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Sizing

The Eric Koston 3 Hyperfeel fits smaller, we recommend getting a half size bigger.

Durability

Most of the time, when it comes to durability, certain areas of the shoe such as the toe-cap itself, the side-walls or the out-sole etc outshine and prove to be more durable than other parts of the shoe. But this wasn’t the case with the Koston 3; all parts of the shoe exceeded expectations in terms of durability and all proved to be engineered with the wear and tear of skateboarding in mind. The one piece toe-cap withstood session after session and there was no show of any holes. With that said, the laces ripped quite fast, so the positioning of the shoe eyelets was a bit too in the direct line of fire for flip tricks. The suede is very durable around the usual wear and tear areas. The outsoles were able to endure all the elements of skateboarding, games of S.K.A.T.E, cruising the park, filming sessions, to pant-falling foot dragging.

Cushioning

The Koston 3 comes with a drop-in Lunarlon midsole equipped with a flexible web design. The midsole pans out to be thinner towards the forefoot, but gets much thicker in the heel area which features the iconic Nike Zoom air bag for added heel protection. This design benefits the rider without losing any of the board feel of a flat bedded shoe and helps protect your heels beyond the lifespan of the shoe. A small detail that was also quite noticeable was the support in the arch of the foot, which helped keep the feet less sore after a long session. These insoles are definitely one of the more technical insoles and they do their work really well.

Shape

Throughout the 10 hour weartest, the Nike SB Koston 3 held its shape up very well. The one piece suede toe cap held it’s structure and offered no loose seams for the toe box to lose its shape from skating.  More impressive was the flyknit sockliner of the shoe, which held up the shoes lock-in feel extremely well, inadvertently increasing the lifespan of the shoe’s stability. Often, when the feet get sweaty from skating, the shoe absorbs moisture and the shape of the shoe changes significantly, losing much of it’s structure and stability. However, with this shoe, the shoe’s shape and structure was very well maintained and almost showed no signs of change over the first few sessions. Moreover, the heel of the shoe proved to extremely stable; there was an added plastic wall to keep the shoe’s heel shape upright and also protected the heel to achilles tendon well from boards jamming into the heel.

Boardfeel and grip

The boardfeel of this shoe was very impressive. Surprisingly, even as a cupsole model, it had very similar features as a vulcanized shoe: the Lunarlon cushioning elements and the added Zoom air bag did not overpower board feel and felt relatively thin, which made it skate able right out of the box. Grip at the beginning was not the best. It may have been this sole’s material, which seemed like a gum sole but with much less grip. The grip with more skating, got better after being broken in. Rivets are added to the cupsole outside in areas outside of the sole which helped provide better flexibility. This helped increase the flexibility and also made the grip feel very consistent. This may also have to do with the very simple and strategic design throughout the entire bottom of the sole which also showed little abrasion throughout the wear test time period.

Comfort and stability

With regards to comfort, the shoes right out of the box get some getting used to. Nike really spent time in making the Eric Koston 3 as different from traditional skate shoes as possible, which is why initially, the break in period takes a bit longer, and can bit a little uncomfortable at first. But with that said, once the break in period is over, the benefits from the shoe’s technical elements is well worth the initial discomfort. The upright sock collar looks a bit awkward at first, but does amazing in securing your feet and stabilizing your ankle to prevent ankle rolls. Breathability was a drastic improvement from the past 2 Nike SB Koston models; as can be seen in the pictures, mesh ventilation is found throughout the mid-section the shoe, from the arch area to where your toes meet your foot and mid foot area. Another innovation of Nike technology which helped create great stability is the hyperfuse taping used throughout the shoe. The seamless hyperfuse taping wrapped around the core stabilizing areas of the shoe’s midfoot and gave it a bit more structure when put under stress (pushing and walking). One added feature that should be mentioned are the lace loops that are hidden behind the eyelets of the shoe. This tiny feature helps to secure the shoelaces when skating and even makes the laces look much more proportionate in terms of spacing. Overall, the shoe was quite light, which was very impressive given the durable suede used through wear and tear areas.

