Ripped Laces

Cell Phone Sneak Peeks: Vans Half Cab Fall 12 Preview. Part 2 of 2.

2012-02-26T22:57:00.000-08:00

Van Half Cab with Steve Cab original artwork. Available Aug '12.

Cell Phone Sneak Peeks: Vans Half Cab Fall 12 Preview. Part 1 of 2.

2012-02-24T11:32:00.000-08:00

20th Anniversary Half Cabs Detail. Due June '12.

Insta-gratification: Habitat Kerry Getz Pro Model

2012-02-22T11:15:00.000-08:00

Kerry's first ad for Habitat Footwear. Available Summer '12.

Agenda Sneak Peeks 2012: HUF, Part 2 of 2

2012-02-15T03:01:00.000-08:00

The "Choice" in Brown/Blk & Navy/Tan. The "Clarence" in Military/Brown.

What time is it?

2012-02-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

IT'S VALENTIMES!

Here's to hoping your day goes less like this:

and more like this:

Huf part 2 sneak peek tomorrow
<3 Ashley-tron

Agenda Sneak Peeks 2012: HUF, Part 1 of 2

2012-02-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

The Southern in Oxblood/Tan, Black/Tan & Military/Dark Earth.

Agenda Sneak Peeks 2012: Praxis Footwear

2012-02-08T12:29:00.000-08:00

Ethos in Maroon/Black Suede. Fall 12.

Between the Giants winning the SuperBowl & the warmer weather, we've dropped the ball on keeping you up to date. We're going to make things right by giving you a sneak peek into the Praxis line for Fall 2012. You might've seen a photo from our Berrics summary sneak peek but here's the extended version with the rest of the models.
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Agenda Sneak Peeks 2012: Vans Part 2 of 2

2012-02-01T03:00:00.000-08:00

Rowley SPV in Black Tobacco, Black Charcoal White & Charcoal Dark Forest. Available June '12.

Agenda Sneak Peeks 2012: Vans, Part 1 of 2

2012-01-29T20:41:00.000-08:00

AVE newest pro model. Well..sorta.

Possibly the most anticipated sneak peek, Vans showed a number of new team models, pro models and delivered the same performance you crave. This Agenda Sneak Peek is going to be a two part article because they've got so much new shit, it'd probably take me a number of hours to finish it in one day. Seeing as how it's been unseasonable warm in this NY winter, there is no way in hell that I'm going to work on an article. I've tried to convince myself but I'm so stubborn, dang…
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Agenda Sneak Peeks 2012: Etnies

2012-01-27T09:49:00.000-08:00

Coming to your local skate shop, Fall 2012

Agenda Sneak Peeks 2012: Fallen, Part 2 of 2

2012-01-25T10:38:00.000-08:00

Agenda Sneak Peeks 2012: Fallen, Part 1

2012-01-22T23:38:00.000-08:00

After an awesome playoff game, the Giants may have won but we are definitely the ones left in tears and in snow. I'll take San Francisco's weather any day over a playoff win, especially after getting a taste of the beautiful weather, steep hills & awesome skate scene. Without dwelling too much, it's about time for another Agenda sneak peek. This week it's Fallen's turn to be in the limelight.

Much like last year, you can expect the Fallen line to have new pro models and interesting colorways as always. This first part of the Agenda sneak peek will highlight the vulcanized models you can look forward to.

Tommy Sandoval's "Kingston", due out Fall 2012.

HOV with 2nd Nature

2012-01-20T12:14:00.000-08:00

Exclusive: Manny Santiago Axion Pro Model Sneak Peek!

2012-01-17T20:02:00.000-08:00

Manny's pro shoe. Scheduled for an April release. Maybe...

Etcetera Project Primo Pad Insole review

2012-01-14T21:25:00.000-08:00

Agenda LB Sneak Peeks 2012: Lakai, Part 2 of 2

2012-01-13T08:55:00.000-08:00

We're back with part 2 of 2 from Lakai and it's looking just as appealing as part 1.
With this follow up post, we'll be featuring some rarities from Lakai.

We're going to continue where we left off and bring you more XLK related shoes.

XLK ALL DAY!

I think that has some potential to be a sticker. Get on it guys & make sure you send us a pack. :)

Guy Hi XLK, Dropping on 6.20.2012

Agenda LB Sneak Peeks 2012: Lakai, Part 1 of 2

2012-01-11T12:43:00.000-08:00

The Marc. Not featured in the article, we just thought it was a good opening photo.

Agenda LB Sneak Peeks 2012: DC Centric S

2012-01-07T01:31:00.000-08:00

Dropping 7.01.2012

Emerica Hsu 2 Fusion Review

2011-12-31T20:00:00.000-08:00

Agenda Long Beach Sneak Peeks are Coming!

2011-12-28T17:36:00.000-08:00

Sneak Peek: Adidas Lucas Puig Pro Model

2011-12-28T00:02:00.000-08:00

Random Reviews: Christmas Presents.

2011-12-27T09:28:00.000-08:00

Converse Ka-One Review

2011-12-16T09:40:00.000-08:00

Winter Collection: Supra

2011-12-13T19:59:00.000-08:00

Supra Douglas Boot in Brown FG Waterproof

First Glance: Lakai Carroll 5

2011-12-08T10:21:00.000-08:00

Exclusive: eS Rodrigo TX DGK Shoe

2011-12-02T07:57:00.000-08:00

Sundays..err day

2011-11-30T11:32:00.000-08:00

SUNDAYS ROAD TRIP from Matt Villaverde on Vimeo.

Read more »

43 Magazine

2011-11-23T12:42:00.000-08:00

In local news...

2011-11-19T14:01:00.000-08:00

These should be the cd's of the week, every week.

eS Edgar shoe review

2011-11-16T12:42:00.000-08:00

Jereme answered our question! Who cares......

2011-11-15T09:59:00.000-08:00

First Glance: Fallen Seventy Six

2011-11-14T08:15:00.000-08:00

Coat of Arms Donger Shoe Release

2011-11-09T11:45:00.000-08:00

Leather insole with gold lettering and Donger insignia.

Florida Daze video premiere, 11-25-11

2011-11-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

Not a trick, Just a treat from TWS X RL's.

2011-10-31T00:34:00.000-07:00

The eS Kellen James pro model that we'll never have.

The John Dilorenzo Interview

2011-10-30T03:00:00.000-07:00

First Glance: Gravis Filter Duro

2011-10-26T10:18:00.000-07:00

Sneak Peek: Footprint Insole Technology development

2011-10-21T22:06:00.000-07:00

Brotha from another Motha: John Dilorenzo

2011-10-15T21:03:00.000-07:00

Whether you saw it or not, weeks ago on our section of the Berrics, we asked the world of young talented skaters to send submissions of their skating for a chance to be apart of our next video shoe review. We got a great amount of submissions from every corner of the world. From Sweden to Florida, we were flattered by peoples response. Thank you to everyone that took the time to submit their videos.

All the submissions were good but I was looking for something truly unique. After watching all the videos, I was about ready to pick my next reviewer. Before doing so I was yelled at by my wife to check my spam mail. At the risk of getting beat for being insubordinate, I checked my spam mail. Sure enough woman's intuition continues to slow down the male species and in my spam mail is where I found my next reviewer. I'm not sure what kind of luck or what kind of fucked up smut porn addict you need be in order to qualify as a spammer but this is where I found my next candidate for our Ripped Laces video shoe review. By no means is John Dilorenzo a pervert or some sicko on the internet but he certainly has some crazy kind of luck in order to end up in the spam section of my emails. After reading his simple yet informative introduction of telling me his shoe size and where I could find his video link, this is what I saw.

After being amazed by his talent, I contacted John right away to tell him the good news. I found it remarkably surprising to have stumbled upon a grateful, young up and comer with all the enthusiasm in the world. He came off much like the white Theotis Beasley. All of his emails and responses ended with "thank you so much" and some use of the word "appreciate" thrown in anywhere appropriate. All and all, he's getting a box. DC properly hooked him up with a pair of the Fix S X Berrics collaborative shoe in order to showcase his talent on the Berrics in the near future.

At the end of the day, the point of the "Brotha from another Motha" section is to expose and appreciate the skaters that never see the light of day. While speaking to John over the phone, I noticed that he doesn't follow the pack but is a natural born leader. He hasn't yet conformed to the crazed Dickies look or the popularity of shitty rap in skateboarding. He's his own person and it shows through his appearance, attitude and more so, his skating. I can't do much for John but give him a chance to have his video up on the largest skateboarding site to date but hopefully that's all he'll need to make it one day.

Thanks to John Dilorenzo for being him and keep an eye out for his much anticipated "Florida Daze" part. It's a film by Mikey Glover that has been in production for over 2 years. It features hungry rippers based out of South Florida. The line up includes Mikey Glover, Derick Glancy, Evan Hamel, Mike Magalhaes, Chris Boylan, Zion Wright, George Hodgkin, Drew Usiadek, and John Dilorenzo. If you want to see more about the video check out their Facebook fan page.

Keep a look out for the scheduled premier on Mikey Glovers personal youtube channel @ http://www.youtube.com/mikeyyg123. The video is being backed and sponsored by 561 Skate Shop, Shred Shed & Citified Skateboards so be sure to support them and check for local updates.

Peace.

Supra Skytop 3 review

2011-10-13T15:28:00.000-07:00

From top to bottom, Week 1 to Week 4

We posted the First Glance for the Supra Skytop 3 back in July and I never imagined that this review would be out 3 months later. Ideally, I wanted any review to be done within a 1-2 month period. The truth is, aside from being extremely busy, the Supra Skytop 3 has been one of the most difficult shoes we've reviewed yet. That's definitely not a back handed remark, the shoe just seems to be indestructible.

I won't spoil too much about the shoes performance before getting into the review but because of it's high grade of durability, I questioned myself on whether to extend the review any further than I had originally planned. The Supra Skytop 3 is a great example of the time, devotion and technology you should be expecting from your fellow skate brands. While taking a step forward in design and support, I feel like we, as an industry are stepping back in time where we test the standards and instead of sticking with what is safe and profitable, we go with whats risky and original. That, in my opinion, is truth essence of skateboarding. Let's get into the review.

The review was done using our month long format and the shoe was skated for a total of 20 hours. Check below after each section to view the grading system. We base our ratings from 1-10. 10 being the best and 1 being the absolute worst. Enjoy.

First Glance: Etcetera Insoles and more.

2011-10-03T10:44:00.000-07:00

Probably the nicest guy in skateboarding today, on and off the board, Ronnie Creager has blessed us with some product from his new brand, Etcetera. During the month of October, we'll be taking a closer look into Etcetera products which include two types of strongly constructed insoles and an ankle stabilizer for those of you with fucked ankles. I have no doubt in my mind that Etcetera will exceed our expectations much like their founder. If these products are as good as Ronnie, we'll be seeing them for a long time. Look out for the review to drop soon and check out the Etcetera Project online for more details.

Shout out to Bobby Spero for suggesting we review Etcetera products. Thanks Bobby! Bother him on Twitter!

Adidas Adi-Ease Gonz shoe review

2011-09-27T03:00:00.000-07:00

Not to long ago I was lurking on our Ripped Laces FB, just dicking around not doing much. Occasionally I post, answer any shoe related questions you might have and chat with you about a shoe you're interested in. I may not know everything but I do pride myself in being able to help you guys out and field some questions. As I was just chilin on Facebook, I get a chat notification. It was from a dedicated reader and skater, Dave Van Housen.

Dave hit me up on Facebook chat and wanted to know if I had any suggestions on Vegan skate shoes. We went back and forth trying to figure out what canvas skate shoes could last the test of time and not rape your wallet in the process. I, myself, use to be Vegan for 5 years so I know this situation too well.

Since the mid 90's, vegan friendly shoes haven't been as easy to obtain without putting a tremendous hole in your wallet and shoes. Most vegan friendly shoes (when I say "most" I mean Ed Templeton and Geoff Rowley models) use to be indestructible and better than performance suede. They would always have a nice, thick rubber toe piece kinda like the Emerica Templeton 4. Since those days are over, I dug deeply into my skate nerdery of a brain and looked online to help Dave find a solution to his problem. In the end, I told him that a CONS CTS in canvas should do the trick. It has a solid rubber toe cap to manage his kickflip problems and has a strong layered toe box to handle some abuse. In helping Dave, I also came to a conclusion myself. I must review a canvas skate shoe.

Originally, this review started because Timothy Olson of Roger skateboards asked me if I'd like to do an Adidas review. I was all like "Fuck yeah, brah!" and he was all like "Oh-kay…..brah" and the rest is history. Weeks later, I received a package from Adidas to find the Ronan and the Adi-Ease. Obviously, I wanted to skate the Ronan and feature them in our reviews but after remembering my conversation with Dave, I knew that skating the Adi-Ease would make for an interesting and insightful article. It all lined up incredibly well so here is your Adidas Adi-Ease shoe review.

The review was done using our month long format and the shoe was skated for a total of 20 hours. Check below after each section to view the grading system. We base our ratings from 1-10. 10 being the best and 1 being the absolute worst. Enjoy.
Read more »

Round 1 vs The Edgar

2011-09-26T08:38:00.000-07:00

As you might've read or completely ignored, we suggested not to skate The Edgar out of the box and to give it a 1-2 day breaking in period. Now, because we're completely impatient and have no sense of direction, we went ahead and skated the Edgar right out of the box. The Edgar is so tempting that we caved and tested it out for 4 hours to let you know what potential battle you'd be facing. Here are some of the our conclusions.

