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Those emerica gamma were a definite miss! Potato shape on a weird sole. The G6 sole version (Julian Davidson) were far better in comparison. They felt wrong so I don't blame anyone not keen on Emerica if those were the main ones you experienced.
Marana Michelin is probably etnies best shoe. I find it odd anyone would call those garbage, but maybe it's more that certain people just didn't like them/it's not built for their preferences, rather than the quality being bad. It's one of their best designed (material-wise) and best selling models. Their flagship, like Dunk for Nike or 306/1010 for NB#. Those Michelin soles are some of the grippiest/most durable out and the suede is usually quality. I've skated at least 8 pairs and they all lasted 3 months minimum of near daily skating.
I've pivoted to skating Dunks and Accels (OG and '95) for a little while. May try these KSL 3 soon
soletech uses synth suede which is among the worst materials I've ever felt on a shoe. not breathable as well. the sole might be fine but even the laces were really low quality. they don't compare to anything anyone else is putting out at that price point
Only on vegan/animal friendly models for the synth suede. So do nearly every other big company in the skate footwear industry for their animal friendly models, by the way.
The standard animal suede on non-vegan models is solid quality. Especially on the Marana/Joslin (higher priced/Michelin models), but the budget models are cheaper quality just like any other brand out.
The sole is excellent, not just fine, in terms of build quality. It's literally a car tire rubber compound and competes/outlasts most of Nike's cup soles, competes with 1010/808, 600, 480, outlasts most of Adidas cup soles, etc. I can see not liking it, but it's nowhere near mediocrity in terms of quality.
I think NB# has cheaper quality laces (excluding the oval ones) than most of soletech, personally. Marana also have hidden lace loops to not break laces, which was a favorite feature of mine when I skated them in the past. More shoes need those!
To say their quality doesn't compete with other brands at that price is disingenuous, not because I'm a fan but because I've skated soletech, Nike, Adidas, Converse, NB#, and soletech has eclipsed or been on par with the others for quality and longevity. To each their own on preferences, though!