Summary

The introduction of the Koston 3 Hyperfeel to the skateboard world is a strong one; it’s technical elements excel in terms of cushioning, durability and stability, but it’s comfort and grip could be strengthened.

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Ishod came to the Berlin Weartest and for the launch of his Dunk Low Pro “Ishod Wair” shoe. Together with Solo Skatemag and Place Skatemag we had the chance to chat with him and ask him about his shoe, Love Park and cars.

Could you describe the process of developing your new shoe.

It was more the thing that I was telling them a bunch of time to slim down the dunk and they finally were willing to do this. I wasn’t expecting them to be like “Hey this is your new shoe” I just thought that they gonna slim it up and me being like “Sick this is a perfect Dunk now”. It just kinda turned on me in the best way possible. They came up to me, slimmed down this and that and said it could be your pro shoe and I was like “What? Shit is dope!”

You used to skate the vulcanized Janoski a lot – was it hard switching to the Dunk?

No, it is all about looks to me. If I can look down on my shoes and they look good I eventually be able to skate it. The Janoski doesn’t really have a tongue. I really hated it when my pant go over my tongue and I still do. So there is no tongue and a vulcanized sole – it is dope. For a while vulcanized soles where hurting my fee but I think I was wearing too small of a size. I also really liked the Bruins, they are dope. The liner on the side that holds your foot down is bit to tight. But yeah the Bruins are amazing and Dunk are amazing, too.

Do you break your shoes in or skate them right out of the box?

Yeah sometimes, depending how fresh they are. A dope colorway I got to walk around a little bit because they are so dope that I try to stunned. But not normally I just kind of bend them up with my hands a little bit and thew them on.

There are rumors that you skate at least eight or more hours a day. Is there a jot of truth in it?

I like to skate as much as I can. If I’m at home and I’ve like eight hours that are free then hell yeah I skate eight hours a day but if it is about to say that I skate this specific amount of time everyday I just have to say nah, I don’t time myself or doing anything like that. I just end up going skating and whatever happens just happens. You know there was this “go skate every damn day” campaign. And that sounds sick but sometimes it is really hard to skate every damn day. Sometimes you got stuff to do.  I didn’t come home for a month and I own a house and have to do all this stuff. I have all this mail, I didn’t see my family and I have a new cat. I have all these things, which are not super serious but they of course take time. My prior task is to arrange my life in a way that works because if I just skate all the time, I stress myself out cuz I push all this stuff aside. I am quite a lazy person. From this position realizing the point when I was a child to now. You know I am a professional skateboarder and I skate way less as I did as a child because there is so much more going in to everything else. It’s like traveling here – Day gone. Fucking Interviews instead of doing just skating. If I would be at home, I would just skate every fucking day. In term, I don’t skate as much as I did. And that’s pretty crazy being a professional skateboarder that skates less than before.

I saw you with some shopping bags at the cafe a couple minutes ago. So you did go shopping in Berlin?

Oh yeah! I went to that vintage store when I came here for that Fourstar trip and I just was walking around and kinda like checking out the area, bought some stuff. And this vintage store had some fuckin’ cool cloths. So I went in there and got like three sick ass jackets. For example this jeans jacket right here. And I get compliments on that shit all the time. And its comfortable and warm. Skating in jean is really good, too. You know what I mean? Because if I fall I’m not gonna cut my elbow or anything. Whenever I wear it I am like “That trip to Berlin was tight!” And now I just had to go back to buy some more!

You are wearing a BMW cap. Are you into German cars?

The first car I owned was a Honda Cort and my sister crashed it and I was like “Aight, what kind of car do I want?” I was skating with this old dude, Ben, in Philadelphia who works on BMW’s. And he had this full swaggin’ pick up turbo diesel, which is fuckin’ amazing! I was looking for a car and was like “Dude, I fuckin’ gonna buy this thing off from you! Name a prize and it is mine!” He did not want to sell it because he also is a BMW guy and knows that they are hard to find and all this shit. So I started researching them but then I found a BMW E 30 and if you see that thing you just think that it is sick as fuck! And I was in California, in Scuba’s house and we were looking around there and found an E 30 for sale with an E 36 M S 50 swapped into it for ten G’s. And I was like “Yo, thats me bro!”. That happened only ten minutes away from Scuba’s house.