The Edgar can be skated out the box but you'll have a difficult time. We strictly did it because we're insanely impatient and wanted to test them out asap. As stated before, it's a stiff shoe and despite it's wide appearance, it feels somewhat narrow. This is all attributed to the hidden rubber toe cap that lays beneath the suede. It's added layer is ultimately what makes the shoe in itself stiff. For those with larger and wider feet, I'd suggest to carefully decide whether you want The Edgar that bad. For myself personally, speaking from a wider foot point of view, I can say that the pain is worth it. During the 1st and 2nd hour of skating, you'll feel slight discomfort on the sides of your foot. It isn't overwhelming enough to add any blistering to your foot or toes but nevertheless it's something that cannot go unnoticed. During the 3rd and 4th hour of skating the shoe, I felt it loosening up a bit and making my skating a little easier. It's one of those shoes that pay off in the long run after dealing with some minor setbacks. The hidden rubber toe cap is a bitch at first but overall adds to the durability and takes an extreme amount of damage like nothing. Skating them out the box felt uncomfortable but was awesome in retrospect. The height and placement of the toe cap is in perfect position to do any flip trick with ease. Normally, with a shoe like this, you wouldn't even attempt any flip tricks on the first day because you'd end up annoyed and flustered. But again, we went against the grain and broke the rules to see how far our boundaries stretched. I did try some flip tricks at the very beginning of skating The Edgar and I'd say about 75% to 80% of them were successful. Now, I'm no Cory Kennedy but because of the positioning of the toe cap and it's height, with a simple flick of the ankle, all flips tricks seemed plausible.

We're going to continue to face the Edgar and give you a full month review in the future. Look out for it and see how well we really did against The eS Edgar.
Peace.

Ripped Laces VS The Edgar

2011-09-25T03:00:00.000-07:00


A staple in any house hold kitchen

Before every review, we place careful consideration into effect so that each review is as appealing as the next. The shoe & brand should represent a quality that we would love to recognize, a unique design and offer some form of new technology during the process.

When we reviewed the eS First Blood awhile back, we threw all those thoughts to the side. They were still our guidelines but we strictly just wanted to skate the fuck out of that shoes. It was the best and most organic way to skate them. Normally, after reviewing more than a dozen of shoes, reviews can potentially become more of a "job" than actually skating. Sure, you get to skate free shoes but you have to make sure you're on top of how many hours have gone by, record the data and then publish it before you get blacked out wasted. On top of this, schedule each review carefully to make sure everyone of them remain relevant. This can all be very tedious and at times annoying. You're starting to see what I'm talking about, right? But I'll save my bitching for a later time and wipe my pussy now so we can continue on with this post.

Luckily, every so often their is a shoe that I would actually love to skate, even if I had to pay for them. This was the feeling I got when we were approached to review the eS Edgar. It's a shoe that brought back all these feelings of nostalgia from the First Blood review. Sure, it wasn't long ago but it did in a sense reminded me why I started doing these reviews. When we first started out, we paid for every single shoe out of pocket up until the C1RCA Gallant review. Since then, shoes have been piling up and everything has been getting crazy. Regardless of that fact, we still push on to let you know what shoes are durable and worth your hard earned money.

This post is titled "Ripped Laces v.s. The Edgar." Why? I don't know, it sounds cool but also, it's about showing the initial test we put it through and our "breaking in process."


1st Test of The Edgar

In order to make this article work, we had to get into the "Bobby Worrest" state of mind. Which leads us to our first two photos. Before doing that, we had to figure out the blueprint of the shoe to make sure it could clench our ice cold beverages.

2nd Test

At first, we tested it with an Australian beer to see if it could hold it's extra large bee-ear. We then moved onto a Heineken. This was possibly the best review I've ever done.

Our Blueprint

Our testing isn't at all complete. This was just sort of a cock tease of whats to come. Check back in tomorrow to see the first day of skating The Edgar.

Footprint King Foam insole review

2011-09-18T03:00:00.000-07:00

You should all have my head for not putting this review out sooner. The fact of the matter is that I've been looking forward to filming a review rather than convincing you with my words. I've come to the point where I feel like I'm hypnotizing readers instead of actually showing them how good some products really are. Unfortunately, the realities of life get in the way and in between scheduling dates and losing footage, the video review just couldn't get done. We made a valiant effort but it's all gravy…or wavy…Whatever. Anyways, back to the review.

I've had these King Foam insoles for about a month now and they're worth every dollar. They haven't gone thru any specific or major changes, such as flattening, deterioration or tearing. They've also been in and out of different model shoes in order to see how well they perform in different silhouettes. From cupsoles to vulcanized shoes, the King Foam insoles best quality is the ability to adapt.

Some information or advice towards using King Foam insoles are the following…Please note that I do not work for Footprint so you're taking advice from some fucker behind a keyboard who may be abusing his power….Just kidding.

As stated, these insoles should be used to increase comfort and support for those shoes that make your feet ache after a full day of standing or skating. I have a flat foot and I could tell you that they lowered the pains in my ankle from standing substantially but don't necessarily increase arch support. When Alex Figueroa first skated the C1RCA Widows, we went filming and he attempted a 50-50 to a large 6-foot drop. After several tries, he refused to skate it anymore after feeling some unwanted heel bruises coming together. Alex then skated the Widows with the King Foam insoles and felt a massive difference. Even though King Foam insoles thoroughly adapt to any model shoe, I'd say that they would work best with most vulcanized shoes rather than cupsoles. Traditional cupsole models always feature a patented formula for added protection instead of maximizing boardfeel, which explains the demise of its popularity since the 90's. The vulcanized shoe of today depends on a solid insole in order to subject your feet and lower back through the pain you put it through. Let's be honest, their isn't a better feeling in this world then boardfeel, but I can actually think of one better…..being able to walk when I'm 65. I'd honestly recommend, if they fit correctly, to put the King Foam insole underneath those paper thin stock insoles you're given when slipping on new shoes.

Since the demise of eS, I've paid homage to the late and great company by skating in Accels. These aren't the OG ones, they're the reissue series from last year with the Ortholite insoles and heel counter shank around the heel of the insole. No doubt that the stock insole is great but after skating a number of days in a row, my feet did started to feel sore. These King Foam insoles have the same depth in height as the stock insoles, but what sets them apart are their clean non-perforated bottoms.

Some insoles already come micro-perforated in order to add breathability and decrease the possibility of fungus build up in your foot. Unfortunately, these micro-perforated insoles do potentially lead to wear and the loss of buoyancy in the insole. The King Foam insoles do not have any openings or holes in them which may lead to flattening, ripping or loss of comfort. Another honorable mention is the weight to the insole. They don't have a remarkable amount of depth to them but supply enough cushioning if you plan to use the King Foam insole alone. This practically opens up endless possibilities to how you'd like to use King Foam insoles. Layered or Alone, the insoles perform remarkably.

As stated before, at $15.99, King Foam insoles are a must. Even if you don't intend on using them all the time, I'd suggest having them as a solid back up plan when it comes to skating large sets and/or drops.

Thanks to Jason at Footprint for getting this review together and expect more from FP in the near future. I hear they've got some crazy things in the works.

First Glance: Emerica Hsu 2 Fusion

2011-09-16T10:43:00.000-07:00

Ripped Laces success hasn't grown over night. It's taken hard work and dedication. We've been recognized for so much of our hard work that we're proud to say that Jerry Hsu himself has approached us to introduce his First Glance. The Hsu 2 Fusion from Emerica is next up in our list of reviews. We asked him to provide a few words on his new shoe and here's what he had to say... (photo below)

The Hsu 2 Fusion is the next shoe to be featured using our video reviews but more importantly it's the 2nd Asian shoe review we're doing this month. The first one is the Converse KA-ONE and we spoke on whether Kenny Anderson holds the key to eternal youth. Their is still no confirmation on this but hold tight, we'll get you your answers. Now, we're moving onto the Jerry Hsu 2 Fusion from Emerica. It's entirely the opposite of Kenny's shoe. Jerry reintroduces us to his mid-loving ways and adds a few bells and whistles to this shoe. It has an in-sown toe cap, which hids the stitching from any unwanted blow outs and has a very comfortable and refreshing silhouette. I'm extremely happy to say that this latest mid-top doesn't look like a halfcab so thank God for that. Oh, I almost forgot, here's the english version of what Jerry had to say about his shoe.

The review should be out by the end of the month with a full video behind it. Oh and btw, we're looking to get this shit hole off blogger and make it legit. Any graphic designer out their wanna make some mula....? Hit us up at RippedLaces@gmail.com

Peace.

Nike SB PROD 5 shoe review with Chris Pierre-Jacques

2011-09-11T01:09:00.000-07:00

So as in the post below, I told you that September was going to be crazy. Normally, if you've been checking on Ripped Laces, you've notice that we've been know to give out a sneak peek of our up and coming reviews. This just goes to show that you never know when some exclusive review will be coming through the door. The Prod 5 review just sort of fell on our lap. Originally, we were going to have 2nd Nature skate shop owner and man of newly found Quartersnacks fame, Doug Brown aka "Pretty White Boy Number 1" do the review but seeing as how he's a busy man, we went with the only back up plan possible, Chris Pierre-Jacques aka Lil Chris.

Despite his short time on earth, Chris has earned his reputation as the local ATS (All Terrain Skater). He's been killing everything in his path for as long as I've known what woman want, meaning forever. I'd like to think that Chris came out of the womb flicking his foot so it must've been a natural transition from the chooch to the board. Now, because this isn't our traditional review where myself and the reviewer receive a pair of shoes, their is only so much I can say about the shoe seeing as how I actually didn't get a pair. Normally, companies send us shoes for review but thankfully Chris took the initiative and supported his local skate shop.
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September is going to be crazy.

2011-09-08T09:17:00.000-07:00


Screen shot of Chris Pierre-Jacques doing our latest video shoe review.

I'm looking to hit you over the head with so many updates this September. We've got the following reviews coming out this month:

King Foam insoles in-depth written and video review.
Adidas Adi-Ease review and how canvas is going to be the next trend.
Supra Skytop 3 shoe review and why you should spend your parents money on it.
Converse Ka-One video and written review.

At the very top is a photo of 2nd Nature Family and 5boro flow rider Chris Pierre-Jacques ripping up the next video review we're hosting. Any guesses? The video is going to be up this week. Keep posted. On another note, check this out. It's the greatest thing I've ever recorded, totally topping the first steps of my unborn child, without a doubt.

For the full collaborated video, check out Jenkem Mag's article

Peace!

The Traditional Weed Post.

2011-09-04T19:53:00.000-07:00

These are the "House of Marley" brand headphones. It's a new brand coming on to the market started by the Marley's to tap into the ever-growing headphone market. They sent me these headphones to do a review on there quality and sound but truthfully I'm no professional in that field. I mostly deal with letting you guys know what shoes suck and what will last you for your buck. So, because I cannot test these, let alone keep them, what should I do with them? Originally I was going to give them away in a contest format. The format was going to consist of contestants smoking a lot of fucking weed and then doing the best tricks possible on video. Maybe even to the sounds of the late/great Bob Marley. Unfortunately, I have to ship these headphones back to the "House of Marley" making this only an idea fading away into existence.

So now, I'm temporarily stuck with these headphones, that I can't keep or give away, but I must review them. Here's my review:

This type of "House of Marley" headphones are a high-tech in-ear design for deep bass and sound proof performance for maximizing the listening experience. When I wore them to skate, I couldn't hear shit but the music and the vibrations from my rolling wheels on the crusty ground. There is additional information on their site but they fail to show you how the headphones come after purchasing. The HOM headphones come equipped with a eco-friendly sack for storing your headphones for all occasions. More importantly, I tested how much weed the sack could hold. This Rasta inspired, eco-friendly sack can contain a quarter ounce of that good sticky icky, which translates to about 7 grams. Perfect for a stylish weed storing system.

For additional info, check out www.thehouseofmarley.com

Hurricane Irene, the "Selfish Skateboards" of Hurricanes

2011-08-28T12:27:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Irene has passed. Thankfully, the hype of the hurricane didn't actually fulfill it's full potential. Unfortunately, during these times there have been some reported injuries and deaths. We hope that everyone's family, friends and loved ones are safe.

Ripped Laces Hurricane Survival Kit:
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eS Appreciation post!

2011-08-26T07:31:00.000-07:00

California, Why are Arizona's more than a $1 in your state?

Since our eS appreciation post from 2 weeks ago, a lot has happened.
I've gotten a great amount of emails from you, the reader, telling me your thoughts on the latest skateboarding tragedy. Scuba Steve has created a blog to commemorate the memory of eS skateboarding and last but not least, eS has been announced in Thrasher's KOTR 2011. Granted, this is all great news but will any of it be enough to bring back the brand we love? If eS is actually in KOTR and win, will we be seeing eS making it's monumental comeback or prolonging it's inevitable fall?

Read more »

First Glance: Converse KA-One Ox

2011-08-24T14:41:00.000-07:00

The Ka-One hasn't been out for too long but the man behind the shoe has. Kenny Anderson has probably been skating for two decades now; so what makes him your favorite skaters' favorite skater? Could it be his effortless style that makes his skating so timeless? Or is he himself timeless? Does he posses the key to eternal youth? Kenny is Asian and they've been known to be sworn to secrecy when it comes to their ancient medicines and herbs. An abundance of clues suggest that this rumor may be true; one of them being his long, silky and voluptuous head of hair. Could his shampoo and conditioning styles be as smooth as his skating?

These questions have lead to me dig further and further in search of an answer. So what do I need? I need an Asian skateboarder to skate these shoes and make them look as good as Kenny does.

I only have 1 Asian friend and he's already doing another shoe review for me so thats out of the question. I'll have to improvise. Whats the closest thing to an Asian? I don't know but I do have a good friend who pisses me off on a daily basis simply because he skates as effortless as Kenny. He's Italian though...

It's common for Italians to be sworn to secrecy, we're getting warmer... And although he doesn't study herbs and medicine, he's been known to smoke a whole lot of it so I think this might be my best bet to getting closer to finding out if Kenny Anderson is truly ageless....The review should be out in two weeks.

C1RCA Widow video review featuring Alex Figeuroa.

2011-08-21T00:32:00.000-07:00

Ripped Laces Shoe Reviews: The Widow with Alex Figueroa from Ripped Laces Video on Vimeo.

Its the 2nd time that C1RCA has been featured on Ripped Laces and we've got nothing but love for them. They've been backing us since the beginning and that why it's even more of a pleasure to have them be a part of our first video review. This video review is something I've been yearning to do since we first launched and I've been lucky enough to be surrounded by good people who happen to be amazing skaters. My tester, Alex Figueroa, is an OG from the 2nd Nature clan and has been skating like it's his last day on earth since I've met him. He skates fast, eats shit and loves it all.

