The VX1000 paired with a Mk1 fisheye lens shaped an entire era of skating and its influence is still easy to spot in edits today. But that iconic look came at a cost. VX setups and later digital cameras are heavy. Filmers spent years carrying camera bodies, lenses, handles, batteries, chargers, and backups, often hauling 10+ kilos through the city on a filming trip. Anyone who’s done it knows it’s part of the process, but it’s never been fun.

Today, the most common filming tool fits into your pocket: your phone. It’s light, always with you, and technically impressive but on the other hand visually often too clean, too corrected, and too wide in the wrong way to naturally capture the feel of classic fisheye skate footage.

That gap is where Shineye steps in.

GettingIItIRight

Martin Ottosson, Daniel Hansson and Danijel Stankovic (Shinner Crew) from Malmö created Shineye after constant debates about why phone footage never hit the right vibe.

“It was one of Martins brilliant ideas, as he’s always on the chase on how to make things better” Danijel recalls. “We end up always talking and hating on the current formats of the iPhone or GoPro cams, that it looks very skewed and not correct how we like skateboarding to look”.

Those conversations eventually led to a key realization: Apple’s ultra-wide 0.5 lens wasn’t actually behaving like a real fisheye lens at all, it was software manipulation.

“Once we realized that 0.5 wasn’t the lens, but a software manipulation we decided to give it a try. I brought some 0.5 wide-angle shots into After Effects and applied a series of effects to them,” Martin explains. “I wanted to see if a fisheye effect on rectilinear footage was even feasible from a technical point of view. And it was.”

Even with that realization, there was an early moment where the project’s future wasn’t entirely clear.

“There was one moment where we got stuck on some of the technical aspects of the actual fisheye distortion,” Martin says. “But Daniel did an amazing job finding a solution to it. That felt like a true Eureka moment, and from there on it was full speed ahead, fine-tuning both the effect and the UX.”

From concept to App Store release, Shineye took roughly a year and a half to complete. Development began at the end of 2024, with the first public version launching in July 2025.

NostalgiaI×i2026

The VX1000/fisheye footage makes tricks feel closer, lines look faster, and exaggerates movement in a way that pulls you straight into it. The vignette, curvature, slight shake and edges all add up to footage that feels raw.

Shineye aims to mimic classic fisheye behavior digitally, using software-based lens simulations and image processing, with the effect applied to a full sensor readout (open gate) rather than the cropped output used by standard camera apps. One of the App’s biggest strengths is its simplicity: no login, no cloud, no sign-up. You open it, film, and export. No adapters, handles, or heavy gear needed.

“We worked with a lot of people to get the effect right,” Danijel explains, “especially students at Bryggeriet Gymnasium, but also Pros and filmers through beta tests. I think the first time I properly tested the final product was with Stefan Janoski in Paris.”

Because the workflow is digital from the start, Shineye makes editing and exporting straightforward. Clips drop directly into Instagram, TikTok, or full-length edits without extra steps, so all the VX energy, none of the gear hassle.

TestingIShineye

At first glance, Shineye’s digital fisheye curve comes surprisingly close to the familiar VX1000/fisheye look. The edges bend in a predictable, natural way, the center remains sharp, and objects are pulled toward the lens with the same intensity that makes fisheye footage so engaging.

Comparing Shineye’s clips to real VX footage reveals the main differences. The parts that feel right are the curve, the proximity, and it genuinely captures that “in your face” vibe. What feels new is the cleaner, brighter and more stable image that naturally comes from the iPhone camera. It’s a small reminder that you’re filming digitally, but in a way that actually complements the look.

“We really wanted to nail the feeling you get from a Death Lens on a VX or the Century Xtreme fisheye on an HPX,” Martin explains. “Obviously, the hardware limitations of the iPhone mean we can’t go quite as extreme, but with a small adjustment to your filming style, you can get surprisingly close to the real thing.”

In the end, Shineye delivers the feel skaters are searching for. A good takeaway here is that the goal isn’t to replace cameras like the VX1000 or the equipment that shaped skateboard filming for decades. Instead, Shineye aims to change the way iPhone footage looks and feels. It brings character back into smartphone filming, letting clips carry the same nostalgia and energy that made the VX era so iconic.

