The Emerica Reynolds has finally been posted to the internet and has already created a ton of buzz. While it's only been a number of hours, there already is an uproar between those who love it & those who are apprehensive. The truth of the matter is that we do understand both sides of the argument.

"Why dey have to push the SPV when all we wanted was dem O.G. Rowley's?" - Jada

If you haven't been following us on da gram', we're currently out & on the side lines with a fucked back spasm. It's lame but we're finally getting to some overdue work & emails we've been slacking on. Speaking of which, we've had this Rowley photo for about 2-3 weeks now. What the fuck is wrong with us? It most definitely should've been posted a while back but seeing as how we've been preoccupied with tons of shit, here it is. Now that this photo is out, one question comes to mind: Why is this Rowley reissue coming out in 2013?

We stole this from our own Instagram. That should say something about our work ethic.

By now you know that we feature up to two reviews every month. With the Flauge lace protector review debuting on the first of the month, we're starting to wonder what review we should schedule next? What would you like to see? Most of the time we'll take your feedback into consideration but there are instances where we personify a young dictator & get all 'Stalin' about what's next to come. To follow the consensus of every skater with a brain, we've been feeling cupsoles lately. There's been some heavy consideration on getting a youngin to do vulc reviews for us soon. Could that be you?

DC skateboarding is practically bringing everything they've got to the table with the release of their Spring '13 catalog. We're still waiting on the Nyjah pro model but in the meantime we'll have the chance to be in complete awe of the new Mike Mo pro model, due to release in the Spring of 2013. Mike Mo has been seen in countless places rocking his newly developed pro model, Street League, the B.A.T.B. games & lastly, Walmart just to name a few.

The Shifter Low in Dark Brown, coming Winter '12.

With managerial issues on his mind rather than the next hammer he has to film, Heath Kirchart is busier than ever. He's taking on the tasks that few others can handle with a straight face, without clenching his fists & while keeping his cool demeanor. Dealing with skateboarders is no simple task, (just ask law enforcement) so naturally managing them is hell but with Heath, it seems the other way around. From the countless times we've seen him torture his fellow teammates to the uncomfortable questions he's asked newly added ams, it seems as though the team has more to worry about than Heath.

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

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

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

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…

Coming to your local skate shop, Fall 2012

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

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

Dropping 7.01.2012

             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.

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

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

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.