Testing info:
Alex skated this shoe for approximately 2-3 weeks using our "1 hour-a-day/5-day work week" data system. Assuming that everyone has a job/life and sometimes can only find 1 hour per day to skate, we've compiled the tests to simulate around your work week. Alex went far and beyond our expectations and skated the Widow for 2 hour sessions each day, for 5 days a week. The shoes in the video review are the result of skating for over 20-30 hours/2-3 week test.

C1RCA Widow details:

Vulcanized skate shoe
One-piece toe cap with a reinforced ollie toe box for extended durability
High-grade abrasion suede
Fusion Grip outsole
Dura-Lock insole for extra protection featuring a shank heel insert.

Sizing and Style:
The C1RCA Widow by Peter Ramondetta is a true to size skate shoe, so you'll have no trouble picking these out from your local skate shop or conveniently getting them online. The style of the shoe itself is very traditional but, with a twist for more originality. With each C1RCA Widow, you can expect intricate colorways and some new looks that need introducing. The model that Fig' skated in the video is the Black/White Hackey colorway, it seems limited because I haven't been able to find it anywhere online so make sure if you see them to scoop em' quick. The industry has been running with color trends that have been getting a bit old recently so I'm really glad to see these "Drug Rug" Widows.

Sizing grading: True to size
Style grading: 10, It's the simple black and white skate shoe that we all want, with some drug rug detail.

Comfort, Cushion and Support:
As I'll probably say over and over again in this review, the Widow is a simple, put on and go skate shoe. The comfort is that of a slip on, but with light padding and thick suede so you won't have that exposed and scared feeling when the board may comeback to hit your feet after your kickflip has betrayed you. It's simplicity is something that I plan on highlighting because very few shoes can come in such a straight forward package and deliver top performance. Normally, when you compare a shoes feel to that of a slip-on, it can be taken somewhat back-handed, not with these. I mention the fact that they have a slight resemblance to a slip-on to mention it's accommodating insole. This Dura-Lock insole will provide the protection you need throughout the heel and will get slimmer towards your toes. Dura-Lock insoles are on the slim side but offer some advantages as far as arch support and heel support. The heel area is surrounded with a hard plastic, aka "shank", to keep the heel of your insole in place for higher grades of protection from heel bruises and blistering.

Shoe padding grading: 7
Insole grading: 7

Boardfeel and Grip:
This section of the review is going to be easy to explain because as we mentioned before, Fusion Grip has been tested before and impressed us thoroughly. The Widows were skated right out of the box, meaning the boardfeel was their from start to finish, no question about it. The Fusion Grip will obviously stand the test of time and it's durability rates as one of our highest. It's herringbone tread continues to complement the shoes simplicity and classic design.

Boardfeel grading: 10
Grip grading: 10

Durability:
If you check out the video, you'll be just as impressed as I am about the Widows durability. Fig' skated on and off camera for approximately 20-30 hours combined and the shoe was still in one piece. It's durability is credited to it's high abrasion suede throughout the shoe and it's one-piece toe cap. The reinforce ollie patch/toe box is just an added bonus, along with the perforated holes in the toe cap, when slipping on the Widows.

Suede grading: 10
Fusion Grip grading: 9

Summary:
Most of the time, I'm just as worried about a shoes performance before putting it through testing. Vulcanized shoes can only last so long nowadays, which would explain the high pattern in performance cup soles showing up more often. If you're going to continue to want to skate a vulcanized shoe and are looking for the suede and outsole to die out together and not one before the other, I'd recommend the C1RCA Widows. It's a self-explanatory shoe with no gimmicks or bullshit. When you try them on, you'll know if they're for you or not. I'm more than confident to say that they'd last another 2-3 weeks.

Special thanks to Alex Figueroa for skating and testing the Widows for us, Whatdup Fig-adonna!? His interview is coming later in the week. And a major shout out to Mario and Holli over at C1RCA for supporting our testing.

Thanks guys.

R.I.P. eS footwear

2011-08-15T00:33:00.000-07:00

eS appreciation

I think that the overall concept of another skater moving from team to team or a board company dying out is a little more easy to swallow than a deeply rooted shoe company fading out of existence. When it comes down to it, the end of eS comes off more like a end of an era. The era when skateboarding was much more simple, tricks weren't as complicated and style was more appreciated and valued.

I've been paying attention to skateboarding for the larger half of my life. It's literally consumed every living part of me, as I'm sure it has you. Skateboarding isn't like your fathers beloved football, baseball or any other sport you can think of. Regardless of the "leagues" and "tours" competitions sprouting from skateboardings growing popularity, skateboarding will always continue to be something original, organic and unique. I say this with the intentions of paying tribute to one of the premier skateboarding brands in the business, eS footwear. Their mission was clear since the beginning of their existence, to provide comfortable, durable and the best footwear by skateboarders, for skateboarders. Obviously staying true has it's downfalls, as seen in the Epicly Laterd Oyola series, but it is to be respected and admired. eS sacrificed fashion popularity for durable designs and continued to stay true to their skateboarding roots to the last days of their demise. Nowadays, skateboarding is probably, in my opinion, one of the most popular activities to date; it has the similar appeal and boom as the hula-hoop had back in the 50's. I can only hope that, following in the hula-hoops foot steps, that skateboarding popularity eventually dies. As stated in many people opinions, not just mine, skateboarding must fade out in order to bring back order to it's original roots. After all, skateboarding is just so saturated nowadays. I know that some of you may completely disagree with what I'm saying but for those of you who don't know, eS was solely skater owed and operated unlike some companies today. This only allows the company to do so much as a small brand without bringing in outside investors, such as Adio did when they were taken over. Adio footwear, after dealing with financial hard times, eventually caved and brought in a bottled water entrepreneur to help stay afloat during their troubled times. Obviously, that didn't help so much after the company's betrayal of their dedicated team. In the end these investors want to cut out those unmarketable skaters, looking to be out of the lime light, to save a buck. So in the end, should we be mad at outside investors, who have never even stepped on a skateboard or do we embrace them in hopes that they'll keep our beloved and troubled companies alive? I don't know, I clearly only know so much of what goes on behind closed doors of "corporate" skateboarding.

The 1st pair of shoes I ever bought my girlfriend were Koston 7's.

What I do know is this…Rather than pouting and being upset at the end of eS, we should all take this as a lesson to never forget the brands that molded skateboarding into what it is today. With each dollar you have a vote, all I'm saying is be conscious of what you're supporting and always remember to give back to skateboarding as much as it's given you.

Thank you to everyone that ever contributed to eS.
For additional information concerning the eS hiatus click here.

Also, My good friend Bobby Spero of Vu and Durkl sent me some photos of his beloved eS shoes (above).

Feel free to send your pictures to RippedLaces@gmail.com and I'll be sure to put all of your photos in one of our next posts.
Peace.

Agenda HB: Vans

2011-08-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

This brand, let alone the shoe, needs no introduction at all. What you're checking out here is the Vans Half-Cab reissue series.

I think I just gave it an introduction....Nevertheless, what you're looking at here is straight skateboarding nostalgic porn for any OG out their reminiscing of them "good ol' days". If you look closely, it's a collaboration with past Thrasher magazine covers from skateboardings' greats. I've heard that the boxes themselves are going to have those classic Thrasher magazines covers printed on top of the box, matching the shoes inside. Their isn't much else to say but a generic "get em fast!" which you probably should. Expect these beauties out Spring 2012.

Agenda HB: Fallen

2011-08-10T11:37:00.000-07:00

Agenda California is all done and I had an amazing time. I'm definitely not accustomed to the smooth ground and I was seriously addicted to those red curbs. Thanks to everyone that may my stay incredible.

Fallen has yet to be featured on Ripped Laces so I'm hyped as a pig in shit. Their are a ton of new pro models, which I'm really excited about because Fallen seems to be at the forefront of supporting their team riders with signature colorways and pro models. Check out the new releases from Tom Asta, Billy Marks, James Hardy, Slash and some fucking awesome collaborations. Fallen also seems to be introducing some new and soon to be common technology with FLX. FLX or Flexology footwear construction uses a lightweight eva midsole and provides the heel protection of a cupsole designed shoe with the similar boardfeel and break-in timing of a vulcanized shoe. Be on the look out for models featuring FLX.

Fallen X Lowcard Collaboration, Forte SP 12

I've heard nothing but great things about the Forte but have yet to skate them. I've heard it's performance has continued to gain praise with the Forte mid. Honestly, the mid isn't at all that high but is strategically put together to give you the protection where you need it without the bulky or sometimes uncomfortable, and overwhelming feeling of a mid.

Fallen Forte Mid, SP 12

Spring 2012 looks promising with the release of James Hardy's pro shoe, the "Rambler". Their has been some debate as to whether it's too soon but if you've seen his Real part then you know that he deserves every bit of it. The Rambler features FLX techonolgy and is reinforced with a heavy-duty suede throughout to expand the shoes life span. James Hardy did it right by also reinforcing the ollie area in the Rambler, so expect to be wearing these for a while.

James Hardy "Rambler", SP 12

Slash delivers another potential classic. Slash's 2nd signature shoe from Fallen is appropriately dubbed "The Easy". His new shoe is as simple as can be and is a "put on and go skate" kinda shoe. It looks great for dressing up or dressing down and theirs probably little to no break in period.

Slash pro model 'The Easy", SP 12

The "Vice" is the latest signature shoe from Billy Marks and Fallen footwear. It's another simple skate shoe that you can throw on and enjoy anywhere, from the skate park to the casino. The Vice has a traditional one piece toe cap and comes with custom Toy Machine art work on the insole to give you that extra sect power you'll need to make your next trick. It features heavy-duty suede, just like most models on Fallen and has a vulcanized sole for your instant skating needs.

Billy Marks signature model "Vice", SP 12

The Bomber is a team signature model that I couldn't ignore. The colorways alone make this shoe extremely appealing and it's traditional silhouette is a classic in the skateboard world. The Jack Curtin model in particular looks amazing and was my personal favorite out of the four colorways.

The Bomber, Jack Curtin colorway, SP 12

If Tom Asta wasn't popular enough, his 2nd signature shoe from Fallen Footwear was at Agenda Huntington Beach. His 2nd shoe is named the "Seventy Six" and is the most technically advanced shoe in the Fallen line. The Seventy Six comes with FLX technology, a slim low-profile cupsole design and features heavy-duty suede throughout the upper. It also comes with a premium high impact performance insole for extra protection and has a 400 NBS outsole to increase grip and durability against abrasion from griptape and the dirty streets of your city. The Seventy Six is the perfect combination a high tech 90's shoe without all the exra straps, air bubbles and weight.

The "Seventy Six" by Tom Asta, Sp 12

That wraps up our Fallen Sneak Peek but come by tomorrow, I'll have another one already lined up for ya. Sorry for the late posts but you'll understand eventually. I've been working on a huge project! Nuff Said...

Peace...

Agenda NYC 2011: Emerica

2011-08-02T23:24:00.000-07:00

Agenda NYC is all done and I'm glad to say, as I write this I'm on a plane to shitty California. Just kidding, the truth of the matter is that I've never been and am super excited to see what Agenda Huntington Beach has to offer. I'm gonna try and cover all corners of that place and get as much coverage as possible but hopefully drunken whores and other funny distractions won't get in the way.

What you're looking at now is the Emerica Sneak Peek from Agenda NYC. There weren't a whole lot of new models out this year but their were definitely some pleasing colourways of some of your favorite models.

As stated before, Emerica has such a great line up of shoes; they've been able to take a break from designing and have had the time to concentrate on putting out some unique and not shitty colourways. A new model in particular, that I knew I had to cover, were the Hsu 2's. I think Emerica's fucking brilliant, instead of having consumers wait, the Hsu 2 comes in a mid and low model to please the masses. They both release Spring 12' so if you're not a "mid kinda guy" or you need that extra ankle protection then I'd suggest trying the Hsu 2's.

The Westgate is obviously one of my favorites and it comes back this season with some interesting colourways. We can be honest, right? What the fuck was whoever thinking when they designed that middle colourway!? Whatever, it's all good. I'll let this one slide, but overall I'm feeling the gun metal and cranberry/black colourway. Spring 2012 is when these shoes drop.

What most people don't know is that the G-Code is the premier shoe that inspired me to start Ripped Laces, it's a long sotry so I'll save it for another time but since skating the G-codes, I've had a yearning to get another pair on my feet for personal use. Theses new colourways do not disappoint and I absolutely dare someone to bitch about this shoe, don't be that asshole.

Sorry for the vague details but I figured if you've been paying enough attention to the site then you'll know the deal with all of these great models. Agenda Huntington Beach is tomorrow and I'm fucking exhausted so I'm going to quit typing now so I can save my energy for tomorrow to keep you little bastards happy.

Thanks.

Agenda NYC 2011: DC edition

2011-07-27T19:46:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's been a busy fucking week but we've got more sneak peeks for you from Agenda: NYC. We're going to get into some crazy shit. We've never featured DC on the site before so I'm overwhelmed and feel super important or something. Why? I don't know, DC just has this insane amount of money and I could smell it on them, I swear.

So, not to long ago, I received an email from Agenda saying that DC was going to be revealing/debuting pro models from Chris Cole and Steve Berra. Needless to say, I was excited to see what DC had to bring into the mix. I didn't find any Berra signature shoes but I did find new colourways of the DC Chris Cole S. Behind these Chris Coles' were a crazy tech looking shoe. The DC Cole Lite S! All of a sudden, my wet dreams of a 90's reminiscent shoe came back to me. I cleaned up my drool and gathered my thoughts.

The Cole Lite S has a very unique style; lately everyone has been complaining about the lack of creativity in skate shoes and I know exactly what they're talking about. I can honestly say that I have never seen a skate shoe that looks like the DC Cole Lite S and that makes me feel all tingly inside. I feel like skateboarding and designing skateboarding shoes at that, has gone from something completely sacred and full of expression into a direction where you're given a couple of silhouettes and then you choose 1 of lets say 3, slap your name on there, add a couple of different colors and volia! Here's your pro shoe.

