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

The post Emerica Reynolds G6 appeared first on Weartested - detailed skate shoe reviews.

Etnies

Etnies revealed at the Bright Tradeshow a mix of both very technical and classical models. Etnies has extended the Marana “Bloodline” with the introduction of a vulcanized Marana version, as well as an even more technical Marana model.

Emerica

After Emerica’s perpetual streak of releasing new models in the last two years, it was deemed time to facelift a model, or two. Righteously so, the Reynolds and the popular Bryan Herman Pro Model “G6” have been updated with a classic vulcanized sole. Thus, the Emerica collection has broadened even more and the #HigherQuality campaign starts this year in the next round.

HUF

HUF has outgrown the small shop in San Francisco for several years now and has earned their place in the skateboard universe with not only their clothes, but also their shoe collection. Last year, the team has expanded with the addition of Austyn Gillette and Dylan Rieder. Dylan is known for his extravagant shoe and clothing style, most notably after the release of his model with pre-HUF sponsor, Gravis. HUF was not afraid to back Dylan’s style and has helped design him another unconventional model. In addition, HUF showcased new colors for the already established shoe models and new additions to their clothing collection.

Vans

Vans had one of the largest booths and focused, like many other companies at Bright, on already established models for fall 2014. Our focuses were mainly on the Chima Pro and the recently released Gilbert Crocket Pro model. However, a new model that will be introduced this year will be the AV Classic, an Anthony van Engelen signature shoe. The model features a classic design with a lot of hidden technological attributes such as a Duracap element in the typical ollie-hole area.

DVS

DVS is fully back and that will continue in 2014. They were one of the few companies that presented several new models, including a new model for Chocolate Pro, Chico Brenes. Likewise, Torey Pudwill will get a shoe that comes with a Velcro closure which is aimed to protect the laces and also improve the stability.

Part 2 coming soon…

The post Weartested at Bright Tradeshow: part 1 appeared first on Weartested - detailed skate shoe reviews.

High quality PDF-file: Emerica Herman G6 review

After the sudden death of éS footwear in spring 2012, things in the industry were uncertain, and skaters were left with open-ended questions. Would Soletech and respectively, Emerica and Etnies, plummet down the same path or would they get a boost due to the possibility of newly available resources and attention? One year later, it is safe to say – at least from an outside perspective – both brands are doing fine and Emerica in particular, is coming out with a fair amount of not-so-mediocre designs.

Personally, the push towards improved breathability with the Herman G6 and the soon-to-be-released new Andrew Reynolds signature model made the largest impression on me. This is especially so, since major players in the shoe game have shied away from releasing a truly breathable model in recent years, even with the resources available. Needless to say, Emerica surprised many. Whether or not the Herman G6 has more to offer than just breathability can be read in the following review.

The Emerica Herman G6 fits true to size.

Durability

One of the cornerstones of shoe durability incorporated in the Herman G6 is the well-established one-piece toecap. It assures a large contact surface between the shoe and the griptape, thereby avoiding concentrated abrasion on small areas. In addition, the suede itself is of high quality, as it withstood the abuse extremely well.

Consequently, the toebox looks as good as new after the 10-hour test period. Only minor flaw is the development of slight waves in the suede due to the large panel, which lead to abrasion points along the front, however, they are hardly noticeable.

To some degree, the large side panel made from roughly structured mesh seems to be a weak spot, but since it is located on the medial side of the shoe, it rarely comes in contact with the griptape; it held up very well and kept its initial shape. Another positive detail is the suede collar that doesn’t fray as opposed to the common mesh collar of comparable models. Likewise as the upper, the sole performed well. As you can see in the pictures, the outsole shows just minor wear except for the kickflip region. Also, the thin groove that is intended to mimic the stitching of its ancestors shows minor wear but is still intact in most places. The bottom sole didn’t develop any areas that were worn flat, except for some parts where the rubber-colored areas were worn off which revealed the black base underneath. Apart from that, the sole is in great shape after the 10 hour test.

Cushion

The G6 features the new full length “G6 foam” midsole. It’s kept 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 well.

As a result the Herman G6 can be recommended not only for low impact skating but also for tougher landings as it manages to cushion bails quite successfully.

Breathability

Air ventilation is a heavily overlooked but important feature of skateboard footwear. The Emerica Herman G6 is setting a new standard of breathability in the current market. The used material features open mesh layers on the medial sidewall and the tongue that are stabilized by an internal grid that results in a sandwich construction.

