SIZING

The Lakai Carroll fits true to size; we recommend going for the size you usually wear in Lakai.

DURABILITY

Overall the durability of the Lakai Carroll was quite good, with some minor areas for improvements. There were three main points of the shoe that helped prolong the entire lifespan of skating. First off, the iconic Lakai Carroll toe piece cap was made out of a high quality suede, which wrapped around the toe-piece in the shape of a “T”. The shape of the toe cap and the way it was stitched proved to be very durable, especially since the stitching was purposely designed to be placed outside of the critical areas of wear. The sole in the toe area was also quite thick so it helped protect the suede toe from griptape contact and provided great flick. These two points only showed regular signs of wear after the 10-hour test. Another highlight that improved the durability was the lacing system, an iconic element of the first released Carroll. The hidden lacing system proved to work very well and even the seams in the midfoot area did not show signs of wear. With that said, the first loop was  exposed to griptape contact and showed signs of wear but didn’t completely rip. All in all, the durability of the Carroll good, and it’s performance after our 10 hour wear-test was expected.

CUSHIONING

Released as a reissue under their XLK cup-sole program, the revamped Carroll 1 features Lakai’s proven XLK cushioning technology. The cushioning is above average, thanks to the sole construction and the EVA-foam insole with an additional foam element directly in the heel area. Flatground skating felt extremely comfortable, and the impact from small to middle sized gaps was easy to absorb. However, the absence of a foamed midsole in the center and front-area does reduce the model’s ability to dampen high impacts in these regions if you’re skating larger sets.

SHAPE

Without completely redesigning an easy 2000’s shoe that so many have loved, the Carroll  XLK does feature a rather wider silhouette. The heel area has a good amount of padding which make this area wider but the shape of the shoe does taper towards the midfoot area, before narrowing down to the toe area and ending up in a nice round toe tip. The shoe’s aesthetic is still classic and looks incredible on foot.

Boardfeel and grip

The first half of the shoe from the toe tip to the arch is mainly responsible for the boardfeel. The Lakai Carroll is able to provide two huge benefits in this area. The first benefit is a thin front area with the removable insole as well as a thin sole itself. This causes a direct contact between foot and board. The second is the flexibility of the shoe, which allows for maximum surface area contact and causes the shoe to adapt well to the concave of the deck. The boardfeel and the grip are really balanced; you can feel the deck for feet positioning and concave pop and still feel confident with enough cushioning, which helps make bails bearable when you’re trying a trick. On top of that, Lakai keeps it classic with Carroll’s herringbone sole. The zig-zag pattern has also proven to offer a grippy connection between the deck and sole with a softer rubber compound mixture and deep grooves, and in this case, both are present. In addition, sole does have more rigid structure and ensures a certain wear resistance, with the result of a gimmick-less sole with good adhesion for a cupsole model.

COMFORT AND STABILITY

The most important features for a comfortable skate shoe include weight, ventilation and a well-crafted inner shoe area. Despite the outward appearance of it’s former model, the Carroll XLK is lightweight and the inner area is crafted very well. A very positive feature is the fixated tongue which helps keep everything in place and your feet secure. The shoe’ s upper has mesh elements which surprisingly resulted in very good breathability, especially in the toe and sidewall areas. As far as stability goes, the overall stability of the shoe is very balanced. However, despite the additional padding in the heel area that helped with securing the heel and comfort, the heel area did feel a bit wide cut and sometimes created a feeling of slipping out. The suede upper did not stretch out at all during the test, which means the sidewalls didn’t get too flexible and lose their shape, ensuring the shoe’s stability and maintain it’s full potential over the whole lifespan of the shoe.

SUMMARY

It was refreshing and nostalgic to skate the Lakai Carroll 1 with updated features; the shoe hit huge points with comfort, breathability, durability in toe area and boardfeel. The only recommendation would be a slight adjustment in the heel to maximize stability.

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Size

The Lakai Flaco 2 fits true to size.

