All I skate is Janoskis but haven't found another I find as comfortable. Vans authentic Pros felt too thick in a lot of areas. I've only been skating for less than a year so I only know what I know haha
Currently skating vans slip ons, I enjoy the feel more then my etnies but it does take time to get used to not having much top padding.. basically just canvassing. Vans supports skating- support vans.
I like adidas a lot more, more durable soles and edges, laces, suede, better insoles but I just have some other fp insoles to put in. I like the comfort of adidas more, Nike’s are pretty rigid. I think Nike stopped the child labor a few years back but they’re still of course having underpaid workers in China making the shoes and they deserve more from a company as big as nike.
@@noskpain2792 basically Nike footwear became so dominant that he had to invest in credit lines, then the exclusivity to independent skate shops is slowly eroded and people can get hold of the shoes for cheap in mainstream stores or online, so he was left with a load of stock he couldn't shift or get SOR. So it basically killed his cash flow and his credit
This sounds so devious. Knowing corporate, I wonder if the executive who had the stores splurge on exclusive stock was replaced by a new executive who didn’t honor the deal and just looked to make a splash by opening the brand to bigger stores. If you have any Cold Stone Creamery stores near you, their rise was very exciting. But then they let franchises pop up in between other franchises, crowding out their existing stores. To boot, they required franchises to buy everything from them (even paper towels, coffee cream, cleaning products). It made it unprofitable and the stores closed.
@@handmadezebra7366 Americans/Westerners really have this problem with asserting their moral superiority over everyone. You can tell how empty inside they are by the causes they feel they need to support.
I have used vans for the last 30 years and it was hell, but the new pro and comfycush lines are awesome. I even bought the comfycush for traveling, i was walking 30km a day in them no problem, but they suck for skating, stick to pros
yeah new balance are great, I got a pair of 306s and they are the comfiest shoes I've worn, I don't even want to skate in them anymore because I want them to last as long as possible.
Vans are so bad for feet I doubt the new ones are any better; I always liked Emerica’s the cupsole pro models were amazing and had great gel inserts in the heel; I mostly skate Nike sb and adidas now but I’m dying to try some new balances if I could be on a team it would be nb
I love how Vans fit wide feet so well but they F-being hurt your feet. I may try a custom orthotic insole and see if that helps. I’m wearing the Pro Series with the “Pop Cush” insoles.
From what I heard and read, Vans kinda does the same things 1. They outsource their manufacturing to countries with questionable labor practices 2. Heavy direct to consumer sales 3. Won't open an account with a shop if another shop has an account within a certain vicinity 4. Forces shops to buy other less popular models if they want to carry something like a Half Cab
What exactly are they doing wrong? They pay all the skaters liveable wages. They also send all the exclusive shoes to local skate shops, you know to support the shop and not just themselves. I can’t think of a pair of dunks that hasn’t been in the shop near me, @Humiditynola. The extreme prices are from hypebeast, the only thing I can see being a problem is them making the shoes so limited, but plenty of other companies do it also. They make great shoes, I’ve skated the Janoskis since they came out, they were a better version of the Emerica “laced”, but at the end of it all take it from the pros perspective. This is their job, Nike pays them great, and they are able to actually live life on a decent wage, while doing their job.
@@grimsadventures-bikesnpetr7913 I watched the entire video, you haven’t explained literally anything. I’ve been skating since 94 I’ve been well in the culture. I’ve also seen plenty of companies shut down cause they don’t make enough, meaning less products sent to local shops meaning less money for shops. It’s cool to not like something, but at least appreciate what they’ve done for skateboarding. Do I like Rob Dyrdek, not as much as a skater, but thanks to him there’s SLS. I mean Mark Gonzalez is also on Supreme, and I mean I’m gonna find it hard to believe if you don’t like Nike that you like Supreme. You have to realize shit is changing, there was a time I never would imagine we would have an Olympic skating team, which goes against the culture, but look at the exposure it brings to the community.
Also, I am a Last Resort AB guy. Skater owned (Pontus Alv!) simple, not obnoxious, comfortable, durable, and vegan options. They'll go great with your Polar board, Zack!
Since 1989 I've skated Airwalk, DC, Vans, and Etnies. Pretty much in that order. . . I only skate Etnies these days. They fit my feet, last long for me, and I like the style of shoes they make. I hate the limit release thing Nike does, not going to enter a contest just to buy a shoe. That is enough to make me stay away from them. And as you stated, they have done quit a bit to manipulate skateboarders and skate culture to sell shoes.
Thank you so much for bringing this topic up for discussion. I've never bought nike sb, Adidas, NB or Converse, and never will. Always support skater owned brands, this is our culture, WE make skateboarding what it is, not them.
I get your sentiments but i will wear any shoe that supports my feet. I have a pair of Vans and a pair of DCs and i'm all happy with that, but i refuse to wear any 'skater owned' shoes that make my feet hurt
Those companies were the original manufacturers of athletic footwear, athletic footwear is THEIR culture, THEY make athletic footwear what it is, not us.
I have never bought a single pair of swoosh, 3 stripes or dad balance for skating ever, and not planning in future. 15 years strong. I back this 100% and was vocal about this topic since day one. It's nice to see someone bring this topic up since nowadays it seems swoosh is fully embraced and most pro skaters just crave that nike offer.
@@jameshadley4279 Many skate shoe brands from past and present, but Vans, State, Straye, Cariuma, HUF(when they made shoes) are probably the only ones that I also haven't, but that's because I prefer cupsoles and more padding. My shoe collections consists of DC, eS, Etnies, Emerica, DVS, Globe, Osiris, Supra, C1rca, Ipath(rip), Adio(rip), Vox(rip).
@@Painless1992 cariuma Is not a core skate brand. They are clearing a ploy that has money to invest into the skate scene. For instance them sponsoring the berrics and literally an army of riders all wearing cariuma out the ass
I like how you allow the viewer to form their own opinion and you cite your sources. Most videos on this topic consist of virtual signaling and self serving diatribes from one side of the argument. Learned a lot and was entertained at the same time.
Loving all of these collaboration videos lately! So sick to bring all of these content creators together but displayed in your own style. I agree with Christian, I used to skate Nike SBs a lot and they would last me quite a while. Was skating Blazers a ton and then switched to strictly Janoski when they were released and skated them for over 10 years. But I switched to Vans this past year since starting to skate vert and doing a ton of knee slides so buying BOGO at the Outlet is way better for my wallet. At the time, I never actually thought about the background of the brand tho and the way they treated the shops. I used to drive to MIA, both locations, to get my shoes before they closed.
I feel the same way about Nike! Thank you for presenting this information in the way you have, these things need to be talked about more often. If people held companies accountable for their actions, they would have no choice but to change for the better. It's sad that most of the world mindlessly consumes without really considering underlying factors. The awareness of what is going on behind the scenes is half of the battle, now if we shop consciously and choose brands that actually care, we can change things. ❤️
Is there a difference between Vans and Nike ? Vans is owned by a huge corporation. I see people wearing Vans just as much as they wear Nike's at least when it comes to 30 and under. I was anti Nike SB at the start. When there was still a fight to be had...but those times are gone.
Nike bring structure to a industry that really is very uncoordinated. Nike makes the position of pro so much more elite in a time that new pros are coming all over and the idea of a pro has been lowered. Stevie Williams makes a good point saying how other companies will look at Nike and follow with giving the pros enough money for once and I think they give health insurance but I may be wrong. I get the idea of helping a company that is skater run and owned. Like I love DC shoes but I think Nike gets so much more hate than deserved. They never did anything that “hurt” skating which yes is a opinion but still
Great video. MIA used to be my local skate shop and no one really talks about what happened/why it went under, but I think it’s important that someone does.
