SIZING

The New Balance Numeric 913 fits true to size.

DURABILITY

The three main areas to evaluate the durability of a skate shoe include the toe area, the mid foot area, and the outsole. Starting with the toe area, the New Balance 913 features an abrasion resistant suede. They used a special treatment by compressing the normal suede to increase resistance. Under the suede is a layer of TPU as well. These features significantly increase the durability by showing almost no sign of wear. In the toe area, the outsole wore down a bit but not the shoe’s upper material. The second area, the midfoot, didn’t show much sign of wear, and a positive feature of the shoe is the protection of shoelaces, which worked very nicely. Normally, laces that ripped aren’t always deemed a negative feature, since it  can always happen, but with the 913, this was a noticeable highlight. As we mentioned, the third and last aspect of evaluating the durability of a shoe is the shoe’s outsole. The side areas of the outsole helped protect the toe area and the durability was very good. The bottom of the outsole showed very slight signs of wear, so all in all the durability of the 913 is excellent.

CUSHIONING

The 420 has a REVlite midsole which is extremely light and provides decent cushioning for impact absorption. The 913 has a quite complete sole; it consists of the REVlite midsole foam for impact protection, a TPU heel stabilizer, an additional N2 heel element and the outsole which holds everything together. The sole felt quite stiff in the beginning and becomes slightly softer while maintaining its initial strength. This is good for impact skating, however, it decreases the flexibility of the sole. As a result, the 913 is definitely a shoe tailored for impact skating and it remained rather stiff throughout our 10 hour test. 

SHAPE

Just from the aesthetic of the shoe, you will instantly be lured into wondering how the shoe fits and skates. Upon first impression, the shoe felt quite narrow. The shape of the 913 feels like it tapers from the midfoot to the toe, and stops quite drastically into a sharp square edge, instead of becoming a pointed tip. The heel, midfoot and toe area sit quite snug on the foot. 

BOARDFEEL AND GRIP

The boardfeel of the New Balance 913 is average. As a cupsole model, the midsole in the back two thirds of the shoe proved to be quite stiff and inflexible. However, after a few sessions, the whole sole and midsole of the shoe broke in much better, but far from the level of a vulcanized shoe. New Balance used a very wide tread pattern for the sole in the toe area and they added additional grooves for flexibility. The sole is quite grippy compared with the stiff sole and the outsole also did not show any blow out spots.

COMFORT AND STABILITY

Comfort and stability are highlights of the shoe. To start with the comfort we usually consider breathability, weight and initial step-in. Breathability is a feature showcased in the lateral area with a big ventilation mesh and it helps to increase air flow in this area, but not in the rest of the shoe. The 913 feels light in the foot and the initial step-in is very comfortable due to the usage of a nice synthetic material. When it comes to stability as mentioned earlier, the shoe itself has a snug fit, with a few different factors working together to ensure a tight and compacted fit. For starters, the shoe’s heel collar sits quite high, which stabilizes the ankle and heel into a deep pocket. The heel area feels stiff and secure due to a harder TPU external support element, it holds the foot securely in the right place. Overall, the suede which is supported in different areas, did not lose its strength, which helps the shoe to keep its shape even after our 10 hour test. To sum it all up, comfort and stability are very good.

SUMMARY

The Brandon Westgate’s New Balance Numeric 913 pro model exceeds expectations when it comes to durability, comfort and stability. A few elements that can use improvement includes the shoe’s  flexibility of the sole and the boardfeel, which, compared to the overall excellent performance of the shoe, are rather small issues. New Balance has set the technical standard for a skate shoe in 2019 and we definitely recommend trying out a pair of the 913’s.

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Sizing

The Low and Mid Emerica Westgates both fit true to size.

Durability

The simple design of a one-piece toe cap in both Westgate models is not only a critical design feature, but it also proves it’s practicality; there are absolutely no seams and overlapping materials and thus, there is hardly any space for abrasion by griptape. The only thing in direct contact with griptape is the suede itself. We didn’t see any critical wear during our 10h test in the lateral area, however, there were first signs of a hole developing in the kickflip area. Emerica prevents this case by having an additional supporting layer under the suede which not only helps to improve durability but also maintains the stability of the shoe’s form, so there were hardly any waves in the long suede toe cap area. The whole sole of the Westgate CC made a solid impression as well; the sole pattern stayed grippy and had zero worn out spots. All in all, the durability of the Westgate is very good.

Cushioning

The Westgate CC is a cupsole model and the Westgate Mid Vulc has a vulcanized sole construction. For the Westgate CC, the G6 cupsole adds not only overall durability but also has a well balanced cushioning effect. Emerica uses a foam midsole with a considerably thicker heel area compared to the toe area. Also, the insole adds a lot more comfort to the shoe. The thin cupsole can cushion average impacts up to a certain extent, however, the foam midsole is too thin to cushion harder impacts. To sum up, the cushioning of the Westgate CC is average for a cupsole model. The Westgate Mid Vulc with its vulcanized sole, also a limited cushioning effect, however, when it comes to boardfeel and grip the advantages of a vulcanized sole shine brighter.

Shape

Both Emerica Westgate models feature a rather wide silhouette in the midfoot area and a very slim and pointy silhouette in the toe cap area. Also, the heel area is very slim cut which comes with the benefit of a very tight and secure fit. The Westage Mid Vulc is especially unique because its mid construction has can protect the ankles extremely well while also maintaining a very slim shape. Since both Westgates have the same teo cap area it can be concluded that the slim shape combined with a simple suede one-piece toe cap provides a good flick.

Boardfeel and grip

The cupsole construction of the Westgate CC provides good boardfeel due to a direct contact with the board. The sole is very flexible and molds to the concave; Emerica has developed a great balance here. As a result, the flexibility of the sole inadvertently improves the grip, and features nearly vulc-like grip. The amazing durability of the bottom thread makes sure that the grip stays good throughout the whole lifespan of the model. The vulcanized sole construction of the Westgate Mid Vulc has its grip and boardfeel advantages due to a slim and low construction ensuring a close contact to the board.

Comfort and stability

Emerica found a way to make skate shoes very comfortable for skaters. Upon first impression, the Westgates will wow the skater. Both sole constructions provide a comforting mattress feel for your feet with a clear shape and secure lock. Breathability is made possible due to the mesh on the tongue and medial sidewalls. Moreover, the tongue is held in place by two neoprene material-like straps that work to lock in your foot.

The really soft and slim construction of the Westgate CC around the heel and ankle area prevents the danger of heel-slipping and maintains a close fit even if you have rather slim feet. The Westgate Mid Vulc has an even higher ankle support with excellent heel lock. Both shoes have a very good stable form, which helps keep its shape really well.

Summary

The Westgate CC and Westgate Mid Vulc are both durable skate shoes that score major points when it comes to comfort and stability, but do have minor weaknesses when it comes down to cushioning hard impacts.

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