Fuck that, take some chances. Yes, we all want to make money and sometimes that involves playing it safe but this is the specific reason of why I'm so excited about the debut of the DC Cole Lite S. It's a breath of fresh air. I'm not saying create another D3 because that shit just wouldn't work for kids nowadays, let alone grown men who use to skate them. But if you're given the opportunity to create something that truly represents you, then why not add a couple of bells and whistles to it?

From Left to Right: Tan/Gum on Canvas, Red/White on Super Suede & Black/Black with Super Suede. Dropping: Spring 2010

Anyways, I'm going to quit ranting and get into it. The first shoe to be featured in our Agenda NYC: DC Sneak Peek is the DC Chris Cole S (photo above). A performance cupsole with a vulc feel and a simple design featuring Super Suede to tear the fuck up. I've seen the outsole go to work in this model and it doesn't go out easily. It's also amazingly grippy; it reminded me of a less aggressive hiking boot outsole because of it's sharp herringbone tread pattern. I'm feeling that Black on Black model on the right, so I can be on my ninja stealth assassin shit.

DC Cole Lite S featuring UNILITE technology, debuting Spring 2012

Above, what you're looking at is the new DC Cole Lite S pro model (photos above, click to enlarge). It's Chris Coles' new pro model from DC and I'm extremely looking forward to it. I know that this has a lot of specific features and I don't want to screw it up, so lets take it slow.

First and foremost, what you need to know is that DC has some new technology that they intend on changing the skate game with. Their new technology is called "UNILITE", it's lightweight, comfortable and durable. Pretty much everything you could ask for in a skate shoe.

Here is some additional information for any sknerd looking to find out more about UNILITE directly from the catalog:

"The UNILITE outsole starts life as an injected liquid, then we blend it and mold it until it becomes a high-performance polymer foam. UNILITE is naturally super light; it's super flexible so it moves with your foot, it provides long-lasting cushioning and impact protection, and because it's outsole-grade, we can use less rubber on the bottoms of the shoes without compromising performance.

We mapped the critical outsole wear areas with our athletes test shoes, then took out rubber and excess weight from all the UNILITE shoes and kept it only in the most critical areas of the forefoot and heel for extra traction and durability.

UNILITE technology in the midsole for the ultimate in comfort and protection, with little added weight. The internal shank gives you support where you need it most, adding torsional stability under the critical arch area."

Okay, wow....that was a lot to take in. You got it?....Good, cause there's more. Aside from UNILITE, DC has incorporated other critical aspects into the Cole Lite. Some other features are Super suede throughout, including a heavy suede upper. A foam padded tongue and an articulated collar foam for heel lock, this will prevent any unnecessary heel slippage during skating. Ortho lite sock liner for increased comfort and support. A strategically place rubber outsole for long lasting durability and a unique designed multifunctional tread pattern for durability and grip. That was really a lot of information to take in but I'm sure it'll be worth it when you're picking them up from your local skate shop or zumiez or wherever the fuck you shop.

DC Lennox S featuring IMPACT technology, Debuting Spring 2012

The DC Lennox S (photo above) isn't Cam'ron's pro model shoe but maybe it should be.... Wouldn't that be fucking amazing though? Seriously....? Anyhow, the Lennox S features a first for DC shoes. It marks the debut of IMPACT technology. This new technology has a high-performance polyurathane insole engineered for maximum impact protection. It's ideal for high impact skating, such as stairs or your local dairy queen loading dock. DC's custom insole system isolates the heel and forefoot landing zones, bringing comfort and protection to the areas of your feet that take the most abuse.

Those features lay on the inside of the shoe but on the outside is what catches my eye the most. The 3 piece layered suede looks like it could take some damage without blowing out within 4 weeks and looks great from a design point of view. The first layer of the toe piece is traditionally triple stitched and has double stitched layers throughout. This performance cupsole should most definitely give you the support you need to skate all day and it comes with a PU insole for even more support. The Lennox S could potentially be one of the most comfortable and by the looks of it, durable shoes of 2012.

DC Cole Lite S, 48 CORE SHOP LIMITED. Details below

We may have covered this shoes features already but I did leave it last on purpose. This colourway is a 48 core shop limited model. As far as I know, you'll only be able to find this model in 48 finer skate shops around the U.S.A. I was explained that this is a limited model from the DC collection and that will be "in store only". This is definitely the shoe you want to be looking for. It has a classic 90's clear sole feature with orange UNILITE technology on the side to give it that extra detail and flavor. I believe that this is some sort of Nubuck/Synthetic upper and is extremely limited. Please try to find these asap because they're not going to be in your zumiez, word to motha.

I'll be attending Agenda: Huntington Beach next week, so you can expect more sneak peeks from your favorite brands. Around tuesday next week, I'll hit you with another sneak peek from Agenda NY, till then, I'm knocking this.

Peace

Agenda NYC 2011: eS edition

2011-07-24T22:36:00.000-07:00

As promised and on time, here is your Agenda: eS sneak peek. Our DVS sneak peek was our most viewed Agenda article to date so lets see what you guys think of what eS has to offer.

We're going to start things off with a bang. Some photos have already been leaked on SLAP by yours truly but here are some official photos of the new eS Mike Anderson pro model shoe. Below you have our overview of all the colourways that are scheduled to hit shelves throughout February 2012. From left to right is as follows: Black/Gum in Canvas, Black/White/Gum in Suede, Dark Grey in Suede and the Navy/Grey colourway in Suede/Canvas. I'm fucking hyped for all of them and even more excited that the shoe is dubbed The "Manderson". It's your low profile skate shoe with just enough cushioning. The Manderson has a small bumper ollie area that is becoming so popular nowadays. We'll wait and see if the final touches are going to include fabric over the ollie area or if the Manderson will just stick it out with some stylish stitching. Check out the photos below & click to enlarge.

The Manderson from eS, Dropping Feb 2012

Click to enlarge, Mustache detail on the tongue.

Next to be featured is the new eS Square Two with fusion technology. I know that the Square Two's have hit shelves already and have become a big favorite for anyone who's skating a pair. What I wanted to show you is the new colourways that are coming out for Spring 2012. I have yet to test the fusion technology but do intend on getting around to it.

The styles of the Square Two fusion are as followed: (left to right) Black/Blue with Synthetic Nubuck, Red/White/Black in Suede, and Dark Grey/Black with eSuede/Suede.

All three of these models offer something completely new and different to the eS catalog, let alone skateboarding. eS continues to push the envelope with their technology and awesome collaborations. The red model is a Enjoi collaboration; it's Ben Raemers personal colourway for the Square Two and it features the Enjoi panda on the heel of the shoe. Keep an eye out for these babies to drop.

Square Two fusion, Spring 2012

The next and last shoe to be shown in our Agenda: eS sneak peek is a new model from eS called the "Bedford". As I stated before, eS isn't the shoe company to fuck with when it comes to this technology shit. The Bedford is the next generation of light weight shoes from eS. Now, I do not know how light weight this shoe actually is but when I picked it up, I was like "Dammmmn!" It's actually quite remarkable. I don't know what evil communist scientist eS has shackled up in their lab but he's working his ass off. If you're looking forward to this light weight shoe but aren't feeling the low profile style, no worries, the Bedford is also being released as a Mid during Spring 2012 as well. In my eyes, what makes this shoe stick out more than anything, even more than it's light weight features, is the eS OG Logo. I can't tell you how excited I was when I saw this. If they fully bring it back, Imma slap my momma, .......two times.

The Bedford, Black/Grey colourway in Wax-off leather/Canvas. Dropping Spring 2012

Hope you like what you've been seeing so far, there is definitely more to come, including another DC Chris Cole pro model. No, I'm not talking about the ones that you see all of the dunnies rocking, I'm talking about a full on new pro model from Chris Cole. If you want to see more exclusive photos of shoes you ain't neva seen before, check back on Wednesday for our next Agenda sneak peek.

Thanks.

Agenda NYC 2011: DVS edition

2011-07-23T22:24:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year we attended Agenda for the 1st time and popped our cherries. Sure enough, we were excited as a "little girl flicking her bean for the first time" to get this opportunity and to be rubbing elbows with the finer companies in skateboarding.

This year was no different. Sure, this little girl has a deeper voice and some hair on her lips but we still get as tingly as ever when Agenda comes to town. If you've been checking out this site/blog/shitter, you'll know that we had a number of Agenda articles in the beginning of this year. They all had a number of photos leaking what you could expect from these companies in the coming season.

So....now that you're all caught up, let's give you sknerds what you've been waiting for. We're starting off with DVS. After dropping Lakai from Podium this year, I'm sure DVS is as concentrated as ever to bring the brand back where it needs to be. The booth had a very uplifting catalog this year but my main focus was on a huge contender for S.O.T.Y., Torey Pudwill.

The Torey 2, dropping Spring 2012

The Torey 2 is a completely different and refreshing look from DVS. Compared to his first shoe, the Torey 2 is a low profile shoe with maximum boardfeel and flexibility. This particular model is a DVS/PLAN B collaboration. It features custom artwork, suede/canvas upper and round cotton laces to give the Torey 2 a nice polished look. A nice new fad in skateboarding nowadays is bringing back the "bumper" patch. The Torey 2 follows suit but should offer something more considering it's extremely lightweight. The shoe finishes with a Non-slip vulcanized outsole and a molded EVA footbed. I have yet to review a DVS shoe but this one look's like it'll be our first.

DVS/The Berrics collaboration, The Torey. dropping Spring 2012.

Above is a shoe that has already been released but with this kick-ass colourway. You might have a recollection of seeing this one, it's from TPud's Battle Commander. Apparently, DVS and The Berrics received so many emails about this Torey colourway that DVS went along and collaborated with The Berrics to release this once sample shoe to the public. If you skated the Torey's and loved them, be sure to pick this one up because it'll go fast.

Along with a bunch of others, I've got the Agenda: eS sneak peek for you this week so be sure to check back in.

Peace.

Vans TNT 5 review

2011-07-15T15:19:00.000-07:00

Here we are at last with the review of the Vans TNT 5. It's not often that I get sentimental with a review or attached but this is a first. I feared the day that I had to write this review, Why?

Is it because the shoe was a piece of shit and you fear the results of any slander towards the corporate giants at Vans?
"Nah man"

It is because you're lazy and fat?
"Maybe"

Granted, I can continue to skate these shoes at my leisure and not stress anymore about the review but the truth of the matter is that the TNT 5 has one of the best performances I've come across and it's kinda tough to sum that up into words. Lets try.

Testing info: This review was done using our "1 hour-a-day/5 day work week" data system.
Assuming that everyone has a job/life and sometimes can only find 1 hour per day to skate, we've compiled the tests to simulate around your work week. I skated the TNT 5, 1 hour a day for 5 days a week. This review is the result of a 20 hour/4 week test.

Vans TNT 5 details:

Vulcanized skate shoe.
Co-Molded PU3 Footbed With Impactsorb: dual-density foams tuned to support and lessen shock, Impactsorb™ eliminates heel bruising.
Triple-stitched toe-piece adds increased durability in high-wear areas.
Classic waffle grip outsole

First Glance: Supra Skytop III

2011-07-05T18:01:00.000-07:00

So, I have been twitting, facebooking and anything else I can think of to spread the word about this Supra Skytop III review. The only thing I haven't done is run around naked with the same idea written all over my body. Don't test me, I'm pathetically inclined to do so because I look like this. The Supra Skytop III is a strange and amazing review to get. Lets really analyze this.

If the review comes out to be as successful and amazing as I want it to be then AWESOME. And even if it does come out amazing, will you buy a pair? I don't know how much power I possess through this computer but we'll see. The shoe is definitely on the expensive side but for those pretty boy/ scenesters/ ghetto fab skaters out there, this is definitely the shoe for you. I couldn't really categorize myself in any of those categories. The truth of the matter is that I don't wear skinny jeans, baggy jeans or waxed G star jeans, I'm an average joe. I wear fitted straight pants, a regular tee and now, Supra Skytop III's. Who knows, maybe by the end of this review, you'll see heshed out dudes, skating a bowl in Skytop III's?

I went as far as asking my girlfriend what she thought about them on me, which is completely ass backwards considering that woman don't have opinions or actual rights to vote....right? She said "they stick out with you just wearing a tee shirt and regular jeans." I actually think they look great. With regular pants, the extra fabric is sure to cover over the strap in the back, if it really bothers you that much. The jeans also fit comfortably over the side panels and keeps the tongue out. For those that already have their mind made up about not purchasing a pair, I think you're forgetting who you'd be supporting and backing. THE MUSKA. And honestly, you could just wear them out and just rock them on special occasions or to pick up some of that becky. After you've grown sick of them or if you can't get any snatch, my suggestion would be to then skate the shit out of them. But we'll just have to see how they hold up for this review. I'm debating whether to keep the review short with a 2 week review or the full 4 weeks. I don't know yet. I just want to get this review out and show you all the power of the "Muska Skytop III."

First Glance: FP Foam King Insoles review

2011-07-01T09:19:00.000-07:00

It's 11:30am and I'm sitting in my living room, minding my own and getting some RL's work done. Suddenly I was woken up out of my work "daze" to find a yelling man at my window. This wasn't the scariest shit in the world considering I've lived in the ghetto for over 14 years and have seen crack fiends throw tv's out the 5th floor window but it was surprising to find that this person yelling was Asian. Now, I'm not much to judge but as far as I know, most people of Asian decent happen to be peaceful and full of chi, or something like that. As I got up from my chair and looked out my window, I saw him whacking a large yellow package at my window.

"I'm talking to youuuuu, you no listen!" He yelled.

When I got to the door, I asked him "What's up?" to which he responded "Is this you?", he was pointing at an envelope that read "Attn: Ripped Laces." He gave me the package and quietly faded into the sunset. This was my introduction to my new FP Foam King insoles. Kind of a large and unforgettable introduction at that. I'm wondering, was the Asian man cranky because the people at FP sent this man walking from their offices in California to NY or was he cranky because he wants me to get this review done as soon as possible and inform the readers about how good these insoles really are?

