoes implement, however shoes do vary between the quality of materials used for the actual vulcanized rubber. As can be seen in the pictures, the rubber of the shoe worn down to a black layer, showing that there is another layer of protection underneath. This made the shoe’s grip stable and didn’t falter despite it getting worn down. The grip of the sole was good too; it features the triangle tread pattern and no blowout spots occurred through our weartest. Boardfeel of the shoe was good; the G6 insole flattens out much more in the first third of the shoe and the midsole itself is fairly thin, which provided for a responsive board feel for the feet.

Comfort and Stability

The comfort of a skateboard shoe is mainly influenced by its inner construction, weight and breathability. The inner construction of the Dickson is well designed for a comfortable fit, and the tongue is also held in position with big centering straps. With that said, the weight and breathability of the shoe do leave a negative impression after skating on a hot day. The shoe is heavy and does not leave much room for moisture to ventilate out of the shoe. The stability is influenced by how the shoe is keeping its shape as well as how the shoe hugs the foot. Both were positive features of the Dickson, resulting in a good comfort. The step-in area is well designed and the feeling is well supported by a stiffening element which helps to have a secure feeling.

Summary

The Emerica Dickson stands out due its great durability, boardfeel and grip, solidifying it’s status as one of the top vulcanized skateboard shoes on the market. The flaws noticed was the shoe’s weight and the breathability.

Check out Parade.com to get a pair. 

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DURABILITY

There’s no doubt about it, the Emerica Higher Quality slogan resonates strongly when it comes to durability; the durability of the shoe remained very good all throughout our ten hours of skating. The toe area of the shoe was the most impressive. Although there were a lot of attacks points from grip tape, the construction of the toe featured not only double stitching around the toe panel, but also a thermal welded hot melt that helped bond the panels together. Even with a few points of stitching torn apart, the hot melt ensured that the toe held it’s structure and durability throughout our weartest. The sidewalls didn’t have much wear to them, which happens a lot with other shoes from ollies and heelflips. The sole was in good condition as well, with no blow out spots or instant smearing of the rubber. With that said, the laces did rip apart quite fast, which isn’t the biggest deal since most shoes face that problem. But if the laces were positioned higher and away from the usual attacking points, the lifespan would be increased and be a good design feature to elevate the durability features.

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Sizing

The Emerica Reynolds G6 fits true to size.

Durability

There’s no doubt about it, the Emerica Higher Quality slogan resonates strongly when it comes to durability; the durability of the shoe remained very good all throughout our ten hours of skating. The toe area of the shoe was the most impressive. Although there were a lot of attacks points from grip tape, the construction of the toe featured not only double stitching around the toe panel, but also a thermal welded hot melt that helped bond the panels together. Even with a few points of stitching torn apart, the hot melt ensured that the toe held it’s structure and durability throughout our weartest. The sidewalls didn’t have much wear to them, which happens a lot with other shoes from ollies and heelflips. The sole was in good condition as well, with no blow out spots or instant smearing of the rubber. With that said, the laces did rip apart quite fast, which isn’t the biggest deal since most shoes face that problem. But if the laces were positioned higher and away from the usual attacking points, the lifespan would be increased and be a good design feature to elevate the durability features.

Shape

At first glace, the Emerica Reynolds G6 pays a bit of nostalgic tribute to the Reynolds 1 and 2, which we all know were quite bulky shoes as the 90’s ended and 00’s began. As time passed on, the overall shape of the shoe became slimmer to better fit the trends and progression of skateboarding. But now, the Reynolds G6 design knows where to put the bulk and where to leave it slim, thus creating the perfect balance between a puffy and slim shape. The shape of the shoe tapers off a bit near the toe area, making it pointier than round. The actually quality of the shape was impressive. Since there was a bit of padding near the sidewalls, we initially thought that the shape of the shoe would falter and become soft from excessive wear. Yet, during our weartest, the whole shoe held up quite strongly, and did not become soft at all. The reinforcement in the sidewalls was designed to hold up the structure no matter how much the shoe would bend and twist, but also provided a bit of protection as well. The heel area topped it off, since it featured a bit more cushioning that helped lock in the heel for a good fit.