You guys realize Jordan's were a really popular shoe for skating in the 80's right? This too hardcore for Nike shit is played out as fuck. Just skate in whatever shoes you like skating in. The Nike SB Koston 1's are one of my favorite skate shoes ever. Maybe right after the Etnies Sal 23's.
I'm so torn on this topic. As someone who lives in Portland it's really hard to separate the amazing people you meet who work at and with Nike and the corporate entity that is Nike. That being said, I find it hard to trust any corporation who's actively selling me anything, so unless it's a gift or some very rare occasion, I typically get all of my skate shoes from Goodwill.
I truly get what you're saying but I am not sure if the superior resources are at fault here (compared to smaller brands), but Nike have surprised me twice with an outstanding performance and quality unmatched by any other brand I've tried. First with Janoskis - such classy iconic look, not too thrasher so you can wear em with smart casual outfits in business or university setting but at the same time later on start skating them and they are impressively wear resistant. With shoe goo lasts a whole season almost. Moreover the leather laces are an advantage for some models. Then Shanes came into picture and blew my mind even more as they had dropped center of gravity and overall weight of the shoe, as well as developing a lace protective design so laces rip way later even compared to leather-laced Janoskis. The shoes speak quality over thrasher. And Shane and Janoski with their skating style honestly match that. Yeah regular Nike SB suck a bit, and I don't really get the dunks. But gotta say that I've had numerous oldschool Vans for example and they always rip apart super quickly from all sides. Still havent tried the pro models, maybe they will change my mind, as I love the way kickflips come with Vans. But these two nike shoes have got a special place in my heart.
Regardless, you really got a point on how most big corporation's main objective will always be the shareholder profit and PR management even if it takes backing off from commitments and statements. So respect on raising awareness!
For me it's Blazers, I absolutely love SB blazers, and I really liked the Nyjah 2's and want to try the Nyjah 3. I wanted to skate the Janoskis..but they are too thin..like I could literally hardly get my foot into the shoe without going up to a 10 which I'd never do with shoes I plan on skating. the Shanes fit me a little better and I was able to skate them as they are slightly wider..I think that's one of the things he set out to do with them...make them slightly more roomy in the forefoot, but they gave me some pain as well So I didn't get another. Nike SB has a lot of good shoes, those ones that look like a cortezes look really good as well. However, I actually support last resort, and other actual core brands...just because. But nike sb is my favorite skate shoes...I hate adidas...every Adidas skateboarding shoe I have had, I hated...even the shelltoes which I really wanted to like because they look cool. Adidas has quality control issues on all of their stuff though imo.
14:51 "there was Jenkem there surprisingly" 🤣 😂 😆 I love you Dowdy. You are OG and it shows. I always think of the dude at a presentation Jason Dill was doing where he tried to justify his kook behavior by saying, "I work for Jenkem." Dude no matter who you work for if you were a real skater you would know not to blow it in front of almighty Dill.
As a dude with size 15 flat feet, nike SB shoes are consistently a great fit for me, contrary to most skate brands, that dont even carry my size period
fuck dude i had size 13 feet when i started skating, so there was like only 2 models of actual skate shoes that fit back in the day. you didn't get to wear what you wanted, you had to wear what fit. surprised i didn't just wear some generic reeboks or something, sports shoes were pretty much the only shoes made in those sizes then.
I agree, I can't even get a pair of dunks to skate in. The only skaters you see wearing dunks are people who are pro or on flow or know someone that owns a skateshop.
I honestly never understood why so many skaters who like to portray themselves as "core" are so obsessed with nike, it's like the completely opposite of everything they claim to represent. I don't get why anyone who isn't riding for them would wear them either, they just kinda suck.
Recently broke in my blazers and they’re my favorite skate shoe I’ve ever owned. I’ve had vans, adidas, etnies, & emericas. There’s something about the design of Nikes that just makes you feel good when you wear a cool ass shoe. Would like to try the cariumas but I have a feeling it’ll be a while before I get around to that haha.
I’ve tried to stand by this, but a lot of my favorite skate shoes are from big brands because they put more tech into pushing the shoe game, and core company’s can’t really compete like that
Snowboarder here, Nike tried to do exactly the same thing with snowboarding in 2010 with the exact footprint for skateboarding, but wasn't yielding the same return on investment (assumably as skating or running) so they got out super abruptly in 2015 leaving alot of reps and riders holding their proverbial in the cold, after spending a f**k-ton of $$$ poaching them from other core brands.
I am just now coming across this video. I am a Seattleite and 35th North is my favorite skate shop in town, I already had harsh feelings about Nike but now this really solidifies my view of them. This royally sucks man, especially when skating is born of hard realities and humble beginnings and yet skaters have pushed through and crossed boundaries that were really unexpected, this is wrong in every aspect.
Lovely to find the not sponsored Christian here and even better to be informed about how that corporation operates. Can't remember the last time I bought one of their products, their synthetic materials made my feet stinks like rotten eggs. I'm not joking, my girlfriend at the time bought me a new pair from a different brand and told me she would not visit my house till I got rid of the chemical warfare weapons.
2:23 Should have wore one just for comparison on other brands based from materials and fit. Other brands like Vans & New Balance besides Nike are also have shoe factories in Vietnam besides China. Vans could fund and maintain the Courthouse in California being a California brand in memory of their founder. What are the solution? Support small skate shoe brands made locally with great materials but reasonable price.
I guess it’s ok if you don’t care about the conditions or what the people are payed to make those shoes. But I don’t support slave labor and that is how Nike makes money.
@@jasonharris5201 that's fair enough but most products are made that way unfortunately. I can't always afford the shoes I want. I buy them usually 2nd hand. You should look at where you board comes from too. What chemicals are used in it and where the wood is harvested instead of being so righteous.
Nike Sb Blazer mids all day. Vans fall part too quick. If I want to waste my money I’ll buy a pair of vans. If I want to spend a little more to get more longevity of a shoe I go with Nike.
I remember when I first skated in the mid 90s I just could only drool on vans. They were crazy expensive in my country. Most of the time it could buy you a complete skateboard. Only when vans moved to Asia in the 00s that they became more affordable and widely available. Now I usually skate in Indonesian skate shoe brands. They are small local companies and some of them are skaters owned. They wouldn't last long as vans but they are crazy cheap and the suedes are quite impressive for the price.
Lol, my experience is the exact opposite in terms of quality... I've only ever bought 1 pair of Nike SB's and entire front of the sole broke apart from the upper part of the shoe after litterally 3 days of Skating... I'll never buy a pair of Nike SB's again after that experience, especially considering that they cost more than every other brand on the market...
I spoke with 35th Ave’s (not north) owner on the whole dunk matter and he told me that he has nothing bad to say about Nike and how they have helped him out a lot in recent years. It would be super sick for Nike to switch to having their production to being only in countries like America, Canada, etc., but they won’t do that for reasons mentioned in this video. If you guys watch that Nike documentary you should also watch the doc on the Ivory Coast and how when you buy chocolate from most companies you are supporting slavery there. It’s called “the dark side of chocolate.” Crazy stuff.
