Preview 2013: Converse, Emerica, Adidas, Lakai, HUF, and more....

We have spent some time researching shoes that are being released in 2013.  I have come up with 5 shoe brands that are most likely going to be featured in a review during 2013.  Some of them have already been released, and others are going to be released sometime in the coming year

These Shoes Are:

Converse:  KA-ONE VULC

The Converse KA-ONE VULC is a revised version of Kenny Anderson's original Converse pro model.  It differs from the original KA-ONE in many ways:  The KA-ONE VULC features a vulcanized sole with a skate specific rubber outsole with the classic Converse tread pattern.  It has a narrower shape and has shed any excess paneling around the ollie and kick flip area.  It has an Ortholite Sockliner to boost comfort.  This shoe will most likely be featured in a checkout due to the simplicity of the shoe.

The Converse KA-ONE VULC was released in summer, but will have many new color ways in spring 2013

$60

Emerica: Reynolds and Reynolds Low

The Emerica Reynolds is a new shoe designed by Andrew Reynolds Himself.  It has a mid top silhouette paired with a cupsole construction that feature the high rebound G6 foam and an outsole design identical the Emerica Herman G6 minus the primo pad.  It has no extra layers of material around the toecap.  The "Cool Air Intake" that is featured on the Herman G6 has also been implemented into the inside panels of this shoe.  It resembles a mix between the Reynolds Cruisers, and Emerica Westgate, but with the technology of the Herman G6.  The Reynolds Low is simply a low cut of the Reynolds Model

Reynolds

Reynolds Low

Expect the Reynolds in June 2013, and the Reynolds Low in July 2013

I would expect the price to be around the same as the Herman G6.   Most likely around $85

Adidas:  Busenitz Vulc or Busenitz ADV

The original Dennis Busenitz pro model from Adidas had much success.  Adidas decided to breathe some fresh air into the Busenitz by adding a vulcanized sole into the mix.  The vulc sole will promote boardfeel just like the tapered cup sole of the original Busenitz and will allow more grip, but might sacrifice some durability.

Adidas Busenitz Vulc

The Busenitz ADV is a completely different model from Dennis and Adidas.  It feature a one piece nubuck toecap and ollie area with the exception of the classic three stripe branding from adidas.  The collar is moderately padded with pods of padding to fill in the many crevices and contours of the human foot.  The tongue seems thinly padded, but has hidden pods of padding to protect the top of the feet without gaining weight from a padded tongue.  A thin molded sock liner sits inside the shoe.  All of this is featured on top of a vulcanized outsole with a new tread pattern called "Vector Grip".

Adidas Busenitz ADV

Both Busenitz Vulc and Busenitz ADV will begin to appear in skateshops in January.  Some shops such as Tactics have them stocked on the website already.

Busenitz Vulc: $64
Busenitz ADV: $85

Lakai:  Howard and Howard Mid

Lakai has made a comeback lately.  They have been making some great shoes accompanied with well thought out designs.  For example:  The Linden, The Marc, The Mariano.  Two new shoes will be no exception,  The Howard, and Howard Mid.

Lakai Howard in black suede
Photo Credit: Ripped Laces www.rippedlaces.com (I did not take this photo, nor do I own rights to it.)

The Howard is a shoe designed by Scott Johnston and Rick Howard.  It features a tapered XLK inspired sole with new dual density sidewalls for added durability.  The upper consists of a suede one piece toecap with the Lakai Flare on a sidewall with canvas hits near lace holes.  This is all connected by double stitching.  If this shoe is constructed like the Marc Johnson pro model the sidewall should be glued on as well.   From what I have heard the new XLK sole is incredibly flexible and durable.

Howard Mid in the Lakai x Fourstar colorway

The Howard will also have an update consisting of a mid top silhouette.  The Howard Mid looks like a cross between the Marc and the Howard.

A pre-release of a limited color way of the Howard took place to celebrate the release of the Girl/Chocolate video "Pretty Sweet" only select shops had them.  If you didn't catch them in time you can expect these to be released along with the rest of Lakai's spring 2013 line in the coming months.

The Howard Mid will be a part of the Lakai Fall 2013 line.  Expect it around late summer or early fall.