Cushioning

As a cupsole model, the Reynolds G6 was designed to have cushioning as a top priority. It features a “pour in” poly-urethane G6 midsole, which in its manufacturing process, involves the actual PU foam in a liquid state being poured on top of the cupsole. This helps the foam mold better to the actual sole and maximizes the shoe’s cushioning effect from hard impacts. While this sounds nice and fancy, when it came to the actual weartest, the cushioning was good, but didn’t impress us that much. The toe area of the shoe was actually quite thin compared to other G6 models, so boardfeel shined more than the actual cushioning. The heel area is usually where the most cushioning will be centered on since heel bruising is a common injury for those who like skating sets. The G6 midsole performed well in that area when it came to hucking down gaps and sets, but still left us feeling like there could have been a bit more. The midfoot cushioning was nice and balanced; there was an adequate amount of cushioning there that left enough room for boardfeel so skating hubbas or ledges was extremely comfortable. With that said, this is Reynold’s shoe, so we’re sure that the G6 cushioning technology was meant to be a technical highlight that was suitable for small to mid gaps.

Boardfeel and Grip

Now as a cupsole model, boardfeel is usually compromised due to a bigger focus on cushioning, and not the highlight of the shoe. As we mentioned earlier, the toe area of the shoe lacked a bit of cushioning, but helped a lot when it came to boardfeel. Even though ledge skating was fine with the shoe, we still think that boardfeel was one of the weakest elements. The overall balance between cushioning and boardfeel was a bit off; it seemed that both elements were to be highlights, which proved to be more of a drawback than a convenience. The grip of the shoe was very good, the rubber composite used held up well during our weartest and provided a good abrasive flick. The sole of the shoe also featured Emerica’s fine sole tread pattern. This was a highlight since no blowout spots appeared and the grip of the sole proved to hold it down during the test. As a cupsole model, it is clear that the main focus of the shoe’s design feature is centered on cushioning. As a result, both boardfeel and grip were a bit sacrificed, and Emerica’s product line has better vulcanized models to choose from if you’re looking for a shoe that excels in boardfeel and grip .

Comfort and Stability

The Emerica Reynolds G6 is an extremely comfortable shoe. They put padding in all the right places and as a result, the shoe is comfortable and the feet are stabilized. The surface area of the sole is actually wider than the upper, so this creates a stable platform for the feet and decreases the probability of rolling your ankles. As aforementioned, the heel is well padded and creates a nice pocket for the back of your foot to be stabilized. The tongue of the shoe is also padded, so it works along with the heel tab to ensure the feet are well stabilized and prevents any slippage from occurring. Moreover, the tongue features side straps that help secure the feet even more. While the whole shoe’s breathability was average, there was one design feature that didn’t leave the notion of breathability behind. The sidewalls had no perforations for hot air to escape, but Emerica equipped their lycra-spandex tongue with perforations to allow heat escape from the dorsal side of your feet. This helped a lot and proved that the tongue was extremely pivotal in both the comfort and stability of the shoe.

Summary

The Emerica Reynolds G6 is the newest model to be released under Reynold’s name, and features many top-notch technical design elements to handle present-day skateboarding. The shoe shines the most when it comes to its durability, shape, comfort and stability, but could use more attention to its boardfeel-cushioning balance.

Check out the Reynolds G6 on www.emerica.com

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My name is Paul Kwon and I am the LeadDesigner/Merchandiser for Emerica Footwear.

What made you want to design skate shoes; who or what inspired you to do so?   

I started skateboarding when I was about 9 years old and fell in love with it. When I was a kid I always loved to draw and when I discovered skateboarding I became obsessed with every aspect of it including the footwear. I would make little sketches of shoes in my school notebooks of what I thought would be improvements to existing skate shoes. When I got into art school I was majoring in animation and my mom suggested to look into becoming a footwear designer since I was always drawing skate shoes in my sketch books. Turns out my school had a really strong industrial design program so I switched over and the rest is history. Thanks Mom!

What projects did you work on before the Reynolds G6?

I’ve worked on the Wino G6, Wino G6 Slip-on, and helped start the Reserve program I.e Romero Hi (Chelsea boot) and Reynolds RSRV.

With regards to bringing back previous shoe designs and re-inventing them, who¹s idea was it to bring back the classic Reynolds 1 and 2 design and could you describe the development process you guys went through?

