Nike will launch a skateboarding shoe built for a woman’s foot that doesn’t compromise performance or require modification on Oct. 5.
The Women’s Nike SB Bruin High is the brand’s first skate shoe designed for women. The shoe is designed with a new, sculpted fit, a shallower forefoot and a more tapered heel than the typical men’s skate last and hugs the foot to prevent unwanted, distracting movement.
Equally important to the new last is a shift from a traditional square pattern on the footbed to a tri-star pattern. The new pattern improves the structure of the shoe, decreases weight and increases flexibility. The pattern which will eventually appear in other shoes.
From taping up shoes, to shrinking shoes in the microwave, skateboarders are famous for tweaking footwear to their liking and none more than female skateboarders. “I used to look up how to modify my shoes online so I could make them fit better,” said Lacey Baker, Nike SB pro skateboarder. “I would put frozen plastic bags inside my shoes or spray them with water to stretch them out and make them feel like they were better molded to my feet.”
Baker says the new shoe provides the balance, boardfeel, snugness and support skateboarders need. “When you put on the Bruin, it automatically feels perfect. The shape inside the shoe fits perfectly around my foot,” she said. “The back of the shoe has a slight tilt that grips my heel, while the shoe is wider towards the front, which provides that balance of support and freedom.”
The shoe will be available on the Nike app, nike.com and at select retailers.