The post Ishod Wair Interview appeared first on Weartested - detailed skate shoe reviews.

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Sizing

The Nike SB All Court CK fits true to size.

Durability

Overall, durability of the Nike SB All Court CK is very good. First off, the durability of skateshoes with a rubber protected toe cap is usually excellent, because the most attacked area is perfectly protected. However, rubber toe caps run the risk of sub-par flick/grip performance, but this part is saved for another section of our review. Back to the matter at foot, the big rubber toe cap of the All Court CK successfully protects the seams as well as the suede. In addition, the suede left us a good impression, being made of good quality, which would have taken up to 20 hours of skating to have a hole in the lateral (ollie hole) area appear. The positioning of the swoosh, however, could have been improved. It would be better if it was positioned more towards the heel area which would decrease the probability of the swoosh detaching or falling off once the seams have been ripped. The sole itself showed great durability though. No slick spots appeared, and judging by the deep thread pattern it’s quite unlikely that some would show up anytime soon.

Cushioning

As expected, flexibility is the most characteristic strength of the All Court CK. The model is equipped with a Nike Zoom Air cushioning system. The insole has one Zoom Air element in the heel area, as well as one in the ball of the foot area Overall, the cushioning of this model is slightly above average and takes medium abuse quite well. The thickest part of the sole is located in the heel area, which protects well from impactful landings. The sole around the toe cap is very thin which results in a very good boardfeel but doesn’t help much to absorb hard impacts.

Shape

As shown in the pictures, the Nike SB All Court CK is cut rather wide in the mid foot and toe area but then slims down in the heel area. The toe area offers a lot of space which make the shoes perfect for skaters with wider feet. The shape is rather parallel, ending in a stump toe area and a blunt tip. At first, the rubber toe cap is a bit bulky but after the first session it decreases.

Boardfeel and grip

Boardfeel and grip feel is as good as the classic Blazer. Due to the thinness of the sole, the shoe is very flexible. This flexibility enables the shoe to mold into the concave creating a very direct boardfeel. The grip is balanced pretty well too, not too little and not too much, typical for a vulcanized sole.

Comfort and stability

The leather lining in the heel area is the best feature of the shoe with regards to comfort. This material offers a lot of potential for skate shoes because it offers the perfect combination of minimum padding with a great heel lock. The foot almost gets sucked to the shoe. The weight of the shoe is only average due to its vulcanized sole. Unfortunately, the breathability and the weight are only average. The All Court CK offers basically no way for hot air and moisture to exit the shoe and the vulcanized sole can get very heavy. The stability of the model is below average. It gets too soft too quickly, which decrease the shoe’s stability.

Summary

The Nike SB All Court CK was definitely worth waiting for. As with all rubber toe cap models, there’s its advantage when it comes to durability. The boardfeel as well as the grip were well focused on and the shoe shines in both these two categories. The stability as well as the cushioning effects weren’t focused on as much and can only be described as average.

Check out the Nike SB All Court CK at ARROW&BEAST

ARROW&BEAST Nike SB All Court CK

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Durability

While the durability of the Paul Rodriguez 9 initially leaves a very positive impression, there are still some noticeable weaknesses. Let’s start with it’s positive features: the toe cap area, one of the most stressed areas on a skateboarding shoe, proved to be quite durable throughout our test. Especially since the rubber on the side of the shoe did not fully wear down and successfully protected the suede upper as much as it could. The seams which connect the lateral piece with the toe cap piece are fused, which hold up very well with griptape abrasion. Also, the suede itself leaves the impression that it is high quality and the thickness of the rubber sole increases towards the bottom sole. Nike solved the commonly occuring skate shoe shoelace rippage problem by protecting the top eyelet with a high peak of the side panel. The design of the P-Rod 9 prevents griptape from ripping the mesh because the material is pushed further back towards the heel and is quite far out of reach from griptape. The sole is extremely durable; throughout our test, it showed no signs of wear. There are basically two weaknesses regarding the durability of the P-Rod 9. The first of which are the Flywire eyelets. Flywire is a technology originally developed by Nike for use in running shoe models and other performance footwear models. The Flywire material on the four eyelets are in direct contact with griptape and very prone to stress. Two of the four wires broke after not even three sessions and the other two show signs of wear after our 10 hour test. The second disadvantage are the fused toe cap lines in the toe area which create a weak spot in the Ollie-hole area. Although, the toe cap area did not develop any holes, there were first signs of wear even after skating for only 10 hours.