Well it kinda started with Andrew coming in and wanting to improve his existing shoe, The Reynolds Low . He really liked the cushioning that the shoe had to offer but wasn’t really psyched on the aesthetics, mainly the sculpting on the sidewalls of the sole and how high the toe sat on the tooling. He came in with some cut outs of shoes he printed out and had collaged together to kinda show what he was looking for. We had also discussed creating a sort of franchise for him within the Emerica Line. The goal was to create a shoe designed for his current needs on a skateboard (Reynolds G6), to have one classic design (Reynolds 3 G6) and one price friendly design that could appeal to a wider audience (Reynolds Low Vulc). The goal of the Reynolds G6 was to create something completely new, built to Andrew¹s specific functional needs while retaining some of the classic Emerica design language found on the Reynolds 1 and 2.

How much influence did Andrew have on the design itself, is he very detail-orientated?

Andrew was extremely involved with the entire process and his enthusiasm around the project was awesome. I really enjoy working with skaters that are hands on with product and are always contributing ideas. There were certain non-negoitables that he made clear from the start. It had to have a mid-sole similar to the Reynolds Lows, minimal sculpting on the side of the shoe, a lower toe volume and a stitched on toecap. Other than that he gave me a lot of freedom to put my touch on the final design.

At Weartested, we focus a lot of our reviews on the integral technologies of skate shoe models. How did certain technologies and the manufacturing process enable you to bring back the classic identity of the Reynolds G6 to skateboarding as we know it now?

One of the things I love about design is that it is essentially problem solving while taking into consideration the value of aesthetics. I find that the easiest way to start on a project like this is to first identify the main problems. Next through the development process we examine multiple solutions to that problem and see which solution best fits the requirements of that problem. Things like rider feedback, costing, the competitive landscape and Line plan merchandising all need to be considered while making these decisions. For instance, Andrew really wanted a sewn on toe cap like the older models. I loved this idea because our line (as well as everyone elses) was completely filled with single piece vamps and a sewn on toe cap would add some nice variety. The issue with sewn on toe caps is once they blow out the shoe begins to lose its structural integrity and the longevity of the shoe gets compromised. So the challenge was put onto the product team to figure out a way to create a sewn on toe cap construction that doesn’t blow out.

There are two product details on the Emerica website about the Reynolds G6. It says, “Double sided therma welded toe-cap” and “Pour in G6 polyurethane mid sole³. Could you explain both manufacturing methods and how they help you developing the model?

I had been wanting to work with hot melt for a long time and felt like it had not been applied to skateboarding footwear in a way that could utilize its full potential. Hot melt is an adhesive with a TPU film added to it that was introduced in running shoes a couple of years ago. It was a way to reinforce shoes with mesh uppers without using stitching thus creating seamless paneling. Over time the use of this technology became more widely available to factories overseas. What was once intended to be a functional material / manufacturing process became a look or an aesthetic when adopted into the skateboarding industry.  The end result were shoes that looked technical and futuristic but didn’t actually function that well for skateboarding. Hot melt by itself has extremely poor flick and has the tendency to feel plastic like.  I feel like competitors were constantly pairing it with mesh to get the effect that running shoe companies had been known for but ultimately didn’t serve the need of the skater.  I realized that using it as a reinforcement layer that peeked out from the beneath the overlay panel, you could kind of use it as a thin layer that could fuse two pieces of suede together. Most of the time reinforcement panels are hidden in the lining of the shoe so the consumer doesn’t even know its there. With the bi-fold weld technology you could visibly see the durability and understand what you were paying for. The shape of the paneling was a great opportunity to give a nod to the Reynolds 1 which had the same patterning on the toe down. It was the perfect example of taking something familiar to a consumer and updating it with new technology that actually helps the functionality of the shoe.

The Pour in G6 polyurethane midsole was also another design challenge we were faced with due to Andrew¹s list of requirements. He absolutely loved the cushioning of the older shoe but didn’t like the overall shape. Since Andrew needs a more generous foam volume in his midsole, it tends to effect the height of which the last sits on a cupsole. Since the upper sits higher up the sidewalls of the cupsole need to be taller in order to achieve a lower toe volume. This volume is what most people associate with having a nice shape on a shoe. We raised the sidewalls on the cupsole to achieve a better shape and ended up using a pour-in method of getting the foam into the midsole. This was a manufacturing technique that our developer Gary Newhouser brought to my attention. It is often used in snowboard boots, but it is a method of pouring liquid PU into the cupsole directly instead of injecting it or creating a separate mold for it. This is important to know because directly injecting foam can cause compression and effect the board feel. Creating a separate mold can be costly and retrofitting the midsole can cause difficulties in manufacturing and bonding issues. Pour in PU allows the foam to be poured into the mold in an uncompressed, liquid state and is cured while sitting in the mold. One of the major complaints of Andrews last shoe is how stiff it felt with such a thick midsole and how long it took to break in. With the Pour-In midsole, there is little to no break in time and the shoe feels much more flexible and less stiff. You get all the benefits of having thick cushioning without all the drawbacks of having to break it in.

