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Good shoes do not come cheap anymore. And with the cachet that comes with the Nike SB name, actual skaters may be hesitant to lace up their favorite sneakers before instantly destroying them at the park, especially when you’re first starting out. While most cheap shoes won’t be worthy of standing atop your go-to board, Nike aims to redefine the meaning of affordability. This year sees the debut of its new SB model, the Malor, designed for entry-level skaters spending hours and hours honing their skills — and wreaking havoc on their shoes.
With skateboarding culture at a new peak around the turn of the century, sneaker competition was rather cutthroat. Seeing so many new names coming into the frame, many enthusiasts simply balked at the thought of Nike — a mainstream athletic brand known for basketball and running shoes — entering this territory. Yet, after much trial and error, Nike finally tapped icon Sandy Bodecker for a new model aimed directly at skaters and sold exclusively through skate shops. Debuting in 2002, the SB quickly became an industry favorite, even crossing over to the world of sneakerheads.
Available in a trio of colorways out the gate — black, white, and white/gray/green — the SB Malor boasts both an attractive and minimalist design that you’ll be proud to sport on your next trip to the skate park. The uppers cover the canvas base with a layer of suede, combining for ultimate durability and featuring a small Swoosh logo right at the center. Made to balance your underfoot grip with freedom of movement, the rubber outsole sports a herringbone design borrowing the circular pattern from the Air Force 1. As flexible as you need them to be, the shoe uses a vulcanized construction that fuses the sole to the upper so that these feel broken-in from the first time you step inside. An extended toe bumper only increases the durability, while the cushioned tongue and collar bring along some much-needed padding.
What’s even better is the price. Listed at just $75, the SB Malor will give you the peace of mind to try new tricks, grind, and kickflip to your heart’s content. Head over to Nike’s website to get one (or two) of your own.