As Danijel puts it: “Trust me – this doesn’t replace your VX, but it lets your phone pretend it grew up in the late ’90s.”

Summary

Shineye doesn’t try to replace the VX or Digital camera setup and it doesn’t need to. What it offers is a modern reinterpretation of a visual language that still matters.

It strips away the backpack full of gear while keeping the fisheye look that defined an era of skateboard filming. It brings character back into smartphone footage and makes fisheye-style filming accessible to anyone with an iPhone.

For skateboarders and filmers who value convenience but still want that fisheye look, Shineye is one of the most exciting tools for 2026.

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Danijel Stankovic, Co-Founder of Shinner, said in a Solo Skateboard Mag Interview: “I always had this joke with Shinner that if Chuck Norris knew about it he would call it a “digital Swiss army knife” for skateboarding.”

Just recently, we headed out for one week to skate Barcelona and Copenhagen and tested the app (which is free and without advertisements) to get an understanding of the features the Shinner App can offer to the skateboarding community.

SPOT MAP

A key feature of Shinner app is a simple but very comprehensive spot map. Finding skateparks on Google is easy, but finding street spots can be an impossible mission. Having one central app showing a full breadth of spots in different categories (Ledges, Tables, Banks, Gaps, etc.) has been missing for years. The main advantage is having one app with spots all over the world, where everyone can contribute to building out the spot list and add new spots wherever they live. Next to spots there is also the option to add Skateshops which are usually the best and first contact of connecting to a scene. The “spot adder” can upload pictures, tricks and detailed descriptions, such as the best times to skate the spot. Once you find a spot through the app, Shinner is able to provide a route to get to the spot.

We traveled with a group of friends across multiple countries in Europe and made sure to hit up Barcelona and Copenhagen for the recent CPH Open. When it comes to these famous skate cities, it’s quite easy to find the notorious spots on the map, but Shinner came in handy in finding those less known skate spots that are hidden gems. The app helped a lot to cut back time on finding spots, which allowed us to have more time to skate. One of the perks of Shinner was that it had hidden, “locals only” spots in a lot of nearby smaller cities.

For those who are using Shinner back home, you can check your local area and scout spots you did not know about or were even forgotten. This gives you a chance to hit up spots and connecting to scenes that are close by that you haven’t even been to before. Furthermore, an awesome feature of the Shinner App is the “Spot Randomizer”. If you live in a city with too many spots or are always going to the same spots and getting tired of it, the Spot Randomizer randomly selects a spot for you, and perhaps one that you may have forgotten about. When it comes to meeting on a Saturday with friends, the Spot Randomizer decides the spot for you, gets you out of our usual routine and lets you explore spots you have not skated in a while.

The spot map is the core feature of the app and is absolutely amazing; it not only helps you find specific spots you want to skate but also drives you to explore and connect with skate scenes in your proximity that you otherwise would oversee.

EVENTS

When it comes to connecting with your local scene or even meeting new scenes from different cities, the Shinner app also features an separate event page that keeps the community updated on upcoming events and programming. Besides the obligatory Go Skateboarding Day Event, the app also shows other events like CPH Open, or even branded events. Not everyone can travel to CPH Open, so some Shinner events are accessible both virtually and locally.

The Event feature from Shinner is simple but powerful. The existence of one platform that host events or challenges can bring some spice to the sometimes boring local skatepark session. Features like spot hunts or uploading tricks and having a chance to win prizes, is just a way of adding some fun to skateboarding. Through these events, Shinner is not only fostering a close-knit scene but also offering an experience to complete challenges and adding an element of credibility to connect skateboarders globally.

CONNECT 

The final feature of Shinner we mentioned in this intro, is the Feed. It is basically a collaborative platform to share spots, tricks and to let your friends know when you go skating. Every time you upload a spot or video of you or your friends doing a trick, it shows up on the Feed. It’s a platform where you can also share your skateboarding session, apart from the ads and spam on Instagram. One key element of the feed is the Go! Skate Button. You can Go Live! and share with your friends when you go skating and where, if they end up meeting a bit later. The Feed is basically keeping you up to date but also a source of inspiration that pushes you to see new spots and tricks and meet new skate homies that also use Shinner.