Cushion

The Nike SB Paul Rodriguez 9 is well-suited for high-impact skating and the cushioning is exceptional. Nike is not using their patented Lunarlon technology, but instead, brings back an old friend – the Zoom Air cushioning technology. However, this time around, Nike adapted the Zoom technology and added hexagonal zoom air bags in the sole. In addition, as seen in the profile cut picture Nike also added a foam insole with an air cushioning element included as well. The use of all these cushioning elements enables it to dampen harsh landings and bails extremely well. The cushioning capabilities can already be felt from just walking or just pushing in the shoe. The feet feel well protected and safe with the new P-Rod 9.

Shape

There has been a push back in the revolution with the P-Rod signature foot­wear range regarding its shape. The previous model, known for its visible technology, had a very wide and bulky shape. The P-Rod 9 has a significantly thinner, closer-to-the-foot, more-streamlined silhouette. The toebox of the newest iteration is well rounded with an overall arrow shape; it tapers slowly from the bottom eyestay to a centered, rounded peak. Also, the collar and heel are noticeably thinner and narrower, which create a cupsole model that fits very close to the feet and leaves a good feeling in regards to padding and width.

Boardfeel and Grip

As could be expected with a cupsole model with so much cushioning protection, the boardfeel of the P-Rod 9 is far from outstanding. Although the sole is slightly thinner in the main boardfeel area, the stiffness of the shoe itself does not allow for a perfect boardfeel. Overall, the shoe offers only average contact to the board, so the balance between boardfeel and protection leans towards impact control. However, the fine sole pattern of the P-Rod 9 features good grip. The sole is stiff in the beginning and does not really get softer after more sessions. However, due to the hexagonal zoom air element, the sole naturally has cuts that offer fundamental flexibility which helps the shoe adapt to the concave of the deck and the keeps the feet from slipping. The sticky feeling of a vulcanized sole is not reached but the new Rodriguez has a typical modern cupsole grip.

Comfort and Stability

Paul Rodriguez’s newest model features a well-designed inner lining. It does feature tongue-centering straps which stabilizes the tongue preventing you to have to adjust it. The stitching in­side the shoe is limited to a minimum and overlapping panels are attached to each other by very flat or even hidden stitching to ensure a comfortable lining. A special design feature is the aforementioned Flywire technology. Although, it influences the durability of the shoe, it also has the purpose of ensuring the stability of the sidewalls. The breathability of the P-Rod 9 is way above average for several reasons. It features a thin, mesh tongue that allows airflow at the instep of the foot, a key region. As seen in the picture below, the honey-comb structure gives the tongue structure and stability but also leaves a lot of space for hot moist air to leave the shoe. Additionally, it shoe has perforation holes on the inner sidewalls. Both the tounge and the number of perforations are exceptional and ensure good breathability. The shoe has a superior heel lock due to the high sole in the heel area and a high heel cut – the foot is securely kept in position and doesn’t slip out at any time. Initially, it feels quite different and the feet have to get used to the tight fit around the achilles tendon. But after a few sessions, the soft, mesh material in the region gives way for a very comfortable feel. However, in general, the P-Rod 9 stays very stiff and barely shows any sign of adapting to the foot. A possible improvement would be the use of a more ergonomically shaped and supportive insole with a noticeable wedge under the middle foot.