Hey to give my opinion, I've skated a lot of shoes including nike, adidas, vans, lakai, ect. Now I skate nike all the time because i like the design and they are very durable, especially the shane sb's they are close to perfect. But if you want to buy a core brand that will be durable, you should go for lakai and etnies, these are really dope. And one of the worst brand for me is DC Shoes, almost all of there models (excludind legacy and old style big shoes) can be destroyed in 2 weeks
Bro I’ve got hella flat feet and they spill over the sides of most shoes like pancakes. That vans extra wide shoe profile is by far the best thing to happen to the shoe industry for me lol
I've personally never bought or skated any Nike or SB shoe, even though everyone else around me was skating them. Watched friends get "excited" about dunk low pros dropping at the local skate shop and it just never resonated with me. Couldn't get behind it. Plus yes, the ethics of the megacorp are trash as they come.
Don’t care what anyone says, Shane O’Neill’s are my favorite shoes to skate in,I’ve had like 7-8 pairs already.to each their own. I also skate vans,Kyle walkers first shoe,and also have adidas Lucus puig’s. If it’s a dope skate shoe that’s comfortable,dope looking,I’m skating them.
In the end: I care only about quality, look and design of the product. I totally ignore marketing BS about eco-friendly approach which usually only means lowering quality by using cheaper materials. From my perspective, the best sneakers on the market for regular price is Adidas. And the best Adidas model is "campus": classical design, timeless look, good materials, stitched outsole... Sadly, Vans are made much worse in every aspect.
I was just out shopping for some shoes. I appreciate so much your oppinion Zack, and you totally reflect my ethics. Its a big part for me! Hope some of the shoe company (og skate shoes) chime in , i would gladly pay 20 to 40 more for ethically sourced products, and a tangible, transparent core company.
I've literally never owned a pair of Nike SB. I've been skating for 20 years and have watched Nike put good skater owned brands out of business and significantly affect their sales i.e. circa, Ipath, Adio, Fallen(trying to make a comeback), Es(trying to make a comeback), Globes sales have been significantly affected, DVS is almost done. It's a shame honestly what Nike and Adidas have done to skater owned brands. Sure I get it, the skaters that ride for them are getting paid. But now tons of skaters can't find a home for shoes because there's less out there now.
I was just getting some skate shoes, since all local stores had no sales and my size is way above average, I decided to get some online, ordered 4 pairs that were relatively affordable and on a sale, 3 from skate-oriented companies, 1 pair of Nike sb's. I wanted to prefer any of the other three, really, but they were not only more expensive, but also had some quality issues and overall simply didn't fit me nearly as well. Moreover, all 4 of them were made in Asian countries known for their sweatshops and none seemed to have any sort of fair labour certifications. I'd gladly support different brands if they offer a product that can compete with the sb's at their price point or when I actually make enough money to be able to pay more out of strictly moral reasons but as it is rn, I really don't see the appeal, especially since all those brands have no issue outsourcing all their production to extremely underpaid workers in Asia and as long as that's not addressed, I really can't pretend like I'm somehow morally right choosing one over another.
Facts .. totally agree with you .. let your wallet tell your opinion .. Only thing I get is their shoes last longer . Rather buy 2 Emerica pairs than buy 1 pair of Nikes..
@@maybands6535 ok that's great but either you don't get why he posted this or . I'll be nice. It really has nothing to do with money or cost. If you support them get you some .. I remember all the times Nike came into skateboarding. We got skate the courthouse when I visit L.A. ... No wait it's being shut down this week.. token gesture.. 👎👎👎👎
I brought a pair of Nike sb's from eBay, couldn't tell you what they are other than red. They will do until my vans become my new but old skate shoe. I just find it hard finding half sizes, at a good price.
I a wide foot and short short toes. So every shoe has extra toe room in the foot which I kind of hate. But If go any smaller, the shoe is just way to tight on the sides, Usually to the point that I can't even get my foot into the shoe.
First time watching your videos, I came from Christians recent video with you. I really like this video cause you informed me about how Nike doesn’t really care about skateboarding. I always use to have this mentality and wouldn’t ever skate them. I’d rather support a core skateboard shoe brand. But I recently started skating nikes cause I wanted a shoe that would last longer. I’m not devoted to them I just wanted to try out the nyjahs but I think I’m gonna go back to not supporting Nike cause of this video.
Haha this funny.. when I was a young guy and NikeSB was first coming up the manager at my local shop I rode for said he could get me on Nike flow cos he was homies with them and I turned it down (prolly a bad decision looking back) because I never saw Nike as a skate co.. I instead had him send my tape to Etnies which didn't work out cos they sponsored Malto instead lol... but I've never felt Nike was down. Only shoe I've ever considered wanting is the Janoski slip on and like you guys said, I tried it on and my feet are way too fat for it. It's Vans and Emerica for life for me baby!
Oh yea it worked out also cos me and Malto wore same size and he hooked me up with those Etnies during the time Arto was on and the team shoe was super dope.
Great vid! I voted with my wallet and changed trucks since independent went Chinese and are changing the logo. I try to boycott chinese products when I can until they stop concentration camps and genocide. And i did the same to the NBA.
Good luck avoiding Chinese products, seeing as basically the whole manufacturing industry has been shipped out there by corrupt, greedy politicians and company owners. As for their ethics, maybe you should look a bit closer to home and have a think if your own country's ethics are up to scratch? (I'm assuming you're American).
....and yeah, I won't buy new Indy products anymore (I'll just ride the old ones), that logo change was pathetic (and won't stop the mob attacking them for still using a 'white supreeeemist' logo on other stuff.) Trying to appease the mob only makes it worse.
Damn wasn't aware of the shady shit they've done regarding the skate culture and leaving shops in the cold. Won't be buying from them again. Only ever had a couple pairs of Janoski's
Ive been skateboarding myself for over 30 years and worked in the industry, skateboarding saved my life and many other lives because it took me in a different direction than mainstream bullshit. Taught me individuality and creativity. And how to go left when all the other zombies go right. Money is the root of all evil so mainstream media and the olympics brought big companies like Nike in that used to make fun of skateboarding now they want to own it they weren’t there in the beginning and hopefully they won’t be there in the end within skateboarding and because of companies like Nike, other small skateboarder owned companies that were there in the beginning can’t stay in business because all the zombies want to buy the big brand Nike stuff and people like Jamie Thomas that had successful shoe companies (Fallen) are forced to get out of the business, but Money talks bullshit walks and that’s how the world is run unfortunately. Skateboarding will always be a passion and something you can do with hardly any money.!!! We owned a skate shop in the early 2000‘s and Nike forced us to take inventory that we didn’t want ended up putting us in debt and really hurt the business and at that time I never even wore a pair of Nikes. And going forward I will never rep that goofy ass Swoosh!!!
The hardest part of the whole debacle (no pun intended) is that with my sentiments being the same, there are so many rad skaters that wear Nike so when I see a video full of them, it's hard to watch without thinking it's a Nike ad~
It really just depends on the model. The Janoskis aren't worth it in my opinion but a nice pair of Prods, Kostons, GT Blazers, etc. Definitely are. Not to mention the dunks are a classic staple not only in skateboarding but hip-hop as well so alot of people are going to have love for SB based solely off style. I get where your coming from and am all about supporting the underdog but personally I can't help but love Nikes. NB# is catching up tho
This is only half of the story though. Like, people will still say "Nike are awful with sweatshops, so I only wear adidas", even vans aren't great, they're just slightly better sweatshops.
