Project Vulcanized - adidas Super Skate

Yup, more vulcanized shoes to check out�this time from the folks over at adidas skateboarding with their redesigned Super Skate.

adidas has been part of the skate shoe game for a long time. Just looking back over the years you�ll find guys like Neil Blender and other innovators rocking the three stripes in the 80�s. Fast forward to the 90�s with east coast rippers like Pepe Martinez and EMB heads like Jovantae Turner redefining street skating in their Shelltoes. adidas has recently relaunched their skate program and are working hard to produce skate focused shoes using time tested adidas styles like the Shelltoe, Gazelle and Stan Smith. Good thinking.

The Super Skate is a classic model that pretty much stays true to form. The shoe features tough canvas uppers and a solid, yet fairly flexible vulcanized sole. We actually received two pairs to take a look at: the Mark Gonzales signature mid-top and the Mike Giant styled low top.

The Mike Giant shoe certainly gains points in the style department with a large Giant penned skull at the rear of the shoe, custom foot beds and a great black with Olive color-way. Yeah, they may not last as long as suede or leather�but they are cheaper and much more flexible. I�m sure a lot of kids will be buying these just to hang on to for the collector value. Ditto on the Mark Gonzales mid-tops. If this was any other signature shoe the bright blue and yellow might be hard to swallow�but this is the Gonz we�re talking about. Of course these are a bit crazy. The strange little coffee cups and signature on the side-wall of the sole are great details.

But how do they skate? After spending a lot of sessions in the mid-tops I�ve pretty impressed. The canvas is actually the perfect fabric allowing the mid-top to flex just enough while also providing the right amount of ankle padding. As mentioned previously, both shoes have the right amount of flex and the board feel and grip was perfect. It�s also the closest I�ve found to the Vans waffle sole in terms of stick. I�ve hit these pretty hard ollie wise and they�ve lasted a damn long time for an all canvas shoe. Yeah, you�re replacing laces�but what do you expect? The mid tops have stayed in my shoe quiver for quite a while now.

adidas have come a long way from the old days to the mid-nineties slump to the present day skate line. For now it seems like they are getting it right. And they�ve got a Gonz signature shoe�it�s to argue with that.

- Chris

05/20

07/07 - Old Man Army Body Bag
07/01 - Crimson Skateboards
05/31 - Project Vulcanized - Etnies Shecker 2
05/20 - Project Vulcanized - adidas Super Skate
- Full Archive




July 25, 2008