Asian people aren't particularly cranking so either of the two situations seems plausible. This review should be done in 2-3 weeks. It'll be featured after the Vans TNT 5 review so stay posted.

Click to enlarge and read details.

We're finally giving shit away.

2011-06-27T21:01:00.000-07:00

Aside from it being summer time, the season of titties and toes, another past time is among us. Contest season. No, I don't mean Maloof or by no means am I mentioning Street League, I'm talking about the time of year where bloggers (or whatever the fuck you want to call me) dig deep into our pathetic pockets, scowling for our last penny to find another way to entice viewers to come to our site.

Truth be told, I've been planning something like this for quite sometime, I just never got around too it, i.e. never got a pair of shoes I couldn't review myself. The good people at Habitat have hooked up a pair of Habitat Lark skate shoes. Fortunately for you, they're free but I thought I'd make it interesting. The only stipulation to get these is a small 2-3 minute video review. I thought about this after receiving emails sometime ago about how I'm "reviewing shoes all wrong" and how "I suck". This all may very well be true but I hate myself too much to care. Just kidding. I care, I love you all.......Gay.

The contest unfortunately is only for New Yorkers and I will soon be doing a California edition once I get out there. Eventually, I'll try to make this world-wide but thinking very small has gotten me this far so let's keep doing it this way. (for now)

The shoes are a 9.5, brand new in box and have never been skated. Upon meeting up, we'll film together at your spots and you'll rip these fucking shoes up. It sounds like a good time, you down?

Leave your comments, your youtube footage links and whatever else you think I may find interesting below so you can have these shoes. In the case where no one responds at all, I will fill these shoes with dog poo and put them in a brown paper bag on a door step and then I will light it on fire. It will all be documented and look something like this.

"Tell em about it hoe" - Tha Realest.

"Brotha from another Motha!": Sal Puglisi

2011-06-25T18:16:00.000-07:00

You may remember an article that we had not to long ago, it was called "Lil Chris will fuck you up" featuring one of my closest friends, Chris Pierre-Jacques. I never realized it but I've been fortunate enough to be surrounded by many talented friends that rip shit up, on and off the board. This new segment called "Brotha from another Motha" hosts to my talented friends, who I feel, deserve it all.

Sal Puglisi is the nicest and probably the most naturally gifted person I know. I know from seeing him skate in person but digging a little deeper I found out, from speaking to his parents privately, that at a young age Sal's parents wanted him to be able to jump "high as fuck". For no particular reason, they just knew it would come in handy. So, at an early age, Sal's parents would refuse to let him go to school in order to pursue this dream of jumping......"high as fuck". Took him out a school, made him lift weights and when it came time, they released the beast from his cage and into society with his skateboard in hand.

I stated that he is the "nicest" guy I know, I don't mean "YO SON, you NICE". I mean this motherfucker will "help a old lady cross the street and shit" nice, but granted he still does gain the praise of all of the ghetto spots we go to where they echo "YO SON, you NICE". In this day in age, talented skateboarders are a stones throw away from acting like elitist super models. It's like an unwritten rule, if you're better than most kids in your community, you automatically deserve the right to be a dick and still gain praise from all of those kids that are "beneath" you. Not to blab, but it makes sense.

Think about it, what does it take to be a "talented" skater?

Confidence - You must be sure of yourself at all times in order to pull off whatever scary shit you're trying.
Strong willed - You must be determined to/try whatever it takes to get that trick.
Concentrated - You must have the action and power of focusing on your effort.

That's not all that you need to become the "perfect" skater but in most cases the above 3 create the classic formula of an "asshole & spectacular skater" or the acronym "A.S.S."

Sal has all of the mentioned above but isn't by any means an "A.S.S.". He's the working man's skater. I don't normally appreciate a man's figure but the dude is "brolic". This is from working like a man with his pops and I imagine from getting it in with his baby moms. When he's not tapping that ass, he's skating with precision and just as hard as everyone else. The crazy shit is that he skates this hard after work or before work, without thinking about being tired or fatigued and still holds a smile on his face. I really couldn't go into detail about how good he is but he has one hell of a frontside flip. Be that as it may, that won't be his claim to fame when that day comes. His claim to fame will be from his character, individuality and personality. Sal is your favorite skater's skater, or at least soon will be after they put him on their team. If I could go into detail about Sal's skating, I probably sound like this when I'm most hyped.

To this day, Sal still jumps "high as fuck" and on a more informal note he get's....."High as fuck." Check out TornRetina for some of Sal's footy and be on the look out for him, he's good.

The Berrics, Ripped Laces and a love letter to Louie Barletta.

2011-06-23T19:10:00.000-07:00

For all 5 of you that view this site, wait.....sorry....6, we pulled a "Berrics"in an attempt to take down the biggest skateboarding site in the world.

No we didn't...

If I'm honest, I'll tell you that I forgot to renew the domain name but if I'm from New York, I'll tell you to go "mind ya fuckin' business". Luckily, this act of being careless and poor came just in time for me to give you your update of what to expect.
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First Glance: Vans TNT 5

2011-06-14T20:02:00.000-07:00

This review should've been done so long ago, if not by me then atleast another shoe review site. I mention this because the Vans TNT 5 is a shoe that's been constantly requested everywhere; forums, facebook and from word of mouth. I'm not giving in to the "power of the internet" but I've actually found time to do it myself. During the C1RCA review and the insole review war that took place, I was trying to schedule my friend to do this review but unfortunately different schedules and miles came in between having this review done sooner.

Why the fuck do I always tell you these things?
You must have grown on me but anyways heres your first glance at the Vans TNT 5.

I actually came by some down time in between reviews not to long ago and got the chance to skate some Vans Old Skools, which inspired me to get this review done. Vans often gets shit for the similarities in all of their skate shoes, rightfully so, but they do have an untested and unquestioned formula for making great skate shoes. Simplicity......it's simplicity, nothing else. The TNT 5, like most Vans shoes, has everything where it needs be. By tomorrow I should be at a week of skating and I'm really excited to put out this review. (below are preliminary photos before skating)

Here are some "FYI" facts, from my point of view, incase you are impatient enough to wait for the full review and want them NOW! Don't blame you.....bro.

Right away the shoes feel really comfortable. They have a nice fit and they were true to size. Upon skating, the comfort was still there but the first couple of ollies happen to shifty over on me. I found that this happened because of the early "bulky" feeling I got from these new shoes. It only happens because the shoe doesn't yet have a damaged or scratched surface for the shape of your board to follow. This happens to be common among most shoes when breaking in so don't be scared or be a pussy or whatever. Into the 2nd hour of skating the shoe was fully broken in and I had an awesome slappy session as I became more and more comfortable with the shoe.
Despite looking slim, the shoe feels somewhat heavy but is a good sign of protection. The shoe has padding in the heel, throughout the tongue and this "stock" insole is incredible. I haven't weight it yet so don't even bother asking, hoe.

More details to come as the Vans TNT 5 review wraps up this month.
By the way, this band should be zillionaires, seriously.

Jenkem mag: Ian Reid, the 7-day weekend program & My guide to finding hood music without going to the hood this summer.

2011-06-09T09:15:00.000-07:00

It's not very often that I re-post something that's already featured everywhere on the internet. For such a rare occasion to happen, the material, whether it be video or written, must be re-post worthy and something that I don't want to go away so fast. As we all know, the lifetime of internet material is average 1-2 days. This interview with Ian Reid has some great stories to vicariously live through if you weren't fortunate enough to live in a NYC hood. Jenkem Magazine has some amazing articles and even a "Best of Jereme Rogers twitter" article. It's one of the best finds that I've found in a while.

To coincide with his interview, it's only right that I bring some hood shit into this post. Summer is around the corner and music is shittier than ever. Obviously, the radio isn't what it use to be and so I've compiled sources and direct links where to find music for your mood this summer. I've personally taken the route of going with the good ole' oldies but I'll try to cover all your needs.

When I want the latest mixtapes, I don't go to Datpiff but Mixtape torrents because of the lack of spam and it's categorized really well. Lately though, I can't stand current rap and hip-hop so I've gone with taking a time machine back into 1997 and 98'. Also, check out Dante Ross blog for random music gold. Like this one.

Because of the heat, I understand that rap and hip-hop can be a bit overwhelming at times so if you're looking for some chill music to just lounge out to, I'd suggest going to Unfound Sounds. Unfound Sounds is a blog I found and use to get my latest indie trip going. Use it to it's full potential and snoop around and try to find the next original song to use for your "worthy" montage.

If you have any sources for finding new music, don't be a bitch and share. Post it in the comments below. Stay cool ya'll!

Nigga Flip, found this thanks to this kid,
He's the truth.

C1RCA Gallant review

2011-05-22T20:04:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how many of you are actually interested in the C1RCA Gallant review. I understand why most of you may be apprehensive towards believing in a brand like C1RCA. It's well know by Mall Grabbers and I know none of us want to be socially related to those skaters that have been skating because of it's MTV popularity.

But on the other hand, it's a shoe from one of the most technical, stylish and respected skater's in skating today. There are so many skateboarders that don't get enough recognition and maybe I'm coming from a east coast perspective, but this shoe has been entirely slept on by the skate community. Hopefully, this review will contribute to some "changes" as far as showing what C1RCA footwear has to offer. I've been skating the Gallant's for over 5 weeks because of it's great durability and performance but have generated 4 weeks of data on it's performance. As usual, it was skated 5 days a week for 1 hour a day.

C1RCA Gallant Details:

Low-Profile cupsole
Fusion grip outsole rubber
C1RCA herringbone outsole
Elastic centering tongue straps
EVA insole

Lil Chris will fuck you up.

2011-05-16T12:42:00.000-07:00

If you've ever been within an earshot of Lil Chris, you'd be scared of him and hate him. His antics are that of a kid, rightfully so. Be that as it may, it's still hard deciding how to treat him. Do you beat up on him because he's the grommie? Or treat him as an equal because of his caliber of skating? This thought leaves anyone next to him paralyzed with question and no answer. No worry though, he'll wake you up by making you flinch and once the deed is done, he'll give you two for flinching. That is just the "being scared" portion of knowing Lil Chris.

You'll hate him because of his skating, I mean how frustrating is it to see a 13 year old kid do tricks we can only dream of? In all seriousness though, he's an amazing skater and person. For most of us that have seen him grow over the years, an overwhelming feeling of pride fills the atmosphere when witnessing his skating firsthand. Chris has an interview over at Power Edge Magazine so be sure to check it out. Currently, Chris is getting flow from 5boro, Emerica and hopefully more to come so keep an eye on him.

Another day searching the internet.

2011-05-04T08:29:00.000-07:00

After a full day of skating yesterday, I woke up to some sore legs and a slight limp but I was determined to skate again and get past the 3 day mark that I've heard so much about. The 3 day mark is something I've heard my friends who have gone skating on tour. I've heard that after the first 3 days of demo skating and street skating combined that the sore feeling completely goes away and doesn't consume you anymore. It's like the iron man of skateboarding so to speak. But I looked out my window and saw nothing but rain. Knowing that I wouldn't be skating today, I prepared myself to use this time, as I assume most of you do, to be as productive as possible. It never works out though. The internet is such a blessing and a shit. I want to work but then stumble onto gems that have slipped through the cracks. Todays find is on the new segment Skateboarder Magazine has on there Vimeo page. It's a new artist feature and they are entertaining as hell. For those of you who have seen this already, you may start your smug looks and say "This is like sooo old" which is sadly the case with the internet nowadays. Anything after 2 days is considered obsolete and irrelevant. So if I put my heart, sweat and blood into a well developed skate part, it'll be forgotten, if not completly unnoticed in the span of 24-48 hours. Hmmm...That sucks. Well whatever, keep yourself entertained today with this piece of artist documentary gold and then try not to forget about it an hour later, this is worth it.

Raiders of the Archives: Andy Jenkins Part 1 of 7 from Skateboarder Magazine on Vimeo.

Raiders of the Archives: Andy Jenkins Part 2 of 7 from Skateboarder Magazine on Vimeo.

Raiders of the Archives: Andy Jenkins part 3 of 7 from Skateboarder Magazine on Vimeo.

Raiders of the Archives: Andy Jenkins part 4 of 7 from Skateboarder Magazine on Vimeo.

Raiders of the Archives: Andy Jenkins part 5 of 7 from Skateboarder Magazine on Vimeo.

Raiders of the Archives: Andy Jenkins Part 6 of 7 from Skateboarder Magazine on Vimeo.

Raiders of the Archives: Andy Jenkins Part 7 of 7 from Skateboarder Magazine on Vimeo.

Skateboarding is all about Nostalgia.

2011-04-29T16:43:00.000-07:00

This post isn't hyping the latest review or promoting any new products. You might consider it filler material until the next review but this is too close to heart to be considered that. It's about promoting something that most skateboarders do every so often, reminisce.

Above is the link to the first skate video I was ever given. I think I was in 5th or 6th grade. My friend didn't skateboard but had a cousin that did and he foolishly left this 411vm issue 23 at his house. THANK YOU. My friend asked me if I wanted it and the next day I received a wrinkled 411vm box, with the tape inside. THANK YOU AGAIN. I don't know whether this moment created the monster I am today (btw I mean monster in the "I'm pathetically addicted to skateboarding." kinda way) but I can definitely say that it broadened my thoughts about skating then. I'm not going to go to in detail about it but the other day I felt an urge to find this video after years of not seeing it. The internet can solve everything nowadays and since finding this link, I've been showing all my friends and most of them have never seen this one. I think this might've been one that slipped through the cracks for some people. I would love to say that I have the box and vhs still with me today, but knowing my mom, she probably threw it out a long time ago when I moved out. Love you still ma, but that was dirty. Happy Mother's Day...I guess.

"Remember back in the day? Man, them days is over."

If I changed the settings below correctly, you can go ahead and post the first skate video you ever saw in our comment box below. Thanks.