Durability

With main contact points for durability in mind, the Lakai Flaco 2 features two suede upper panels for the toe and lateral area of the shoe. The edge of the toe panel is fixed to the lateral suede side panel with double stitching, but in a critical area of abuse. However, after our 10 hour test, the shoe showed only abrasion on the vulcanized sole and the stitchings between the two suede panels were still completely intact with no ripping. The suede panel is not only thick, but made of high quality, which significantly improves the durability. Under the suede itself is an additional support element to even further improve durability and provide a second line of defense when the suede has a hole. The lateral side panel part going towards the heel of the shoe is made of canvas, which will usually reduce the durability performance of the shoe. However, the designers at Lakai took care of this problem by shifting the side panel’s seams as far back on the shoe so that the griptape has almost no possibility to get in contact with the canvas. A notoriously vulnerable spot along the upper eyelets of the shoe has shown sign of wear during the test. To sum it up, the durability of the Flaco 2 can be evaluated as good because the areas that showed wear from our 10-hour test are not the most critical parts.

Cushioning 

Lakai modernized their vulcanized sole, and patented it as PARA-MOUNT outsole technology which utilizes dual density cushioning to absorb high impacts. Though the crafted midsole construction has the goal of adding cushioning especially in the heel area, the feeling of the sole construction is a bit too direct to the feet, offering only average cushioning. The sole can absorb regular impacts from flatground and medium sized gaps with no problem. It is a vulcanized sole with typical vulcanized cushioning but has the advantages of a cupsole with regards to the support of the foot. The DELUX-LITE sockliner is made out of a foam to improve cushioning, fit and comfort. The insole  has a solid thickness with the aim of offering a softer feeling of cushioning for the heel. Overall, the cushioning of the shoe was average.

Shape

The shape of the Lakai Flaco 2 is a classic and slim silhouette. As a result, the shoe is cut very close to the foot in all areas. The model offers a enough space in the toe-area, the midfoot section, as well as the heel area, which improves board contact without compromising stability.

Boardfeel and Grip

Lakai’s sole construction can be described as a classic vulcanization. The PARA-MOUNT outsole technology has average cushioning but offers a great boardfeel for the feet. The thin sole in the toe area leads to a very minimal amount of material between board and foot, which makes the boardfeel incredible. The hex-tread design aims to offer a greater flexibility for increased board feel and maximum grip; due to the sole’s flexibility the shoes adapts very well to the concave of the board and as the sole is pressed onto the griptape, the grip of the shoe performs extremely well.

Comfort and Stability

When it comes down to comfort, the slim silhouette of the shoe provides a solid foothold. When worn and skated, the foot feels quite secure and is hugged tightly by the shoe due to two elastic strips that hold the tongue in place. With that said, the Flaco 2 keeps its form extremely well, which upholds the great workmanship put into this Lakai model. Unfortunately, breathability of the shoe is not that stellar. Even though cushioning wasn’t fully focused on, the vulcanized construction lives up to a solid feel of stability. The arch in the middle part of the shoe is reinforced for additional support which helps to make the shoe feels stable.

Summary

The classic silhouette of the Lakai Flaco 2 excels with its durability, grip and also boardfeel. It’s only minor flaws are its average cushioning and breathability.

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A skateboarder with his experience and skills knows what’s essential when it comes to the product he skates in. Teaming up with Lakai’s design team including Scott Johnston and Jeff Mikut, there can only be good results. Enjoy the review of Guy’s new Pro Model the Lakai Guymar.

Sizing

The Lakai Guymar fits true to size.

Durability

The Lakai Guymar has a clean toecap design. When skating, a one-piece suede toecap typically offers good durability and also provides a nice edge for flick trips. This stands true to the Guymar, which after skating, did not show any noticeable signs of wear. The lateral part of the shoe is canvas, which often reduces the durability of the shoe. However, the designers at Lakai took care of this problem by shifting the one-piece toecap’s seams as far back on the shoe so that the griptape has almost no possibility to get in contact with the canvas. As a result, the stitched Lakai flare and other design elements have also been shifted back, thus further improving durability, especially in combination with the canvas material. A notoriously vulnerable spot along the upper eyelets of the shoe have also proven to be very durable. The only parts of the shoe that showed signs of wear was the rubber in the toe area, especially in the kickflip zone, as well as the sole, which lost a bit of its profile. To sum up, the durability of the Guymar was evaluated as very good.

Cushioning

Lakai modernized their vulcanized sole, branded it as VLX, and introduced it with the Guymar. Though the crafted midsole construction has the goal of adding cushioning, the feeling of the sole construction is a bit too direct to the feet, offering only average cushioning. The sole can absorb regular impacts, but nothing more and nothing less. It is a vulcanized sole with typical vulcanized cushioning but has the advantages of a cupsole with regards to the support of the foot. The insole is way thicker in the heel area compared to the toe area, and has the aim of offering a softer feeling of cushioning for the heel.