As a result it is rigid enough to be used as a bigger panel without sacrificing stability. The smooth synthetic inner lining material that feels similar to neoprene dries quickly and works well in conjunction with the mentioned mesh panels. As a result, air flow is enabled to a high degree and the feet stay noticeably cooler while skating.

Shape

As opposed to many one-piece skate shoes, the Herman G6 features a slightly shorter toebox. The width from heel to toe doesn’t vary much and tapers fast in the last fourth towards a slightly dull peak.

However, it transforms into a more arrow shaped peak with wear, which provides excellent control while doing fliptricks. Furthermore, the shoe fits close to the foot and provides direct feedback, as padding is kept to a minimal.

Grip

It takes about one or two hours of skating until the grip of the G6 is fully developed. After this initial wear-in time, the deep grid pattern that almost all new Emerica models will feature in 2013, provides good friction that is quite close to the sticky grip often attached to vulcanized soles. Based on the depth of the tread pattern, the sole should last for the lifespan of the shoe.

The initial grip continues increasing to a certain point as the sole becomes more flexible with wear and as a result, adapts better to the concave of the deck.

Boardfeel

Although it features a full length foam midsole, the G6 feels very close to the ground. It provides above average boardfeel for a cupsole that increases with wear, but can’t fully compete with thinner vulcanized sole designs. Similar to the grip, the boardfeel needed some time to fully develop, which is an acceptable trade-off considering the strong durability and resulting lifespan of the shoe.

Comfort

As aforementioned, it is recommended to wear the model a few days prior to skating in them. When wearing the shoe at first, the Herman G6 feels a bit minimalistic and the sturdy upper is noticeable. However, this initial impression is gone within minutes and overall, the shoe feels very comfortable. A disadvantage is the lack of heel lock caused by the minimal padding and the relatively straight heel profile. It feels a bit too lax and doesn’t securely keep the foot in place when laced loosely, thereby it is recommended to lace them to the top hole. The overall craftsmanship is very well executed and the details are very on point. A pleasant surprise are the tongue centering straps that are a lot thinner and softer than usual and are barely noticeable. To top it off, the Herman G6 is very light due to the sole design that only features rubber in areas of high wear.

Support

The only disadvantage of the model worth mentioning is the internal heel reinforcement. It seems too thin and flexible for the rest of the design and does not provide as much support as necessary. However, the sidewalls are sturdier than usual and sustained its shape very well, even the medial side with the extensive mesh panel. A feature that will hopefully be incorporated in many other skate shoes in the future is the solid middle foot sole part on the medial side, which prevents painful primo landings.

Summary

The Herman G6 is a milestone in Emerica’s lineup that provides unparalleled breathability, very good durability and low-profile cushioning. The heel-lock and support both have room for improvement but these two minor flaws are easily outweighed by the positive aspects of the model.

The post Emerica Herman G6 review appeared first on Weartested - detailed skate shoe reviews.

The post Preview: Emerica G6 appeared first on Weartested - detailed skate shoe reviews.

Many models stood out in 2012, a complete list is hardly possible. Here’s a personal top 3 in no particular order:

The adidas Lucas Pro

Lucas Puig is Skateboarding’s golden child and adidas continues to release pro models that deserve to be called a signature style. 2013 will be the first year with more cupsole releases than vulc. Bold statement, that’s true, but models like the cupsoled Lucas Pro lead the way to a great balance between boardfeel and durability/cushion. You can’t feel your board with cupsoles, they are not grippy enough and look like boots? Try the adidas Lucas Pro and be enlightened.

The Lakai Marc

Lakai is back on track again, but don’t call it a comeback. The transition to the crailtap camp, switching the production to South Korea and solving quality issues as well as a talented design team are ingredients for their strong return in 2012. Marc Johnson and a his part in Pretty Sweet is a personal favourite and the desert boot inspired “Marc” is a subtle but well-designed reminder that skate shoes don’t have to look like identical twins with just a different logo on the tongue.

Emerica G6

The new Herman pro model is on this list for 2 reasons: outstanding breathability and Emerica’s bright future. One of 2012’s hot topics regarding skate shoes was definitely “corporate vs. core companies”. Many talked, many have valid opinions, many very good arguments were exchanged. Emerica just does it. By introducing true breathability to skate shoes with huge mesh panels on the medial sidepanel of the G6 they challenge the bigger names on their home turf and will continue to do so in 2013.

Picture: www.emerica.com

The post weartested skate shoe recap 2012: our personal top 3 appeared first on Weartested - detailed skate shoe reviews.