Game Changers VS Remind insoles

2011-04-21T21:16:00.000-07:00

I didn't purposely put this review up after 4/20, but I guess in retrospect it was a good idea. For those recovering from those forgetful activities, you'll have all the time in the world to read this review without forgetting it within the next hour.

During the month of skating these insoles, I found that reviewing this topic was going to be completely challenging. It's a different world than reviewing shoes; with shoes it's always been more cosmetic and you yourself can judge visually how the shoe performed to your standards. This review is going to be strictly from my point of view. I actually accept this challenge willingly after going through countless injuries within this past year. I've been looking for a solution or at least a prolonged fix until the day we all have universal healthcare. While reviewing these insoles, I generated a list of things to do in order to test the protection and promise these companies make with each of it's sales.

Disclaimer: I bought all of these insoles myself so I am not favoring either company and I don't want to hear anything about me working for whichever company I favor at the end of this review. I only mention this because it's happened to a fellow blogger who has his own review on this topic, be sure to check it out: SO TRILL

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A Week with the Westgate

2011-04-12T20:31:00.000-07:00

There is no way I could possibly promote the Westgates as well as the man himself. He's released the craziest footage as of yet, surpassing everyone's expectations since his Birdhouse days and he continues to shock all of us with his uncanny ability to do some of the scariest tricks in recent memory.

So why am I testing a shoe that will probably sell no matter what? It all started because of the speculation of how his shoe resembles a Half Cab, and be that as it may I felt the need to test this shoe and see if it could leave its legendary stamp for Emerica, as the Half Cab has for Vans. Originally I wanted to compare both of the shoes but the idea of skating and testing both of them meant pushing my deadline even further back. Here is your "Week with the Westgate" review, finally.

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Quarter Snacks + Rob Pluhowski video = This Post.

2011-04-06T20:26:00.000-07:00

First and foremost, I do not want to take credit for this post or for finding this video. The one and only Quarter Snacks Clan found this gem on Rob Pluhowski's youtube account and posted it for our viewing pleasure.

Thank you.

When the Habitat "Origin" video dropped this past year, I was excited to know that I would be seeing footage of some of my favorite up and coming rippers. In hindsight I could care less in the light of knowing that the video would have some archived footage of Habitat OG's..

No, I am not just saying this to make this post anymore relevant but the first name that echoed in my mind and later out of my mouth was Rob Pluhowski. My hopes of seeing unreleased footage of Rob P. were low but I remained optimistic. I don't know what ever drew me to his skating early on, all I know is that I was introduced to his skating through "Mosaic" and remembered the big splash (pun intended) and impression his skating made on mine.

So my hopes of seeing unseen Rob P. footage in Origin were unsuccessful or "Failed" at the KCDC premiere but I've learn with skateboarding to remain patient. Enjoy.

More ramblings and a potential insole review.

2011-04-05T13:51:00.000-07:00

When I'm not stuck choosing between Party Mix and Cool Ranch, I occasionally do reviews. But on a serious note, I really have been dreading these small notifications of what's to come. I really, desperately want to put out this "Week with the Westgate" review, but it's raining today. So...again, here is another notification of whats to come.

How does that line go? "They say good things come to those who wait, so I'mma be at least an hour late" I guess this site is more or less like that. I can't believe I fucking quoted Kanye West, I want to kick my own ass so bad right now for not fixing my car radio. I've been overly exposed to HOT 97 but whatever.

This topic hasn't been completely beaten to death yet so we're going to take a couple of more swings at it while it's still kicking. Skateboarding is a completely crazy sport, whoever thought of putting wheels on a 2x4 must have been crazy. This "sport" (lame) has given me countless back problems, a broken foot, multiple fractured wrists, a concussion and a newly developed knee problem, so who better to test REMIND insoles VS GAMECHANGERS insoles.

I've spoken to my friends about this new insole "trend" and surprisingly none of them have heard of it. Maybe I don't have enough friends. There have been testimonials about how both of these insoles have changed peoples lives but I know we aren't that naive. I'm seriously hurt and I've had back problems since an early age so if either of these insoles are proven to change my skating or even soften the blow of an injury, I'll let you know. By no means do I expect either of these insoles to cure my pains but I'll keep you posted. They'll be featured in the C1RCA Gallant review towards the end of the month.

Skate History: Memory Screened

2011-03-30T20:48:00.000-07:00

I thought this interview was amazing and yes, it's a bit lengthy but it's a worthy read. I've always been a huge advocate of skate history but sometimes it's hard. Today, I learned that lesson. Sometimes you have to be very selective on what type of skate history you'd like to learn more about.

Even as an adolescent, I always wanted to learn more and more about the history and backround of skateboarding and skateboarders. Not necessarily to be that guy that knows everything but for the same reasons people learn to skate tranny. "You don't want to go to a skate park with you friends, see them scratch the coping and not be able to hang." (I'm quoting my friend Tucci so excuse my little so cal-ness) I've just always wanted to be able to chip in my little known facts about skateboarding and keep a cool skate history conversation going and potentially learn something myself.

I just finished watching the Frankie Hill Documentary and GOD was it hard to watch. Don't get me wrong, I respect everything that was mention about Frankie and his career. It was somewhat informative but it's hard to seriously pay homage to an amazing pro considering it's "Windows Movie Maker" feel and the fact that he's being interviewed while frying bacon. I found even more respect for what Mr.O'Dell does after spending an hour hearing Frankie Hill say "Correct" countless times. I'm still waiting on those Menace episodes and some Reemo (I use to knock this song so hard, City Staaaarrrrrsssss...) commentary would be amazing. By the way, buy that Marc McKee book and check out the old World and 101 catalogs while you're there. They're a trip.

Leftovers

2011-03-28T16:10:00.001-07:00

Some way, somehow this is considered throwaway footy. These guys are so good I guess they can afford to throwaway some great clips. I don't really get it but it's TIGHT!

Leftovers from 2nd Nature Skateboarding on Vimeo.

First Glance: Emerica Westgate

2011-03-21T20:05:00.001-07:00

This shoe has by far been one of the hardest reviews yet. It's not a difficult or a stubborn shoe, it actually skates amazing but wait till the review for further details. It's the fact that my format "A Week with the Westgate" is a week. This causes me to have to work 10x's faster and harder for the review and still remain as accurate as ever with details.

Does this mean the shoe is going to be changed back to our monthly format? No. You need to know about this shoe considering how much "beef" is added to the mix.

You know what I'm talking about right....? You know...

Vans......

Half Cabs......

YES, this shoe looks like a Vans "Half Cab" but regardless of that my goal with this review is to show you how different the Westgate is from the Half Cab. I might even have to go to the man himself to help me out with this and ask him directly about all this controversy.

Am I biting off more than I can chew? I don't know but this should make for an interesting review.

Damn.

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Reel Review: 2nd Nature - Eclectic

2011-03-16T03:44:00.000-07:00

For a better half of my early twenties I've been steady lurking at 2nd Nature skate shop. I've spent my weekends and/or nights after work there but it wasn't suppose to turn into what it did, my 2nd home.

Yes, at the expense of sounding cheesy, I just called 2nd Nature my 2nd home.

But that's what it is, when I'm not at home or work, I'm there. Being there has provided me with great stories and endless skate sessions with the team, which is honestly why I want to do this Reel Review. I'd tag along to some of the spots featured in the video and would love to add a little insight to what I saw from the streets to the screen (and then some).

2nd nature-ECLECTIC from 2nd Nature Skateboarding on Vimeo.

Highlights:

Fig's Wallie back board on the Ravine hubba is ridiculous. Mad hood.
Burton's Nollie Pop Shuv over the wall had all the addicts in that park wanting more.
Alex skated alot of the projects in most of his clips, making this video that more epic.
He's going to hate me for saying this but Sal has the best FS Flips.
Doug does a bs 50-50 to wallride in a mock target outfit. Red shirt and Khaki pants. He's a boss. Oh and his Kickflip back tail on tranny is not to be fucked with.
Lil Chris did that Nose manny line to FS Flip down to street. It was amazing to see him do that line in less than 3 try's. That day was intense, we almost got car jacked (seriously) but thats another story for another time.
BB's backside 270 to Nosepick to fakie on Sears banks basically gives me the right to say that no one should really ever try to go film there ever again..
Jose Pereyra's Switch Heel to Back Tail at Flushing is the real reason the city doesn't let anyone skate it anymore. He shut it down.
The fact that Isolini did that Ollie over the grate and planter was great but the fact that it was done in Elmsford makes it "fucking" great.

The intro of the video does its job and captures the fun element of skateboarding with your friends, and is something everyone should really enjoy and appreciate.

The opening part goes to Alex "Fig" Figueroa and is well deserved. If you've ever had the chance to see Fig skate you'd probably miss him half the time because he's constantly running around from spot to spot. I've seen him take the hardest slams, get up within seconds and scurry back to set up for the next try. It's great. If you are from Yonkers or Westchester, NY and know anything about where not to go, you'll know not to go to Ravine, which is where Fig got alot of his footage, especially if you're not welcome. But, if I've learned anything from living in the hood, I know that they don't mind seeing a slam and yelling "Yo, Scarred!" every once in a while. It's worth it though, there's something gratifying about landing a trick and getting props from your local gang banger while they sip on a Four Loco. Fig definitely held it down for the first part.

The next part is a shared part from Burton Smith, Alex Mosley, Sal Puglisi and Doug Brown. Burton Smith continues to wow and hold it down for the big dudes in the skate game with his ability to POP so damn high. He's a hell of a bowler too (even after a shot of Jameson). Alex Mosley aka Watermelon Alex keeps his part short and sweet with some styled bangers. Known primarily for skating nothing but Jordans, yes the $150 - $200 Jordans, Alex skates as fresh as the shoes on his feet. Sal Puglisi has amazing style, hands down. I won't let my words water down his skating, just do yourself a favor and watch what he does best. I'm not surprised that Doug Brown kills it but I am surprised that he didn't skate to some Johnny Cash. He works on so many things at one time, it crazy to think that he's got all these tricks, all while probably thinking about the next shop order he's going to be working on.

Chris Pierre-Jacques or better know as "Lil Chris" hits you over the head with a bunch of opening bangers in his part. What's great about his part, aside from the fact that he's skating to MJ, is that you really get to see his skating develop and actually get the opportunity to see him grow as a skater/person.

Brian Brown comes out of the cage the 2NTR guys keep him in, and with good reason because he straight up killed it. Most people have been wondering what Brian's been up to since his "Viajeros Loco" days and honestly nothings changed since, he's still skating harder than ever.

The 2NTR family comes from all walks of life and all around the country. In this friends section, you can see appearances from both Pauls (Tucci and Hintz). Tucci was bucking for that feeble and Hintz's line at "Man Ledges" was just that, manly. One of the Belief twins come through with a nose stall at Waverly Banks, and seeing as how we have enough of a hard time telling which is which we'll just give credit to em' both. Turk looked like Koston with his ledge dancing skills and Dylan's wallie nose manual to drop finishes the friends section with a bang. If you pay close attention you can also see an appearance from the devil child himself, Billy Waldman, it's always awesome seeing Billy skating.

Jose Pereyra manages to make the hardest tricks look easy. I can't explain how mentally frustrating it is to see him skate the hardest obstacles so easily. He definitely got the most out of the Flushing Fountain before it's last days were numbered.

Jason Isolini takes the last part of the video and really impresses me with how much of a beating he can take, over and over again. You have no idea how many times he went back to get the 50-50 off the side of the hubba and all the way down. I remember him saying "How did I do this hung over on tequila and why can't I do this sober?"

The overall summary of the video is probably a word I overuse way too much, style. Each rider did a great job at making all of their tricks look effortless, but I can not forget to give credit to the editing. I've seen countless examples of actual kids with great skateboarding skills, but because of the lack of a gifted filmer they've just looked average. I've always valued a classic, raw editing style rather than so many useless effects and transitions to make up for the lack of actual talent. When combining natural talent with an intelligent filmer it's an unbeatable and promising blend.

If you can manage to own a copy of Eclectic, please support this great and rare kind of skating because it's without question something you can't find anywhere else, plus the bonus section is filled with even more skating including a bonus Brian Brown part that's just as long as his actual part. Most of all I really enjoyed that each part from start to finish complimented each other especially considering the lack of camaraderie in skateboarding, its actually refreshing. I know for a fact that all of the friends and family featured in the video agree with me and without a doubt see 2nd Nature more as a 2nd home now more than ever.

Thanks to everyone at 2NTR that put up with me on a daily basis and a special shoutout to the rest of family and friends at 2NTR. I owe Dougie a clip in the next video, I got you Doug!

Thank you and please donate.

2011-03-11T18:08:00.000-08:00

When Ripped Laces first started my initial thought was that it'd be something small and homegrown, almost like a pit stop towards your actual favorite skateboarding (porn) site. My after thoughts have always come to show me how dumb I've been in the past and this moment is no exception. I've recently been looking through our stats and come to find out RL's has spread world wide. I've noticed that some of our dedicated readers have translated our reviews from English to Portuguese just so our Brazilian audience could enjoy our reviews and for that we thank you. I've also notice that we've had viewers from Japan, New Zealand and other parts of the world that have been unfortunate to feel the effects of the tsunami first hand. We hope that all of our international readers and their families are safe and sound as well as all of those who have family overseas. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of whom are affected by this tragedy. Please join us in donating to the Red Cross by clicking on the links below. Thank you.

Red Cross - text redcross to 90999 to make a $10 donation. The donations will be added to your next cell-phone bill, or visit www.redcross.org

Manolo's Tapes - New York City Re-Edit

2011-03-09T22:29:00.000-08:00

Manolo's Tapes: New York City from Already Been Done on Vimeo.

This was fire and all but I can think of a few other dudes that are missing from this. Burton Smith, Brian Brown....just to name a few.