Shape

The Guymar has a great shape and features a slim silhouette. This leads to a shoe that is cut very close to the foot in all areas. The model offers a good feeling in the toe-area, the midfoot section, as well as the heel area, which improves board contact without compromising stability.

Boardfeel and grip

Lakai’s VLK sole construction can be described as a modern vulcanization combining the advantages of both cupsole and vulcanized soles. Traditionally, the edge of a cupsole is characterized by a rounded out edge along the sole whereas a vulcanized sole has sharper edge. Lakai developed a vulcanized sole with a round edge that imitates the feeling of a cupsole. In addition, the height of the sole decreased from heel to toe, offering a very direct and good boardfeel. The sole needs some hours to develop its complete flexibility to result in a good grip.

Comfort and stability

When it comes down to comfort, the slim silhouette of the shoe provides an outstanding foothold. When worn and skated, the foot feels quite secure and is hugged tightly by the shoe. The inner part of the model is almost seamless and helps reduce the possibility of pressure spots. A minor weakness regarding the comfort of the model is Lakai’s choice of hard materials. Unfortunately, even with two ventilation holes on the inner medial side, the breathability is not that stellar. With that said, the Guymar keeps its form extremely well, which upholds the great workmanship put into this Lakai model. Even though cushioning wasn’t fully focused on, the VLX vulcanized construction still offered the stability of a cupsole model.

Summary

The Lakai Guymar excels with its durability, stability and also boardfeel, defining itself as one of the best skate shoes in 2015 for now. It’s only minor flaws are its average cushioning and breathability.

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Let’s start with the important questions: what shoes are you wearing right now and why?                         Right now at this moment I just got done skating the park out back of the office. I was skating in the new MJ and I’m switching now to my fresh new pair of MJ’s that eventually I will skate it.

h

You underwent a transition from being a pro skater to a full time footwear designer. What were the biggest challenges related to that transition?                                                                                                                       I really didn’t have an challenges while making the transition. I was very much looking forward to a more structured day. A year later though, thats when I realized what freedom I once had and how that won’t  be coming back for a long time.

c

What’s the most valuable lesson you learnt as a footwear designer over the years?                                         I would say give everything a chance. At first you might be given a project that sounds just horrible. But you can also take on the challenge.

h

What are your biggest influences besides skateboarding, what inspires you?                                               Really its my friends and the people around me. I love to people watch and see what their doing gear wise.

If you could design a shoe for any other „sport“ than skateboarding, which would it be and why?               Probably it would be a soccer shoe.  For one I love soccer even though I can’t really play. The whole personal style when it comes to the players. The second reason I’d like to design a soccer shoe is because you can skate in soccer shoes. So I’d like to make the best for both all in one.

h

Lakai had already in the past shoes that were not primarily designed for skating. What sets the Echelon line apart?                                                                                                                                                                 It’s encapsulating its own look as far as branding and overall feel.  In the past Lakai has only been focused towards hard core skaters. As the brand matured I felt we needed create a separate category for the guys that once skated and now work a young professional job. Also for the guys that never skated and just want an alternative to the big brands.  Echelon stands on its own. It relies on quality and classic styling with an original twist. Branding takes a back seat to good seasonal colors and textures.

h

A design process usually includes killing some of your „darlings“. Are there any Echelon samples that you liked but that didn’t make the cut?                                                                                                                     Oh for sure but thats always been a apart of the process. Who knows maybe one day they’ll make the light of day. Either way those projects always help getting us to where we want to go.

Besides the tendency to more mature and sophisticated skate shoe styles as resembled in the Echelon line, which new influences will we see in 2015 an beyond in your opinion?                                                         We’ve established a headline project for each season to set the mood of the whole collection. I’m very happy with the catalogs as they’ve become something worth collecting. The catalog itself is as important to me as the product.

h

Are there any particular projects with Lakai that you are looking forward to in the next months?                     Next thing to come out is a Chocolate 20 year collection.

h

h

Thanks to Lakai, Kelly Bird and Scott Johnston!

Pictures: Lakai Limited Footwear

The post Scott Johnston Interview appeared first on Weartested - detailed skate shoe reviews.

