Skaters tend to be reserved towards new skate shoe technologies to say the least. As soon as it's geeky or smells rocket science, it stays on the self. But what about little, almost not noticeable shoe innovation?
Etnies incorporated interesting new feature in their Tyler Bledsoe’s pro model. An elastic string with a toggle enables us to adjust the width of our shoe even when you like to wear our laces loose. Cool eh?
Sizing
The Etnies Highlight Bledsoe Black Camo fits about half a size bigger than usual.
Durability
Unfortunately the Etnies Highlight Bledsoe Black Camo features a few flaws. The sidewall part of its sole is very worn down after a few hours of skating and parts of its bottom sole separated from the upper part of the shoe. The durability is not as bad as it seems though. Its sole turned out to be durable for a vulc skate shoe model and the deep and roughly structured pattern provided long lasting grip during the whole duration of our test.
Cushioning
The cushioning abilities of the Etnies Highlight Bledsoe Black Camo are due to the thin vulcanized sole construction. By integrating "STI Evolution Foam" in the footbed, midsole and outsole, this shoe offers a durable fit that's incredibly lightweight. Thereby the Etnies Highlight Bledsoe Black Camo is mostly suited for low or medium impact skating.
Shape
Its toebox can be described as rather broad and flat with a clear peak, which explains the great flick and the durability of its upper material. The Etnies Highlight Bledsoe Black Camo features a slim silhouette and fits very close to the foot.
Boardfeel
The Etnies Highlight Bledsoe Black Camo offers great boardfeel, thanks to its slim silhouette or construction.
Grip
As expected from a thin and flexible vulcanized sole, the grip of the Etnies Highlight Bledsoe Black Camo is awesome. However, its grip may decrease slightly due to wear.
Breathability
Regarding ventilation, the Etnies Highlight Bledsoe Black Camo is OK as it features 2 ventilation holes with metal eyelets on each shoe, facing towards the inwards side, mesh panels on the tongue and canvas sidepanels that are more breathable than suede. Your foot stays cool for a longer time compared to most other skate shoe models.
Comfort
Overall the Etnies Highlight Bledsoe Black Camo is pleasant to wear. Probably due to its suede, textile and synthetic upper. It also features inner bootie and a moisture-wicking liner supply comfort.
Support
If you are looking for a maximum of freedom and a boardfeel oriented shoe rather than support, the Etnies Highlight Bledsoe Black Camo is a suitable model. It is built without the added weight of rubber and since it's low cut, it offers a high degree of freedom for ankle movement though, which partly relativizes this.
Summary
The Etnies Highlight Bledsoe Black Camo is a solid model with the usual flaws of thin vulcanized shoes and too little durability. The Etnies Highlight Bledsoe Black Camo features good cushioning combined with outstanding grip, boardfeel and far above average durability while weighing as light as possible.
Price
$65 (Buy Now)
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