The Lakai Pledge

[art hellman]

Let me just start by stating I've tried skating Lakais since their inception and I've always been disappointed.  There always seemed to be something wrong with the construction or the fit was off, or something ... and yet, every other year or so I'd still buy a pair to try out. 

That being said, let me just say ... the Howard is awesome!  skated right out of the box over the weekend.  fits like a glove, good boardfeel, grippy, very light, and comfortable.   

   

Thanks to Heritage for the recommendation(s).

[heritage]

Let me just start by stating I've tried skating Lakais since their inception and I've always been disappointed.  There always seemed to be something wrong with the construction or the fit was off, or something ... and yet, every other year or so I'd still buy a pair to try out.  

That being said, let me just say ... the Howard is awesome!  skated right out of the box over the weekend.  fits like a glove, good boardfeel, grippy, very light, and comfortable.  

Thanks to Heritage for the recommendation(s).

Nice Art!! That gets me so psyched that you are digging them. I couldn't agree more with your post too...whatever internal changes Lakai consciously made to better their product is paying off big time, because the quality is night and day compared to a few years ago. And as I mentioned to you about the Howard specifically, it's sort of setting my personal standard to judge other shoes from. I usually skate in mids 95% of the time, but the Howard gives me so much board control that I don't even have to worry that I am skating in a low cut shoe.

Great looking kit by the way, as always.

[chillout]

[heritage]

Chillout - They are all killer.

[micky682]

The BB4s look like a pointer Guy XLK. Will buy.

[sweat stains]

Has anyone had both the Howard's and the Guy xlk? Is the Howard bulkier or do they look about the same on foot?

[micky682]

Has anyone had both the Howard's and the Guy xlk? Is the Howard bulkier or do they look about the same on foot?

The Howard's are not bulkier, they're actually pretty slim. The big difference I would say is that the Howard is flexible throughout while the Guy's have a heelcup and only a flexible toe.

[HASHTAG]

Let me know how the fura skates!

Got my first pairs of The Fura yesterday! They feel amazing, fit really well on MY feet at least, great boardfeel, no need to break them in, really grippy. I'll get back here to post more when they're done I guess.

[heritage]

Any feedback on the Carroll 5? I have to get down to my local to try a pair on, but wanted to hear from anyone that has skated in them. Are they bulky or fit closer to the foot?

[ThugWaffle]

How does the Howard fit compared to the vulcanized Pico. Only thing I don't like about the Pico is that they fit a bit too long.

[DeputyDoses]

How does the Howard fit compared to the vulcanized Pico. Only thing I don't like about the Pico is that they fit a bit too long.

I'd say go half a size up unless you like you're shoes ridiculously snug.

[Bobby Peru]

4 Sessions, so far i'm happy with These.

I'm curious but haven't had a chance to try them on. I like a bit more beef than an Era but less than a Manchester. Maybe like a Half-Cab. How would you say these rank on the puffy scale?

[pica]

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4 Sessions, so far i'm happy with These.

[close]

I'm curious but haven't had a chance to try them on. I like a bit more beef than an Era but less than a Manchester. Maybe like a Half-Cab. How would you say these rank on the puffy scale?

not puffy at all but the sole is rather thick.

[Hercules Rockefeller]

starting to skate the Camby now after walking in it for a week (absolutely not necessary, but i always do that).

some might complain that the insole is too thick, but i love it. also, judging to some friends that skated it, it lasts damn long. much longer than you would expect with such a rather thin shoe.

10/10, would bang again.

[micky682]

Howard XLK or Griffin? Only thing that would probably matter most to me would be which one leaves you less sore after a day of skating.

[Nigga]

Howard XLK or Griffin? Only thing that would probably matter most to me would be which one leaves you less sore after a day of skating.

if that's your concern, always go with the cupsole. I can't speak for the griffin's, but I'm skating the Howard's right now and they're perfect. Vulc boardfeel in a solid xlk cupsole.

[art hellman]

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Howard XLK or Griffin? Only thing that would probably matter most to me would be which one leaves you less sore after a day of skating.

[close]

if that's your concern, always go with the cupsole. I can't speak for the griffin's, but I'm skating the Howard's right now and they're perfect. Vulc boardfeel in a solid xlk cupsole.

agreed.  once my current pair of Howards die I have a bunch of Adidas to skate through, but then I'm looking to skate the Howard exclusively.  it really is that good. 

[DeputyDoses]

Howard XLK or Griffin? Only thing that would probably matter most to me would be which one leaves you less sore after a day of skating.

Side by side, the Griffin's are actually a bit thicker than the Howard XLK. The Howard is much more flexible out of the box, you actually have to break in the Griffin before skating it.

I'm currently skating both the Griffin and the Linden (first time ever rotating shoes) and the Griffin feels as if it offers more protection in the sole, but due to being a thicker vulc, there's more weight on the shoe. Additionally, the Griffin feels much less secure on your foot, so ankle rolls are certainly a greater possibility.