Fuck Nike. Keep it core! Edit: Vans is considered corporate BUT they were the first ones that skateboarders ADOPTED, Vans didnt adopt skaters, the skaters adopted Vans. Thats why Vans will stay around forever
I agree completely. Nike pays the people that make the shoes nothing and people buy them and not care. But would boycott the company if they treated employees that way in America. It’s a shame
What would Lee Ralph say? 🤣 Skateboarding and ethics are complicated in 2021. Can not highly enough recommend the podcast of Pushing Borders! At some point supporting someone also means making a living possible... it‘s a classical dilemma of something stuck between defiance and establishment. Just another perspective but your words are spot on, and I feel the same.
People always tend to forget that vans is the same as Nike, “corporate” as people say. It’s just cuz nike started off with sports shoes then went to Skate. But Vans started with skate.
Really had no idea, Im learning more about how Nike is corrupt everyday. Yesterday I just watched a video on how Nike female athletes get fat shamed and Nike endorses this. Pretty disgusting. On a side note, I got my first pair of Vans hi tops for my birthday on 22nd last month, honestly didn't think Id like them as much as I do.
Nike even put ads out with photos of skaters wearing them in the 80s and pretended they were supporting skating back then when they totally weren’t. Their quality seemed low. That being said.. I used to live in a mountain resort in Oregon and some of my friends befriended Phil knight. I had dinner with him a few times and he was always super cool and respectful and even built up a tiny cafe that had dj’s at night and built a Dj booth, slapped in a small dance floor and a nice sound system then after he got us dinner brought us there and hung out with us at it. He genuinely got a kick out of us dancing and having fun so in that respect he was personally kind to me and my good friends so..on a personal level I like Phil knight but was never into Nike as a skate shoe so I have mixed feelings on the matter
I used to skate Nike SB and Vans. Nikes were always more durable than Vans, but I loved the Vans boardfeel. Found Cariuma and now I aint skate anything else. Got 3 pairs of em now. To me they are the best of both worlds, durable and good boardfeel.
Yeah I'm conflicted about this. The topic got brought up by an OG skater at the skatepark last saturday and he went in on how bad nike is for skating and in general. I mean the "core skate industry" has supported and bolstered the counter-culture skateboarding that I've always loved, and that's what makes it unique. I just have to wonder why, after skating for 23 years, no other skate shoe company could make a shoe that lasts as long and skate as well as nikes do. I like not having to buy another $60 pair of shoes every few weeks because the grips worn out or a hole at the ollie spot is ripping all my socks and tearing up my foot. I get that nike has had the money to engineer their shit to space-age levels... but I have to believe another more core company has it figured out by now. What shoes should I buy instead that will last for months in heavy skating and flick/grip the way janoskis do?
The original skate shoe was made by a company trying to make money off of skateboarding... The core skateboard culture is no different than the corporate culture except the core brands make excuses for bad products. At the end of the day a company's loyalty is always to it's consumers.
But let's be real vans soles and mid soles got super soft in recent years I went through my last pair of vans in like a few weeks while relearning to skate. My Nikes don't show wear nearly as quickly
Thank you for speaking the truth and bringing this stuff to light. I myself have also been anti Nike for the past 10 years. I’ve read of these things and never preferred their invasion of the skate industry
What about Savior? That was a Nike brand that sold out. Everyone loved that. And it was great quality. I was working in the ‘core’ skate shop from 2001- 2005 and Nike/savior and NikeSBwas enormous, that’s never gone away.
@@jonathanmachado8506 They are reducing their team heavily. Big names like Zion Wright, Alex Midler. But then loads of the smaller names and stuff. Looks like they are just going to focus on just the Skaters with Pro model shoe.
Personally I absolutely love vans shoes and what they’ve done for skateboarding but I have a wide foot and their skate shoes just don’t really work for me. As much as I dislike Nike and their business choices, they just feel better around my feet. I just wish I could get more of those blazer mid edge
I'm late to this vid and a lifetime late to sneaker culture but I've been watching and learning more about it over the past few months and it's fascinating and cool. I do have Nikes and enjoy some fraction of the hype type stuff. I've spent a fair amount of time in bicycle culture for decades and it's interesting some of the loose parallels between what is in this vid and Specialized Bicycles.
I ride vans, got those wide feet so they fit great and good board feel. I just buy mine from vans direct on special when they are clearing the old stock, because I do go through them pretty fast.. I buy all my skate bits and clothes from the local skate shop though.
I don't think nike sb's are more durable than vans. The truth is that i switched from nike sb's to vans cause i tore my nike sb's apart in 2-3 sessions and my vans usually last alot longer.
Nike is an outside non-skater company that got into skateboarding for profit. They weren't part of the culture in the beginning but they did definitely become part of it and made a new sub genre of skater, the athlete/olympic skater.
Are you down with the swoosh?!? Leave your thoughts down below!
All I skate is Janoskis but haven't found another I find as comfortable. Vans authentic Pros felt too thick in a lot of areas. I've only been skating for less than a year so I only know what I know haha
Nope, core man. Anti swoosh cause I'm pro human freedom and life. I have a hard time supporting anything that uses slave labor.
Currently skating vans slip ons, I enjoy the feel more then my etnies but it does take time to get used to not having much top padding.. basically just canvassing. Vans supports skating- support vans.
I like adidas a lot more, more durable soles and edges, laces, suede, better insoles but I just have some other fp insoles to put in. I like the comfort of adidas more, Nike’s are pretty rigid. I think Nike stopped the child labor a few years back but they’re still of course having underpaid workers in China making the shoes and they deserve more from a company as big as nike.
their shoes are pretty good but the company itself is wack
i wish everyone thought this way so i could buy sb dunks for cheap again
ha, same. I was getting them used off ebay for £25 (uk) a few years back, they're all like £150-£200 now.
Reps are your best bet
With the fat tongue
Yea, hype beasts annoy the shit out of me lmao
@@drenboysatautohaus6030
Blast from the past right here!
i really appreciate this
What’s up John
Bro u are mad cut
Shut up, you confused Nike blazers for dunks🤡
John really hates Nike huh
you get stuff from cariuma not much different my friend
I remember a time when you were openly mocked as a poser if you wore Nike at a park or any spot for that matter.
I was going to say the same thing!
Yeah, the good old days when people bullied others for their choice of foot attire.
honestly nike helps my local shop a ton so idc they help the community a lot
@The Jack yes
Yeah I remember a time when skaters were assholes too.
I had a skate shop owner in London England explain this whole NikeSB thing near enough word for word in 2016 and how it killed his shop
What exactly caused the store to fail
@@noskpain2792 basically Nike footwear became so dominant that he had to invest in credit lines, then the exclusivity to independent skate shops is slowly eroded and people can get hold of the shoes for cheap in mainstream stores or online, so he was left with a load of stock he couldn't shift or get SOR. So it basically killed his cash flow and his credit
This sounds so devious. Knowing corporate, I wonder if the executive who had the stores splurge on exclusive stock was replaced by a new executive who didn’t honor the deal and just looked to make a splash by opening the brand to bigger stores. If you have any Cold Stone Creamery stores near you, their rise was very exciting. But then they let franchises pop up in between other franchises, crowding out their existing stores. To boot, they required franchises to buy everything from them (even paper towels, coffee cream, cleaning products). It made it unprofitable and the stores closed.
It doesn't matter what shoe you skate they're all made in China by children... So righteous
Thailand, but yes
So righteous, yes, let me go build my own shoes in my garage so I can singlehandedly prevent outsourcing of labor to foreign countries
but Nike uses koerdish slaves that work in terrible camps with no painment and are tortured often.
@@handmadezebra7366 Americans/Westerners really have this problem with asserting their moral superiority over everyone. You can tell how empty inside they are by the causes they feel they need to support.
