The Michelin Marana shoe has landed!
The classic, robust etnies upper remains – complete with distinctive TPR toe cap, secure lace up fastening and STI evolution midsoles for superior impact protection.
But it’s this premium upper that’s posed a novel problem for skaters…
“The upper has been outlasting the outsole. Traditionally in skate shoes it’s quite the opposite”, says Rick Marmolijo, Director of Footwear Design at etnies. “We wanted to find a solution where the outsole matches the durability of the upper.” And that’s what they got.
The new and improved Marana – fronted by Battle at the Berrics X winner Chris Joslin – boasts a brand new outsole, inspired by the MICHELIN PC00 Rally tire.
“Because Michelin has the best rubber in the world, it was a natural fit for us to use their compound to create the ultimate skate shoe.”
The ultimate skate shoe
The tread pattern design uses deep grooves to bring added traction, while the rubber compound provides remarkable durability across all terrains.
The new Marana is 3X more durable to be exact.
In the words of etnies themselves: Tough just got tougher.
Michelin Technical Soles Product Specialist, Vanni Scapin, who designed the Marana outsole in collaboration with etnies, was able to “replicate the flex lines (of the PC00) without compromising the performance of the shoe”.
“We took into consideration our lab tests, and we undertook different field tests focusing on durability, abrasion on specific areas and board feel”, says Vanni.
No room for half measures!
The wear tests
etnies enlisted 30 skaters to put the Michelin Marana to the ultimate test.
Each finalist received a pair of Maranas and was asked to ‘use and abuse’ their skate shoes for 30 days, documenting their journey all the way.
And the reviews speak for themselves…
Corey Mansour – Ohio, United States
“The Michelin Marana took what I have seen as one of the best, most durable skate shoes on the market and just upped the ante with the addition of the Michelin outsole. I can’t say enough about how well and how long the shoe can be skated before it starts to show signs of wear. It stands alone as the longest lasting skate shoe that I have ever laced up. No other shoe comes close in terms of durability, performance, and longevity. It’s in a category of its own.”
Chris Khan – Spain
“My shoes really underwent a rough wear test as I skated them absolutely every day of the wear test. I have been skating every day, lots of street and even contests. These are definitely the shoes that have lasted me the longest ever. They are are super comfortable and I didn’t have to wear them in at all. The Michelin outsole is something that I personally really needed because of the way that I skate.”
Jordan Lilly – Newfoundland, Canada
“The etnies Michelin Marana is one the most comfortable and durable shoes I’ve ever skated. They only took about 15 minutes to wear in but even after a month of skating, they’re nowhere near worn out. The new Michelin sole is extremely long lasting and noticeably grippier than the average skate shoe. I would honestly recommend to anybody looking for a new skate shoe.”
Chris Joslin 100 kickflips
If that wasn’t enough for you, CCS got Chris Joslin to take on the 100 kickflips challenge in the Michelin Marana – a tough test for sure. Check it out.
The etnies Michelin Marana is available to buy now.