Camby Mid

The Camby Mid is our first candidate. Based on the already known Lakai Camby, the mid top version is a result of a modern facelift. The toe box and ankle-high design give this shoe a classic desert boot flair. The sole is tried and tested; the much loved vulcanized Lakai Select. This technology fits the shoe perfectly – being simple and comfortable. The Camby Mid still combines simple design with clever details. The heel is reinforced with a leather patch and the inner lining features fine patterned fabric to improve comfort. All this leads to the Lakai Camby Mid being a shoe with a classic silhouette and clever design features.

Albany

The Albany is a completely new family member of the Echelon Line. The shoe features a slim and very low silhouette. The vulcanized sole with a thick foam insole completes the very simplistic approach without compromising comfort. The leather tongue, waxed lace loops and lateral leather patch along with the tonal color ways emphasize the focus on design and comfort. This is also obvious by the lack of major logo placement or branding.

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Lakai Vincent

Despite their relatively young history, Lakai has already dropped designs that can be hailed as classics. Lakai started off strong with Rick Howard’s first select model, the „Staple“, and has carried that momentum all the way to Scott Johnson´s signature models and more recent designs. Still, with no doubt, all of those models are trumped by the OG noteworthy Lakai Manchester, which has been inspired countlessly by other companies.

Things have changed with the newest baby in Lakai´s cradle of shoes. Vincent Alvarez’s first signature model has been purposefully influenced by the Manchester, and the outcome is immaculate. Although the influence of the Manchester is evident, the Alvarez is not a simple copy but rather a new model with its own character, just like Vincent Alvarez himself. Whether or not this pro shoe model of a true „skater´s skater“ lives up to its hype will be addressed below.

Skateboardmsm Schuhtest by weartested: Lakai „Alvarez“ a Skateboard video by SkateboardMSM

Sizing

The Lakai Vincent fits true to size.

Durability

One of the most prominent design techniques to improve durability in skate shoes nowadays is to reduce seams and overlapping materials. The dark side of this is the limitation faced trying to give a shoe a really outstanding design. Still, the Vincent manages to create a distinct recall value. The Lakai flare and other design elements have been set back, thus improving durability, especially in combination with the material.

Even the (sometimes) vulnerable part along the upper eyelets of the shoe has proven to be very durable. The outsole is also a little thicker than with most vulcanized soles, again improving durability. However, the toe area does not feature the usual rubber-layer which increases the vulnerability of the area with regard to abrasion caused by flip-tricks. The pattern of the sole is also deep and did not show any blank spots.

Cushioning

Vulcanized soles typically have weaker cushioning than cupsole models. The Lakai Vincent, however, redefines this preconception. It combines great cushioning with amazing boardfeel, due to its thinner construction in the frontal area of the shoe. The honeycomb structure also distributes the impact force more widely and allows the sole to absorb more forces without adding weight. The insole itself was quite flattened after 10 hours of skating, but since this attribute of the shoe can be easily swapped out, this should not be of great concern.

Shape

The Vincent features a slim silhouette, just like the OG Manchester. This leads to a shoe that is cut very close to your foot and improves board contact without compromising stability. The pointy toe improves flick and allows you to control flip tricks very well.

Boardfeel and grip

The sole construction in the first third of the shoe is very thin, creating great boardfeel, especially in combination with the great flex of the sole. This flex usually also improves grip, and this is true for the Vincent. The grip of the shoe is great without being too much and doesn´t weaken thanks to the deep pattern of the sole.

Comfort and stability

When it comes down to comfort, the slim silhouette of the shoe provides an impeccable foothold. The nearly seamless inner part of the shoe combined with Lakai’s use of soft materials, greatly improve shoe comfort. Unfortunately, weight and ventilation are not that stellar; the shoe is rather heavy when compared to the industry standard of models nowadays. Nonetheless, the Vincent keeps its form extremely well, which upholds great workmanship put into this Lakai model.

Summary

The Lakai Vincent is a stable vulcanized shoe that excels in terms of grip and flick. Smaller design flaws such as weak ventilation are balanced with great durability and cushioning.

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High quality PDF file: Lakai Howard review

Lakai`s past few years in the industry haven’t been as pretty sweet as they would have deserved after „Fully Flared“. Some major team riders rode off to more lucrative sponsors, while the switch from Podium Dist. to Girl took the company some time and effort for adjustment. And there is, of course, the perpetual David vs. Goliath fight against the big players in the industry for a piece of the skateboard footwear cake. Nevertheless, Lakai kept on fighting and stands as a prime example for skater-owned brands and with persistence comes triumph.