Nike is not a skate company…
Vans hurt my feet. New balance are the most comfortable for me
I have used vans for the last 30 years and it was hell, but the new pro and comfycush lines are awesome. I even bought the comfycush for traveling, i was walking 30km a day in them no problem, but they suck for skating, stick to pros
yeah new balance are great, I got a pair of 306s and they are the comfiest shoes I've worn, I don't even want to skate in them anymore because I want them to last as long as possible.
Vans are so bad for feet I doubt the new ones are any better; I always liked Emerica’s the cupsole pro models were amazing and had great gel inserts in the heel; I mostly skate Nike sb and adidas now but I’m dying to try some new balances if I could be on a team it would be nb
I love how Vans fit wide feet so well but they F-being hurt your feet. I may try a custom orthotic insole and see if that helps. I’m wearing the Pro Series with the “Pop Cush” insoles.
Lakais are pretty comfortable too
From what I heard and read, Vans kinda does the same things
1. They outsource their manufacturing to countries with questionable labor practices
2. Heavy direct to consumer sales
3. Won't open an account with a shop if another shop has an account within a certain vicinity
4. Forces shops to buy other less popular models if they want to carry something like a Half Cab
He had nothing to say about this comment huh. Hahaha
@@warubz3328 maybe he hasnt read it?
And they open stores in every mall in America taking sales away from your local! Every big company is corrupt, pick your poison.
Everything 'bout nike is pretty disgusting bruh. The shit they've done and get away with is genuinely appalling to me
I wonder what people think of adidas skateboarding. Their shoes are great quality
Agreed, Nike and Addidas must leave our culture alone
What exactly are they doing wrong? They pay all the skaters liveable wages. They also send all the exclusive shoes to local skate shops, you know to support the shop and not just themselves. I can’t think of a pair of dunks that hasn’t been in the shop near me, @Humiditynola.
The extreme prices are from hypebeast, the only thing I can see being a problem is them making the shoes so limited, but plenty of other companies do it also.
They make great shoes, I’ve skated the Janoskis since they came out, they were a better version of the Emerica “laced”, but at the end of it all take it from the pros perspective. This is their job, Nike pays them great, and they are able to actually live life on a decent wage, while doing their job.
@@grimsadventures-bikesnpetr7913 I watched the entire video, you haven’t explained literally anything. I’ve been skating since 94 I’ve been well in the culture. I’ve also seen plenty of companies shut down cause they don’t make enough, meaning less products sent to local shops meaning less money for shops.
It’s cool to not like something, but at least appreciate what they’ve done for skateboarding. Do I like Rob Dyrdek, not as much as a skater, but thanks to him there’s SLS.
I mean Mark Gonzalez is also on Supreme, and I mean I’m gonna find it hard to believe if you don’t like Nike that you like Supreme.
You have to realize shit is changing, there was a time I never would imagine we would have an Olympic skating team, which goes against the culture, but look at the exposure it brings to the community.
@TaketheK I N G D O M all that mumbo jumbo and you didn't even get 1 thumbs up 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💩💩💩💩
Also, I am a Last Resort AB guy. Skater owned (Pontus Alv!) simple, not obnoxious, comfortable, durable, and vegan options. They'll go great with your Polar board, Zack!
I really want to get these shoes but they’re crazy expensive for skate shoes
@@eithanlerman6271 yeh fr I love the look of the shoe but if it was less expensive I would rock em
Theyre worth the money, they last a lot longer than vans
I second this. I wear the low tops. Planning on buoying high tops, and if not those I skate Vans
Expensive thou
Since 1989 I've skated Airwalk, DC, Vans, and Etnies. Pretty much in that order. . . I only skate Etnies these days. They fit my feet, last long for me, and I like the style of shoes they make. I hate the limit release thing Nike does, not going to enter a contest just to buy a shoe. That is enough to make me stay away from them. And as you stated, they have done quit a bit to manipulate skateboarders and skate culture to sell shoes.
Thank you so much for bringing this topic up for discussion. I've never bought nike sb, Adidas, NB or Converse, and never will. Always support skater owned brands, this is our culture, WE make skateboarding what it is, not them.
I get your sentiments but i will wear any shoe that supports my feet. I have a pair of Vans and a pair of DCs and i'm all happy with that, but i refuse to wear any 'skater owned' shoes that make my feet hurt
@@versnellingspookie Fair, although you should try some Lakais, éS or Emerica, they have always been very comfy for me. Peace from Barcelona!
@@cesarguerrero1312 I'm 100% with you, bro. This is our culture, they have nothing to do innit.
Those companies were the original manufacturers of athletic footwear, athletic footwear is THEIR culture, THEY make athletic footwear what it is, not us.
versnellingspookie you could try footprint insole
just went straight out the window when you called a nut a bolt.
I agree but sb blazers are on my feet. I'm such a sellout! Keep it Skate like the 90s
PREACH. I love Mason, I know skaters need their paychecks, but I just can't get behind Nike.
I have never bought a single pair of swoosh, 3 stripes or dad balance for skating ever, and not planning in future. 15 years strong. I back this 100% and was vocal about this topic since day one. It's nice to see someone bring this topic up since nowadays it seems swoosh is fully embraced and most pro skaters just crave that nike offer.
What do you skate ?
@@jameshadley4279 Many skate shoe brands from past and present, but Vans, State, Straye, Cariuma, HUF(when they made shoes) are probably the only ones that I also haven't, but that's because I prefer cupsoles and more padding. My shoe collections consists of DC, eS, Etnies, Emerica, DVS, Globe, Osiris, Supra, C1rca, Ipath(rip), Adio(rip), Vox(rip).
@@Painless1992 I recommend trying the Last Resort AB shoes. Throw in some FP orthotics insoles in them and they are the best.
Dad balance ftw
@@Painless1992 cariuma Is not a core skate brand. They are clearing a ploy that has money to invest into the skate scene. For instance them sponsoring the berrics and literally an army of riders all wearing cariuma out the ass
I do respect you resisting the trend
I like how you allow the viewer to form their own opinion and you cite your sources. Most videos on this topic consist of virtual signaling and self serving diatribes from one side of the argument. Learned a lot and was entertained at the same time.
Loving all of these collaboration videos lately! So sick to bring all of these content creators together but displayed in your own style. I agree with Christian, I used to skate Nike SBs a lot and they would last me quite a while. Was skating Blazers a ton and then switched to strictly Janoski when they were released and skated them for over 10 years. But I switched to Vans this past year since starting to skate vert and doing a ton of knee slides so buying BOGO at the Outlet is way better for my wallet. At the time, I never actually thought about the background of the brand tho and the way they treated the shops. I used to drive to MIA, both locations, to get my shoes before they closed.
I feel the same way about Nike! Thank you for presenting this information in the way you have, these things need to be talked about more often. If people held companies accountable for their actions, they would have no choice but to change for the better. It's sad that most of the world mindlessly consumes without really considering underlying factors. The awareness of what is going on behind the scenes is half of the battle, now if we shop consciously and choose brands that actually care, we can change things. ❤️
I’m never buying NIKESB ever again. Virtue signaling shills. Thank you once again Zach I had no idea about the dirty details. I love you Zach.
'I’m never buying NIKESB ever again'. Thanks for the virtue signal.
Is there a difference between Vans and Nike ? Vans is owned by a huge corporation. I see people wearing Vans just as much as they wear Nike's at least when it comes to 30 and under. I was anti Nike SB at the start. When there was still a fight to be had...but those times are gone.
vans supports skaters and gives back to the community but nike’s pretty much just there because they know they can make money
@@donna1225 yeah right.