Both shoes are roughly the same price on Whiskey Militia --- I'd suggest scooping both of them up (it'll probably be around $60 after shipping for both).

[micky682]

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Howard XLK or Griffin? Only thing that would probably matter most to me would be which one leaves you less sore after a day of skating.

[close]

Side by side, the Griffin's are actually a bit thicker than the Howard XLK. The Howard is much more flexible out of the box, you actually have to break in the Griffin before skating it.

I'm currently skating both the Griffin and the Linden (first time ever rotating shoes) and the Griffin feels as if it offers more protection in the sole, but due to being a thicker vulc, there's more weight on the shoe. Additionally, the Griffin feels much less secure on your foot, so ankle rolls are certainly a greater possibility.

Both shoes are roughly the same price on Whiskey Militia --- I'd suggest scooping both of them up (it'll probably be around $60 after shipping for both).

Noice.

[Carrolls Chesthairs]

anybody skate these?

[sweat stains]

I don't think thicker is the right word for the Griffins unless you're talking about the sole, there is very minimal padding on the Griffin, and the Howard is puffier. The Howard does seem like it would have much better board feel. I'm skating the my second pair of Griffins right now and they're great.

[heritage]

I don't think thicker is the right word for the Griffins unless you're talking about the sole, there is very minimal padding on the Griffin, and the Howard is puffier. The Howard does seem like it would have much better board feel. I'm skating the my second pair of Griffins right now and they're great.

No disrespect intended, but the Howard is not puffy in any way imaginable. Puffy is probably the biggest antonym when describing the fit, design and construction of the Howard shoe. It's designed to fit as close to the foot and snug as could possibly be. The board feel is outrageous good.

And indeed, the vulc sole on the Griffin is much thicker than that of the XLK Howard. I have multiple pairs of both. As was posted a few pages back, the opening/throat of the Griffin seems much wider than the Howard and leaves more of the ankle exposed, where as the Howard 'wraps' around the foot and ankle and gives a much more stable feel.

EDIT: Both are really nice shoes, for distinctly different reasons. IMO, the Howard is one of the 3 best skate shoes currently available on the market from any shoe manu. And not for nothing, no other shoe company holds a candle to the functionality of the XLK sole. I thought about buying something out of Huf's catalog to show some love, but there is zero reason (for me) to skate in anything but Lakai. The Camby Mid is up next for me.

[sweat stains]

Haha, what I mean is that in comparison to the Griffin, the Howard is going to look more bulky on your foot. Not a bad thing, a lot of people like that, I'm just putting it out there.

[micky682]

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I don't think thicker is the right word for the Griffins unless you're talking about the sole, there is very minimal padding on the Griffin, and the Howard is puffier. The Howard does seem like it would have much better board feel. I'm skating the my second pair of Griffins right now and they're great.

[close]

No disrespect intended, but the Howard is not puffy in any way imaginable. Puffy is probably the biggest antonym when describing the fit, design and construction of the Howard shoe. It's designed to fit as close to the foot and snug as could possibly be. The board feel is outrageous good.

And indeed, the vulc sole on the Griffin is much thicker than that of the XLK Howard. I have multiple pairs of both. As was posted a few pages back, the opening/throat of the Griffin seems much wider than the Howard and leaves more of the ankle exposed, where as the Howard 'wraps' around the foot and ankle and gives a much more stable feel.

EDIT: Both are really nice shoes, for distinctly different reasons. IMO, the Howard is one of the 3 best skate shoes currently available on the market from any shoe manu. And not for nothing, no other shoe company holds a candle to the functionality of the XLK sole. I thought about buying something out of Huf's catalog to show some love, but there is zero reason (for me) to skate in anything but Lakai. The Camby Mid is up next for me.

[chillout]

for the original person asking, ive skated both the griffin and howard and it really just comes down to if you feel like cupsole or vulc. the howard is just about the second best cup ive skated in a long time second to the pico xlk, and the griffin is the best all around vulc shoe ive skated in forever

[Bluntmane]

I haven't had Lakais in awhile, i found the griffins and marinas on sale they both skated good for about the first week,until they both got a huge hole in the side.(this was not after heavy skating). Lakai need to work on the quality of suede they use for sure. I liked the marinas the best they seemed like they molded to your foot and were skatable right out of the box.

[ThugWaffle]

I haven't had Lakais in awhile, i found the griffins and marinas on sale they both skated good for about the first week,until they both got a huge hole in the side.(this was not after heavy skating). Lakai need to work on the quality of suede they use for sure. I liked the marinas the best they seemed like they molded to your foot and were skatable right out of the box.

What are Lakai Marina?

[Cosme]

^ Guy Marina's !

[swagdragon123]

[chillout]

grabbing a pair ASAP. looks like the perfect cupsole and supposedly has poron in it. and lets admire that nollie back heel