COFFEE BREAK WITH THE STATE KEYS, SALEM, and ALBANYEver since it was announced STATE was going to be giving guys like Coakley, Nguyen, Maalouf, and other "how does [insert 'underground' skater name here'] not have a shoe sponsor, the conscious skate consumer in each of us can't deny we've at least wanted to give the fledgling skate shoe brand a shot. So, here's an attempt to take a look at how their vulcs compare to the some standard-issue Vans.
Salem / Albany
Keys
Toe ShapeThe Salem is built similar to a Nike Blazer or an Adidas Matchcourt, with the classic round toe and arched stitching. The fit is roomy in the toe and fits well on a wide foot. Whereas the Albany has a pointier toe with a shallower toe bed. I tend to like a more form-fitting shoe, so I like the fit of the Albany better.
Salem
Albany
Albany / Salem
Salem / Albany
The toe of the Keys is similar to the Albany toe. When compared to a the toe of a Vans Slip-On Pro, the Keys toe is pointer and have more of a cupsole-style toe than the usual flatter-wider slip on vulc toe.
Slip On Pro
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Keys
Sidewalls
The sidewalls of the Salem Killing Floor obviously stand out because they have the ollie guard/patch. The patch itself is pretty thick and the rubber is grippy. I'm not really a fan of the ollie guard look, but if you are, they will definitely hold up as intended.
The sidewalls of the Albany is similar to most vulcs. The lines are clean and the seam is beefy enough to keep from blowing out in one session
The sidewalls of the Keys are also similar to most vulcs, but they do feature what appears to be an additional layer of foxing (black) just above the vulc area. To me, this is more effective than an ollie patch in taking some extra wear before you get to the suede.
Collar, Heel Lock, Height, Insole
The Keys stick out from the classic slip-on because the shoe comes up higher on your foot, which both gives the sides of your feet a little more protection from the board and also provides a more sock-like fit than the usual slip-on. The higher heel also provides some extra heel lock, which most slip-ons can use (in my opinion as someone who cant stand it when my heel moves in a shoe).
The collar of the Keys is wider than most slip-ons, but again, the fact the shoe comes up highe on the foot keeps it fitted to your foot.
The Albany height is similar to a most mids (i.e. Vans Half Cab).
The Salem height is similar to a Blazer or Matchcourt.
The Salem Killing floor features some cool insole artwork and the collar is pretty standard stuff.
The collar for the Albany is a little bit bulkier and softer which makes it comfortable where it sits just at or below your ankle bone
The Sole
The State soles are thicker in high-wear spots.
The Insole
Regular State insole / Salem - Killing Floor Insole
The State insoles are very comfortable and well made. Definitely a step above most skate insoles. They arent as thick as a Vans Ultralite or the old Lunarlon insoles, but they also provide more protection than the ol' cardboard inserts of other brands' vulcs.
Adidas Busenitz Pro / Nike Air Zoom / Vans Ultralite / State
Final ThoughtsDon't mistake the lack of description as a lack of interest or quality. State shoes are no-nonsense vulcs which are made well and are not over-priced. There's really not a whole lot more to say than that. So, if you're looking for an alternative to the sports-brands, it's cool to have a quality option with a rad team. Would love to see their approach to a no-nonsense cupsole.
Topic: COFFEE BREAK with the STATE Keys. Salem, and Albany (Read 2527 times)