Scott Johnson’s great design work and Lakai’s amazing „home-grown“ team structure – three out oft the five celebrated „Trunk Boyz“ are representing the Flare – are reasons enough to justify Lakai´s rise. Qualitywise, the switch from production in China to South Korea showed an increase in craftsmanship and durability, which shines humbly when skating the new models. Among these 2013 releases is the Lakai Howard, which we had the pleasure of shredding up for you.

The Lakai Howard fits true to size.

Durability

The Howard uses a well-proven design principle: maximal durability by minimizing the amount of stitching and incorporating a one-piece toecap.

The toecap itself turns out to take up nearly one third of the shoe. This leads to a even distribution of griptape contact, which prevents any isolated weak points from popping up. Another constructive element of the Lakai Howard is the harder rubber lining (in this case blue) around the top of the sole. While the soft, white sole provides great flick, this smart detail provides improved longevity by protecting underlying layers and increases the overall lifespan of  the shoe. The Lakai Flare logo has been glued on, which prevents any possible peeling from ripped stitches. The shoelaces are well protected from ripping because of the conscious placement of the eyelets above the critical area for tearing. However, the canvas itself around this area was worn out quickly.

Furthermore, the sole with its deep grooves is a big advantage of the Howard. It showed only minimal wear during our 10h test. Based on previous weartests, this indicates that it should hold up for almost the whole lifespan of the shoe.

Cushioning

The sole of the Howard is made up of a thin layer of EVA-foam in the midsole, matched with a thin removable insole.

Light impacts are cushioned well and the boardfeel isn’t compromised since the frontal part of the sole is thinned out as much as possible. However, when it comes down to heavier impacts and bails, disadvantages of their cushioning strategy is evident and can be felt easily. This is a frequently seen case of incorporating maximal boardfeel over cushioning.

Shape

The Howard fits snug to the foot and features a low silhouette that makes it perfect for people with slimmer feet.

The padding in the tongue and shaft area is noticeable but rather thin, which leads to direct contact between foot and shoe. The toecap is nice and pointy, which allows good control while doing flip tricks.

Boardfeel and grip

Lakai´s XLK construction confirms that a vulcanized sole isn’t needed to provide excellent grip and boardfeel.

The Howard’s frontal part of the shoes provides terrific boardfeel by keeping the sole as thin as possible, whilst the deep herringbone-pattern provides great grip. The freedom of flexibility maximizes the grip by allowing the shoe to adapt well to the concave of the board.

Comfort and Stability

The Lakai Howard can basically be skated right out of the box; it features minimal wear-in time. It feels quite soft but stable and fits the foot right away. The breathability is only average, even though there are perforations in the tongue and metal lace loops on the inner sidewall, which show that breathability was at least attempted. The elastic bands that center the tongue are a little distracting at first, but soon disregarded as wear-in time accumulates. The overall craftsmanship is on point and there’s only minimal stitching within the shoe. The heel reinforcement is stiff and provides great stability, but since it is rather small it cannot provide perfect support against high impact landings. The stability is average for a cupsole model, but that’s not necessarily a disadvantage since this leads to more freedom of movement, which many skaters prefer.

Summary

The Lakai Howard is a modern cupsole model with a thin sole-construction, which leads to a great balance between cushioning, grip and boardfeel. Apart from the average stability, this shoe meets and excels in durability.

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High quality PDF-file:Lakai Marc review

Lakai Marc review

Lakai has trekked through some rough waters during the last year and a half. If you aren’t familiar with their history, they made an executive decision to move under the same roof as Girl Skateboards, had some big names quitting, even more young guns joining, and switched production factories. However, Lakai keeps battling David-esque against all the Goliaths on the market and refuses to settle with “average”. To a certain degree, the Lakai Marc is the prey (check the commercial on Lakai.com) of the hunt for excellence. Produced in South Korea, the Lakai Marc is the brainchild of Team Johns(t)on; it is designed by Scott Johnston, and approved by long-term team rider Marc Johnson. How it fulfills its purpose on the board can be read in the following review.

The Lakai Marc fits true to size.

Durability

The one-piece toebox design is one of the Lakai Marc’s features, but nowadays, this design alone has almost become the industry norm due to its superior durability. No additional panels in the toebox area means no separating layers from ripped stitching. Furthermore the one-piece toebox design offers one expansive contact area rather than single area points for attack.