Nike bring structure to a industry that really is very uncoordinated. Nike makes the position of pro so much more elite in a time that new pros are coming all over and the idea of a pro has been lowered. Stevie Williams makes a good point saying how other companies will look at Nike and follow with giving the pros enough money for once and I think they give health insurance but I may be wrong. I get the idea of helping a company that is skater run and owned. Like I love DC shoes but I think Nike gets so much more hate than deserved. They never did anything that “hurt” skating which yes is a opinion but still
Great video. MIA used to be my local skate shop and no one really talks about what happened/why it went under, but I think it’s important that someone does.
You guys realize Jordan's were a really popular shoe for skating in the 80's right? This too hardcore for Nike shit is played out as fuck. Just skate in whatever shoes you like skating in. The Nike SB Koston 1's are one of my favorite skate shoes ever. Maybe right after the Etnies Sal 23's.
I think that sb succeeded because of the dunk, what Nike is in skating is weird but I like their shoes
I'm so torn on this topic. As someone who lives in Portland it's really hard to separate the amazing people you meet who work at and with Nike and the corporate entity that is Nike.
That being said, I find it hard to trust any corporation who's actively selling me anything, so unless it's a gift or some very rare occasion, I typically get all of my skate shoes from Goodwill.
I met a bunch of clique a-holes when I worked there.
Thank you for keeping skating fun, while consciously addressing real topics. Stay up!
I truly get what you're saying but I am not sure if the superior resources are at fault here (compared to smaller brands), but Nike have surprised me twice with an outstanding performance and quality unmatched by any other brand I've tried.
First with Janoskis - such classy iconic look, not too thrasher so you can wear em with smart casual outfits in business or university setting but at the same time later on start skating them and they are impressively wear resistant. With shoe goo lasts a whole season almost. Moreover the leather laces are an advantage for some models.
Then Shanes came into picture and blew my mind even more as they had dropped center of gravity and overall weight of the shoe, as well as developing a lace protective design so laces rip way later even compared to leather-laced Janoskis.
The shoes speak quality over thrasher. And Shane and Janoski with their skating style honestly match that.
Yeah regular Nike SB suck a bit, and I don't really get the dunks. But gotta say that I've had numerous oldschool Vans for example and they always rip apart super quickly from all sides. Still havent tried the pro models, maybe they will change my mind, as I love the way kickflips come with Vans. But these two nike shoes have got a special place in my heart.
Regardless, you really got a point on how most big corporation's main objective will always be the shareholder profit and PR management even if it takes backing off from commitments and statements. So respect on raising awareness!
For me it's Blazers, I absolutely love SB blazers, and I really liked the Nyjah 2's and want to try the Nyjah 3. I wanted to skate the Janoskis..but they are too thin..like I could literally hardly get my foot into the shoe without going up to a 10 which I'd never do with shoes I plan on skating. the Shanes fit me a little better and I was able to skate them as they are slightly wider..I think that's one of the things he set out to do with them...make them slightly more roomy in the forefoot, but they gave me some pain as well So I didn't get another. Nike SB has a lot of good shoes, those ones that look like a cortezes look really good as well. However, I actually support last resort, and other actual core brands...just because. But nike sb is my favorite skate shoes...I hate adidas...every Adidas skateboarding shoe I have had, I hated...even the shelltoes which I really wanted to like because they look cool. Adidas has quality control issues on all of their stuff though imo.
14:51 "there was Jenkem there surprisingly" 🤣 😂 😆
I love you Dowdy. You are OG and it shows.
I always think of the dude at a presentation Jason Dill was doing where he tried to justify his kook behavior by saying, "I work for Jenkem." Dude no matter who you work for if you were a real skater you would know not to blow it in front of almighty Dill.
As a dude with size 15 flat feet, nike SB shoes are consistently a great fit for me, contrary to most skate brands, that dont even carry my size period
fuck dude i had size 13 feet when i started skating, so there was like only 2 models of actual skate shoes that fit back in the day. you didn't get to wear what you wanted, you had to wear what fit. surprised i didn't just wear some generic reeboks or something, sports shoes were pretty much the only shoes made in those sizes then.
I agree, I can't even get a pair of dunks to skate in. The only skaters you see wearing dunks are people who are pro or on flow or know someone that owns a skateshop.
I honestly never understood why so many skaters who like to portray themselves as "core" are so obsessed with nike, it's like the completely opposite of everything they claim to represent. I don't get why anyone who isn't riding for them would wear them either, they just kinda suck.
Recently broke in my blazers and they’re my favorite skate shoe I’ve ever owned. I’ve had vans, adidas, etnies, & emericas. There’s something about the design of Nikes that just makes you feel good when you wear a cool ass shoe. Would like to try the cariumas but I have a feeling it’ll be a while before I get around to that haha.
I’ve tried to stand by this, but a lot of my favorite skate shoes are from big brands because they put more tech into pushing the shoe game, and core company’s can’t really compete like that
Nike doesn’t allow labor rights observers in their factories....
my dad works for nike and will always get uncomfortable and worm his way out of it when i tell him this
Snowboarder here, Nike tried to do exactly the same thing with snowboarding in 2010 with the exact footprint for skateboarding, but wasn't yielding the same return on investment (assumably as skating or running) so they got out super abruptly in 2015 leaving alot of reps and riders holding their proverbial in the cold, after spending a f**k-ton of $$$ poaching them from other core brands.
I am just now coming across this video. I am a Seattleite and 35th North is my favorite skate shop in town, I already had harsh feelings about Nike but now this really solidifies my view of them. This royally sucks man, especially when skating is born of hard realities and humble beginnings and yet skaters have pushed through and crossed boundaries that were really unexpected, this is wrong in every aspect.
Lovely to find the not sponsored Christian here and even better to be informed about how that corporation operates.
Can't remember the last time I bought one of their products, their synthetic materials made my feet stinks like rotten eggs. I'm not joking, my girlfriend at the time bought me a new pair from a different brand and told me she would not visit my house till I got rid of the chemical warfare weapons.
2:23 Should have wore one just for comparison on other brands based from materials and fit.
Other brands like Vans & New Balance besides Nike are also have shoe factories in Vietnam besides China.
Vans could fund and maintain the Courthouse in California being a California brand in memory of their founder.
What are the solution?
Support small skate shoe brands made locally with great materials but reasonable price.
Idk man, Vans Pro Skateshoes dont do it for me! They‘re completely ripped and not useable after 3 weeks of skating. NikeSb always lasted twice for me.
I have same experience
I guess it’s ok if you don’t care about the conditions or what the people are payed to make those shoes. But I don’t support slave labor and that is how Nike makes money.
@@jasonharris5201 that's fair enough but most products are made that way unfortunately. I can't always afford the shoes I want. I buy them usually 2nd hand. You should look at where you board comes from too. What chemicals are used in it and where the wood is harvested instead of being so righteous.
Nyjah 1 are straight rubber, no board feel. I’ve never been so uncomfortable skating a shoe. Beautiful shoe, terrible for skating but very durable.
Nike Sb Blazer mids all day. Vans fall part too quick. If I want to waste my money I’ll buy a pair of vans. If I want to spend a little more to get more longevity of a shoe I go with Nike.
I remember when I first skated in the mid 90s I just could only drool on vans. They were crazy expensive in my country. Most of the time it could buy you a complete skateboard. Only when vans moved to Asia in the 00s that they became more affordable and widely available. Now I usually skate in Indonesian skate shoe brands. They are small local companies and some of them are skaters owned. They wouldn't last long as vans but they are crazy cheap and the suedes are quite impressive for the price.