Thank you Paul and emerica for the interview and supporting Weartested.

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Sizing

The Emerica Wino G6 fits true to size.

Durability

Compared to previous models of the Wino that were released since 2011, the Wino G6 is equipped with a higher quality suede that is on the front line of griptape abuse. With that said, this was a minimal shoe from the start, and although it was beefed up for skating, there weren’t any bells or whistles when it came to added durability protection. The first third of the shoe seemed a bit longer, with the first of the eyelets pushed back a bit further than other shoes. There was more surface area for contact abuse in that regard, and our first pair of the Wino G6’s in Black/Black Gum had the ollie hole blow out around the 10^th hour of skating. However, one feature of the shoe that was nice was the silhouette of the midsection, which tapered back and prevented the double seams in the red zone from griptape abuse and pulling apart. Also, the shoe featured a double wrapped vulcanized construction which made the shoe’s outsole much thicker and helped withstand all 10 hours of skating, with minimal wear in our other colorway. There was a lot more life left for future sessions. As aforementioned, another plus of the sleek Wino design are the shoelace eyelets, which are pushed back higher up the shoe to prevent your shoelaces from ripping after a few sessions.

Shape

The shape of the Wino G6 is a feature that’s well appreciated in a time where skate shoes are often bulked and cramped down by an overcompensation of technical design features. The shape is long, a bit slimmer, and its weight of padding is evenly distributed for a responsive flick. The toe piece tapers off a bit, but rounds out well more than the toecaps of other shoes on the market. Moreover, the vulcanized construction is double layered so even when the first layer starts diagonally from griptape wear, there’s another layer there to maintain the shape of the shoe. Sometimes, shoes start falling apart once you wear through the outsole’s first line of defense, but this is not the case with the Wino G6. If you feel the sidewalls of the shoe, you can tell that they’re just one or two layers thick. When it comes to maintaining the structure and shape of the shoe after skating, this isn’t the most ideal tactic; most shoes will beef up their sidewalls with reinforcement materials. In the case of the Wino G6, there are actually tongue centering straps made of a harder nylon material that also acts as the reinforcement material. When you slip your feet in, the sides of your feet push these straps against the shoe’s sidewalls and maintains the rigidness of the sidewalls. This is a pleasant feature to find, since most tongue centering straps turn flimsy from the elasticity.

Cushioning

The cushioning is in the name of the shoe. If you want to beef up an “after-skate” chilling shoe for skating, make sure you add the G6 insoles in before anything else. The G6 cushioning has been in the product line for quite some time now and most Emerica signature models will have this high-impact protective cushioning. G6 is made of a impact resistant Polyurethane foam that is much thinner in the heel than most shoes on the market now; this allows for a better boardfeel even in the heel, while still protecting you from any heel bruises. The shoe held up quite well for smaller gaps and stair sets, but anything bigger than an eight stair shocked the heel a bit when landing. The bottom of the midsole is quite thin, and there are no deep hexagonal patterns in the sole to disperse the impact of landings evenly. With that said, the impact filters through the midsole a bit, but ultimately hits directly to the feet through the G6 insole. The cushioning was fair; at the end of the way the Wino was originally an after skate chilling shoe, the addition of the G6 helps enough for small to medium impacts if you’re into jumping down sets.

Boardfeel and Grip

As with most vulcanized models, boardfeel and grip are the highlights of the shoe. This was definitely the case with the Wino G6, which proved to have amazing grip throughout the 10 hour weartest, and had a lot of life in them for future sessions. The main technical feature of the shoe in terms of grip was the double vulcanized construction. It’s a classic design that many vulcanized skate shoes implement, however shoes do vary between the quality of materials used for the actual vulc rubber. As can be seen in the pictures, the rubber of the Wino G6 worn down to a purple layer which was reinforced by the second brown layer of vulc beneath it. This made the shoe’s grip stable and didn’t falter even though it was getting worn down. The grip of the sole was good too; it features the Emerica triangle tread pattern and no blowout spots occurred through our weartest. Boardfeel of the shoe was great; the G6 insole flattens out much more in the first third of the shoe and the midsole itself is fairly thin, which provided for a responsive board feel for the feet.

