Hey man I thought you looked familiar. I saw you showing me how to drywall a couple years ago now your doing the best skate reviews on the tube. blew mind your a pro skater
This is the reason why I love your channel and content. I began watching your vids quite some time ago and could relate to everything from your taste in boards and products, to tricks, and life story. Now we can add injuries to the list. While I don’t want to see anyone injured I am glad to hear that you have experienced injuries that are nagging you. I am experiencing injuries again and as a 30 something it can be very discouraging. I swear sometimes it seems your vids come out and they speak to exactly what I’m going through. Mostly good but in this case not so much. Love the channel love skateboarding keep doing this as long as you can you are an inspiration to the skaters midlife crisis!
Ben Degros well it doesn’t show in your skating. I usually sprain my ankles. I work seasonally so it’s hard to balance the pros cons of skating because I need to work to support my family yet I also need to skate to release my addictive tendencies. My work season coincides with the skating season here in the prairies we get 5-6 months of acceptable weather
I’m 32, just got back into skating, 3 knee injuries, 5 back injuries, but it’s worth it. These videos always help me, I can relate to them so easily. I work construction 40-70 hrs a week and skate when I have the energy.
@@bendegros hope that your injury is healing dude 🙏😊 I totally agree with you on the DC soles being too thin. I skated DC Spectres for ages, had countless pairs of them, because they were such a comfortable and supportive shoe and the soles were definitely a bit thicker. Then they ruined them by putting an air bubble in them so I didn't buy the redesigned model. Dabbled with different brands but had bad experiences with some. A friend put me on to Nike SB and I was happy for a few years but now most of their shoes seem to be a narrow fit and I have wide feet. I've gone back to DC but the sole of my front foot is almost smooth on the ball of my foot after only about 2 weeks. Disappointed DC 😔 .....bring back the original Spectres DC!! 😁
Hey ben, I'm from France and hear we have a new trucks brand called film, it really not expensive in France tho the quality is quite good. Could you review them ?
Ben, have you ever thought about opening your own skate shop (i mean who hasn't)? Given your knowledge of both skating and carpentry(hello mini-ramp?), plus your desire to share that knowledge, you could own a really rad and progressive shop. Some shops are nothing more than a retail store but then there are some that truly help skaters find what they are looking for. Honestly if the folks at the shops I went to growing up were half as helpful as you, I think I would have known SO MUCH more about the gear I was buying (and the gear I never even considered!). Plus I think there would a significantly larger skate scene in my town. Love what you are doing, keep it up! Ryan
Ben , you should start a "try your setup" series where you go threw comments of our , the viewer setups and try the one that seems interesting to you and give your opinion . Id also would love to see you skate and review a reissue of an old school board from the late 80's with the shapes and see if you can skate them like a normal popscicle deck .
I got a pair of higher cut HUFs from a mystery box years ago and they also caused/highlighted an achilles heel issue I still have tbh, though maybe I sort of had it prior I definitely didn't have it prominently until I wore them a lot. Your experience sounded crazily similar to my own, albeit my pair was from around 2013. It was really "hollow" on the heel & sort of recessed back almost. When you first mentioned rocking HUF I thought - yeah maybe I should dig up my pair & buy some insoles or something - then you nailed down all the reasons I never wore them.
One thing I notice the most consistent about adidas (In my opinion) is the out sole grip. For me, that plays a massive part for when I choose a skate shoe. When I first started skating, I never really liked adidas, I thought that the cushion on them was horrendous and it wouldn't last for me at all. Little did I know, I'd be owning 5 pairs of adidas skate shoes including one (originally marketed as) basketball shoes the adidas top ten hi. In terms of the sneakers from the adidas skateboarding line, I'd say they are very consistent throughout the spectrum of sizing. I've skated Converse and one of the biggest reasons I'm skeptical of buying another pair is the sizing issues. I bought the Chuck taylor's (both non-skate and skateboarding specific versions) and the sizing was all sorts of wonky. That really discouraged me further from wanting to purchase of other models like, the CONS Weapon and the Break point pros. For adidas however, I've been a size nine the entire time and every shoe in the range has fit perfectly. One thing I notice that is in my terms the best part of adidas skateboarding is, the Upper (Canvas, suede, leather, ETC) would be the first thing to blow out that the traction. In other companies from what I've seen (With the exception of Etnies) that is not the case. Nike SB has a terrible track record in terms of durability and price point. Prices that sky rocket past the 80 USD range are (in some cases) unacceptable. couple that with the durable issues and it's a recipe for disaster.
Those lakai freemont absolutely shredded my heels too on the seam. Every session it would rub and bleed and I still have slight scars from it. Had to cut the seams out after a bit and stick plasters on it
Honestly I think new balance is making the best skate shoes right now. Comfortable, durable, break in easy, and look alright. I bought some Foy’s just to wear around and ended up liking them enough to skate in. Never thought I’d ever say this.
Sounds like you have an Achilles tendonitis problem. I have been battling with that off and on for a few years. Happy to chat offline if you want to discuss ways to recover/maintain. It is quite common after your mid-30s.
Great video, Ben! I currently have FP Footwear Mark I DGS Elite for like a month or 2. Altho, I don't really jump big gaps so I dont know if that technology is working. Could you do a review and test them out? (even without the technology it's a pretty good and durable shoe)
Long time no see, EH? For the people who see this, I met Ben at Thompson Skatepark a year ago. I'm sure he won't reply back. Still remember that day you were filming and then a kid with a blue scooter came close to the cam? That's me, but I'm using my other account. I'm still watching your videos. Congrats!