Summary

The Nike SB Paul Rodriguez 9 offers superior cushioning due to several Zoom Air bags and is suitable for high-impact skating. Other advantages are the outstanding breathability and the stability. Despite being very supportive, the boardfeeling and the durability both have potential for improvement.

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Check out the Nike SB P-Rod 9 at ARROW&BEAST

ARROW&BEAST Nike SB P-Rod 9

The post Nike SB Paul Rodriguez P-Rod 9 appeared first on Weartested - detailed skate shoe reviews.

We got our hands on a model and was lucky enough to meet Trevor at the Street League event in Barcelona and asked him a couple of questions about the SB Free Nano.

Hi Trevor, so you had the commercial for the Free Nano, what features did you like most about the shoe?

I like how light they are, super light. The different rubbers on the sole make it a different feeling. It is really narrow on your feet and you feel like you have a lot of board control.

The shape of the toe cap is asymmetrical, did you need some time to get used to that?

 I need time to get used to all my shoes but that one was a little easier to get used to. It is so light and there is not so much stuff on it, so it was easy to break in.

Are you skating your shoes right out of the box?

I take some time and walk around with them for a while. I put them in the microvace, too. It works fine, the shoe gets softer and molds to your feet.

You have been skating the Janoski and the Lunar Janoski a lot, how was it for you changing between the Janoski and the Nano Free?

I really like to skate one specific thing, so for me the Janoski is hands down the best skate shoe.

Are there any shoes from the Nike SB product line that you can do certain tricks better in?

There are definitely certain shoes that I like to skate more than the others, like the Janoski for example, because I am used to them. I feel more comfortable with them.

Is there anything you think could be improved for the Nano?

The sole has different types of rubber and I would prefer a less type of rubber for the next one. There are four or five different kinds of rubber and I think two would be enough.

The Nano Free does not have a reinforcement element in the heel. Did you notice it or was it easy for you to get used to it?

Honestly, it is hard for me to skate anything besides Janoski because I am so used to it.

If you would have the chance to design a Nike SB model, which one would you choose and how would it look like?

I really would like to have a Blazer or a Dunk mid top with a Janoski sole – that’s it.

Nike SB Free Nano Checkout

Sizing

The Nike SB Free Nano fits true to size.

Cushioning

As expected, flex is one of the most characteristic strengths of the Nike Free sole construction. That’s quite important when it comes to skateboarding, especially in the front foot area. The heel area of a Nike Free running shoe usually features a more stable construction with added cushioning.

Shape

As shown in the pictures above, the Nike SB Free Nano is cut quite slim. The shape is pretty parallel, ending in a flat toe area and a blunt tip. The shoe molds tightly to your foot, thus creating great foothold in the mid and frontal area.

Boardfeel and grip

The Nike SB Free clearly puts its focus on boardfeel and grip. The Nike Free Technology generally aims to recreate the natural movement of your feet. This shows especially when looking at the sole. The 8 deep grooves in the toe area ensure maximum flex, which in turn, constructively affects grip and boardfeel. This, in combination with its thin sole construction in the toe area, creates great contact between board and shoe. The grip is balanced pretty well too, not too little and not too much. All in all, the Free technology was adapted pretty well in terms of skateboarding needs like boardfeel and grip.

Comfort and stability

The Nike SB Free Nano is a very lightweight shoe which is a big factor for comfortability. Surprisingly, the Free is rather stiff during the first session, but slowly gets softer and softer with more wear. Luckily, it never gets too soft, which ensures the shoe’s stability and shape. The heel almost feels like it is being hugged, but without providing enough stability. This improves comfort during wear, but leaves something to be desired when it comes down to protection.

Summary

Nike SB once again revealed their potential and demonstrated their commitment in terms of technology and innovation. All in all, the Free Nano is a convincing model, especially due to a great balance between boardfeel and grip.

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Sizing

The Nike SB Free fits true to size.