Comfort and Stability

The shoe’s stability was also a focus that Emerica put some design details towards. When you look at the last third of the shoe, you can feel that the heel counter has some extra arch shaped padding to anchor the feet right where they should be to prevent any slipping around. This, along with the tongue centering straps aforementioned, help secure the feet in place when it comes to flip tricks and impactful landings. The heel area is further enhanced with a “Tuff Cuff” padding, situated on the back end of the shoe’s topline. It almost feels like a smooth silky lip, that acts as an extra barrier to prevent the achilles tendon from rubbing against the cuff of the topline, a problem that was occuring with the previous Wino models. One thing that was lacking in terms of comfort, was the absence of ventilation for hot air from the feet to escape from. After skating in the heat, those who get sweaty feet easily will find it hard to keep the shoes on for a long time since some of the sweat gets absorbed into the suede. This makes the shoe a tiny bit heavier, and can also warp the suede on the first third of the shoe. Aside from that, the shoe is relatively comfortable, with a focus on stability near the heel area.

Summary

The progression of the Wino model has only gotten better through the years, Emerica finally reved up the Wino to better fit the needs of the skaters. The Wino G6 excels the most in Boardfeel, Grip and Stability, but the cushioning could be improved.

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This quote sums up everything when it comes to skate shoes. Skate shoes themselves are a necessary tool to skate with and have a major influence on a skater’s performance. That is why there are certain shoes that prove to work better for certain tricks. Since Figgy kept the design of his pro model quite simple, there are some hidden extras that make the shoe very special. Figgy said he liked a basic and simple style; this shoe presents this at its best. We tried out how the Emerica Figueroa performs on the board – enjoy.

Sizing

The Emerica Figueroa fits true to size.

Durability

The simplicity of the Figueroa has practicality advantages; there’s less of everything. Less seams, less overlapping material and less surface area exposed to griptape which minimizes abrasion. However, all in all, durability of the Figueroa is evaluated as average. The one-piece toe and double-stitched ollie area both have decent durability. The suede and sole hold up well to the stress of the griptape, but the suede had already started showing signs of worn out holes throughout our 10-hour test. Moreover, the lateral sides has shown to be a weak characteristic of the model because the canvas material ripped quite fast, leading to a worn-out hole. This was primarily the reason the durability was evaluated as average. With that said, it’s important to mention that only the first canvas layer ripped and there was no hole revealing the socks, so the model was still skateable even after the 10 hour test. The sole proved to be very durable and showed no certain signs of wear.

Cushioning

Since the Emerica Figueroa has really good boardfeel, the cushioning performance was definitely lacking. But even so, the heel area is considerably thicker than the toe area and reinforced with an EVA element; the thin sole cannot cushion hard impacts up to a certain degree. The insole of the shoe helps to add cushioning and also improves the overall comfort of the shoe.

Shape

The Emerica Figueroa features a very slim low-top silhouette, with the toebox especially low and pointy. The heel area is also cut slim and hugs the heel quite tightly. Thus, the model provides a great overall fit. The simple and clean shape in the toecap area not only has a good flick but also improves board control which especially helps doing flip tricks.

Boardfeel and Grip

The thin sole construction has a very direct boardfeel due to less material between feet and board in the toe area. The sole has higher flexibility in the forefoot due to three deep cuts in the toe cap area, yet it is more stable in the heel area, which improves the support of the shoe and provides good stability. Thus, there is a good balance between flexibility of the sole and protection. The sole fits quite well in the concave causing the aforementioned boardfeel and has very good grip as well.

Comfort and stability

The Emerica Figueroa will set a standard when it comes to comfort and fit. The internal fit system has the feeling of a slip-on but the design of a regular shoe with laces. The fit system, built like a thin sock, helps to keep the shoe really close to the feet and improves security. However, since the shoe is very thin and slim, it might be a problem for skaters with wider feet. The weight of the shoe is comparable to industry standard and left a good impression while the breathability can be described as average. Since the Figueroa is very comfortable and fits very close to the feet it provides exceptional stability. The model keeps its shape really well which reinforces the stable feeling when skating.

Summary

The Emerica Figueroa is a very simple and basic model that shines with excellent comfort, fit, boardfeel and grip. But weaknesses of the model are durability and cushioning.

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