Howard: $72


HUF:  Joey Pepper Pro Model                                                                                                                

"HUF is pleased to announce the release of Joey Pepper's first ever signature shoe, The Pepper Pro. Designed in strict accordance with Joey's direction, The Pepper Pro incorporates a skateboard-lifestyle aesthetic that specifically meets his demands, with a vulcanized construction, the Joey Pro Model is equipped with an extra toe wrap for durability, reinforced Ollie panels for wear-resistance, and features nylon webbing along the sidewalls.  A perforated toecap and mesh interior lining provides breathability, while a padded ankle cuff offers added support.  Highlighted by gold eyelet accents and foil signature detailing, The Pepper Pro also features a custom Pepper "Dear" Logo on the tongue and insole inspired by Joey's outdoor lifestyle."

                                                         -HUF

This was taken from the HUF 2013 catalog.  I would expect the Pepper Pro to be released relatively soon.  It will be featured in the 1st drop of the spring 2012 line

HUF Joey Pepper Pro should be priced moderately.  HUF makes quality shoes, so anything you buy is going to be top notch. 

We are currently working on a HUF Mateo shoe review right now so be on the lookout.

So, those are only a mere glimpse of what is coming in 2013.  Here are some other shoes that we are looking at

Vans: Half Cab Lite

Fallen: Rambler (James Hardy Pro Model)

DC:  Mike Mo S

Nike SB: Eric Koston 2

Globe: Mahalo (Mark Appleyard Pro Model)

Etnies: Gilman (Cairo Foster Pro Model)

I really hope you enjoyed this sneak peak/preview of what is going on.  More will be posted about 2013 in the near future.  Especially from Emerica, HUF, and Lakai's 2013 catalogs.I am hoping to attend Agenda Tradeshow in NYC, if so there will be an overflow of 2013/2014 info that will be posted

-Walter

Video Part Of The Day: Blake Carpenter in Daylando

Blake Carpenter is a very underrated ripper from florida.  His part in Daylando was released somewhat recently.  Blake kills it in this part.  He is the definition of a true street skater.  Its not hard to understand why I'm so hyped on this part after you see it.

Video Part Of The Day: Shane O'neill Battle Commander

Well, its Christmas Eve.  This Battle commander is a little old, but gold.  Shane gets super tech on the ledges.  Its got a little Christmas flare to it too.  Anyways Check it out and have a happy holiday season!

Click Here if you want to watch it on www.theberrics.com

Happy Holidays,
Walter

Mid-Test Report: Emerica Herman G6

The Bryan Herman Shoe from Emerica dropped two weeks ago.  Since then we have made some progress on the review.  I am currently 6 hours deep into the review process, and I felt that it is necessary to give you a little update/first impression post containing some specs on the shoe, and telling you whether or not they are proving themselves useful.

Main Technologies Implemented in this shoe

• "Cold Air Intake" mesh panels on the tongue and sidewall
• "Three Part Midsole"  

Features Of "Three Part Midsole"  

1. G6 High Rebound Foam
2. Plastic Stabilizing Carriage 
3. Gum Rubber Outsole W/ Triangle Tread Pattern and Primo and Heel Drag Pad

• Seamless Construction for Most of The Upper

During the 6 hours of skating that I have put into this shoe my foot has stayed cool and comfortable.  Not once has my foot felt hot, or even remotely uncomfortable.  The "Cold Air Intake" really works.  When going fast you can feel the air rushing into the shoe.  

The "Three Part Midsole" works really well.  The G6 foam feels very bouncy and cushions bails very well.  After 5 hours of consecutive skating my feet were not fatigued.  My knees did not become sore after skating like they are when skating other shoes.

                     G6 Foam Can Be Seen Under The Insole and On The Rubber Outsole

The new insoles to not provide much shock absorption.  They are nice and thin to promote board feel, and give your feet a little padding between the midsole and your feet.  The insole let the G6 foam do its job.

My favorite part is the gum rubber outsole.  It is very grippy and incredibly flexible.  It makes you feel confident when skating, plus the tread is very deep and has not seemed to wear down one bit.  

Rubber outsole can be seen swell as the "Three Part Midsole"  Photo Credit To: Emerica and Soletech

The durability of the G6 is great.  The shoe looks brand new.  After many flip tricks the rubber seems to shoe little to no wear.  The one piece toecap does its job of providing exceptional flick.

Im not giving to much away.  You guys have to look out for the review, which should be out sometime later this week.  After that I would expect the HUF review in two or three weeks.