Durability

Overall, durability of the Nike SB Free is average. Surprisingly, the sidewalls lasted pretty well even though their design features potentially weakening openings. We didn’t manage to do any major damage to those. The lace loops are designed well too, minimizing the contact between griptape and laces. Apart from that, the front foot area suffered quite some damage. The thin rubber sole didn’t protect the upper material too well and as a result, the dreaded kickflip hole showed its grim face. The area around the top lace loop suffered some damage as well; the foam material popped out here. The sole itself showed great durability though. No slick spots appeared, and judging by the deep thread pattern it’s quite unlikely that some would show up anytime soon.

Cushioning

As expected, flex is one of the most characteristic strengths of the Nike Free sole construction. That’s quite important when it comes to skateboarding, especially in the front foot area. The heel area of a Nike Free running shoe usually features a more stable construction with added cushioning. The Nike SB Free is no different. Overall, the cushioning of this model is slightly above average and takes medium abuse quite well. The thickest part of the sole is located in the middle area, protecting you from primo landings. The sole around the heel is a little thinner.

Shape

As shown in the pictures above, the Nike SB Free is cut rather wide in the heel area whilst being pretty slim in the mid and frontal area. The shape is rather parallel, ending in a slightly pointy toe area and a blunt tip. The shoe molds tightly to your foot, thus creating great foothold in the mid and frontal area.

Boardfeel and grip

The Nike SB Free clearly puts its focus on boardfeel and grip. The Nike Free Technology generally aims to recreate the natural movement of your feet. This shows especially when looking at the sole. The 8 deep grooves in the toe area ensure a maximum in flex, which in turn, positively affects grip and boardfeel. This, in combination with its thin sole construction in the toe area, creates great contact between board and shoe. The grip is balanced pretty well too, not too little and not too much. All in all, the Free technology was adapted perfectly in terms of skateboarding needs like boardfeel and grip.

Comfort and stability

Most important features for a comfortable skateshoe are weight, ventilation and a well crafted inner area. The Nike SB Free is the most lightweight shoe in the SB line, next to the Koston One and the Lunar Oneshot. Compared to most other models, the Free emerges victorious. Ventilation is above average too. The inner area is crafted quite well, although some slight pressure marks were noticeable during the first few sessions. Those pressure marks are connected to shape and stability. Surprisingly, the Free is rather stiff during the first session, but slowly gets softer and softer with more wear. Luckily, it never gets too soft, which ensures the shoe’s stability and shape. The heel almost feels like it is being hugged, but without providing enough stability. This improves comfort during wear, but leaves something to be desired when it comes down to protection.

Summary

Nike SB once again revealed their potential and demonstrated their commitment in terms of technology and innovation. All in all, the Free is a convincing model, especially due to a great balance between boardfeel and grip. But flaws in terms of heel stability and durability weaken its overall performance, leaving us still a bit hungry to test the perfect skate shoe.

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Check out the Nike SB Free at ARROW&BEAST

ARROW&BEAST Nike SB Free

The post Nike SB Free appeared first on Weartested - detailed skate shoe reviews.

Meeting point was Amsterdam’s finest skateshop – BenG. The whole shop was decorated with Grant Taylor’s Blazer and made a good impression of what the shoe is about.

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The bus ride to the skatepark took about 20 minutes. On the bus, we got a presentation of the shoe with an explanation of the features and design inspirations. To sum up, the Blazer GT is a modern classic skate shoe.

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After arriving at the skatepark, Nike provided everyone a pair of the GT Blazer.

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The skatepark is private-owned. Ten friends rented a warehouse in an industrial area a bit outside of Amsterdam and built a skatepark with some chill out areas. After three weeks of hard work the park has been finished only two days before the weartest and so we were able to skate a brand new private skatepark for one time only.

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They built up a projector showing a best-of edit from Grant Taylors parts over the last years. So a skate break could be used for watching tricks from his Chronicles, Alien Workshop and Debacle parts. In addition, there was small Grant Taylor exhibition.

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Food and drinks were served all evening. A special hotdog stand from Holland had one of the best hotdogs I have ever tried – also approved by Tim Zom.

