Following a Gazelle colourway, adidas and pro skateboarder Nora Vasconcellos bring the Adidas Nora. This debut model for adidas Skateboarding is characterised by the style, creativity and infectious energy that made Vasconcellos an icon, combined with design elements from the tennis archives.
Ratings
| Support: |  |
| Breathability: |  |
| Look/Style: | |
| Durability: | |
| Boardfeel: |  |
| Grippy: | |
| Comfort: | |
| Price: | |
| Size: | True to size |
| Good for: | Tech & daily wear |
| Break-in time: | Immediately |
| Shoe Shape: | Slim |
Pro's and Con's
| + Boardfeel and traction | - Shock absorption is not enough for heavier work |
| + Solid ollie pad at the front | - Material on the side of the shoe wears out quickly |
| + Stylish shoe | - |
| + Light | - |
Materials & Durability
The Nora has a breathable mesh and leather upper, an extended toe cap, a raised toe guard and Adituff for abrasion resistance and longer life. So the Nora is remarkably durable, especially at the forefoot and midfoot. The extended toe cap and Ollie pad also provide extra protection. The most problematic part in terms of durability is the collar around the ankle, which shows the quickest signs of wear.
The shoe's cushioning is made for absorbing medium impact, mainly at the heel area, which also incorporates a height difference compared to the toe area of the sole. Both the inner and outer sole are quite thin.
Sole
The adidas Nora has an advanced sole construction. The vulcanised model has standard foxing tape around the shoe and an extra-thick foxing tape around the toe area. The sole of the shoe features a fairly deep and coarse wire pattern, which again provides extra durability.
Boardfeel & Grip
The Nora is a vulcanised model with a low profile, which automatically leads to an enhanced board feel. The distance between the foot and the board is minimal, which ensures that about board feel nothing but positive feedback can be given.
The grip is not bad, but not optimal either. This is because of the previously mentioned coarse wire pattern in the sole, which provides only average grip.
Comfort
The inner construction of the adidas Nora is very comfortable and has a neat fit. The padding around the heel also adds to the comfort. However, the shoe is quite narrow and after a long, hot skateboard session, the shoe does not ventilate optimally.
Conclusion
The adidas Nora is a stylish, lightweight, narrow skate shoe with a comfortable fit. Very durable for transition and street skateboarders whose skate style is not affected by absorbing strong impact.
Buy the adidas Nora and test it for yourself!
