Sour and New Balance Numeric are two of the most prominent brands in skateboarding right now and for spring/summer 2021 they have come together to reimagine the New Balance 379 Mid. The net result is a really stand out product, but that will come as no surprise to avid fans of Sour Solution and New Balance Numeric. Both companies are always pushing the boundaries, whether it’s technologically, aesthetically or just skating. The first thing that comes to mind skating-wise is the Simon Isaksson street loop seen in the Sour Solution II video. That, for me, is one of the most impressive street clips ever.
The shoe itself is an incredibly classy looking affair. finished in a navy/gold colourway combining a suede toe-cap with laser perforated leather heel quarter and tongue and the detailing is genuinely something to behold. Features such as the laser perforation, gold Sour detailing, Sour adorned lace deubré, waxed round laces and the Swedish clog inspired insole really do set this shoe apart. I mean, this shoe hasn’t just had a Sour logo stuck on it somewhere and been released, it really does feel like they have sat down and discussed the direction they want to take with this design from top to bottom.
Aesthetics aside, how will these shoes perform on your board? Well, to start with these are a mid-top shoe, meaning you have greater support for your ankles, helping prevent ankle rolls or painful impact with the board. They are also vulcanised so you immediately know you will have plenty of board feel, which, coupled with the foot saving ABZORB+ insert that sits on top of a polyurethane insole allows you to skate for longer, with less chance of heel bruising or general foot fatigue.
A really useful addition to this shoe is the elastic gusseted tongue, designed to help keep the shoe fitting tight to your foot, reducing movement of your foot inside the shoe. This is something that really does raise the level of board control and comfort. Lastly, the laser-perforated leather doesn’t just look fabulous, it is also great for breathability making sure your feet don’t go all… “sour”!
In regards to durability, there is a clean seamless one-piece toe wrapping around the whole front of the shoe that reduces the chance of blow-outs. Underneath the toe cap sits an internal toe protection unit, which not only adds another layer of protection for your shoe, but it also keeps your toes safe from flailing boards.
The outsole of the shoe also features New Balance’s amazing Ndurance rubber outsole, created specifically for skateboarding to be incredibly durable that in turn increases the lifespan of the shoe. These may seem like relatively thin vulcanised shoes, but they really will last thanks to these features.
Sour and New Balance have successfully come together to create an individual shoe which not only looks amazing with a premium feel, but also functions incredibly well when you are on the board. This is not a fashion over function shoe at all. Features such as the Ndurance rubber outsole and the ABZORB+ insole, make this shoe a true vulcanised powerhouse. This isn’t to say it isn’t fashionable, I’d happily say that these are one of the best looking shoes I’ve seen this year so far. The silhouette feels like an instant classic and the detailing truly is superb.
