No matter how long you've been shredding, chances are you don't know quite as much about skate shoes as Vans Senior Designer Neal Shoemaker. The team over at The Ride Channel recently interviewed Shoemaker to get a first-hand take on the different styles and setups of skate sneakers.
On the topic of vulc soles vs. cup soles, Shoemaker likens it to cooking and says it's based on personal preference: “It’s essentially just baking—a cupsole is like flash-frying something in a microwave, and a vulcanized sole is like baking a cake, almost. It all comes down to preference. Some kids want to skate cupsole because they think it will last longer and they want to jump down stuff. Other kids will jump down bigger things and wear vulc.”
Elsewhere, Shoemaker tackles the differences between the brand's proprietary rubbers, the pros and cons of high tops and low tops, and the never-ending debate over tongue height. Hit The Ride Channel now to check out the full interview.
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[via The Ride Channel]
