All Time Favorite Skate Shoe of All "My" Time #5

Throughout the next month I will be posting my top 5 skate shoes of "my" time. I say "my" time because these are my all time favorite skate shoe since I started skating in 1993. I really had a hard time putting them in chronological order so they will be listed in no particular order. So here is my #5 skate shoe of "ALL MY" time.

The Jason Lee Airwalk.


This was the first pro shoe that I came to know. I didn't know who Jason Lee was or have ever seen him but I noticed the older kids I started skating with wearing them. The shoe itself could be labeled as "the perfect skate shoe". All suede with cup soles. Simple. Effective. Super comfortable. This would be the dominant blue print to many skate shoe company models for the next 5 years and still exists today. Classic and timeless. Just like the man himself.



Being the personable kid I was, I got my hands on a pair and it was my second pair of skate shoes I ever had. I actually landed my first kickflip in these. Still didn't know who Jason Lee was. All I knew that he and Tony Hawk had signature shoes from Airwalk at the time so Jason Lee had to be good. lol.



I wish I still had my pair of Jason Lee Airwalks from when I first started skating but what did I know. Back then I was so eager to get on to the next shoe that when I did, I never looked back at my old pair. I really miss the one shoe at a time routine, now that I'm older I've got more shoes than I can thrash.

Kenny Anderson Converse Sig Shoe KA-ONE

Kenny Anderson's OFFICIAL signature shoe. The Cons KA-ONE. It's about time. 2 Chocolate pro's with signature Cons pro models.

Vans Mike Carroll X Supreme Retro Collabo

Yeah, you didn't know Mike Carroll skated for Vans? How about Rick Howard? Both these now Lakai co-owners once graced the stripe. In 2011, Supreme and Vans will retro the Mike Carroll signature shoe. The original version of this shoe is super rare because of Mike Carroll's brief term with Vans in which he left to join DC (AVE just did the opposite a few years back). I'm personally stoked to see its re-release and some creative genius come out of Supreme.

Cons CTS Mid Red/White OX (Sample)

In the summer of 2009 (When the Cons skate team was just taking off) I blogged about an upcoming release of this Cons CTS OX low red/white in canvas with the rubber toe cap that I was stoked about. Turns out Cons released a different version of the red/white CTS in suede without the rubber toe cap. I was a bit bummed that they didn't release the canvas' that had been shown so as a joke I asked Cons to send me the samples of the red/white CTS canvas since they did exist somewhere in this world.
Fast forward to a year and a half later and they somewhat answered to my calling. This week I received a sample package with the red/white CTS canvas with a little twist. Mids. So stoked on these. Don't know if these mids will make a general release but the low top versions have been released a few seasons ago. Enjoy the pics and thanks again for the samples.






p.s. If I could have my Cons shoe, this would be the colorway. denim gray/off white. Maybe they'll hear me out on this too! Peace.

2010 Thrasher King of The Road Converse

This second 2010 KOTR clip via Thrasher mag features a piece of the action from the Cons Team in Denver and Minneapolis. The Cons KOTR crew consisted of Kenny Anderson, Eli Reed, Sammy Baca, Julian Davidson and Angel Ramirez.

2010 Thrasher King of The Road Nike SB

2010's Thrasher King of The Road competition consisted of 4 skate shoe companies in the form of Nike SB, Converse, Etnies and Circa. It was definitely a good one. Check out this first clip via Thrasher mag for a little piece of the action. This is Team Nike SB (Eric Koston, Grant Taylor, Justin Brock, Ishod Wair and Corey Kennedy).

Nike Blazer CS

So I haven't really skated vulcanized since I started skating in the mid 90's. I learned how to skate with vulcanized shoes (vans old skool) but I later on progressed to cup sole shoes because it not only lasted longer but was more supportive to my feet. The last few years, we've seen the popularity of vulcanized shoes once again. I bought into "vulcanization" by skating a pair of sb blazers, I guess they weren't bad but I'd still rather skate sb dunks because they provide better support on both cushioning and support.

The soles look vulcanized, but it's a cup sole. Lasts longer!


When Brian Anderson came up with the idea to create a cup sole version of a vulcanized shoe I was super hyped. I got my hands on a pair of the blazer sb cs and let me tell you they are great. not only are they great on the feet but on the board as well. It's exactly what you would think. A blazer the feels like a dunk, cushioning, support and all. Not to mention this colorway is insane!!

Check out the extra cushioning in the sock liner, feels great.

Vans Syndicate X Tommy Guerrero

OG Powell-Paralta, SF local, co-founder of Real skateboards and skateboarding godfather Tommy Guerrero, teams up with a 2011 Vans Syndicate installation. The two silhouettes will be perf leather slip-ons and a what looks to be the larkins (introduced through the OTW line). All black everything.

Vans Zero to Hero

This year Vans releases a GR version of the Zero model that was "Syndicated" in 2009 in lux suede. I'm usually old school when it comes to Vans and the classics but this model is a "like". Be on the look out for these.

Cons Pro Pros

If you didn't know, Converse skateboarding is divided into 2 subcategories. One is called the Pro line which features shoes like the Chuck Taylor skate (CTS) and the Anthony Pappalardo pro shoe. The other is called black flag/label which features shoes like the sea star, CVO and the Kenny Anderson. At first I didn't know why they would have Kenny's signature shoe in the black flag line but now it makes sense.