Lol, my experience is the exact opposite in terms of quality... I've only ever bought 1 pair of Nike SB's and entire front of the sole broke apart from the upper part of the shoe after litterally 3 days of Skating... I'll never buy a pair of Nike SB's again after that experience, especially considering that they cost more than every other brand on the market...
The photo/thumbnail is a work of art 🎨🎭😂
Haha TY!
That's what I said until the Ishod 2 dropped ☠️
I spoke with 35th Ave’s (not north) owner on the whole dunk matter and he told me that he has nothing bad to say about Nike and how they have helped him out a lot in recent years. It would be super sick for Nike to switch to having their production to being only in countries like America, Canada, etc., but they won’t do that for reasons mentioned in this video. If you guys watch that Nike documentary you should also watch the doc on the Ivory Coast and how when you buy chocolate from most companies you are supporting slavery there. It’s called “the dark side of chocolate.” Crazy stuff.
Hey to give my opinion, I've skated a lot of shoes including nike, adidas, vans, lakai, ect. Now I skate nike all the time because i like the design and they are very durable, especially the shane sb's they are close to perfect. But if you want to buy a core brand that will be durable, you should go for lakai and etnies, these are really dope. And one of the worst brand for me is DC Shoes, almost all of there models (excludind legacy and old style big shoes) can be destroyed in 2 weeks
Bro I’ve got hella flat feet and they spill over the sides of most shoes like pancakes. That vans extra wide shoe profile is by far the best thing to happen to the shoe industry for me lol
I've personally never bought or skated any Nike or SB shoe, even though everyone else around me was skating them. Watched friends get "excited" about dunk low pros dropping at the local skate shop and it just never resonated with me. Couldn't get behind it. Plus yes, the ethics of the megacorp are trash as they come.
I’m not a skater 🛹 but I respect the sport. I feel that skateboarding is the hardest sports out there to master. End of rant. ✌🏻
Bam was on Nike when he was on toy machine way before he was a celebrity. Pat Channita was on as well
Good point!
Don’t care what anyone says, Shane O’Neill’s are my favorite shoes to skate in,I’ve had like 7-8 pairs already.to each their own. I also skate vans,Kyle walkers first shoe,and also have adidas Lucus puig’s. If it’s a dope skate shoe that’s comfortable,dope looking,I’m skating them.
Lucus puig shoes r dope
In the end: I care only about quality, look and design of the product. I totally ignore marketing BS about eco-friendly approach which usually only means lowering quality by using cheaper materials.
From my perspective, the best sneakers on the market for regular price is Adidas. And the best Adidas model is "campus": classical design, timeless look, good materials, stitched outsole... Sadly, Vans are made much worse in every aspect.
I was just out shopping for some shoes. I appreciate so much your oppinion Zack, and you totally reflect my ethics. Its a big part for me! Hope some of the shoe company (og skate shoes) chime in , i would gladly pay 20 to 40 more for ethically sourced products, and a tangible, transparent core company.
I've literally never owned a pair of Nike SB. I've been skating for 20 years and have watched Nike put good skater owned brands out of business and significantly affect their sales i.e. circa, Ipath, Adio, Fallen(trying to make a comeback), Es(trying to make a comeback), Globes sales have been significantly affected, DVS is almost done. It's a shame honestly what Nike and Adidas have done to skater owned brands. Sure I get it, the skaters that ride for them are getting paid. But now tons of skaters can't find a home for shoes because there's less out there now.
I was just getting some skate shoes, since all local stores had no sales and my size is way above average, I decided to get some online, ordered 4 pairs that were relatively affordable and on a sale, 3 from skate-oriented companies, 1 pair of Nike sb's. I wanted to prefer any of the other three, really, but they were not only more expensive, but also had some quality issues and overall simply didn't fit me nearly as well. Moreover, all 4 of them were made in Asian countries known for their sweatshops and none seemed to have any sort of fair labour certifications.
I'd gladly support different brands if they offer a product that can compete with the sb's at their price point or when I actually make enough money to be able to pay more out of strictly moral reasons but as it is rn, I really don't see the appeal, especially since all those brands have no issue outsourcing all their production to extremely underpaid workers in Asia and as long as that's not addressed, I really can't pretend like I'm somehow morally right choosing one over another.
Facts .. totally agree with you .. let your wallet tell your opinion .. Only thing I get is their shoes last longer . Rather buy 2 Emerica pairs than buy 1 pair of Nikes..
i can get nikes at my outlet for 30 bucks
@@maybands6535 ok that's great but either you don't get why he posted this or . I'll be nice. It really has nothing to do with money or cost. If you support them get you some .. I remember all the times Nike came into skateboarding.
We got skate the courthouse when I visit L.A. ... No wait it's being shut down this week.. token gesture.. 👎👎👎👎
I brought a pair of Nike sb's from eBay, couldn't tell you what they are other than red. They will do until my vans become my new but old skate shoe. I just find it hard finding half sizes, at a good price.
I a wide foot and short short toes. So every shoe has extra toe room in the foot which I kind of hate. But If go any smaller, the shoe is just way to tight on the sides, Usually to the point that I can't even get my foot into the shoe.
First time watching your videos, I came from Christians recent video with you. I really like this video cause you informed me about how Nike doesn’t really care about skateboarding. I always use to have this mentality and wouldn’t ever skate them. I’d rather support a core skateboard shoe brand. But I recently started skating nikes cause I wanted a shoe that would last longer. I’m not devoted to them I just wanted to try out the nyjahs but I think I’m gonna go back to not supporting Nike cause of this video.
Haha this funny.. when I was a young guy and NikeSB was first coming up the manager at my local shop I rode for said he could get me on Nike flow cos he was homies with them and I turned it down (prolly a bad decision looking back) because I never saw Nike as a skate co.. I instead had him send my tape to Etnies which didn't work out cos they sponsored Malto instead lol... but I've never felt Nike was down. Only shoe I've ever considered wanting is the Janoski slip on and like you guys said, I tried it on and my feet are way too fat for it. It's Vans and Emerica for life for me baby!
Oh yea it worked out also cos me and Malto wore same size and he hooked me up with those Etnies during the time Arto was on and the team shoe was super dope.
Great vid! I voted with my wallet and changed trucks since independent went Chinese and are changing the logo. I try to boycott chinese products when I can until they stop concentration camps and genocide. And i did the same to the NBA.
Good luck avoiding Chinese products, seeing as basically the whole manufacturing industry has been shipped out there by corrupt, greedy politicians and company owners. As for their ethics, maybe you should look a bit closer to home and have a think if your own country's ethics are up to scratch? (I'm assuming you're American).
....and yeah, I won't buy new Indy products anymore (I'll just ride the old ones), that logo change was pathetic (and won't stop the mob attacking them for still using a 'white supreeeemist' logo on other stuff.) Trying to appease the mob only makes it worse.
@@themoog924 i can avoid it. Thunders 161 + hosoi is my 🇺🇸 setup 🤘🏼
I’d stick with the STI branches like éS, Etnies, and Emerica
Love my és
8:50 MIA is where I got my first real skateboard. Really sucks to hear they closed :(
I'm old school, Vans all day everyday! If it ain't broke don't fix it! 👊🔥🤘
Damn wasn't aware of the shady shit they've done regarding the skate culture and leaving shops in the cold. Won't be buying from them again. Only ever had a couple pairs of Janoski's
Back in 05-06 you were able to walk into a Val surf and pick up any sb dunk for retail and they were ALWAYS in stock.