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The crowd watching the skating and Grant Taylor’s parts. Nike SB teamriders like Youness Amrani, Oskar Rozenberg, Tim Zom, Wieger van Wageningen and Fernando Bramsmark added some more flavor to the session.

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First feedback of the shoe:

• Very grippy sole – a balanced mix between boardfeel and grip.

• Slimmed down form, the shoe fits closer to the feet compared to the original SB Blazer.

• The swoosh is positioned more towards the heel area. It helps to protect the swoosh from detaching.

• Breathability and weight are still average.

• All in all the shoe makes a solid impression, it has a good craftsmanship and I definitely an improvement of the original SB Blazer!

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All in all it was a great evening with a nice after party at some good bars in Amsterdam. Thanks to Nike SB for the invitation, the shoe and a great weekend!

The post Nike SB Blazer Low Grant Taylor weartest appeared first on Weartested - detailed skate shoe reviews.

Nike SB Project BA

Disregard the official numbers printed on his birth certificate, (1976, we’ll let you do the math), Brian Anderson is still putting pressure on the concrete streets like a fire hydrant. Whilst most skateboarders his age are sipping cocktails and enjoying their retirement, the Thrasher SOTY of 1999 shows no signs of slowing down; 2013 marked his success in starting his own skateboard company, 3D skateboards, and also designing his personal Nike SB pro model shoe, the Project BA.

 Regardless if you see the Project BA as a pro-model or a collaboration, the influences of the fallen „Savier“ project are clearly visible. This model is just another heartbeat in the revival of running-sneaker inspired shoes right now, and also packages a trip down memory lane with its shoe-design. Whether that trip down memory lane was met with smiles or frowns can be read in the following review.

Sizing

The Nike SB Project BA fits true to size.

Durability

Like nearly every modern model that has been released, overlapping materials or seams are non-existent. The Project BA features a suede one-piece toecap with runner-inspired stitching. Yet even with that feature, durability was not one of the strengths of the Project BA. After our 10h test, the suede already showed signs of significant tear. Another critical feature might be the perforations in the toe-area, but they didn’t cause any trouble during our test. The outsole on the sides wore off faster than expected too, while the sidewalls seemed to be withhold high durability status. However, the sole itself proved to be really durable, letting the advantages of its deep pattern shine.

Cushioning

When it came to cushioning, the Project BA showed very good results. Nike´s Lunarlon technology is implemented in the midsole, visible by its dark-grey color. The Lunarlon foam is spread all over the length of the foot, making sure your feet feel cozy and protected. Also, unlike many other models, the sole and cushioning in the heel area is rather thin, which increases boardfeel.

Shape

The Project BA is a runner/skate shoe hybrid; thus sporting a bulkier silhouette than common cupsole models. Even though it is a higher cut, ankle range of motion isn’t hindered in any way, and the support is excellent. The sidewalls seem to be nearly parallel until reaching the toe-area, where the Project BA ends in a nicely shaped toecap.

Boardfeel and grip

For a runner-inspired cupsole model, the Project BA delivers good boardfeel. The sole is thin enough to provide great boardfeel, and also features incisions that improve the flex of the sole. The overall stability of the sole itself is excellent. Flexibility and the deep pattern of the sole result in amazing grip that doesn’t decrease with wear.

Comfort and stability

Comfort is one of the main features of running shoes. With that said, it’s not surprising that the Project BA is extremely comfortable. Its shoe-in-shoe technology, which features a sock-like inner material with a fixed tongue and strap-like sidewalls, help improve stability quite a lot. Additionally, the construction of this model is surprisingly lightweight and packs a surprise with amazing breathability, which is quite rare when it comes to skate shoes. Perforations along the whole frontal area and big mesh-inserts in the midfoot area are the main contributing factors of that impeccable breathability. The low and wide silhouette of the Project BA keeps your foot safe and snug, and this great stability does not decrease with wear. However,  the toe-area did lose a lot of its initial rigidity.

Summary

The Nike SB Project BA is a very comfortable, running inspired cupsole model that shines in terms of cushioning, stability and breathability, but has minor weaknesses when it comes to the durability of the upper material.

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