Happy Holidays

Video Part Of the Day: Grant Taylor in Debacle

I have been super hyped on skate videos lately.  I will be posting some awesome video parts from time to time to show you guys some awesome skateboarding.

Grant Taylor is one of the most versatile skateboarders out there.  He kills everything from big rails to deep bowls.  He is a true all terrain ripper.  One of his best parts (in my opinion) is his part in Nike SB: Debacle from 2009.  Grant is a bold skater who goes fast as hell.  He attacks everything he skates in an aggresive manner.  He won Thasher Skater Of The Year in 2011, and it isn't hard to know why.

Enjoy this great part,
Walter

Next Up: Herman G6, HUF Mateo, FP Insoles

NEXT UP:

If you follow us on Instagram (@allthingsskateboarding) you know what is coming up in terms of reviews.  For all of those who don't have Instagram, you should be happy to know that we have three big reviews coming up. These are:

-Emerica Herman G6
-HUF Mateo x Think Josh Matthews model shoes
-Aaron "Jaws" Homoki Signature Hi-Profile Insoles from Footprint Insole Technology

We hope you are as stoked on these reviews as we are!  Expect all Reviews to be out by early January. A full review will be done on both shoe models.  The Insoles will be reviewed in a comparison format. Impact tests will be done on multiple insoles.  A short one or two page review will be included.

First Impressions

Herman G6: An extremely light and flexible cup sole with amazing flick, grip, and breathability.  The Carriage that is featured in the new "Three-Part Midsole" help the foot stay centered and adds support.  The sidewalls allow your feet to stay dry and comfortable during skate sessions.  The gold accents make this shoe look stylish

HUF Mateo x Think:  A conventional grippy vulc-sole, but paired with a form fitting and minimally padded upper.  It has tight elastic centering straps that make it easy to slip on and off with ease.  Also allowing shoes to be tied loose, but still have a snug fit.

Jaws Signature Insoles:  The thick Kingfoam material molds to your foot every time you take a step, or when you are on the board.  Feels like memory foam, but denser and less flimsy.  It features no arch support to compensate for the thickness of the insole.  No board feel is sacrificed from what we can tell

I hope you enjoyed this update.  

Happy Holidays from All Things Skateboarding,

-Walter 

How To: Trimming Insoles

How To:  Trimming Insoles

I have been feeling a little sick today.  So I decided to take it easy and write up a little tutorial on how to trim your Insoles.

Trimming Insoles is an essential part of getting your insoles to fit properly and give you the most comfort possible.  When we received some Aaron "Jaws" Homoki Signature High-Profile Insoles from FootPrint Insoles we noticed that the insoles are too big and too round to fit in our shoes.  This is common in almost all skateboard insoles.  This gives you some room to ensure that you can trim the insoles to fit into your shoes.  If the insoles made a pre shaped insole that didn't fit into a shoe people would complain.  Luckily, I have dealt with multiple pairs of insoles that needed to be trimmed so you guys don't mess up the insoles and waste your money that you have been smart enough to invest in a product that will better your skateboarding pleasure!

Things You Will Need:

• Your fresh insoles.  In our case "Jaws" Signature FootPrint Insoles.
• A pair of insoles that you know fit your shoes (stock insoles, etc...)  We used some Remind Insoles that we trimmed to the shape of Nikes Lunerlon Insoles.  
• Scissors (Make sure they are sharp)
• A pen with black or blue ink.
• A clean workspace

1.  Now, choosing the insoles you are going to use as the template for cutting the new insoles can get tricky.  Make sure that the insoles are from shoes that fit your normal size.  Another important thing to remember is to use an insole that fits well in all shoes.  We used a Nike Lunerlon Insole to trim the Chico Brenes Insoles that are shown in the photo.  So far we have not found a shoe that they fit perfectly in.  Vans, Emericas, and Lakais are perfect for the shape.  Most shoes have the same sole shape.  So be careful.  Make sure the scissors are sharp so that you get the most precise cut.  And use a pen with black or blue ink.  It shows up the darkest.

2.  Take your new insoles out of the package.  Take whatever insole you want (we used the right insole) and place the old insole over it.  Take the both insoles and place them so that the bottom of both insoles are touching a horizontal surface.  This just ensures that the new insole and the old one are perfectly lined up.  Make sure to center the old insole too.  Lay them down after they are centered and get ready to trace the shape of your old insole.