SUMMARY

The Shinner App has key features such as the Spot Map, Event Page and Community Feed tool that are huge pluses in minimizing your time in finding spots and connecting with skateboarders globally. The app is free, and we definitely recommend downloading it if you’re curious of other spots/skaters around your area and join events. The Shinner team is adding on features constantly and are also open for feedback, so leave your ideas in the comments below or directly on the Shinner app.

P.S. we heard rumors about a hunt, Searching for Animal “Shins”. Get the app, search the “shins” – they might be useful in the future.

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Check out the official rules here.

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If you haven’t been keeping up with the latest Levi’s promos, just know that their marketing is still focused on providing low income and controversial areas the best DIY skate parks there are. This season, they’ve taken their team to Detroit, Michigan to team up with Community Push, a grassroots group in Detroit dedicated to building DIY skate parks. As some of us readers may know, Detroit faced huge economical turbulence when the city declared for bankruptcy in 2013. Buildings around the city have been abandoned, halfway taken down, and almost 40 percent of the city’s street lighting system was not working. Yet, four years later, it is undeniable that the city has been picking itself up together to get back on track, and the ones behind this momentum is none other than the local community itself.

Take a minute to think about it. The city’s infrastructure is disheveled, open spaces are abandoned and the local government has urgent economical problems to focus their funding and attention towards…none’s got time to worry about what and where skaters are meddling around. This is the perfect breeding ground for skaters to start building DIY spots. It’s no wonder Community Push has arisen and found an opportunity to make something out of nothing. With Levi’s support, Detroit now has a few more iconic DIY spots added to the city’s revitalized landscape to keep the local skate momentum going strong.

With regards to this season’s product line, Levi’s Skateboarding drew inspiration from the functional work outfits from San Francisco’s dockworkers during World War II. This season features a new Coach Jackets, Long Sleeve Tees, faded pocket tees, Riveter Shirts, and our favorite, the Levi’s Skateboarding Vest. The staple work pants are still in season, along with new denim finishes in the Slim Fit 511, Slim Fit 513, and 504 Regular Straight fit, all of which are updated with the Lycra T400 fabric for stretch, and Cordura fabric for strength.

On the other side of the world, Levi’s Skateboarding in China has started an interesting project with the local skate community as well. They have started working with two Chinese skate photographers Terry Xie, from Nanjing, and Eric Lai, from Shenzhen, to showcase locals ripping around their neighborhood. It’s no secret that China is the host to some of the most perfect marble ledges, skate plazas and hubbas; in the recent few years you may have seen some of the best pros travel there to film for Pretty Sweet, the Plan B video, and adidas’ Away Days. However, it’s not often you can see a local Chinese skater documented in his home environment, and the random things they encounter during the day just looking for spots. Terry Xie, who has been shooting professional skate photos for over 15 years, documented Shanghai-based skater Jay Meador (from Something Sinister) on the hunt for new terrain between modern skylines and traditional Shanghai lanehouses.

Eric Lai, heavily involved in the local Chinese skate scene, teamed up with a local skater as well to find new spots in Shenzhen, a city known for it’s modern architecture, endless marble plazas and bayside harbors. Check out some of their pictures below to get a taste of China’s skate landscape.

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Sizing

The adidas Samba ADV fits true to size.

Durability

While the hype was high to skate these adidas Samba ADV’s up, we were a bit let down with the durability of the shoe. All in all, the shoe’s durability was below average. The shoe updates the classic Samba toe piece cap with a high quality suede, that wraps around the toe-piece similar to a T. The material itself was great, however, the toe cap piece was only fixed with three stitchings and was in the high abrasion zone of the shoe, right smack dab in the ollie and kickflip area. As a result, in the first few hours, the stitching came loose and soon the toe cap piece ripped apart fast, with no double backed suede or canvas to prolong the life of the shoe. Even so, the sidewalls of the shoe were made of a high quality leather, and did well against the griptape abuse, with no holes and barely any wear to it. We were quite impressed with the quality of the leather around the toe piece and sidewalls; they not only provided strong durability but also structured the shoe very well. Lastly, the sole of the shoe turned out to be a highlight. The sole was very durable and held up extremely well, with no blow out spots and minimal wear.