All of the Lakai shoes I’ve had fit well because I have really wide feet but they all got soggy and were terrible after the second session. I felt that sliding feeling you described on every pair I’ve had. For some reason my Vans Old School Pros also felt like that.
Got a pair of team classics as well; I have a super super low arch in both my feet and for whatever reason the arch in the pair of mine is so high I can’t skate for longer than 15-20 minutes without getting crazy cramps
I had a pair of Fremont and couldn’t wear them either. I had to pull the laces super tight, which looked silly, and they still didn’t fit right. I really like the side profile, in fact that’s why I bought them, I’m just bummed they didn’t fit snug enough for me. My wife bought me a pair of Cambridge for Xmas this year that I’m looking forward to skating in.
Please review the DC Legacy 98 slim. Lasts me forever and I skate a few hours every day. Only thing you have to do is superglue the stitching and they will NEVER go floppy
Oof finally, youre making a video displaying shoes that blow out fast, which happens to me. I personally only wear cupsoles now, but noticing not all cupsoles are equal.
hey ben, do you think you could review DKL non-abrasive griptape? You're the best reviewer on RU-vid and I trust your judgement. It's something I've really been considering switching to in order to save money, but I feel like not a lot of people have reviewed it (although those who have have been overwhelmingly positive).
I love Chukka lows. Only shoe I buy. I do agree with weird batch of shoes thing though. I remember I bought a pair from the Foot Locker in the Eaton Centre in Toronto. I actually didn't buy them to skate in. They were going to be just my casual kicks to wear and they fell apart in less then 2 months. Its really weird how they have this issue. The quality control is all over the place.
Yes the problem that you mentioned with Nike SB. Is even worse with Adidas Puig... It's a shame because I love the concept of the Puig. They just need to be a bit wider with more padding on the soul
Got the same problem as you. Bough Emerica the Romero Laced shoes and after one and a half hours of skating ( only beginner, learn ride and shuvit, not some serious stuff ) and they rubbed my achilles heel down to the meat on both legs. My legs just bleeding 4 days in a row. Can`t wear anything except flip flops for 2 weeks.
I loved the SB Team Classics. I skated 3 pairs in a row. The only probablem for me was the soles wore out faster than the sides for me. Now I'm trying some Vans, Chima's 2 and the Crockett's 2!
Yes. What u said about Vans chukkas is exactly what I think of Vans in general. The quality control in their shoes is like wtf. I’ve stuck with Nike sb but ima prob go back to lakai. I’ll get thou.
Been searching for my perfect deck and im kind of tempted to try a Blind skateboard! First off it feels very nostalgic, but they claim to do single press skateboards with mellow concave and steep kicks, which sounds really promising! I won't wait for your call before purchase, but it would be interesting to hear your thoughts on them! Thanks for the fantastic videos!
Vans are not good for skating, the sole doesnt grip well in the board, also bad quality, the best shoe i skated was a Nike Sb check suede/gum, they lasted me like 8-9 months i bought them for 40 euros they had a good grip and i recomend them as a skate shoe, the only problem is that they dont exist anymore (the combo of suede and gum sole)
I had that issue with a pair of vans too, the Chima ones, really hurt my foot. It wore in eventually and ive bought other pairs and it has been fine. They were on sale on the website so maybe thats why but still pretty poor to have a manufacturing fault like that. I still love vans though.
i also had that same huf galaxy and i as well noticed that the shoe was super stiff compared to most but i think thats what i like about them compared to lakais or something because they were only of the only shoes i got that kept its shape and didnt stretch out and blow out all crazy
I'm looking for less grippy shoes for non abrasive skate shoes, but now there are no company makes skate shoes less grippier and I can't find anything like them.
Hey Ben, would you try the FP Intercept shoe or any other shoe they sell? Would be interesting see your review on the impact absorption and other aspects.
You should be very careful about skating shoes that are too tight, you can end up with a bunion which can basically end up taking you off your board for the rest of your life if it gets out of hand.
one thing about the team editions ( i had the blue ones ) they felt easy for heel tricks , but anything nollie flip to switch flip etc , just didnt work for me and what you said is true they are very snug on the toe area
I like the quick review of multiple shoes. The Manchester looks like a nice shoe. Looking forward to that review. I may need to try some Halfcabs after your thoughts in them. But right now I am very happy with my current shoe and already bought another pair of them. I have thought about doing something like this but as a heelfliper and not a kickfliper I feel my opinion on shoes would be invalid. However, I love skate shoes and it would be fun to talk about what I have learned about skate shoes in my 2 years of skating.
I also got a pair of DC shoes recently after many years of not riding DC. I got the Tiago Lemos and when you first put them on, it’s feels like you’re walking on clouds, so comfortable but 5 minutes into every session I would get this horrific pain in the bottom of both my feet. Like a bad Charley horse in the sole of both feet. I had to run and take them off one time because it felt like my feet were on fire.
I'd love to see you skating in Slip ons. I skated a pair of them for a while and the major problem I faced was the fact that they're too low and when you skate without socks and you do an Ollie, the grip tape scrapes your ankle. I loved them though, super classy.
I have had a pair of lakai Cambridge for about two weeks and my heel still slips out was wondering if there is anyway to fix that problem instead of just breaking em in bc they are pretty broken in
It may be a clown shoe but the Venice by Straye (Jamie Thomas and Chad Muska’s Company) is a great shoe with amazing durability. Takes a couple sessions to break in but feels great, looks great, great support. Plus they’re really cheap.