3.  Apply pressure to make sure the tracing is as accurate as possible.  Keep applying pressure and trace around to the other side of the insole and go back around to make sure you have a nice dark line.

If you traced correctly this is what it should look like!

4.  Now grab your scissors (sharp ones) and begin cutting out the shape of your insole according to the line you drew.  Go very slowly and don't be afraid to take your sweet time.  Make sure you make a smooth transition when cutting into the insole.  Taper your way into your line.  We only needed to cut the toe but on other insole you may need to cut more off the sides if the insole is too wide.  When you trim the insole be aware that some insoles have parts that are filled with materials and areas where you can't cut.  There isn't anything you can do to that.

This is the end result.  Spot how I tapered into the cut so there are smoother contours.

5.  Great!  You are about 45% done with the process!  Now repeat for the other insole.  Make sure you use the correlating insoles.  (use the right insole as a template for right. Left for left)  I know its obvious but people can be stupid sometimes.  After you are done you are almost done!

6.  Now, pop 'em in some shoes and go skate!  You get to experience the good feeling that skateboard insoles give you and know you made an investment to help your body, feet, and most importantly YOUR SKATEBOARD EXPERIANCE.  Have Fun!!!!!

These insoles are great in the Lakai Marc skate shoe.  The thickness makes the shoe fit nice and snug!

All Things Skateboarding Recommends:

• Etcetera Insoles
• Remind Insoles
• Footprint Insoles

Instagrammin'

If you guys want updates on articles and reviews you should hop on your mobile device and follow us on instagram!  Our username is allthingsskateboarding.  Updates are posted anytime we put out a new write up, review, or whenever we have anything we got coming up.

Thank you all who have viewed this page.  The pageviews have jumped by about 300% in the past 2 days.  Big shoutout to Emerica and Robert Brink for posting our Emerica x Figgy x Baker write up on the Emerica Twitter and Facebook page.  Thank you all for supporting a small scale blog and We have got things lined up that you guys will be very psyched on!

Thanks,
All Things Skateboarding

Emerica x Figgy

Emerica and Figgy teamed up to create an unique rendition of the classic Emerica "Laced" shoe.  Its obvious that Figgy deserves a color way since his gnarly part in "Bake and Destroy".  Many subtle changes have been made to this shoe, but overall make a HUGE impact when it comes to making this shoe look appealing.  

This shoe looks like a chiller shoe but doubles as a great skate shoe for all you minimal padding advocates.  It has a tongue and collar that have no padding.  This just makes the shoe feel like a sock and allows it to mold to your feet easily.  It has a clean one piece toecap with no stitching to rip or seams to blow out.  The coolest thing about the shoe is that it has elastic centering straps that make the shoe fit tightly even when worn without laces.  This comes in handy when you are ripping laces and you might not have any short term fixes when you are out skating with the homies.  This is a cup sole shoe.  It has a grippy zig-zag tread pattern.  It features a STI insole that keeps your feet from hurting after bails or landing off of big drops. 

The Figgy color way breathes some fresh life into this classic shoe.  First of all it features a black  suede toecap with grey side paneling.  "Figueroa"  seems to be embroidered onto the side panel where "Emerica" is usually stitched onto.  The font is a spin off of a guitar amplifier company called "Orange".  Figgy plays guitar for LSDemons, and it is safe to assume that he is a fan of "Orange" Amplifiers.  This font was used on two of Figgy's most recent pro model decks.  On the tongue there is the Emerica logo but it has a pyramid design on it with an eye at the top.  This is a symbol often correlated with the devil and the Illuminati but I'm not trying to let the History/Religion professor inside of me ramble on.  On the green insole there is a picture of a guitar that has a goat head on it.  Yet another example of some "Flair" that was put into the shoe.  The sole sports a nice yellow color to correlate with the Gold america emblem on the side panel and the yellow Emerica Pyramid logo on the tongue.

To put it into simple words.......This shoe looks pretty gnarly.  Figgy and Emerica did a great job throwing cool looking stuff into an already cool looking shoe.  It sits at a fair price of 70 dollars.  Only 5 dollars more than the normal laced.  Not bad for a limited edition shoe.  Look out for the Emerica Herman G6 review that is coming in a week or two.  Stay tuned!!!!

If you want to check out/purchase the Emerica x Figgy Laced shoe you can click Here