Shape

If you’ve ever worn the original Samba’s, you know that the shoe sits very close to the feet, which is also the case in the vamped up Samba ADV. It’s a bit of a slimmer fit, and those with wider feet may take a bit longer to break into the shoes, once the leather sidewalls wear in and cave outwards a bit you’ll find a snug fit. As a low top slim fitting shoe, the medial and arch area of the shoe was extremely snug and secured the foot nicely, minimizing the risk for slippage. The shape of the shoe itself tapers in the first third and features a very pointy toe, which helped a lot with flip tricks. All in all, the shape of the Samba was quite form-fitting and was a nice fit for slim feet.

Cushioning

The cushioning of the Samba ADV was ok; the insole of the Samba was extremely thin and minimal, which sacrificed a lot of cushioning in exchange for boardfeel. This was especially the case in the first third toe area, where the sole was the thinnest. In the second third medial area, the cushioning got a bit thicker but not by much; the impact from 5-8 stairs was still fairly absorbed by the insole. The area with the most amount of cushioning, was the heel area, where not only was the insole cushioning the thickest, but the midsole had a honey comb construction which helped to absorb and disperse the impact from landings evenly. In the end, it was clear that the focus of the Samba ADV was to offer a minimally padded shoe that felt great on the feet and had excellent boardfeel.

Boardfeel and Grip

As aforementioned, the cushioning of the Samba ADV was minimal. As we know, minimal cushioning often correlates to maximal boardfeel, which is exactly what the Samba ADV excelled in. The boardfeel of the shoe was very good. The sole itself is quite thin, which paves for a close gap between the foot and the board, allowing for more control for flip tricks and pop. The toe area was the best part, where the sole was the thinnest and boardfeel was amazing. Moreover, the pattern of the sole itself is quite soft, and after a few sessions, broke in nicely to adapt and form to the concaves of your feet and board. This in the end proved to be very effective, and helped immensely with flip tricks and flatground. The outsole features a classic herringbone tread pattern that provided consistent grip and didn’t reveal any blow out spots during the weartest. Adidas also paid homage to the original Samba outsole by adding in a separate pill tread pattern on the medial side of the heel that helped with additional support and functioned as a bit of a heel stopper.

Comfort and Stability

The adidas Samba ADV was a very comfortable shoe. The selection of material chosen for the upper was a mix between high quality leather and suede, which not only held up well in terms of durability, but also made the shoe extremely comfortable to wear. Not to mention, the shoe proved quite stable even after a few heavy sessions. The shoe also features an internal mesh bootie construction which included an extremely light and breathable tongue and tongue centering mesh straps. But when putting the shoes on, the bootie construction sometimes got in the way and was a bit annoying. A highlight of the shoe is definitely it’s stability. In this model, adidas added in a molded TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane, known for it’s high shear strength) heel clip into the heel counter, which helped strengthen the shoe’s stability and decreased the off chance of slippage and ankle rolls. The heel clip was very stiff and secure, even tapping on heel clip feels like knocking on a door. The inner heel area was also a plus; adidas’ material choice for the inner heel area was the premium leather which also provided a good heel lock and made the shoes more comfortable to wear.

Summary

It’s always a challenge to adapt a classic sports shoe model for skateboarding but the adidas Samba ADV’s attempt was good. The added stability and grip elements were extremely impressive and made the shoe very pleasant to wear, however, the durability was lacking.

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The day’s event was split up into three different stops, each one related to a technology of the shoe.

The 1st stop: Duracap Test

We tested out the durability, grip and comfort of the shoe by having a small competition to see who could do 25 kickflips first. Followed by interviews everyone who entered the contest on their reaction to the duracap, durability and grip out of the box feeling and etc.

