Introducing the Nike SB Malor. This affordable silhouette is designed for beginner skaters who need a shoe that can withstand extended use while learning new tricks and honing their skills.
We asked team rider and notorious shoe-destroyer Dakota Mead-Sicaly to skate the shoes and give us his thoughts.
"Growing up, I would buy new shoes every three weeks, so these were a blessing. They were perfect for me as a young kid learning kickflips and all those flip tricks." - Dakota
Designed for durability
Beginner skaters often flick their boards repeatedly to learn tricks, destroying their shoes with grip tape. With this in mind, the toe area is reinforced with double suede and double layers of foxing tape, designed to withstand the rigors of kickflips.
After 3.5 hours of skating and numerous flip tricks, Dakota's shoes were still barely damaged. The foxing texture in the kickflip area had smoothed out a bit, and there was some loosening of the seams around the base of the pinky toe and the ollie spot, but otherwise there was very little damage.
Comfortable fit
Dakota found the Mara very comfortable and true to size. The toe box shape reminded him of the Janoski in its overall sharpness, but the fit felt wider than the Janoski, closer to the Nike SB Blazer or Dunk. The sharp toe gives the shoe excellent flickability, making it ideal for flip tricks. The collar and tongue have medium padding, ensuring the shoe fits securely without getting too hot or uncomfortable.
Solar Soft Insole
A thin, flexible vulcanized shoe, the Mara's primary cushioning comes from Nike's Solarsoft foam insole.
The thick insole protects the heel and tapers toward the toe to maintain board feel. Even after long days skating Interstate DIY and repeatedly jumping over guardrails, Dakota's feet didn't hurt. However, he did wish the insole had a little more arch support.
Grippy outsole
The outsole features a circular herringbone pattern similar to the tread pattern on the Air Force 1, which Dakota felt provided ample traction for stability on the board and catching flip tricks.
conclusion
The Nike SB Marathon is an overall great choice for skaters looking for a low-cost yet durable Nike SB shoe that will stand up to flip tricks and advanced technical skating for years to come.