First Glance: C1RCA Gallant

2011-03-06T21:16:00.000-08:00

The C1RCA Gallant is being reviewed this month and so far so good. I can really understand how C1RCA is putting quality back onto consumers feet after a brief absence from skateboarding's spotlight. They've formulated and rejuvenated their roster to please and gain the respect of the skateboarding community. Not to mention Ryan Gallant has been one of my favorite skaters since this. (I still can't find that song on the internet.) Anywho, I present to you the C1RCA Gallant. Expect the complete review this month.

Armand Brunelle's Story

2011-02-19T19:35:00.001-08:00

I've found, over the years of meeting many skateboarders, that most are filled with the question "What if?"

It may be before trying a really difficult/scary trick or questioning what's really possible at a spot. Those who question skateboarding don't nearly enjoy it as much and find themselves never trying much at all. Those who throw caution to the wind, resurrect with a overwhelming outcome of pain and accomplishment, a feeling Braydon Szafranski has dubbed "being better than sleeping with three playboy bunnies."

Granted, Armand isn't John Cardiel, he didn't have the same amazing career or accomplish legendary status in skateboarding but they do share the same story. Their willingness to continue on, despite their disability has only given these individuals more character and strength to pursue their goals in life. Allowing no obstacle to discourage them whatsoever makes them the same, giving me not one but two people to idolize.

Armand Brunelle's Story from MARINO on Vimeo.

If you found Armand's story inspirational and compelling then check out his latest film featuring Burton Smith, Brian Brown and the rest of the 2nd Nature team being released (for free) in one week. For more updates, be sure to check back.

Thank you.

Agenda 2011: Gravis edition.

2011-01-26T21:26:00.000-08:00

Every few years, new fads come into play in every medium of life. Fist pumping, getting tans that make you look orange, designer tee shirts, etc.

Specifically with skateboarding, we've seen it all from the 90's Jnco jeans and 2XL shirts to todays tie dye shirts and skinny jeans phase. More recently I've been noticing something else in skateboarding. We've recently been exposed to more fashion forward skateboarding. I remember growing up and specifically having a set of clothes that I skated in. Stuff that I didn't mind looking like a bum in, that was my attitude towards skating because I knew I was going out to skate, get sweaty and fall on my ass through the dirty streets of New York. Eventually, my regular school clothes became my skate clothes as my love for skateboarding grew more and more. As a result, I looked like bum all the time through high school and never got laid.

I didn't care then because I was just a kid and skateboarding was all I had. Unfortunately, for the large quantity of skaters who never got sponsored, we all grow up and naturally have bills to pay and jobs to maintain. I now work at an office where their is a dress code to some extent. That little kid who loved skating is still who I am today but I need to keep my job and not look like shit, so what's my alternative, wearing a suit and tie? Nah, I couldn't. That's not in my budget and besides I wouldn't feel right without wearing some kind of skateboarding related clothing. The skate rat inside me won't allow it.

The point of all of this is to appreciate those few select brands that are willing to still stay true to skateboardings natural message but still realize the realizim of those who clock in a 9 to 5. Amongst the few, the brand that delivers this message the best is Gravis. Their unique approach towards "good looking" skate shoes and footwear is outstanding. Gravis manages to produce quality skate shoes with great designs, technology and still giving you the good looks to hit on any chick in the city with confidence and your best Dylan Rieder impression. Even after you get rejected, your still able to skate your favorite city ledges and spots all without having to change out of your best "Imma try to get some" outfit.

Below is the new Arto Mid. It's a brand new model from Gravis and consists of great new technology with a clean look. The new double rubber foxing around the ollie area is doubled up for longer durability. Rubber isn't the only thing covering your wear and tear worries. Suede is throughout the shoe and double stitching covers the top portion over the rubber. The height of the collar allows extra ankle protection along with a padded tongue. Both feature great padding and the interior of the shoe is lined with breathable mesh. This vulcanized outsole is layered for even more durablity, which means that the Arto mid looks to stand the test of time for any skater.

Finishing this shoe off strong is the CLOUD 9 PU footbed, which is a personal favorite of mine. When I was a landscaper, I had these heavy ass boots and the insoles were terrible. After finishing skating some Gravis filters, I threw the Gravis insoles in my boots and they've been one of my favorite insoles since. Gravis has also continued to add more comfort for your padding needs with a "magic foam layer" between the insole and outsole for greater shock absorption. These padding features are exclusivly for the Arto mid so far, making these a priority to get for 2011.

(Arto Mid pro model, release 7/15)

(Featured above are some new colorways for the Arto. The white and black colorways on the left are the Arto LX models.)

These are the Dylan slip on. They come in a variety of different material and good looking new colorways. I haven't personally skated a pair of slip on's since the early 2000's, I use to be much lighter then, but these look great to skate. A narrow but not too slimming toe cap offers great flicking for all of your kickflip and frontside flip needs. You have a choice between suede or leather for skating purposes or chosing leather or canvas for styling out, or in my case going to work. All of these, regardless of material, offer the same great technology. All of them come with the CLOUD 9 PU footbed, breathable mesh lining and a high traction molded outsole. These shoes are best fit for those skaters addicted to high performance boardfeel because I do understand that not everyone can skate a bulky cupsole.

(Dylan slip on, release 7/15 or later)

Closing our Agenda 2011 installments is a shoe I have mention already, the Fliter. I have skated the Fliter before but not this model in paticular. This one is the "Filter TT" (TecTuff) and has some new technology integrated into it for high performance. This shoe has been tested to withstand the same abuse of a suede covered shoe but offers a canvas look and feel. It comes equipped with the CLOUD 9 PU footbed, mesh lining through the interior and the standard high traction molded outsole. I personally loved the feel of the Filters on my feet and look forward to skating it soon.

(Filter TT, release 7/15)

Thank you again to our viewers and especially the sales rep's at Agenda NYC, you've all been great and be on the look out for great new segments and reviews on Ripped Laces in the near future.

Peace.

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Agenda 2011: DVS edition

2011-01-22T21:39:00.000-08:00

The last time DVS was featured on Ripped Laces was during our DVS product review. Now, I don't know if everyone agreed with those products in particular but if DVS failed to catch your attention, they will have it now. DVS debuted some promising product this year. With brand new pro models to be expected and an undisclosed Emb collabo colorway in the works, DVS is working to please everyone this season.

Andrew Brophy's debut pro model is dropping at the end of February and comes with todays standard, but effective, features. Known for his overwhelming pop, likely to ollie over your largest hometown gap, this shoe is still being worked on its release date approaches. The rep at Agenda told me how the sample pairs at the time had a standard DVS insole for the time being, but will likely have a better, more "drop" accommodating insole in the works. This shoe has a one piece suede toe cap, comes in a variety of colorways and comes together with some new technology. DVS has produced a fusion between vulcanized/cup sole and has dubbed it "Flex feel padding". It's a slim fit with minimal padding and its suppose to be the best of a Vul/Cupsole shoe. The grey colorway might be released sooner than the "Cliche" collabo, which will be released around fall so start saving up.

(Andrew Brophy Pro Model, Release Summer/Fall)

The Daewon 12 is being released not too long after his mind blowing Berrics part. I saw it once and still have trouble comprehending what I witnessed. The Daewon 12 is following suit with the one piece toe cap along with double stitched canvas off the side for added style and protection. For even more style, the 12 comes as an official "Almost" collabo and Daewon approved graphics inside the shoe. This vulcanized model also offers the laces being pushed back a bit for less abrasion and breathability is offered throughout the thinly padded tongue.

(The Daewon 12, Release Spring/Summer)

The next and last shoe being shown in this sneak peek is the new Chico Brenes pro model, dubbed "The Chico de Mayo". With great wordplay and people still being confused to this day of his nationality, Chico decided to embrace what most spanish refused to do, being confused as a mexican. The Chico de Mayo is being released, yes you guessed it, on Cinco de Mayo and is a great looking shoe. A nice mid-size shoe to mix up the DVS catalog this year, but the calm yet attractive looking colorways makes the Chico a heavy competitor this year. With a slight resemblance to a blazer, the core difference between the two are that the Chico offers more width in the footbed for added comfort. These also come with the same double wrapped vulcanized outsole the Rick Howards come with for major longevity. Padding around the ankle and tongue come standard with the Chico and hopefully a 6 pack with them to enjoy the Chico De Mayo pro model in full effect.

(Chico de Mayo Pro Model. Release Spring/Summer)

Thanks for checking back and sorry for the delay. I think I'm about 15 to 20 minutes late on the east coast but it's still Saturday in Cali so I guess my promise is still somewhat good. Check back between Tuesday and Wednesday for the next and last installement of Agenda 2011. Thanks again for checking back and hope you've enjoyed what we've had to offer.

The Song of the Day is seriously all I've been doing and is inspiration to keep going on.

"I put in work and watch my status escalate"

Peace.
-Ripped Laces

Agenda 2011: Lakai edition.

2011-01-20T21:19:00.000-08:00

Just as a healthy reminder, between taking photos, talking to reps and letting people know as much as possible about Ripped Laces, it was pretty difficult to capture all of the product at Agenda 2011. Sorry for the limited photos but please enjoy this next installment, Agenda 2011: Lakai.

Lakai has two new models featured on Ripped Laces, two of them being from the men who made Lakai what it is today, Rick Howard and Mike Carroll. The new Rick Howard pro model comes in a single suede silhouette and has a stitched detailed design spotted at the top of the shoe. The best feature about this model is the double wrapped around vulcanized outsole. With two large strips for an outsole to rip through, this looks as though it'll be your favorite shoe for awhile.

(Rick Howard Pro Model, Release Sping/ Summer 2011 release)

The Mike Carroll pro model is a low profile shoe and has double stitching all around the toe cap. On top of that, it's an official Girl collabo and has the traditional Girl design/logo on the thinly padded tongue. This shoe has higher walls through the outsole and continuing straight up towards the tongue for a more relaxed fit and no exploding blowouts on the sides.

(Mike Carroll Pro Model, Release Spring/Summer 2011 release)

Both shoes have great and original designs. Specifically, Lakai seems to have a greater grasp on the color coordination with their new seasoned shoes. I am looking forward to much more from the Lakai brand and Girl family in 2011.

Either tomorrow or Saturday at the very latest, I will have the next installment of Agenda 2011. Check back for some more exclusive sneak peeks.

The song of the day goes out to the 2nd Nature team for arriving safe and sound back in NYC.

Oh and if you haven't already, please add these guys on FB. No shit, they are having 1 to 2 hour sales everyday on newly dropped product and are cutting down normally high prices to walmart value prices. Stay fresh for less.

Peace.

Agenda 2011: Circa edition.

2011-01-19T20:35:00.000-08:00

The Agenda trade show continues to better with age and this year was no different. All of you favorite brands were there like Huf, Dvs, Gravis and more. Ripped Laces covered the latest and greatest in spring and fall product to drop in 2011.

The very first spot I hit up was the Circa booth. They've been under the radar for a while but have been brewing up a killer team with their latest additions of Gallant, Gravette and Nuge - and you can't forget Guzman. I spoke to the rep and he had nothing but good things to tell me about the future of Circa. Currently, Circa has been hyping up the "Lifestyle" collection. This Circa boot is one of the many things you can look forward to from Circa's Lifestyle collection, currently it's still under wraps so you'll have to wait a bit longer to see what else the Lifestyle collection has to offer. (photo below)

More importantly, their upcoming skate collection and pro models look promising. With their absence from the skate game for quite some time (product-wise), it's reassuring knowing that Circa hasn't been sleeping on the skate game at all. Circa reveals new models from Gravette, Gallant and Nuge. All of them coming with some strong features and great designs.(photos below)

Gravette Model with multiple colorways. (Sorry for the blur, shitty phone)

Next in the Circa catalog are the Nuge and Gallant pro models.

The Nuge pro shoe comes with what most skaters have been getting use to seeing more and more lately. A classic vulcanized one piece toe cap, not to rounded and not too narrow, for automatic boardfeel and ready to go ripping. I, personally, am looking forward to the "Gallant" pro model. It features a great classic cupsole look with some vulcanized technology backing it. I can't wait to test these.

Check back tomorrow for the next installment from Agenda. I still have tons to show you from DVS, Lakai and more.

In the meanwhile, heres the song of the day and here are some clips of the day.
Lizard got served, Dickson is a beast and Macba got a fork stuck in it.

A Week with the Westgate...Coming Soon!

2011-01-16T16:40:00.000-08:00

HUF 1 Review

2011-01-09T21:58:00.000-08:00

I was recently talking to someone who's seen the real in's and out's of the industry and was told "the only two places that matter in skateboarding are NY and Cali." It was an interesting point, sure there are the many talented skaters out of Arizona and Philly amoungst other places but It's true. NY and CA are the quintessential locations for skaters to try to make it. Living in NY has it's pros and cons as does Cali but where we have a stronger reputation for skating the harder, shittiers spots, we also have the negative outcome of the strong winters. I've always been fine with the idea of skating in the winter but now that reviewing shoes is in the mix it's harder and harder to do then lets say if I lived in Cali.....

Now, am I moving to Cali? No. I don't make nearly enough money as this guy (or this guy) to do that.

Having a strong following in NY, Keith Hufnagel has spent the majority of his skating career in CA, I guess this is what my friend meant. Huf happens to be the perfect example of all of this. Sure there are tons of NY heads who've risked it all in CA but Huf has actually made a brand steming from CA with NY roots.
The Huf 1 review was done for 5 weeks and is being reviewed using a Bi weekly format. This shoe was skated depending on weather conditions but overall was tested using a 1 hour duration for 4-5 days and weekends sessions anywhere from 2-3 hours for 5 weeks.

Sizing, Style and Support:
The HUF 1 is stylish enough to be worn/marketed as a streetwear brand but has enough skater influenced and credibility backing it to be skated like any other shoe. This shoe is true to size so no need to rack your brain wondering what size to get and despite its simple looking demenor, the HUF 1 comes with some high tech support features.