With a lot of shops only carrying one of the two categories, it creates a demand for the other line. The black flag line is the least popular but some shops need to order shoes from this line until they can order from the pro line. This kind of sucks because I think the black flag line isn't as great as the pro line and I think a lot of people would agree with me. That's one of the reasons they put Kenny's shoe in the line. Anyhow,

Dig this new colorways for the Kenny Anderson


The newest pro model from the Cons pro line, Nick Trapasso. A good looking shoe.

NOS (new old school)

I know we're only 2 weeks into the new year but so far so good. I'm glad the hectic holidays are done. I survived it. Time to get going. A box from Vans doesn't hurt either. It's been a while since Vans released it's red/white old skools. One of my favorite shoes of all time in the best colorway. Last time I had these I was in Jr. High. Very nostalgic.

Wieger on the new Nike sb Dunk Low Pro

In 2002, Nike sb put the nike dunk silhouette into a skateboarding shoe history. Of course, the shoes were revamped and adapted for skateboarding. Nearly 10 years later, Nike sb reconstructs the ever classic shoe to outlast all the gripping and ripping of skateboarding. The Nike sb dunk low pro.

Around The World with Nike SB

featuring some the crew that I haven't seen in a while (Chet and Daniel)

How Much Are They?

Call me old fashion or out dated but I remember growing up in a time where a hundred dollar pair of basketball shoes were unheard of (Air Jordans, Reebok pumps, etc.) Back then people were saying dayuuuum! Maybe I've been out of the loop or maybe I've just been around skate shoes too much. I took a stroll through Nike.com to see what was going on currently in the athletic shoe world besides skateboarding, I discovered some shocking, unbelievable, can't believe my eyes kind of things. I'm going to share some of them with you.

Please note that these are current products that is readily available for purchase at Nike.com, not reseller/flight club prices. I selected a shoe from different sports and categories.

The first shoe that came up was a soccer shoe called the Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly II elite. retail price $400.00
This is the most expensive athletic shoe I've ever seen.


This second shoe is a basketball shoe made popular by Penny Hardaway in the early 90's called The foamposite one. This bulky heavy boot of a basketball shoe is in my opinion, not technically basketball friendly. It looks like it would get an overall 3 out of 10 in weight, comfort, and response. Retail price $200.00.


This third shoe is from Golf and is called the Nike Lunar Control. Retail price $190.00. Why would you need $190 tech shoes in golf? Basketball, I'd understand. Baseball, soccer, football, maybe. Not golf!


Here's another basketball shoe from Jordan brand. These GR basketball shoes are probably something you would find in a outlet or a Ross. These are called The Jordan Rare Air Retail price $140.00


These guys make so many kooky shoes (spizikes, air force J's, etc.) I'm so over them. The quality of Jordan is so poor I retired from buying these pieces of shits a while ago. You can kiss comfort and quality out the door because now these guys are looking to grab all your money and run.
Don't get me wrong, I love my 3's, 4's and 5's but I cannot stand the price bumps on the retail price and further more, the poor poor quality of materials and construction.
P.s. The jordan XI cool grays had a box price of $175 excluding tax! Sold out instantly.

The last pair I'm going to share here is a winter style athletic boot called the Nike ACG posite balkin. Retail price $215.00

I know boots are an expensive item and probably worth coughing up $100-$200 but I doubt Nike makes a reputable boot. I would go with Timbs or cats or something.

Whoever knew that we'd see a Nike sneaker near hit the $200, $300 and $400 mark all in the same era and so quick! I understand the motive to purchased an expensive tech shoe that will protect your feet and provide you with the most comfortable cushioning and support to get through whatever it is you're doing. Especially knowing that injuries are costly and painful. I'm all for taking care of yourself when playing sports or getting physical but please don't rip the consumer with bull shit low quality shoes.

Hurry up and buy!!

An oldie buy goodie. Definitely one of my favorite graphics to come up on a tee. From Ray Mate and the Mighty Healthy crew. It never gets old. (I actually had to cop one of these). Too good.



Whether you were born in the 90's and don't know where this is from or an OG, peep here:

Eli Reed's Neighbourhood

I love this video clip. It's just Eli Reed in his natural habitat. The last couple of years I've been really diggin' this kind of skate footage. No bangers (although I still like bangers) but just cruising down the street, up and down curbs, slappys, etc etc. The way skateboarding really is, Fun. I'm still not used to skating in chucks though. I don't even like skating vulcanized! (However, my tre flips are buttery in my Cons.)

Keenan Milton Nike SB sample

These Keenan Milton Nike Dunks have been floating around on-line and the validity of their existence or future existence is still not sure. My theory is someone from Girl/Chocolate or even Heelbruise had a hand in the creation of these pair. Whether or not these dunks ever release doesn't really matter. Just seeing them is awesome.

Stussy Skate Team Documentary pt 1

Japanese website, Defrag, goes in depth to document in my opinion, one of the greatest skate teams to come and go. The Stussy skate team. Great people, great team, great skating. I hope they answer the one question I have in mind. What happened to the skate team and why don't they have one now?

Power Moves 2011

First official post of 2011. There are still a few pics I will post up from the holidays because things got kind of hectic. Big moves for the big year. Chris Cole leaves Fallen Footwear for DC Shoes. Rumor on the streets was that Nike SB's prodigy from down under, Shane O'Neil, will leave Nike for DC as well. More info as if comes.