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By Weartested and Bubblegum Tate
Many skaters and sneaker fiends where not amused when a rumor made its rounds that the popular Nike SB Blazer low will soon be replaced with an SB version of the Bruin, one of Nikes early releases that came out back in 1973/1974. In the second episode of the “One day with...” reviews you'll see if the new/old Bruin can fill in the footsteps of its forerunner.
* After the One Day With testing, Bubblegum Tate continued to skate them for about 14 days, 3-4 hours a day, 2-3 times a week.
Sizing
W: The Nike SB Bruin fits true to size. I wear US 9.5 in all Nike SBs.
B: For me, because there is little padding on the heels and a nylon tongue, the Bruin fits a half size big. I wear a size 9 in all my shoes regardless of what they are brand, model etc.- but with this pair of Bruins my heel would sometimes slip out, and I tie it to the final lace hole. I would suggest getting a half size smaller because with all the skating you will do it will stretch out a little, too.
Durability
W: An advantage of the silhouette of the Bruin is the flat toebox area, which causes less contact between the suede and the griptape. The midsole is the main contact area so the more sensitive upper material isn't stressed so much.
The shape of the shoe also protects the laces quite well. If you have a look from the top of the shoe you can see that the laces face more towards the inside of the shoe. This way the griptape almost never reaches the laces, at least in the front. Since the Bruin is laced tight as well, the durability in this area is above average.
A construction detail that will be interesting especially for skaters who wear the front part of the toebox and the peak down the most is that the toebox consists of two layers. As you can see in the picture, there's another full layer of suede under the characteristic stripe, which makes this area twice as durable as a one piece toe box.
The band made out of woven material that surrounds the whole shoe isn't, as expected, very durable and frays out after just a few hours. But since it's part of the original Bruin design and doesn't affect the durability because there's a layer of suede under it, this can be overlooked. Making it out of suede- if it's possible from a production standpoint- would add additional durability though. Maybe future models will feature it?
The sole pattern is like all Nike SB vulcanized models: very deep and should last over the whole lifespan of the shoe.
A small letdown was that the non-removable insole disassembled from the outsole to which it is glued on. It didn't affect the performance noticeably during the five hours, but it normally shouldn't happen.
All in all the Nike SB Bruin should be quite durable for a model of this kind from the impression I got during the first 5 hours. All the reasons mentioned above combined are responsible for a shoe that withstands the abrasion of skateboarding quite well.
B: The Bruin is a very durable shoe for $65. The extra layering offers extra durability for flicks and ollies, and the toe at the tip is double stitched to add an extra layer of durability. I haven’t made a hole in the Bruins yet but I have gone through two sets of laces. On these shoes and pretty much most of my shoes I rip the laces before I make a hole in the shoe, unless a shoe offers lace protection but this particular model does not.
Breathability
W: The breathability of the Nike SB Bruin is average compared to most shoes on the market right now. The model doesn't feature any vent holes which is of course very bad for the breathability. The thin tongue that has almost no padding in it plus the upper material which is made out off breathable nylon compensate for the missing holes to a certain point, though. Especially the thin padding makes sure that the tongue doesn't work as an isolating pillow that keeps the heat that develops while skating inside the shoe.
B: The Bruin makes your feet feel pretty hot. It can be compared to a Blazer mid from the SB line. But the height of the Bruin, being a low profile shoe, gives it better breathability than the Blazer mid.
Grip
W: Like all vulcanized Nike SB models the Bruin features a herringbone pattern on the sole that provides excellent grip with its slim, long and flexible lines. Compared to other shoes this grip is very direct which means that once you put your foot on the board and put pressure on it it doesn't move at all.
B: The grip of the Bruin is the same as a Harbor, Blazer, etc: very grippy and long-lasting. If you have ever skated an SB vulcanized shoe, you know what to expect.
Shape
W: The Bruin is a slim model with thin sidewalls and heel area. People with wider feet should try them on first and see if they fit. The toebox features the already mentioned characteristic extra layer that can also be found on the Adidas Gazelle or the Nike Cortez. The toe can be described as arrow shaped where the tapering takes place over the complete first third, while the extra layer reduces the taper to a round peak. As always have a close look at the pictures to get the best impression of the toebox shape.
B:
The profile of the Bruin is a very low, much lower than the shoe it replaced. There is very little or no padding on the heels of the shoe, but if you are used to low shoes these are for you.
Boardfeeling
W: The sole construction of the Bruin seem to be similar to the Nike SB Blazer from the outside. The direct contact to the board is caused by the lack of foam or other thick cushioning layers in the sole. The result is a great boardfeeling which the flexibility of the sole also contributes to.
B: The boardfeel of the Bruin is exactly that of any SB vulcanized shoe.
Comfort/Cushion
A small weakness of the Bruin is the flat insole. It has a small arch support element, but it's not ergonomically shaped which makes it less comfortable than comparable shoes, especially after longer sessions.
An advantage of the Bruin is its weight. With 350 gram it is around 20% lighter than for example the Gravis Viking low or the Adidas Busenitz with both 430 gram per shoe.
Although this model has very little padding throughout the whole shoe it is not uncomfortable. The direct connection between shoe and foot caused by the lack of cushioning materials support the great boardfeeling. Unfortunately the missing padding also causes the foot to slip out quite easy in the heel area since there are no bulges that keep it in position.
The cushioning of the Bruin is great for a vulcanised model. Although the construction of this model is rather thin and direct, the zoom air system in the heel area of the removable insole makes sure that average pressures that develop while skating are absorbed.
W: The weakness of the Nike SB Bruin is the stability and support. The C-shaped plastic cap in the heel construction is really small, even for a vulcanized model. You can easily squeeze both sides of the shoe together in the heel area, which is a sign of a lack of stability the shoe can offer your foot. The low cut around the ankle and the thin sidewalls made out of just a layer of suede and one of inner material enforce the weak heel area. Already after the five hour test the shoe got very flexible and the stability against horizontal movement should further decrease with wear.
All in all the support of the Nike SB Bruin could be better. People who jump down big gaps or are looking for a lot of support in general, maybe because of former injuries, should maybe choose a different model or at least try them on in person to see if it works for them. For people who like a lot of freedom around the ankle and don't need too much support in the heel area the Nike SB Bruin is a good choice .
B: The Bruin is a very low profile shoe and therefore does not do a good job supporting your ankles. I have rolled my ankle just walking around in them, and a couple tweaks from skating but nothing major. I just wish they put a little more padding on the heel so it offers more cushioning and secures your feet in place.
One sentence summary
W: The Nike SB Bruin is a slim vulcanized model with little stability and average breathability, a thin sole, a cushion element in the heel and good durability.
B: The Bruin is a good every day shoe on and off the board, with the same traits as other SB vulcanized models. If you're used to skating in Nike SB's vulcanized shoes or pretty much any other vulcanized shoes you'll feel right at home.
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