The Marc successfully avoids several small yet commonly seen durability flaws. The transition between a shoe’s frontal area and sidewall is typically the most critical area. However, Lakai did everything right in this case: the panels are glued together and not just stitched, the interference of the layers is big and a threaded square near the eyestay secures the connection. Furthermore, the Lakai Flare is not an extra layer, but instead shown through decorative stitching and perforations. As a result, it can’t peel off and suits the overall minimalist, desert-boot inspired design very well. Surprisingly for such a seemingly subtle design, a second layer lace protection has been incorporated. As can be seen in the pictures, it worked well during the 10-hour test and the laces stayed intact. Both the bottom and outsole proved to be durable as well. The deep sole pattern shows wear but only minor areas are completely flat.

The additional toebumper, which unfortunately is not an industry standard anymore, was worn down, but there are no grooves in the transition area between upper and sole. This is a clear sign for good durability, especially for a vulcanized construction.

Cushion

The sole of the Marc consists of a thin rubber bottom in combination with thick removable insole. The increasing thickness towards the back to a maximum thickness of 0.43-inch is the primary reason for the solid impact protection.

This construction allows for board feel in the front while the heel area is able to dampen the common impact forces from flatground and ledge skating very well. The foam of the insole is rather soft in comparison. Since the insole is only responsible for the cushioning, bigger impacts seem to cause a complete compression and thereby set a limit to the impact absorption of the whole shoe.

Boardfeel

The first half of the shoe from the tip to the arch is mainly responsible for the boardfeel. The Marc is able to provide two assets in this area. The first is a thin front of the removable insole as well as a thin bottom sole. This causes a direct contact between foot and board. The second is the flexibility, which allows a maximum contact surface and causes the shoe to adapt well to the concave of the deck. The boardfeel is overall balanced; you can feel the deck but certain cushioning is still noticeable, which helps make bails bearable.

Grip

Lakai keeps it classic with the Marc’s herringbone sole. The zig-zag pattern has proven to offer a grippy connection between the deck and sole as long as it is a softer rubber mixture and the grooves are deep.

For this shoe, both are the case and in addition, the rough structure ensures a certain wear resistance as already mentioned in the durability paragraph. The result is a gimmick-less sole with the good adhesion that is typical for vulcanized constructions.

Breathability

Except for two metal eyelets on the medial side, the Lakai Marc doesn’t feature any features that enable air exchange. As a result, the breathability is very limited and sessions in the summer heat can cause uncomfort inside the shoe. The minimal padding reduces the isolation of heat, but doesn’t eradicate the problem.

Shape

The Marc experiences a metamorphosis with wear. Out of the box it features a rather wide, dull frontal area.

After a few sessions it gets softer, adapts to the toes like a suede sock and gets a more defined peak that offers majorly increased flick. While appearing to be a mid-top on the shelf, when worn it turns out to fit more like a low top without a cutout for the ankle.

Comfort

A main feature that plays an important role in the comfort of the Marc has already been mentioned earlier, which is the thick and soft removable insole. This avoids the typical problem that occurs with vulcanized soles, which are worn-down feet after sessions of more than 2 hours. A possible reason for this is a lack of protection. The rounded and soft collar is ankle-friendly and doesn’t cause blisters, hotspots or irritations around the Achilles tendon. The overall craftsmanship is well executed and the interior features only a minimal amount of seams. A minor drawback pertaining to the comfort are the lace-centering straps, but they fulfill their purpose and keep the minimally padded tongue in place.

Support

Usually a sturdy and big plastic reinforcement in the heel of a skate shoe is the key feature for a supportive skate shoe. The Marc is an exception of the rule, to a certain degree. The collar is rather soft and can be squeezed together with ease, However, the extra half inch of thick leather makes it feel supportive when worn. The raised top doesn’t necessarily reduce freedom of ankle movement. In fact, it feels more protective and secure compared to a low cut, possibly because the anklebones rest on the collar, which in return applies a certain reinforcement. That aside, the Marc stretched out quite a bit, especially on the medial side. Keeping in mind that vulcanized low-cut models typically offer very little support, the Marc performs very well in this area. If needed, the support can be further increased when the top eyelet is laced.

Summary

The Lakai Marc is not an everyday vulcanized model. With a rather uncommon silhouette, improved support and solid cushioning, the Lakai Marc is a positive suprise. It also features good durability, boardfeel and grip. The only minor flaw is the below average breathability.

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Picture: Lakai.com

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High Quality PDF: The Lakai Mike Mo review

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