The 2nd stop: Wafflecup Construction Test

The second stop was at a hubba and 5 stair. Our focus was to test out the boardfeel of the shoe, it’s medium impact cushioning, stability and comfort. Any trick that was landed we gave money to! 

The 3rd stop: Bingjiang 13 stair

The last stop was the “Bingjiang 13 stair”. This was the Ultracush HD test. Our focus here was to test out high-impact cushioning, boardfeel, stability and comfort. Anyone who ollied it got cash, any other trick landed was given double We landed the ollie, frontside 180, tre-flip and hardflip.

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Skateboard hardware is exposed to an extraordinary amount stress and strain, especially the skateboard deck itself. Thus, there have been a steady output of new deck innovations and technologies that promise to improve the hardware’s lifetime. With that said, the old fashioned seven wood ply layers of North American maple have stood the test of time as a successful all-purpose formula. So most “advanced“ technologies of the past, such as the use of special adhesives, alternative materials  and new production processes, have come and go from the scene.

The enumerated improvements were often used individually for different companies. But now Dwindle, which includes Blind, Cliche, Almost, Enjoi, and Darkstar, has combined all of these different technologies to result in the Impact Plus Technology. We here at Weartested put these Dwindle boards to a stress test and in the following few paragraphs gave our opinion on whether or not the extra bit of money for a Dwindle board was worth it. Check it out below.

Idea

The Impact Plus Technology combines three technologies to improve durability. Firstly, the eight instead of the normal seven layers of wood are held together by a very robust epoxy glue. Secondly, since the main stress zones are around the axes, (because it is around this area where the nose and tail are divided by the holes for mounting on the trucks) Dwindle added two laminate carbon fiber discs to evenly disperse the impact stress in these areas. Lastly, the top layer of wood is provided with a further stamped carbon fiber inlay. All three points strengthen the deck so that it has a stronger pop, the pop is retained longer and benefits longevity of the deck in all.

Materials

The main material used to increase the durability of the deck is carbon fiber. This material is suitable insofar as carbon fiber has both a very high strength, and a low fatigue. It also has a high module of elasticity often described in numerical values, where rubber itself is around .01 and steel is around 200. Carbon-fiber itself is around 30-50. This value describes the relationship of strain and stress, or how much something bends under a given amount of stress. A high modulus of elasticity therefore means that carbon fiber has a high resistance to deformation. Thus, carbon fiber has suitable properties to make a deck more durable and also stiffer.

Impression

Overall, the improved stiffness of the deck from the start is very noticeable. When you stand on the mounted deck it is clear that it flexes much less than a regular deck. This rigidity also makes itself felt in the landings. Landings feel less cushioned. The rigidity of the deck also significantly improves the pop of the deck, with one characteristic quite noticeable: the sound of the pop. It is not dull, but very clear and loud. At the beginning, it may be tricky getting used to the improved pop, because less force is needed for you to pop. However, after a short settling time and a few sessions, you become much more used to it. An advantage of the Impact Plus Technology compared to normal decks is that the deck stays stiff for a much longer amount of time, which helps the board’s pop retain longer and inaccurate landings on nose or tail have no impact to the overall strength of the deck.

Summary

Dwindle decks with the Impact Plus Technology offer excellent and stiff pop due to their improved stiffness. The eight-layer ply composition of the deck has way more durability compared to seven layers on  normal decks. The additional few bucks is well worth it since the Impact Plus decks do significantly have better pop, longer lifetime and a perfect overall durability.

A

Tensor Silver Maglight

The Tensor Mag Light focuses clearly on the weight. Tensor’s Mag Light Trucks are made of magnesium in the hangar and the baseplate, which drops weight without sacrificing on strength. The kingpins and axles are hollow as well, giving you a truck that’s 30 % lighter than an average truck.

A

Andale Swiss Bearings

Andale is a skater owned and operated company that feature high quality skateboard bearings by non other than Joey Brezinski & Paul Rodriguez. Andale bearings are the best option if you want to have Swiss bearing with  the highest quality standard for a reasonable price.

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