Although as I am writing this review Andrew Reynolds no longer rides for Emerica, his pro model low vulc skate shoes are still widely available. If you are considering purchasing a new pair of skate shoes consider the Reynolds Low Vulc skate shoes which are designed for ultimate board feel and directed towards technical skateboarding.
If you are looking to jump down big stair sets you might want to consider a beefier shoe but for the average skateboarder like myself, the Reynolds Low Vulc’s do a great job. See how these skate shoes are rated for comfort, durability, and cushioning below.
Review of Emerica Reynolds Low Vulc Skate Shoes
Comfort of Emerica Reynolds Skate Shoes
Let me start off by saying these Emerica Reynolds Low Vulc felt very comfortable straight out of the box. Like most new shoes, you do still need to break them in however, these skate shoes seemed to break in much faster than other skate shoes I have worn in the past. The Reynolds Low Vulc are definitely a low cut shoe but I still felt like my feet were supported nicely.
Durability of Emerica Reynolds Skate Shoes
I don’t skate everyday (I wish I had that luxury) but I consistently skate two or three times a week for around two hours at my local skatepark. In total, I skated the Reynolds low vulc for three months which equates to 36 skateboarding sessions and around 50-60 hours of skating. This gives you an idea of how long these skate shoes will last depending on how much you skate.
The Reynolds Low Vulc has a one piece toecap that helps with stitching and tear problems caused from doing ollies and kickflips. The toecap held up surprisingly well and only around twenty hours of skating did a small hole begin to develop in the suede where the stitching is. I ended up adding some shoe goo so the hole didn’t get any bigger and also to the laces to stop them breaking.
The sole on the Reynolds Low Vulc features Emerica’s triangle tread which is fairly grippy but not as durable as I would like. The sole of the shoe developed a hole around the same time as the side of the shoe. The sole also separated from the shoe on the bottom.
Usually I don’t blow through the bottom of my skate shoes until right at the end of their life but with these Emerica Reynolds Low Vulc it happened much faster. This may be due to the quality of the rubber or the fact that I set up a new skateboard deck with new grip tape on the first day I started skating these shoes.
Cushioning of Emerica Reynolds Skate Shoes
The cushioning in the Emerica Reynolds Low Vulc was adequate for the skateboarding that I do. If you want to jump down big stair sets this is not the shoe for you.
Having the padded tongue made the shoe more comfortable than other skate shoes without tongue padding. My heels also felt supported and comfortable. The padding throughout the shoes seemed evenly distributed and genuinely comfortable while skating in them.
Shape of Emerica Reynolds Skate Shoes
The shape of the Emerica Reynolds Low Vulc is fairly narrow and slim. The toe piece is slightly tapered but still round enough for my liking and felt great when flicking my kickflips.
The vulcanized construction and one piece toecap wore nicely with no holes and kept shape for most of the time I skated them.
Board Feel & Grip of Emerica Reynolds Skate Shoes
The Emerica Reynolds Vulc are focused on board feel and they were successful with achieving this. These shoes felt so nice on my board and I thought it was a perfect combination of cushioning and board feel.
Sizing of Emerica Reynolds Skate Shoes
The Emerica Reynolds Low Vulc run true to U.S. sizing.
Summary: Should You Buy These Emerica Reynolds?
In summary, the Emerica Reynolds Low Vulc have good durabilty, board feel, and grip. After skating these shoes for almost sixty hours I can honestly say they could be one of the best vulcanized skate shoes I have ever skated. I would happily purchase these shoes again and highly recommend them!