Ive been skateboarding myself for over 30 years and worked in the industry, skateboarding saved my life and many other lives because it took me in a different direction than mainstream bullshit. Taught me individuality and creativity. And how to go left when all the other zombies go right. Money is the root of all evil so mainstream media and the olympics brought big companies like Nike in that used to make fun of skateboarding now they want to own it they weren’t there in the beginning and hopefully they won’t be there in the end within skateboarding and because of companies like Nike, other small skateboarder owned companies that were there in the beginning can’t stay in business because all the zombies want to buy the big brand Nike stuff and people like Jamie Thomas that had successful shoe companies (Fallen) are forced to get out of the business, but Money talks bullshit walks and that’s how the world is run unfortunately.
Skateboarding will always be a passion and something you can do with hardly any money.!!! We owned a skate shop in the early 2000‘s and Nike forced us to take inventory that we didn’t want ended up putting us in debt and really hurt the business and at that time I never even wore a pair of Nikes. And going forward I will never rep that goofy ass Swoosh!!!
The hardest part of the whole debacle (no pun intended) is that with my sentiments being the same, there are so many rad skaters that wear Nike so when I see a video full of them, it's hard to watch without thinking it's a Nike ad~
It really just depends on the model. The Janoskis aren't worth it in my opinion but a nice pair of Prods, Kostons, GT Blazers, etc. Definitely are. Not to mention the dunks are a classic staple not only in skateboarding but hip-hop as well so alot of people are going to have love for SB based solely off style. I get where your coming from and am all about supporting the underdog but personally I can't help but love Nikes. NB# is catching up tho
Vans especially some of the pro ones like cabs are really confi ,but i have to say the under soul wears much quicker than Nike SB.
This is only half of the story though. Like, people will still say "Nike are awful with sweatshops, so I only wear adidas", even vans aren't great, they're just slightly better sweatshops.
Fuck Nike. Keep it core! Edit: Vans is considered corporate BUT they were the first ones that skateboarders ADOPTED, Vans didnt adopt skaters, the skaters adopted Vans. Thats why Vans will stay around forever
I agree completely. Nike pays the people that make the shoes nothing and people buy them and not care. But would boycott the company if they treated employees that way in America. It’s a shame
What would Lee Ralph say? 🤣
Skateboarding and ethics are complicated in 2021. Can not highly enough recommend the podcast of Pushing Borders! At some point supporting someone also means making a living possible... it‘s a classical dilemma of something stuck between defiance and establishment. Just another perspective but your words are spot on, and I feel the same.
Lee Ralph has set the ethical standard we should all aspire to- go barefoot.
vans is owned by nike.
Much respect Brother 👊 great video and topic
That's why you buy reps xD
People always tend to forget that vans is the same as Nike, “corporate” as people say. It’s just cuz nike started off with sports shoes then went to Skate. But Vans started with skate.
Really had no idea, Im learning more about how Nike is corrupt everyday. Yesterday I just watched a video on how Nike female athletes get fat shamed and Nike endorses this. Pretty disgusting. On a side note, I got my first pair of Vans hi tops for my birthday on 22nd last month, honestly didn't think Id like them as much as I do.
Have you found any dirt on Vans? Only thing I have against em is spotty durability
Nike even put ads out with photos of skaters wearing them in the 80s and pretended they were supporting skating back then when they totally weren’t. Their quality seemed low. That being said.. I used to live in a mountain resort in Oregon and some of my friends befriended Phil knight. I had dinner with him a few times and he was always super cool and respectful and even built up a tiny cafe that had dj’s at night and built a Dj booth, slapped in a small dance floor and a nice sound system then after he got us dinner brought us there and hung out with us at it. He genuinely got a kick out of us dancing and having fun so in that respect he was personally kind to me and my good friends so..on a personal level I like Phil knight but was never into Nike as a skate shoe so I have mixed feelings on the matter
I used to skate Nike SB and Vans. Nikes were always more durable than Vans, but I loved the Vans boardfeel.
Found Cariuma and now I aint skate anything else. Got 3 pairs of em now. To me they are the best of both worlds, durable and good boardfeel.
I just bought new Nike SB. They are fine but Vans ward just fit my foot better.
Yeah I'm conflicted about this. The topic got brought up by an OG skater at the skatepark last saturday and he went in on how bad nike is for skating and in general.
I mean the "core skate industry" has supported and bolstered the counter-culture skateboarding that I've always loved, and that's what makes it unique.
I just have to wonder why, after skating for 23 years, no other skate shoe company could make a shoe that lasts as long and skate as well as nikes do. I like not having to buy another $60 pair of shoes every few weeks because the grips worn out or a hole at the ollie spot is ripping all my socks and tearing up my foot.
I get that nike has had the money to engineer their shit to space-age levels... but I have to believe another more core company has it figured out by now.
What shoes should I buy instead that will last for months in heavy skating and flick/grip the way janoskis do?
The original skate shoe was made by a company trying to make money off of skateboarding... The core skateboard culture is no different than the corporate culture except the core brands make excuses for bad products. At the end of the day a company's loyalty is always to it's consumers.
But let's be real vans soles and mid soles got super soft in recent years I went through my last pair of vans in like a few weeks while relearning to skate. My Nikes don't show wear nearly as quickly
Thank you for speaking the truth and bringing this stuff to light. I myself have also been anti Nike for the past 10 years. I’ve read of these things and never preferred their invasion of the skate industry
Thank you for posting this.. I wish I'd seen it sooner!
What about Savior? That was a Nike brand that sold out. Everyone loved that. And it was great quality.
I was working in the ‘core’ skate shop from 2001- 2005 and Nike/savior and NikeSBwas enormous, that’s never gone away.
I’m surprised you didn’t talk about how a bunch of skaters have been recently kicked off Nike as well.
Like who!?!
Daryl Angel used to be on Nike. Hes been wearing Vans on his ig stories
@@jonathanmachado8506 They are reducing their team heavily. Big names like Zion Wright, Alex Midler. But then loads of the smaller names and stuff. Looks like they are just going to focus on just the Skaters with Pro model shoe.
@@oscardot you're forgetting Gino Iannucci as well. Huge heavy hitter on team
Personally I absolutely love vans shoes and what they’ve done for skateboarding but I have a wide foot and their skate shoes just don’t really work for me. As much as I dislike Nike and their business choices, they just feel better around my feet. I just wish I could get more of those blazer mid edge
I'm late to this vid and a lifetime late to sneaker culture but I've been watching and learning more about it over the past few months and it's fascinating and cool. I do have Nikes and enjoy some fraction of the hype type stuff. I've spent a fair amount of time in bicycle culture for decades and it's interesting some of the loose parallels between what is in this vid and Specialized Bicycles.
I ride vans, got those wide feet so they fit great and good board feel. I just buy mine from vans direct on special when they are clearing the old stock, because I do go through them pretty fast.. I buy all my skate bits and clothes from the local skate shop though.
I don't think nike sb's are more durable than vans. The truth is that i switched from nike sb's to vans cause i tore my nike sb's apart in 2-3 sessions and my vans usually last alot longer.
I’m skating es lately and loving it. Support core brands
💯
if you have a good product at a reasonable price ill buy it
Nike is an outside non-skater company that got into skateboarding for profit. They weren't part of the culture in the beginning but they did definitely become part of it and made a new sub genre of skater, the athlete/olympic skater.
So glad there are people with the same principles. They have absolutely no place in Skateboarding.