The HUF 1 ankle support starts with premium grain leather and is strengthen all around the ankle and heel area with a hard plastic lining inside, giving the HUF 1 enough support as a skate shoe yet enough style as a street/lifestyle sneaker. As a matter of fact I had someone literally come up to me, bend down and say "yooooooooo those are hot, what are those?" so with that alone these are street solidified and certified. The premium leather throughout the outer heel area complements the hightop style for minimal risks of rolled ankles and makes this shoe look damn good. An almost unnoticeable feature of this shoe is the mesh lining on the inside of the shoe. It's lined throughout the tongue and goes from the top of the heel all the way to the bottom, justifing all of the breathability needed with no slippage. Another reason I'm running with this whole streetwear thing is the small design detail this shoe has compared to most nowadays. In regards to style I've always been under the impression that less is more which is why I'll never understand these. The fact that the HUF 1 has small yet simple patches sowed all around really catches a buyers eye. (photo below)

Sizing, Style and Support Grading: 10

Comfort and Cushion:
The HUF 1 took sometime to break in, approximatley 3-5 days. Even so it didn't take long till I got use to them. Truthfully, rather than skating to break them in I just walked to and from work because I liked the way they look. Cushion-wise, the HUF 1 has a intergrated rubber heel collar insole wrapping all the way around the heel and ending towards the arch of your foot. The insole itself is a foam material with medium thickness underneath the heel for a minimal loss of boardfeel (photo below). With a cupsole designed shoe, the footbed of the insole progressivly gets thinner and has grooves cut into it for evenmore boardfeel. The tongue of the shoe is filled with a thin amount of cushion, just enough to prevent any damage to the ankle.

Comfort and Cushion Grading: 9

Boardfeel and Grip:
Due to the fact that breaking in any shoe is such a bitch, the HUF 1 is no different. The boardfeel isn't going to be there at first. Even so you should embrace hitting on as many girls as possible wearing these shoes. Seriously though it's nothing, after 3 to 5 days you'll feel a significant difference in skating them. I really enjoyed skating this shoe specifically to test the pateneted "H" sole. Its a play on a classic gum sole and it works well. The main factor in testing the sole was the red "H" section of the sole. It seems to be made of a harder rubber than the rest of the sole and grips much better when scratching my thumb against both rubber materials. The red H seems to stick more but wears aways with the same duration as the regular gum sole.

Boardfeel Grading: 8
Grip Grading: 7

Durability:
A rougher selection of suede is surrounded all around the shoe and is amazing. No, that is not an overstatement, this is seriously amazing. Most shoes start to tear between the 3rd and 4th week of testing. This suede on the other hand is continuously reinforced and rather than ripping, sheds into another layer of suede, which becomes hairy/rough and then sheds slowly. I can really appreciate the fact that an old school design with some new suede technology can still top any synthetic shoe out there (atleast I think so). A triple stitched suede lining fronts this hightop shoe and has some minimal lace protection. The lace protection, if any is irrelevant but a relief to have even though I didn't have to change laces one. The outsole is made from a fine and smooth rubber that sheds away nicely, I don't have any gouges in the rubber, no foreseen foldage in the suede or signs of the glue wearing off.

Durability Grading
Suede and Outsole: 10
Gumsole: 8

Summary:
All together, HUF is making a solid and bold statement with his brand of shoes. In a time where most board companies are trying to become cemented shoe brands, I'm glad to see HUF succeeding in all of its endeavors. As far as the quality of his shoes go, he seems to have a perfect blueprint and plan on how to executed a well lead footwear brand. Here in NY, the HUF brand isn't just at any skateshop. If you enjoyed the review enough to want to try them yourself pick em' up where I got them.

BELIEF Skateshop and Boutique
29-20B 23rd Avenue
Queens, NY 11105
(718) 721-4444

A special shout out to all the Belief boys, I know they're going big in Cali.

Product Watch: DVS Winter Collection

2010-12-08T19:29:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to continue my review with the HUF footwear but with New York's infamous winter coming strong this year, it's been somewhat prolonged. With winter rearing its ugly taco meat face, I needed to show you what gear to look out for this winter.

Dvs is one of two skateboarding brands I've never skated before. I never cared for their shoes but with the change in season, comes the change in appearance. Dvs just released a brand of skate influenced snow shoes and needless to say they're actually amazing quality footwear. This catalog of shoes are not the kind just trying to soak up your last dollar before the holidays. Unlike your dads hand me down Timberlands, these shoes present style and protection while providing enough boardfeel to skate in. Interesting......

I got the Westridge snow boot because I actually didn't look forward to wearing my hand me down Timberlands and they're much cheaper than a brand new pair of Timberlands. I simply wanted them for snow/winter purposes but after I laced up and walked around in them I began to notice that they felt exactly like a worn in pair of skate shoes. Again, I had no idea when I walked into 2nd Nature that I would be reviewing a snow/skate shoe, none the less a Dvs shoe, huh?

Dvs has introduced CGT on all three models featured and I can really see this same technology being used with regularly seasoned skate shoes. CGT is Cold Grip Technology and is a fusion of materials which gives the outsole improved traction and longevity in harsh climates.

The image above is the Westridge snow boot and is fully padded for any climate. I actually skated these shoes for a minute and to my surprise they skate really well but I need them for the winter so no more skating. They're very light weight; even compared to the skateboarding standards of today. The padding and insulation are everywhere it needs to be and even though they aren't sold as a water proof shoe, I'm more than sure that they don't let water in so easy. These have a thick padded heel collar, padded tongue and deep grip traction marks for no slippage on snow or ice. Nubuck all around so snow and water will slide right off.

The Rico Snow (above) and Torey Snow shoe (below) come with all the same features the Westridge have, but with the exception of being lighter and less bulky for your more casual look without losing protection from cold weather conditions. Basically, you could go outside in the snow without the worry of falling on your ass and without getting frostbite all while looking like you have some skate shoes on your feet.

The Rico have a synthetic type of technology making them completly water proof. The Torey snow, being designed around Torey Pudwills original shoe have the traditional skate shoe look with an all around suede fabric but carry more insulation to prepare you for shoveling driveways all day. These two shoes have the same CGT underneath them, so any grip you expected with the Torey Snow comes with the Rico Snow. It won't be easy choosing either of these casual looking shoes, but you can expect quality support with the Dvs Snow Series.

RippedLaces.com HUF Teaser

2010-12-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

eS "First Blood" Shoe Review

2010-11-30T19:39:00.000-08:00

With all the newest shoes and shoe companies dropping as of late, I took a moment to step back and reevaluate what shoe I wanted to skate more than I wanted to review. Bobby Worrest has been one of my favorite skaters for a long time, actually since this video dropped. I also wanted to take a trip back to review a shoe or two that have been released long before Ripped Laces ever came along and started ruining my life. With that said reviewing the eS "First Bloods" was fairly easy, I kept a strict schedule of skating every other day for atleast 1 - 2 hours. Needless to say, my knee hurts and I haven't been this sore since I was 16 but nontheless it was the best and only way to skate this shoe.

Sizing:
This had to be one of the most true to size shoes I've skated in a long time. No small pockets of empty space in this shoe or any annoying heel slipping while walking. With a comfortable slip-on feel, which is credited to the elastic tongue centering straps, the First Bloods give you a snug feeling all around.

Comfort, Cushion and Support:
The eS "First Blood" is Bobby Worrest's first pro model (like you didn't know that already) and have features that eS are tapping into for the first time. This shoe specifically is the first of its kind in the eS catalog to have an extended, stretched (beak like) toe cap and rather unique shape. The shape is narrow but doesn't sacrifice comfort, especially for those with larger feet. I've skated Vans Chucka lows and loved them but after the day was done the side of my pinky would have blisters on it. The First Bloods have a larger footbed for the ball of the foot and in comparision to a Chucka low toe cap, rather than fabric going straight across the shoe, the eS First Bloods have a rubber cup material laying underneth suede for space, breathablity and durability. This allows for higher comfort level and less sweat on your feet when skating.

For the first 3 days the First Bloods felt heavy on my feet, they weighed in at 1 pound 10 ounces. Needless to say the breaking-in process wasn't easy but after the fourth day the shoe comes around. I only had to tie the shoes once and I could just slide them on and go skate. With STI providing the techonology for eS, Etnies & Emerica, one could expect the good old traditional features, all of this is added and yet tweaked with the First Blood. This shoe has a thin padded tongue and collar for comfort thats not too distracting when skating, so no need for tugging of the tongue or any readjusting. A staple of STI is the molded PU footbed and System G2 heel cushioning gel insert, these two features alone provide added support and comfort.

Boardfeel and Grip:
With a straight forward approach from eS designing the shoe, it took me a while to figure out why the shoe felt so heavy. After playing around with other eS models in skate shops, I realized that the Vulcanized Gum rubber sole was suprisingly heavy. This sole is commonly used with most STI shoes and has a much deeper Herring bone tread pattern for added grip.

The First Bloods start gaining some great boardfeel while losing some grip. I never had a problem with the grip, it wasn't ever overwhelming or less than par but it just burns out a little sooner than most shoes. I could only speculate that this is why the First Bloods sole is so heavy, with so much rubber making the tread/grip marks deeper, the grip lasts longer but adds weight to the shoe substancially.

Durability:
This shoe can last approximately 4 to 6 weeks depending on how much you skate. The rubber cup material laying underneth the suede/toe cap area stretches the life expectancy remarkably. Another noticeable feature in this shoe is probably the most slept on. eS avoided unneccessary technology to prevent abrasion on the laces, simply put they're just higher up on the shoe. As said earlier, the grip is great but the constancy of the herringbone tread pattern is ultimately what causes the rubber sole to burn out.

Summary:
This shoe has been one of my favorite reviews so far, I don't whether it was because the shoe was simply yet stratigically put together or what, but the eS First Blood are in my Top 5 favorite skate shoes. My skating was consistant, they're super comfortable and in the era of $80 to $100 skate shoes you really can't go wrong with these.

Grading: 1 thru 10

Comfort: 10
Cushion: 7
Boardfeel: 9
Grip: 8
Grip Durability: 6.5
Overall Durability: 9

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2ntr Video Premiere

2010-10-27T21:11:00.001-07:00

Next Review: eS "First Blood"

2010-10-20T20:00:00.000-07:00

The eS "First Blood" is Bobby Worrest's first signature shoe. I don't know a better reason to review these than the fact that the Krooked "3D" video just dropped. I've done some skating in them so expect the full review sometime next week. In the mean while check out this interview with Bobby Worrest. He speaks on skating, talks about filming for the Krooked video & even spills the beans on his new shoe in the works.

Brandon Westgate Interview for Ripped Laces. (Sneek Peek Photos of the Emerica Westgate!!!)

2010-10-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

More Photos from Emerica's "Cranberries & Coronas" Tour from KCDC

2010-10-09T21:00:00.000-07:00

The Signing started....

The Kids were hyped...

Marilyn was pretty hyped too...

Remember these?

Adidas Buzie's coming in Murdered-out Black, fire!

Pop's new color-way is tight

After the signing, they hit the ramp and a Game of skate broke out.

Brandon set, Fs Flip

Leo - "Does it count if I don't go as high?"

Alley Oop Backside 180

Doubles broke out

Going fast and getting crazy...

"oh shiittt...."

Back on the Horse...

Brandon's in the mix

Emerica Bro's put on a good demo.
Thanks to everyone who made it possible.

Cranberries n Corona Tour - KCDC NY

2010-10-08T16:18:00.001-07:00

Westgate, Marquis n Leo KCDC signing if your not here and your in NY, you're missing out!

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DQM Eat Here, Not There

2010-09-30T19:26:00.000-07:00

Curtis Rapp & friends holding it down in this new DQM video "Eat Here, Not There"

Eat Here Not There from DQM on Vimeo.

CONS Trapasso, Part 2

2010-09-23T21:34:00.000-07:00

Week 3, Grip:

My third week of skating the CONS Trapasso, I decided to show more attention towards the bottom of the shoe. The CONS brand uses the "Maximum-Grip rubber outsole compound" for most of their catalog and is a favorite amongst most skaters. I honestly cannot tell whether there is a significant difference between the Cons brand bottom and the commercial Converse bottom, as sold by Target and most major store brands looking to sell cool moms and dads there "hip" converses. For now that question will go unanswered.

A question I can answer is that the bottoms may start to fade in under a month of skating but that doesn't sacrifice, by any means, the grip. The grip remains strong throughout the month and I can only imagine afterwards as well.

Weird enough is the sound made by the rubber sole when putting your foot back on after taking a couple of solid kicks. You know...the Schreech! sound you hear on most basketball court. Kinda reassuring.

I'm regular footed, so you'll be able to tell the beatings each shoe took from kicking and shimmying my front foot in the right position before any trick. (Photos Below)

Grip Grading: 8
Bottom Sole Durability: 7

Week 4, Durability:

You haven't seen any top photos from week 3 because the transition of the shoe from week 3 to week 4 are pretty much the same. The shoe went into that "survival mode" where it holds up against any abuse before taking its last beating. The following photos cover skating from weeks 3 to 4. (photos below)

As you can see through the photos, the shoe takes a gouge from kickflips (depending on how you do them, I have a aggro one, sorry) but the most honorable mention in this review goes to the durable suede. CONS uses the "High abrasion suede with internal reinforcement". Hearing something like "High Abrasion Suede" before buying any shoe just sounds like a bunch of bullshit so you'll take another step towards the register, but this suede is the real thing. Initially, I was expecting a blow-out but much to my suprise the small cross hatching stitched area helps the suede never showed a sign of weakness.

Suede Durability: 10

Sole/Toe Cap Durability: 8

Summary:

Simply by the comfort and durability testing, this shoe is worth it. I've been skating this shoe for approximately two months, trying to get a solid review together and I've found the CONS "Trapasso" provide great ankle protection with its mid top features and solid board feel. More recently, I've been preparing for the next shoe review & I haven't been enjoying it as much, so after coming back to the Trapasso, I realized how well this shoe skates compared to most shoes today.

I always try to review shoes that I feel have great potential and don't get enough shine as others, but this shoe seems to be an exception. Whether my efforts in this review make you want to buy this shoe anymore than you did 5 mins ago, I don't think this shoe will have any problems getting itself off shelfs at your local skate shop. So, with that said, try to get a pair ASAP.