Nike SB Malor | Shoe Review
Introducing the Nike SB Malor. This price-point silhouette was designed for beginner skateboarders who need a shoe that can endure hours and hours of punishment as they learn new tricks and refine their skills. We got team rider and certified shoe destroyer Dakota Mead-Shikaly to skate the shoes and give us his thoughts.
"As someone who used to go through shoes every three weeks growing up, I feel like I would be pretty stoked to skate these as a younger kid just learning how to do kickflips and all sorts of different kinds of flip tricks." - Dakota
DESIGNED FOR DURABILITY
Fledgling skateboarders spend vast amounts of time flicking their boards trying to learn tricks and end up decimating their shoes from the griptape. With that in mind, the toebox is reinforced with two layers of suede and a double layer of foxing tape to help it last against the onslaught of kickflips. After three and a half hours of skating and lots of various flip tricks, Dakota had barely begun to make a scratch on the shoes. The texture on the foxing in the kickflip area had smoothed slightly, and there was a slight bit of fraying on the stitches near the pinky toe/ollie spot area. But other than that, the shoe had sustained very little damage.
COMFORTABLE FIT
Dakota felt that the Malor was very comfortable and fit true to size. The shape of the toe box reminded him of a Janoski in terms of the overall pointiness, but felt that the fit was wider than a Janoski, similar to a Nike SB Blazer or a Dunk. The pointy toe gives the shoe a solid flick making them great for flip tricks. The collar and the tongue have a medium amount of padding, making the shoe fit securely without being too hot or difficult to put on.
SOLARSOFT INSOLE
Being a thin and flexible vulcanized shoe, the primary source of cushioning comes from Nike's Solarsoft foam insole. The thick insole provides protection in the heel, and then thins out toward the toe to preserve boardfeel. After hours of skating at the Interstate DIY and jumping over the guardrail a bunch, Dakota's feet didn't hurt. He did however mention that he wished that there was a bit more arch support built into the insole.
GRIPPY OUTSOLE
The outsole has a circular herringbone pattern that mimics the tread pattern of the Air Force One shoes. Dakota felt that there was plenty of traction for staying secure on the board and catching his flip tricks.
THE VERDICT
The Nike SB Malor is an overall excellent choice for skaters looking for a lower cost, highly durable Nike SB shoe that will last a long time for flip tricks and highly technical skating. Get yourself a pair here!
